Should You Let Your Dog Sleep in Bed With You? Here’s What Trainers Say
Cozy companion or bedtime intruder? Experts say you and your pooch can share pillows, but setting rules can be important.
Yes, even the notoriously energetic vizsla sometimes sleeps, but should it snooze on your head… err, we mean in your bed? Experts say yes, but it’s important to set boundaries. (Getty)
My dog sleeps in my bed every night. He’s a small, 10-pound poodle though, so he doesn’t shed or take up much room. I also wipe his paws every time he comes in from outside and wash my duvet cover regularly, so even as a self-proclaimed clean freak, I’m fine with it. In fact, I love waking up to him curled up at my feet or snuggled against my side. But whether you should let your dog sleep in your bed is an ongoing debate among pet parents. Some say it’s unsanitary, eliminates necessary boundaries and leads to poor sleep. Others say it helps them relax, bond with their pets and feel safer at night. Whether you’re preparing to welcome a new pooch into your family or you’ve already got a gang of fur babies under your roof, here’s what experts want you to know about sharing a bed with your dog. (And check out the products that follow, which can help make bed-sharing with your pup a better experience for you and them.)
Meet the experts
Darris Cooper, CPDT-KA, FFCP, national dog training manager at Petco
Maddie Messina, MA, SAPT, FFCP, applied animal behaviorist and founder of Paws For Thought Dog Training
Cesar Millan, bestselling author, star of Cesar Millan: Better Human Better Dog on National Geographic and Disney+, and co-founder of wireless GPS dog fence Halo Collar
What do you think about letting a dog sleep in your bed?
Cooper: Allowing your pup into your bed is a personal choice up to each pet parent. The most important thing to remember when it comes to letting dogs sleep in the bed is to remain consistent. For example, if you allow your pup into your bed on a few occasions, but then realize you don’t want them on the bed at all, it will take time, patience and training for them to learn the new boundary. Instead of reprimanding pups for what we don’t want them to do, I recommend teaching them what we want them to do instead. For example, the desired behavior would be to go to their “place,” such as their own bed, mat or crate, on cue. This can be achieved through reward-based training.
Messina: It is a personal preference, but unless your dog is demonstrating a behavior concern like aggression while in bed with you, there’s nothing wrong with choosing to let your dog sleep in your bed.
Millan: It’s OK to let your dog sleep with you as long as you invite them in and set rules, boundaries and limitations. I tell humans to think about if it’s the safest option for you both.
Are there any advantages or disadvantages to letting your dog sleep in your bed?
Cooper: Bonding with your pet is essential to establishing a healthy relationship, which in turn is important for the health and wellness of your pet. There’s a myth about how sharing a bed with your dog can create a “dominance mentality,” but this has been largely debunked by research. Bonding can include spending time together on daily walks, practicing cues, playing with toys or something as simple as spending downtime together. Pets who sleep in their pet parent’s bed are often strongly bonded together. If you feel that your dog is struggling with separation anxiety, reach out to your veterinarian.
Messina: Most dogs likely choose to sleep with us because we are a source of comfort to them. This could also encourage secure attachment (which is something that was previously only studied in humans but is now being applied to dogs). There is some evidence to suggest that dogs with secure attachment to their guardians are less likely to display concerning behavior problems like separation anxiety. Additionally, there is some evidence that sleeping with your dog can increase nighttime movement and sleep disturbance for humans, particularly in women.
Millan: When a dog sleeps in bed with a human on his own, then he is going to choose where to lie on the bed. If you are going to sleep in bed with your dog, I would recommend getting in the bed first and having the dog wait. You can then invite the dog into the bed with you after.
Why do some dogs like to sleep in the same bed as their owners?
Cooper: Your dog likely wants to sleep in the same bed as you because they feel close to you and want to extend those feelings of closeness and bonding. Beyond that, the bed is an extra-