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Where Should Your Dog Sleep? It's Your Call!

Posted Tue, Jun 26, 2007, 10:00 am PDT

Dogs need rules, boundaries, and limitations -- even when they sleep!

Your dog should know exactly where he is expected to lay his head for the night. He should not be allowed to choose on his own. When you first bring your pup home, set aside a room and sleeping place for him, possibly his crate or kennel. After the first week, you can replace the crate or kennel with a pillow or dog bed.

You may prefer to have your dog sleep in bed with you. It is perfectly natural for a dog to sleep with other pack members, and it is also a powerful way to bond with your dog. But don't forget the rules, boundaries, and limitations; it's your bed -- not your dog's.

Invite your dog into the bedroom. Don't let him onto the bed right away. You should get in bed first. After a few minutes, you can signal for him to come up and join you. Then you need to choose what portion of the bed the dog sleeps on.

Keep the rules clear, and have sweet dreams!

Come back and read my next blog entry, on the importance of getting the whole family involved in pack leadership. For now, I'll leave you with this Dog Behavior Tip: dogs respond to discipline.

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153 Comments

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1. lorrainevigue - 12:14PM on 06/26/07

my dog sleeps in my bedroom I get in bed first he jumps up I pet him for a short time then say ok he jumps down and goes to his regular bed for the night. It is something we do every night and never have had a problem, it is as if he always new.
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2. gailstorm54 - 1:12PM on 06/26/07

My husband of 25 years went to Heaven three years ago. My Maltese sleeps right next to me every night. If I ever have a relationship again, I don't want to sleep in the same bed with a human. My doggie is sooooooooo comforting when he cuddles up against my back. And, no man could take his place.
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3. Betty P - 1:55PM on 06/26/07

My min-pin sleeps with me. She burrows under the covers and sleeps up against me all night. she is 9 yrs old. I have a 4 mth old chi who used his crate at night. I don't want to dislodge the old girl for a new Pup.
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4. GUNSTRUCK - 3:17PM on 06/26/07

GUNNER & SECRET ARE RESCUES BOTH ARE AMSTAFF MIXES WONDERFUL THEY SLEEP IN FIVE PLACES. SECRET UNDER THE BED ON THE COUCH & IN THE BASEMENT ON HER CHAIR. GUNNER GUARDING THE BEDROOM ON THE FLOOR & THE LOVESEAT & COUCH. ADOPT A AMSTAFF TODAY AND BE HIS MASTER!!! I AM GLAD I TOOK THE CHANCE. WONDERFUL DOGS!!
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5. Doxie Mom - 4:28PM on 06/26/07

Our family has 2 beautiful and sweet dachshunds we share our bed with the girls. We are the first to get into bed and then thay may come up after they are invited. one sleeps under the covers the other sleeps on top due to her long hair. We love it this way and would not change a thing. Sweet Dreams !!!
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6. Ginger D - 4:56PM on 06/26/07

Our Yorkie curls up on our bed often...during the day while we are out, and she is waiting there when we go to bed. Our Pommie jumps up and snuggles up next to my legs after I get in bed. The Eskimo Spitz sleeps on the floor at the top of our stairs since he had a broken bone in his neck (we think from jumping down off the bed)
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7. alleyducf - 5:22PM on 06/26/07

Our baby (APBT mix) sleeps with his head on a pillow like a human! UNLESS Bella or Maddox (cats) decides to take his spot that night--then he sleeps between our legs. In the morning they all make it so hard to get up. I'd much rather snuggle with them than face the traffic! So cute!
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8. Suky - 8:13PM on 06/26/07

Just about 6 years ago, we brought our 8 week old maltese home. From the very 1st night we put her in the guest bathroom and shut the door when it was time to sleep. She did wonderfully. We wake her in the morning with a song and just open the door.. allowing her to decide if she is ready to get up or not. Now, when she wants to sleep she automatically goes to 'her room.' When we have guests she sleeps in our room, and does fine.. although she prefers her 'own room.' When she does crawl up by one of us, she will cuddle with us only until it is time for her to sleep.. she will then move to the end of the bed or couch.. it has worked wonderfully for all of us.
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9. verni17 - 8:35PM on 06/26/07

