nyri
Full Fledged Poster
never able to sleep
Posts: 148
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Post by nyri on Dec 7, 2012 1:38:52 GMT -5
So I've read a lot of things about letting a dog sleep with you... some strongly against, some in the middle, and a few that were for it. Some things say that it makes a dog think he's alpha, and that if he sleeps with you, he won't listen to you. Is this true? I'd kind of like something warm to cuddle with in the cold weather, but obviously if it's a really bad idea, I'd just go ahead and use an electric blanket instead.
Does getting to sleep with the owner cause a dog's behavior to change? Would it be bad to sleep with a pit bull?
I wanted to hear your thoughts on it.
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sharron
Full Fledged Poster
Posts: 191
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Post by sharron on Dec 7, 2012 3:57:06 GMT -5
I can only say that my experience has been letting my
dogs sleep with me. It is important that they are invited on , and when asked to get down they obey.
Regarding the 'alpha' question.
When dogs are allowed on the funiture and
sit higher than you, they sometimes think they are alpha and assume the sofa is theirs. Claiming the sofa,or the bed can be a serious problem.
My dog (s) is always invited , and when I want her off,I tell her, 'off', Be clear in what you are asking.
It's funny that you say you want that warmth and cuddly feeling when it's cold. LOL !!
My dogs have always slept with me. Unfortunately,I sleep on top of the bed instead of inside the covers.
I cover up with a blanket. Although I tried sharing my blanket with them , they weren't happy campers. So each have their own blankets They get cold too ! lol !
Beau was the only one that slept with his head on my shoulder and up against me. But he had his own special blanket too. He use to get very cold.
When Toma is covered with her blanket and gets too warm, she looks like a worm coming out of an apple.
Remember , you are the leader of the pack and you are the one that sets the rules.
Have fun !!
sharron
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Post by adoptapitbull on Dec 7, 2012 6:19:40 GMT -5
There's nothing wrong with sharing (and I use that term loosely!) your bed with your dogs. As long as they know the ground rules, it's a great way to bond. Some dogs, all breeds included, can begin to guard the bed as theirs and prevent others from getting in. This happens with couches, crates, rooms, etc. Teach that it's your bed and you allow him to sleep in it. If you see any guarding, discontinue bed time till he acts less bratty.
I look forward to my bed time with my boys. Only 2, sometimes 3, of 6 dogs sleep with us for various reasons. Mostly it's because we started with 2 in the bed and didn't make it a routine for the others. They know where they sleep and go to it each night. For the 2 who sleep with us, it's extra special for them and us because we not only sleep, we cuddle most the night. They love to be held and snuggle in between us or lie on our pillows. Usually I get the butt end of the dog :/
But really, take any "dominance theory" Cesar Millan crap with a grain of salt. He thinks everything your dog does means he's trying to be your alpha. Phooey.
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Post by maryellen on Dec 7, 2012 6:21:17 GMT -5
alpha is WAY overrated. my dogs sleep with me, neither has claimed the furniture or anything, neither have issues when i tell them to get off the furniture,none of them have any issues with being on furniture .
letting them sleep with you has good and bad..
bad- dog fur in your nose and mouth when you wake up
dog kicking you off the bed and hogging the entire be
dog stealing covers
dog kidney kicking you to get a better sleeping spot
good;
dogs keep you toasty warm
dogs love to be with their humans
dogs sleep good in comfortable beds lol
the good list goes on and on, while the bad list is a few annoyances
i sleep with a pit bull and a german shepherd.. when my other dog was alive he was a rottie mix and i had all 3 in bed with me, plus whatever foster dog i had , so i would have 1 pitbull, 1 german shepherd,1 rottie mix and usually one pit bull foster or a rottie foster all in bed with me..
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Post by adoptapitbull on Dec 7, 2012 6:45:10 GMT -5
Bad:
Doggie dutch ovens
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Post by loverocksalot on Dec 7, 2012 7:48:32 GMT -5
I do not allow Rocky in my bed because my husband did not want a dog in our bed. I also never allowed my kids in my bed. If they had bad dreams I went to theirs with them until they fell asleep. my husband never allowed his dog in his bed as a kid either. We always sleep close together and I suppose he does not want a dog between us. When we first got Rocky from a shelter he was to sleep in his crate at night so I knew he was not getting in to trouble. Best thing I ever did as he got very into the routine and slept all night long until 8am which is unlikely for a 4 month old pup. He also took a 2 hour a day nap in there every day. Did this till a year old, anyway once we allowed him couch time he was allowed this only if he listens to get off. If he started getting naughty then he looses couch time. He has a bed in our room but since we never let him on our bed he often chooses the couch over the bed in our room. Sometimes he goes back and forth. He never ever goes on my bed not even if I am not home. It actually shocks me that he really knows it is off limits. And it is fine with me cause I dont need my bed smelling like Freetos. One less spot to clean off little hairs. With that said, I do not believe that allowing a dog in your bed poses any alpha issues, unless the dog does not respect your "off." However with a new dog I would not allow it for some time. Not until the dog understands the limits and routine of your house hold. I believe in raising a dog the same as raising my children. With love, respect, routine and consequences (NILIF). look up nothing in life is free. You may want to know this with a new dog.
