If you ask a dog owner whether they have shared their bed with their pets, most of them would probably answer ‘yes’. Sleeping with your dog might feel like a cozy, special, and recovering moment; but this decision goes beyond hugs and company. Before allowing the dogs to do this, it’s important to have in mind aspects such as: the dog’s behavior, its health, and your own needs. So, let’s learn more about this action, shall we?
When is it right to let your dog in your bed?
Before letting your dog sleep with you, you should know that vets recommend waiting until it’s ready. I mean, think about a very young puppy that wakes up all the time or that requires attention at night; in this case it wouldn’t be nice to sleep both on the same bed. So, the ideal thing is to wait until your dog is mature enough and calm to rest with no interruptions.
Also, it’s advised to give the dog its own bed to sleep since it will have a safe space to sleep if it doesn’t want to share the bed with you or vice versa.
Sleeping near, both in humans and dogs, increases oxytocin, which is the hormone that helps reduce stress. Most dog owners have experienced having a better rest or feeling safer when they know the dog is near, therefore, this emotional link is nice and can have positive effects on their daily wellbeing.
Important aspects to consider
Dogs don’t sleep the same way humans do, even though they are laid down too, they tend to stay alert and react to noises or movements. This means that they could bark or move at night, interrupting your sleep, especially if you’re a light sleeper.
What’s more, health is another important aspect to take into account. A dog can have fleas, ticks, or even internal parasites that can’t be seen at first glance. However, they can affect people with allergies, kids, elderly people, or those who have a weak immune system; and everybody should take these risks very seriously because there’s always the possibility of contagion.
This is why sharing your bed with your pet can seem nice, but it’s necessary to think if it really adapts to your lifestyle and health situation.
The positive side of it
We don’t want you to think everything is bad, so let’s talk about the positive things about this too:
- Comfort and safety. Owners often say that their dog makes them feel protected during the night.
- Better sleep. Some people report they fall asleep faster and wake up calmer when their dog is close.
- A stronger bond. Allowing a dog into your personal space shows trust and deepens the relationship.
So, what’s the best thing to do?
This is a very personal decision. There are clear advantages like the company, love, and feeling safe; and there are also negative aspects like sleep interruptions or health issues.
However, the most important thing is to know your dog well, understand its behavior, and establish rules that work for both. So, with accurate care, letting your pet sleep with you can become one of the most special moments of the day.
Now that you know all the pros and cons of this, if you had to decide whether letting your dog sleep on your bed with you or not, what would you do? Because animal lovers don’t see beyond the love they feel for these animals, for them fleas, ticks or anything like it don’t exist. They will treat them like humans, do you think it’s a good idea?