MY LITTLE POODLE SLEEPS WITH ME OR MY HUSBAND. DIVIDING HER TIME AS NEEDED. IF SHE IS NOT BY ME I GET UP AND LOOK FOR HER! SHE IS SOOOO DEAR AND PRECIOUS AND I MISS HER IF SHE IS NOT CLOSE BY..
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10. perfectlygrand - 11:06PM on 06/26/07

My husband and I have two wonderful Great Danes and guess what...there's room on the bed for us all. It's especially nice in the winter but as long as the air condintioning is working summer is great, too. They don't always want to sleep in the bed which is fine because they do have their own beds to use. But we love it when they're in the bed with us.
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11. lulis_ramos_16 - 2:08AM on 06/27/07

My dog lulu sleeps with me on my bed i can not let my dog sleep on the floor.My dog is like a baby to me she sleep with a pillow and i also cover her when she is sleepin. If i don't get up in the morning she don't and if i go some where around the house she is right behind me.i love her
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12. Glenn M - 5:34AM on 06/27/07

First off, my wife and I love Cesar! We have four dogs - Toy Fox Terrier, Toy Manchester Terrier, MinPin & Pom/Yorkie mix. They all sleep with us and have from the day we brought them home. A pack that sleeps together stays together! Never have had a problem with space and territory.
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13. Lucie - 6:02AM on 06/27/07

I have six dogs-German Shepherd, Shephered/Huskey mix, Lab mix, Hound mix, chwo mix and Boxer. The German Shepherd and Husky mix take turns sleeping in our bed. When one gets down the other gets up. The others all have spots on the bedroom floor except for the chow mix who sleeps right outside the bedroom door. we have to have a night light just so we don't step on anyone. *G* We are truly a pack who sleeps together.
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14. D T - 7:21AM on 06/27/07

I have two dogs, one pitbull,dalmation mix, she has her own couch but before my husband came home i had her in bed with me on her own pillow every night, we also have a miniture yorkie she sleeps right in between every night usually on her back just like her daddy lol. under the cover, during the day she waits impatiently for him to make the bed just like she likes it so she can borrow in to the pillows and sleep all day, what a team we really love them would not change a thing
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15. Charlie K - 9:05AM on 06/27/07

I have a little Yorkie/Maltese mix and she is a joy to have. She sleeps in her own kennel in the spare bedroom most of the time, she's a diva and needs her space. LOL! But about twice a week, I let her sleep with me. She has a ritual where she "fluffs" the covers and finally finds a spot and curls up right behind me in my lower back, it is the most relaxing feeling ever. And if it is a work day, she always wakes me up just in time before the alarm goes off. I agree, a pack should definitely take some time to share sleeping quarters, I think it's great!
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16. Lety V - 9:05AM on 06/27/07

My two poodles (mother and daughter) have their own room. they have slept together ever since the daughter was born 11 yrs. ago. Mom is 12. My husband and I sleep with our cat "Jasper", she loves to sleep for a few minutes on my chest and then gets off and sleeps between us. I love that special moment when she is on my chest. She rests her head right under my chin and keeps it there like if she is cuddling next to her mama!!
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17. AMY C - 10:49AM on 06/27/07

To chinookman: Talk about a reality issue!!! Sounds like you need a serious reality check. Seems you have alot more issues than most.
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18. africanidonovan - 11:26AM on 06/27/07

My dogs have always slept outside somewhere except Fiston who had a house when he was a puppy but there is no house now. My dogs are not allowed in the house except for some special reasons like yesterday when the vet had to give shots to one at a time, I put the other in the kitchen. Where I live it doesn't get really cold, temp never below 10C. When it rains they curl up together in a wicker chair on the veranda next to the watchman's bed. Fiston & Fleur de Canne seem quite happy with this arrangement. After all, they are DOGS! And still my best friends. They understand English, French, Arabic and Amharic. I think I am the pack leader, but maybe they just let me think so.
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19. RD - 12:45PM on 06/27/07

