Comments on: Does Your Dog Share Your Bed?

By: Mother to Bo and Freeway

Mother to Bo and Freeway — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 17:05:09 +0000

trish – thanks for your support! My Jack Russell would never really bite me in the face for moving him. His little growl is actually his way of crying – he wants to be next to me so bad that he has to play the big guy. I tell him I think he is a little man in a dog suit. He was a year old when I got him from the shelter so he has some issues. Doesn’t matter, we love each other unconditionally.

By: Freds Mom

Freds Mom — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:56:33 +0000

My adopted chihuahua had ‘issues’ with getting over the abuse he suffered. It took quite some time before he would get in the bed with me. And when he did I could not wake him in the middle of the nite. But now I have regained the dominance of my bed and he understands he needs to move when Mommy says so. As a matter of fact, when I get in the shower, he gets in the bed and waits for me. I don’t even have to say anything, when he sees me going into the shower jumps on my bed and waits by my pillow. We can’t sleep without eachothers company!

By: Kai's Mom

Kai's Mom — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:56:12 +0000

Kai, my Shiba Inu, spends most nights sleeping next to me with his head on his pillow. Now and then he prefers the sofa in the living room, and on those nights I don’t sleep as well. When either of us is feeling bad, he will come and curl next to me with his head on my shoulder and a paw over my arm. As this is not usually a snuggly breed, I feel exceptionally blessed that Kai can’t think of a nicer place to be than cuddled up next to Mom. Waking up to a smiling furry face and playing for a few minutes before I have to get up and get ready for work, starts my day off on a positive note every morning. Starting each morning this way is priceless.

By: Jack's mom

Jack's mom — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:53:29 +0000

This is one thing that Jack may or may not do. During the summer he may start out sleeping on the bed, but then he’ll get down and sleep on the kitchen floor or the living room or his dog bed… sometimes simply at the foot of my bed he’ll crash (literally). But during the colder winter months he loves to snuggle up as close as he can get on the bed. I feel more protected with him curled up beside me. Only occasionally does he groan when I move him out of my spot and onto his side of the bed. :)

And then there’s the time during the day when I’m gone… my bed becomes the ultimate place to nap while waiting for me to come home from work! He’ll stretch out and say oh, nice to see you mom!

By: Patty

Patty — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:07:39 +0000

My Mini Schnauzer is 2 yrs.young – and he has slept with me every night since he was 3 months old. We keep him very clean,groomed every month,and we are all healthy. Never had a problem.
In fact I can’t imagine going to bed without him! Every night around 9:30 he comes to me, paws at my feet-he knows it’s bed time:-)
All I can say about this subject is that it should be a matter of choice.

By: Allie

Allie — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 23:28:56 +0000

We have doggy steps going up to the couches & beds and change the blankets on them frequently. We keep the dogs clean, and don’t allow them under the covers.
It all started with the first dog…He used to sleep in a doggy bed next to our bed and every night after we fell asleep, he would sneak up on the bed and I would wake up in the morning with his head next to mine on the pillow, ha ha ha. So we gave up and let him on the bed. 3 dogs later… We sleep apart because it got crowded. Two sleep on the king-size bed with me. One sleeps with my honey in the guest room double bed.
To prevent them from snapping if startled, I got them used to being petted while sleeping.

By: Shadow

Shadow — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 21:17:12 +0000

one of our cats sleeps with my mom every night. i think it makes them both feel better. the cat is 10, and i think she’s showing symptoms of arthritis (slow movements, has become temperamental when certain parts of her body are touched, seeks heat, etc.), so sleeping by my mom makes her feel better. my mom has Rheumatoid Arthritis (R.A.), and she says that when Bear, the cat, sleeps by her, she sleeps better. i’ve never got sick from any of our cats, or vice versa. my asthma isn’t affected in the slightest by them, and i sleep better when they honor me by joining me in bed.

By: Trish

Trish — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:36:15 +0000

I sleep with my dog, Berta, and almost every night the cat Mishy sneaks in an sleeps by my face:you see, Berta sleeps by my legs and Mishy soon realized that he could sneak in from the top,so to speak ,reminder from the time we rescued him as an abandoned 2 month kitten, and since Berta wouldnt let him get in the bed with me, he would wait until she was asleep, and then sneak in and cuddle in to sleep in by my neck(!!).
When its winter,they both get in the covers(Berta just LOVES to get inside the quilts, its one of her favourite hiding places)
I TOTALLY emphathize with the the mother of Bo and Freeway, the Rat and Jack Russell:Berta also growls if you move to get room(if she’s asleep) tho she’s nevr gotten round to biting(yet!)But I think it goes with the breed, Berta is a german shorthaired pointer mutt, which are also wiry nervous dogs with a lot of character!
At a certain point, when Berta was a an adolescent I did give that “dominance” theory a thought or two, and thought of keeping her in her dog bed, just by mine.
But since I’m a dog handler, and an ethology student,I did a lot of research, and actually its NOT so obvious, specially the dominance theory, which is becoming old and actually being contested for quite some time now.
AND, MOST IMORTANT:I told myself, dogs and cats have such a short and intense life, every minute spent with them is precious.
I know if I would not let my dog sleep with me for some ridiciulous theory, when she wont be with me I’ll regret it every second I didnt spend by her side. I just love the feeling of her little body,and how she cuddles in and every night when she’s confortable gives a relaxing*sigh*, and how she waits until she realizes I’m awake to fall on top of me like a licking torpedo!
And when I go to sleep, the most relaxing sound is puuurrrrrrrr…

By: Nuria

Nuria — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:38:25 +0000

I have 5 cats. 4 rescued last year as kittens at different times and have all shared my bed since they were kittens. 1 is a stray I took in. She sleeps in the kitchen on a very comfy little bed, since she chases the other 4 off the bed.

I love sleeping with my cats. Two sleep on either side of my pillow and two sleep against me at my side. I find it comforting. It says a lot when a cat or dog will let their guard down and feel trusting enough of you to sleep in your precence. I’m their mom and they find comfort next to me.

I don’t think I could sleep without them keeping me company.

By: Worried Mother of 2

Worried Mother of 2 — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:47:09 +0000

I have to Chihuahua’s one sleeps on a pillow next to my head and the other on another pillow on the other side. The only concern I should make aware of everyone is if you live in an appartment complex you know that some people don’t pick up their dog poop when walking around the property. Have you all hear of “Giardia” it is a fecal/oral contamination from other infected dogs poop. It is highly contagious. My two dogs contracted it and it has been a nightmare!! It can be introduced into your home on your shoes, clothes i.e; the bottom of your pants or sitting in a park. The cysts (like little parasites) cling to everything. So if you go to dog parks or parks where there is dog poop, please please wash your dog after and whipe your shoes with clorox or clorox whipes. You can bring it into your bed if you do not shower before bed. My mission is to make dog owners aware of this nasty virus/desease. It is very hard to treat when they get it and it come’s back around the rainy, damp seasons. I keep my dogs and home very clean and always have. You never know what you will bring into your home and introduce to your dogs in public places. Please concider washing their paws, legs, faces and belly’s before you transport your dog home in your car after you walk Fido!! Please read up on intestinal diseases (Giardia) if your dog has soft stools. Remember you don’t have to be un-clean to pick up virus’s or diseases. Become educated!!
Sincerely,
Worried mother.