The Pros & Cons of Letting Your Dog Sleep in Bed with You

A happy dog being allowed to sleep in his parent’s bed.

Do you share your bed with your furry friend? These days, may pet parents let their pet companions sleep in bed with them. How do you know sharing your bed with your dog is a good idea for you and your dog? Here are some reasons why you may or may not want to let your dog sleep in the same bed with you.

Pro: More Time to Cuddle and Cha-Relax

Letting your best friend sleep in bed gives you more opportunity for your dog to curl up next to you. After all there are so many hours in the day to spend together. This will give you more time to cuddle with your adorable dog. Plus, research shows that cuddling can help reduce stress and your dog will love being treated like a the king or queen in your bed. If you don't spend much time with you dog, then co-sleeping with your precious pooch may be a benifet.

Con: Less Space in Bed To Move Around

If you’re the type of person who likes to roll over at night or stretch out in bed, an extra body in bed is most likely going to limit where you can move. Odviously smaller dogs won’t be as disruptive as a larger breeds, but knowing that their is a small warm body next to you might whind up getting you less sleep knowing your limited to your movments while your trying to get some sleep.

Pro: Extra Warmth

Do you get chilly at night? If so, co-sleeping with your dog is an adorable way to stay extra warm though out the night. There’s nothing like a cute, furry body providing an additional source of heat to keep you warm on cold nights. It’s like having a nice heating pad or electric blanket, except with a personality and a lovable face.

Con: Extra Warmth

Unfortunately, extra body heat isn’t always a benefit. That body fur isn't going to feel quite as cozy if you are natrually warm or if it’s a hot summer night. Having your dog in bed with you may acually create too much heat and you won't be able to get much sleep while being too hot. Odviously, a Chihuahua isn’t going to make you sweat as much as a Samoyed – but any additional furry friends do run the risk of making your bed a bit too warm for comfort.

Pro: Bonding Opportunities

Some vets suggest that co-sleeping with your dog can help build your bond with your best friend. Allowing your dog to sleep in the same spot with you can help your dog feel like he’s a part of your pack by being part of the family bed. This regular proximity and trust can help the two (or more) of you grow closer over time.

Con: Potential Bumps in the Middle of the Night

While the presence of your bed pet may help you fall asleep, where and how they sleep can impact the quality of your rest. Over time, you may start to sleep a bit crooked to give your dog space. You may also wake up in the middle of the night if your dog has a lively dream or even a nightmare. These factors could affect how you sleep at night, so you may need to it out first to see what the experiance is and if you have a dog that likes to talk (bark) in his or her sleep.

Pro: More Security

Having your best friend near you can help you feel more secure, knowing that your pet security guard is right there beside you in case of any suspicious sounds or other scary events.

Con: More Dog Hair

While we certainly love our pets, their may be some downsides. A dog who sleeps in your bed is one who can also sheds there. It means that you may have to brush off or wash your sheets more often than before to get rid of unwanted dog hair. Also, extra fur can aggravate allergies that you may have. If these issues bother you and you do not yet have a pet you may want to consider a less hairy pad.

Co-Sleeping or No Sharing?

There are many valid reasons both for and against co-sleeping with your dog, so the decision ultimately rests with you. You know your pet the best, so weigh the pros and cons and think about the best decision for you and your family.

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