I was glad to read it was ok for your dog to sleep with you! My chow/shep mix jumps up on the bed, loves on me a few, then moves to the foot of the bed. She does this on her own ... so maybe she respects me afterall!
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20. Janet Korsak - 1:18PM on 06/27/07

We have two Silky Terriers who love to sleep with us...one snuggles near my arm and the other sleeps at the small of my back..the only problem is he pushes his hind legs against my back when he stretches out, but once I ask him to stop he moves to a more comfortable position for both of us.
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21. Sully - 2:11PM on 06/27/07

I have a 1.5 year old Shih Tzu who is a rescue from the Houston SPCA. He has a favorite place to sleep during the day -- on the small table overlooking the courtyard in my apartment building. At night, he jumps into bed after I get in and sleeps on his pillow. The only exceptions are when we have violent thunderstorms, then he is curled up right next to me.
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22. Erin S - 2:20PM on 06/27/07

My dog sleeps with me if I invite her, otherwise I tell her "bed" and she happily goes to her own bed in my room. Regardless of where she has slept, she is invited up to my bed in the morning for a snuggle and then we start our day with her walk and feeding. I think the thing to be careful of with the dog sleeping with you is that the dog understands it is an invitation, not that the dog thinks the bed is his or hers and you are privileged to share it!
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23. Lee E - 2:29PM on 06/27/07

We have a mini-pack of 5 dogs of which the 3 pugs get bed bonding time for an hour or so...but, after that it's "Night Night" and off they go to their area outside on the lanai (covered). For us it makes for a better night's sleep...no dog should ever come between you and your mate...especially in bed...and believe me, Max (our male pug) always wants to sleep between the 2 of us....:o)
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24. Lee E - 2:30PM on 06/27/07

We have a mini-pack of 5 dogs of which the 3 pugs get bed bonding time for an hour or so...but, after that it's "Night Night" and off they go to their area outside on the lanai (covered). For us it makes for a better night's sleep...no dog should ever come between you and your mate...especially in bed...and believe me, Max (our male pug) always wants to sleep between the 2 of us....:o)
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25. Barbara F - 3:56PM on 06/27/07

I have 3 dogs, german shephard, pit bull mix, and lab. One sleeps with my daughter, one sleeps on the floor in the hallway, and one will come up and visit for a short bit and then hops down to go sleep in her bed. I use to have them sleep all night, but as I get older I need more room.
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26. Cheryl M - 6:15PM on 06/27/07

I have mother/daughter beagles...they are my babies & since splitting up with my ex, they are now able to sleep with me. I love it. I use to feel so bad when they had to stay in the kitchen at night. They race me up the stairs now at bed time and you can just see the smiles on their cute lil faces!!! Weekend mornings are the best...they just seem to know that we have more snuggling time!!
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27. ivy1995 - 7:28PM on 06/27/07

To chinook: I like animals more than most people. Most especially my 2 dogs and 2 cats. At night my dog and cat both sleep with me and I prefer their snuggling over a man's any day! Plus if they snore you can push them off the bed (gently of course!)
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28. tattoo - 7:54PM on 06/27/07

My tattoo is a black chow and so smart. At night after she eats she gets 3 biscuits(she knows if you try to short her on the treats) then she lays down on her bed which is in the kitchen on the floor(yes she has plenty of padding) If I have washed her bedding and forgot to put it down, she paces back and forth until we realize what is wrong and put it down. Sometimes I think the dog is smarter than some humans I know. But she knows her "special" place and loves it. She hates it if its moved.
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29. cynthia t - 8:02PM on 06/27/07

It must be worth trying to sleep with my dog-actually, i love sleeping with my cat!
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30. brenda h - 11:24PM on 06/27/07

MY 2 YEAR OLD POODLE SLEEPS IN MY RECLINER UNTIL I GO TO BED AND HE GETS A TREAT AND JOINS ME. I WOULD NOT HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY.DOGS ARE SO MUCH BETTER AS SLEEP MATES THAN MOST PEOPLE.
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