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For many people, pets have always been part of the family. However, the past decade has given rise to a new group of people, and that is the Pet Parent group.
Pet parents are similar to parents of actual children in that they fuss over every last detail of their pups’ lives, beginning with what they eat and ending with where they sleep at night. In fact, where dogs should sleep at night is a hot topic of debate among pet parents everywhere.
Should Fido sleep in his kennel? At the foot of the bed? On the bed? Or in a different room? The truth is that there is no right or wrong answer. Where your pup sleeps depends on his or her personality, your preferences and your individual sleeping needs.
Common Sleeping Arrangements for Dogs
Several factors may dictate where your dog sleeps at night. Among those include your dog’s age, size, personality and sleep needs. By considering these factors, you can narrow down your options to those that are most reasonable. Below is an overview of common sleeping arrangements.
Kennel/Crate
Dog kennels are not just useful training tools (though, they are that, too). Dog crates provide pups with their own spaces to which they can retreat when they become anxious, overwhelmed or tired. In the early days of crate training, you may use the crate to keep your pup from having accidents in the house at night or destroying your furniture while you sleep. As your dog grows older, however, the crate may become nothing more than a cozy space in which he or she can get some uninterrupted beauty rest.
Crates are a particularly good setup for dogs who get anxious. Crates mimic dens that dogs in the wild seek out for shelter and can provide a much-needed safe space when your pooch experiences a stressful situation.
Your Bed
Many pet parents today allow their canines to curl up right in bed with them. There are many benefits to being one of these parents, one of which is increased bonding time for you and your pet. Additionally, people and dogs tend to sleep more peacefully at night when bunked up together, as that physical and emotional intimacy encourages relaxation.
There are a few downsides to letting your pooch sleep in the same bed as you, though. For starters, there is the dog hair. If you have a long-haired dog or a breed that is notorious for shedding, be prepared to either live with hair-covered linens or to make de-linting a part of your daily routine. If you have allergies, sleeping in a dog-hair-covered bed may exacerbate them.
If you have an older dog, jumping up to and down from your bed may prove difficult for him. It may also put him at risk of sustaining an injury.
Finally, if your dog is a large breed dog, she may cramp your sleeping style. If you cannot get good sleep with your pooch in bed with you, it may be time to consider other sleeping arrangements.
On a Dog Bed
If co-sleeping is just not for you and your pooch, give your pup a bed she can call her own. Dog beds come in all shapes, sizes and styles and can blend seamlessly in with your décor. They also come at various price points, meaning there is a bed to fit just about any budget.
When searching for a dog bed, style should be secondary to comfort. Make sure the beds you look at are big enough to comfortably fit your dog’s body when she is both curled up and spread out.
At the very least, invest in one quality dog bed to place in the room in which your dog sleeps at night. However, if your dog is like most others, he may enjoy napping in various rooms throughout the day. Place a few beds around your home to accommodate his needs.
The Kid’s Room
It is not uncommon for young children to want their family pets to sleep in their rooms. Allowing your dog to bunk up with your little one is a great way to foster that bond between the two of them and ensure your child’s comfort throughout the night. The arrangement can also give you peace of mind that your child has a protector by his or her side should something bad happen.
However, before you allow your dog to room with your child, there are a few important considerations to make. For starters, make sure your child does not have allergies to pet hair or dander. If your child does, allowing your dog to sleep in his or her room could impair your little one’s breathing.
Next, make sure your pooch is properly trained. A young puppy or ill-trained dog may show aggression at night, such as when your child gets up to the use the restroom or cries out in the middle of the night. Moreover, a puppy may try to curl up close to your child’s head and create a suffocation risk.
Finally, make sure your dog is properly vaccinated. If not, there is the very real risk that your pup will transmit germs to your child and get him or her sick.
The Living Room
Many people prefer to let their pets have free reign of the living room and other common areas at night. Doing so gives them peace of mind that their house is guarded while they sleep. If you feel confident that your pooch will protect your domain while you slumber and refrain from wreaking havoc on your furniture, this type of sleeping arrangement may work for you.
Even if you decide to allow your pooch to sleep with you at night, invest in dog beds for around your home. Every creature — man or canine — deserves a comfortable space to curl up during the day and night. Give your pooch several of those spaces by purchasing quality dog beds today.