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Post by michele5611 on Dec 7, 2012 8:59:13 GMT -5
Have always allowed and wanted my dogs in bed with me. Like everyone else said important that when told off that the dogs comply no problems.
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Post by suziriot on Dec 7, 2012 10:30:09 GMT -5
Our bed belongs to the dogs. They just let us sleep in it with them. ;D
On a serious note though, resource guarding can happen with anything - bed, couch, toy, person, food, etc. We have several threads in the Training & Behavior section that discuss resource guarding and how to deal with it.
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Post by emilys on Dec 7, 2012 14:01:59 GMT -5
I've never understood the "if you let a dog sleep in the bed, he'll think he's alpha" thing.
A dog's relationship with his person is made up of ALL the things you do together. If you always give the dog everything he wants, when he wants it, SOME will be spoiled and may become bossy. Then he may become possessive and think everything belongs to him, and contest you for them. SOME dogs ..
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Post by sugar on Dec 7, 2012 14:08:34 GMT -5
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nyri
Full Fledged Poster
never able to sleep
Posts: 148
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Post by nyri on Dec 7, 2012 18:40:19 GMT -5
Okay, so I shouldn't allow my dog on furniture all the time, but once I teach my dog to get down or off when I tell them to, and only come up when invited, the bed should be okay?
Thank you for all of the replies! I was thinking it would be kind of sad trying to stay warm in the winter when I know there's a warm, furry body in the kennel...
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Post by loverocksalot on Dec 7, 2012 19:04:17 GMT -5
^ yes that is pretty much the idea. Seems I am the only one on the forum who does not have their dog sleeping in the bed with them. But it is a preference has nothing to do with the alpha thing.
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susan
I Love RPBF!
my little angel halo
Posts: 370
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Post by susan on Dec 10, 2012 10:37:27 GMT -5
I never allowed halo to sleep with us. god her n him snoring drives me nuts let alone have snorer in each ear. It is funny though cause i also do not allow halo on bed hahaha. If i do not shut bedroom door she sneaks up there every chance she gets, when i catch her she knows the routeen down get off my bed. she sighs but obeys. when i get up in morning I say come on lets go get coffe she will get up stretch n sit n watch yawning waiting for me to leave room then yep up on the bed she goes. she also my room is upstairs she will look upstairs see door open sit by stairs watching me minute my back is turned sneeks upstairs n on the bed she goes. lol it is so cute n funny but dont tell her that.
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Post by happypuppy on Dec 10, 2012 19:29:16 GMT -5
Pit bulls are supreme covers-stealers! I spent last nite, as a matter of fact, with some of my parts dangling out from insufficient covers and I actually got cold!!!! Good thing I love having a snuggle bug hogging the bed or I might have gotten mad - instead I'm just a little sleep deprived!
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Post by maryellen on Dec 10, 2012 20:13:23 GMT -5
my queen size bed .......  they sometime share the bed with me lol.... sadie in the 2nd bedroom on the full size bed:  when guests stay over she has to sleep with them my couch, which is also a pull out full size bed:  my previous dog Sonny (RIP) and rufus on the couch at my last home:  Sedona, Daves dog on my bed when i fostered her "the bone collector"  Ruby, Rufus,Maggie and Jack on my old living room couch at my old house:  rufus and addie a foster pup :  so yeah, all mine get furniture privileges ..i might get a small section of the bed or couch, but at least we are all snuggling lol.... right now i have a fat black lab next to me on the couch and trust me she is taking up 3/4 of the couch lol.... but she is toasty warm  |
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Post by catstina on Dec 10, 2012 20:40:31 GMT -5
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Post by michele5611 on Dec 11, 2012 9:30:34 GMT -5
I am loving all these dog on bed pics!
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Post by suziriot on Dec 11, 2012 11:55:50 GMT -5
Barley (RIP), Otis, Brandy...  Dharma, Barley, Otis, Brandy...  Dharma's favorite spot - on the pillows...  Nine and Kuma (RIP) in our old apartment...  |
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nyri
Full Fledged Poster
never able to sleep
Posts: 148
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Post by nyri on Dec 11, 2012 14:03:19 GMT -5
These dogs (and cats) are all so beautiful... I want to snuggle with them all.
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Post by Dave on Dec 12, 2012 3:45:37 GMT -5
DHARMA!!!!
I let my dogs sleep with me. Mostly because I spoil them, and allow much more freedom these days than I ever used to. It's for them, not me. I sleep much better if they are in a separate bed. If they give me problems, I take away some freedoms and re-establish rules just to remind them what I expect from them. I have thrown out the old "alpha" ideals, simply because my relationship with my dogs is very fluid and evolving, not cut and dried like "alpha" and "beta." There is no punishment for unwanted behavior, just adjustment. If your relationship with your dog(s) suffers, change the arrangement. If you can't keep them off your bed, a baby gate solves that problem. And give them their own place to sleep. It's not rocket science.
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I look forward to learning much here