Is Letting Your Dog Sleep In Your Bed Okay?
Throughout your time owning dogs, you’ll find that there comes a question you’ll be asking yourself that demands an answer. The question is, ‘is letting your dog sleep in your bed okay?’ In this article, we will explore this question while also looking at if you sleep better with or without a dog in your bed.
Is It Wrong To Allow Your Dog In Your Bed?
Dogs and humans are similar in their sleeping habits. While dogs might take more naps throughout the day, they are similar to humans in how they sleep at night. When dogs sleep in the same bed as humans, they take on their owners' sleeping patterns. This means that things like deep sleep, rapid eye movement (REM), and general circadian rhythms are emulated by your dogs.
Answering the question, ‘is it wrong to allow your dog in your bed?’ it’s not a concrete answer. Some studies suggest that humans benefit from longer hours of deep sleep thanks to dogs, while others point to the opposite. However, we think it’s a little more subjective. Some dog owners might find they’re more comfortable with their dog in/on the bed, while others might have dogs that simply are too restless to be on the bed, or their bed is too small.
The question has various answers, all on a case-by-case basis.
Pros & Cons Of Sleep With a Dog In Your Bed
Everything has pros and cons to it, including having dogs in your bed! So let’s examine these pros and cons to decide what works best for you.
Pros- Dogs in the bed might help with mental health struggles like depression, anxiety, stress, etc.
- Provide comfort when you’re experiencing an empty bed after a partner has departed or is away for some time.
- Makes you feel somewhat safer.
- Well-trained service dogs are beneficial for people with sleeping disorders like sleep apnea and narcolepsy.
Cons- Dogs can take up more space than you have to give.
- Dogs can sometimes cause unwanted odours to ruin your sleep.
- Dogs can be restless sleepers, making getting to sleep and sleeping in general difficult.
- The presence of a dog can cause excessive overheating.
Is Sleeping With Your Dog In The Bed Safe?
Sleeping with your dog in the bed is by no means unsafe. It’s more dependent on the nature of your dog. For example, suppose you know your dog is easily startled. In that case, they might ruin your sleep due to their constant alertness to even the slightest noises.
We should mention that if you’re a person who kicks in their sleep, it might not be wise to have a dog present. The last thing you want to do is hurt your dog in your sleep. It’s going to ruin the bond you have with your pet.
If you suffer from allergies, having a furry friend in the bed might be a big mistake. They can easily trigger allergies or bring in elements that cause a flare-up or negative reaction.
Risks Of Allowing Your Dog In Your Bed?
There are risks to you and your dog. However, it’s not a one-way street of risks to staying with your dog. Some of the possibilities you face in terms of risks are as follows:
- Decreased Sleep Quality = It’s easy to experience a decrease in the amount of quality sleep you receive when you’ve got a dog in your bed. This can be because of restlessness from your pooch, causing you not to be able to fall into a deeper sleep. This can impact you over several days and lead to pure exhaustion.
- Can Spread Disease = Having your dog in your bed opens you up to bacteria, fungi, and parasites. This happens when you have a dog licking open/fresh wounds or faces, getting scratched, bites, and then there are things like fleas and ringworm.
- Can Cause Injuries = Sharing your bed can risk injuries to both you and your dog, as previously mentioned. There are various ways it’s possible. For example, it could be because you or the dog are kickers in your sleep. Or, it could be because the dog aggressively gets up and out of bed due to noise. There are various ways it might become problematic to have a dog in your bed.
- Can Cause Behavioural Issues = When your dog stays in your bed, they might believe they’re the ones in command. This can cause major disruptions as you try to assert dominance. Be careful when allowing your dog to stay on your bed, as they might start to misunderstand who’s in control.
What To Do If Your Dog Is Disrupting Your Sleep
The best thing you can do if you’re finding the current sleeping situation far from beneficial for either you or your dog is to separate. You don’t have to kick your dog out of your room, but it might be time to invest in a bed of their own.
Regardless of what your reasoning is, there’s no harm in getting your dog a dog bed. There are so many benefits to dog beds, including:
- Proves healthier for your dog
- Helps with behavioural issues
- Gives your pooch their own safe space
- Keeps them warm and toasty without sacrificing your bed space
- Preserves your furniture
- Helps you both sleep better at night
There are so many options for dog beds that are guaranteed to make your dog happy with their new sleeping space.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve got more of an idea about what letting your dog sleep in your bed means for you and your dog, you’ve got a choice to make. Do you let them stay in your bed? Or, do you finally invest in that dog bed you’ve been thinking about for a while?
If you decide to get a dog bed, you need to explore Catch marketplace for the best quality dog beds around! We’ve got one of the broadest ranges of dog beds that are guaranteed to help your dog be comfortable throughout the night.
Popular Questions Asked
Should dogs sleep on a dog bed?
Yes, it is preferred that they do have a special bed such as an orthopaedic bed as it does aid and support joint and bone growth, as well as support joints in older dogs too. If you are willing to spend the money, then orthopaedic dog beds are the better option.
Is it ok for dog to sleep on the floor?
Most dogs prefer hard beds, and yes, hard beds are a better option as soft beds don’t offer the support needed for comfortable rest and healthy joints. For example, and older dog with joint problems such as arthritis and may find it difficult to get out of a plush bed.
What is the best dog beds in Australia?
The best dog bed in Australia are orthopaedic dog beds as they provide the most comfort and support in bone growth in dogs.