So I have heard responses from people from a previous thread, about their puppers burrowing under the blanket. And a few posts, who have multiple dogs have responded that all (I have read up to four dogs) sleep in their bed, under or over the blankets.

Does anyone wake up in bed, all contorted, and with very little mattress and cover space. My neck usually has an ache, and with four paws directly in my back or in my chest, or their private parts right near my face. I usually wake with Lucy lying horizontally on the bed parallel to a body part that does not bend, Kip at my knee right in the middle of my spot, and Fiona just gets tumbled around and goes with the flow. More days i wake up having to use A535 for some kink in my neck, or back. Which only means that I NEED TO KICK THEM TO THEIR BEDS.

Just wondering, because some of you have been doing much longer than me, but never have I seen a complaint, so wondering if my dogs are dysfunctional (like me).

Signed the puppet to the puppet masters Lucy, Fiona and Kip.

Oreo sleeping in our bed is generally not a problem, she cuddles up and stays there.  Every once in a while she'll wake me up so she can go out to potty, but then crawls right back into bed when she's finished.

However, last weekend, the morning after I'd had a bit to drink at a wedding, she had to potty and then decided that she was wide awake and wanted to play.  No sleeping in for Mommy that day!

I had issues at first with Snickers sleeping with us.  I always said there would never be a dog in my bed.  Then I got married! HA! Just kidding!  I get a little cooky on Fridays!

Anyway, I'm still not thrilled with the dog hair factor on our bed, but fortunately, she has never wanted to be under the covers. Sleeps on top and I fought my hubby as long as I had the strength.

First few weeks were hell for me because I was worried about rolling over, squishing, etc. When I got it through my head that she would be the Yielder, not me, we all happily sleep peacefully together.  She is a snuggler for sure and now I'm not sure I would sleep well without her snuggled up next to me.

Now, I don't know about waking up with private parts in my face.  That might pose a problem!

Gotta have your sleep Layla so if it is not working out, put them in a pile together somewhere else.

Nora, I must say I am surprised!  But pleasantly so! I never would've guessed. Seeee, you just prove that you can maintain pack position while sleeping with dogs! 

Radar and the cat sleep together with Radar under the covers and the cat on top.  All goes well until the cat tries to sleep on top of Radar then he gets very angry and pops up outfrom under the covers and proceeds to chase the cat.    This little game can go on for quite some time and can occur at all hours of the night or early a.m. For the most part they are fine and all gets a good night sleep.

Posted By rattytatty on 03/12/2010 8:52 AM
There are very few trainers who advocate sleeping with your dogs. I guess I'm not a good trainer.

Silly Lady..of course you are a good trainer! people in Alaska, that go out into the wild, with dogsledding trips, have at least one of thier dogs sleep with them , for warmth. I have let all 6 of my ratties sleep with me. Until, there is a fight over a treat or something, then the "evil doers", go to their crate...

I'm pretty hard-nosed about some things that relate to training issues (can you tell? LOL).  But I love my dogs and want them close to me at night.  They know their places and don't move from them.  Maybe they are afraid to?  I don't know... it's not something I really trained.  It just happened.  Piper took over Hoss' spot in the bed, and all is well.

Most trainers also do not advocate allowing our fine furry friends on the furniture either, but here again... I do allow it because I want them close to me.  It's all a matter of personal preference and what works for each individual family.  If having your dogs sleep with you does NOT work... and there are problems.... then I would quickly recommend alternative sleeping arrangements for the dogs.

In November when hubby had back surgery, I moved (with the four dogs) to the guest room because he was not comfortable in any position and was up and down all night.   But we had a monitor so that if he needed me, he could wake me up easily.  Actually... I liked sleeping in the separate room with the dogs !  hahaha 

I remember in my parents' later years they took separate bedrooms because one of the was up and down all night and it disrupted the other one's sleep.  I thought it was awful at the time but hey..... I'm realizing it's a viable option! LOL

I was just telling hubby the other night that I am so internally conflicted with all that I read and hear about the "shoulds" and "should nots" to maintain healthy relationship between human and canine.  Naturally,  I'm more heavy on the "should not" side, but until it's a problem, I'm with you!  I want her to enjoy some of the finer points of bonding IN MY LAP!!  I'm not really sure how to tell who is Alpha position at the time, but she is a well behaved(even others comment so)joy of our life right now so I reckon that is all that matters!

Sadie sleeps in bed with me (queen bed, just her and me) and I now wouldn't have it any other way.  I actually have trouble falling asleep if she's not in bed (but she is there 99% of the time when I get in bed without me having to call her).  She sleeps all over the place (on top of the covers, under the covers, between my legs, spooning me (!) and I often wake up with her next to me, head on the pillow).  She loves the bed.  I don't think I could deny her the comfort.  I change the sheets a little more often than I used to (especially when she's shedding) but it's worth it.  I was always a light sleeper, waking up 4-6 times a night and if anything, it's gotten a bit better with her in the bed.  Certainly not worse.  She's a good cuddler.

Mine all sleep with me.  Franklin sleeps on the opposite side at the end.  M'Kenzie is the burrower under the covers, having to have some kind of contact with me.  And Venus is always curled in my arms cuddling as if she was a stuffed animal she likes to tuck her nose in the chin/neck space area.  They have their own beds in the room and will stay there unless invited up onto the bed.  Now a nap on the couch typically is a ratty on each side and Franklin nesting on my leg/feet area.  I find a sheet covering the bottom of the bed useful in keeping the comforter fur-free.  Sheets are changed too often to collect much fur.  I like clean sheets and clean floors! My lil' quirk!  They do not get up till I tell them it is time to go potty, so them waking me is not an issue. 

Posted By sphinx42 on 03/13/2010 10:44 PM
Well I'm new to the forums so Hi Everybody... my dogs name is Tati he's going to be 1 soon

Regarding the Bed issue... the only problem I find with Tati is when he sleeps on top of the sheets that way you can't move and get stuck a whole night in the same position especially when he parks his tail right between your legs. Another thing is that our rattie likes to snuggle... and when I tell you snuggle it means that if you move an inch he's gonna move also... he likes the feet doesn't like to sleep next to my chest because I only can presume the breathing irritates him or he knows I'm gonna snore

Well I believe that a dog learns and acts depending on how it adapts... I think if you lock your dogs in a room for the night ...yes they will howl and bark the first few days but eventually they will adapt. To be honest ours has a mind of his own sometimes he sleeps on the bed sometimes he crashes on the couch...

Regards,

Welcome to the site!  Please tell us all about Tati and post some pics soon!

Both my boys sleep with me in a queen sized bed.  Noah usually likes to burrow under and get between my legs and Chester either spoons or lays by my feet.  Now, when I first try to get in bed they are both usually up there and I have to reposition them so I can get a bit comfortable.  However, I move a lot in my sleep and could end up  lying any which way on the bed but somehow or other I don't disturb the boys lol.  They are still touching me when I wake up.  And if they aren't, I have to move so some body part is touching them   They are very comforting...

YOU HAVE A DINK TOO???    MY DINK WILL BE 3 IN JUNE  

I (used to) put Dink in his crate every nite (b/c I said I didn't want him sleeping in our bed) till a few months ago....I left him out b/c he sleeps during the day on the couch (he's never liked dog beds) so I thought he'd like sleeping on the couch during the nite but he comes and gets in bed with me and sleeps in a ball at the small of my back and leaves me with only a foot of bed...not very comfortable.  I've been thinking about kicking him out.