My wife wants our dog to sleep in the bed with us.  I don't--mostly because of dog hair, odor, potential for accidents (although she's well trained at night).  She goes to bed in a crate next to us but each night my wife has been bringing her into bed after taking her out--earlier and earlier, and now she's starting to cry because she wants in the bed after she's gotten up.

Am I making a bigger deal out of it than it is, or should I stick to my guns?  I want her to eventually act as a watchdog--to bark and alert us of suspicious activity... doesn't being in a crate hinder that (is a bed any better)?

Any comments and advice would be appreciated.  Thanks,

Brian

Hi Brian, I think you need to discuss this with your wife what you both want.  Right now putting her in bed with you is obviously training her that that is where she is going to be at night.  We do both.  Ours are crate trained but one sleeps on the bed and he doesn't like being put back into his crate at night but will go back with a bit of an attitude but behaves when he gets there.lol  I would crate train the dog very well then let it on the bed if you both decide that that is what you want it to be on the bed.  Crate training is very important and personally I recommend it to everyone.  It is their den and safe place, while you are gone from home and when you want them to be safe.  When they are taught that early they welcome being in their "den" when necessary.  Don't make it a place of punishment however, then they won't want to go in and be happy.  Hope this helps a bit.  Monte

tauney4, me too, we used to have fine med sized doxies on our bed,lol.  Now we usually only have one.

Having your dog crate trained is a very "good thing", doesn't mean you have to have it  in the crate all the time.  Just make it a routine.  We put ours in the crate at night (except the one) and when we are gone somewhere.  It is safe for them.  If you leave the crate door open during the day often times you will find them asleep in there becasue that is their "den" and they feel safe and comfy in there, especially if they are somewhere they can keep an eye on you!lol.  It keeps puppies and adult dogs alike safe, as in not finding something to eat that they shouldn't be eating, distructive chewing etc.  You can ask the vet about how many times they have had dogs come in with things in their stomachs that can't be seen on x-ray etc. that has to be removed, because they were loose and found something to get into, as well as poisons and furniture.  Monte

Jacks sleeps with me, so I am not sure on the "watchdog" thing.  I personall go looking for him if he's not there   But it is definately a personal preference thing. Can she just go on a bed on the floor, does she still need to be crated at night? 

Gee - this looks perfectly normal to me Brian...

Yup, I remember it well..."Gee honey, I don't think it's a good idea to let the "puppy" on the bed!" Before Smokey there was a 70 pound husky mix to boot! Take note Brian...this is what happens when you get up for the bathroom!!! Some free advice...keep Momma happy! Bill

You got that right - Sarah! Hey, I see you are in New York. I moved to Rhode Island in 97 and grew up in New York. Where do you live? Send me an email, if you want.

I wouldn't know how to act if there wasnt a dog or two in bed!  My dobie Dar sleeps under my pillow (or on my head most of the time) and Lucy is an Undercover Rattie---burrows down through the blankets to lie next to my feet.  Just because they are in the bed does not make either of them any less a "guard dog" because they definitely still hear every outside and inside noise and wake up to listen.  if it's something that they think is suspicious sounding, they jump up out of bed, and I wake up before they even make the first noise.  If they are brushed frequently, it cuts down a lot on shedding, and I dont think they have "doggy odor" because they both get baths at least once a week---more often when they find gross stuff to roll on outside!

Rowdy sleeps on the bed with me.  Under the covers cuddled up against me, of course.   He's my little bedtime heater.  I don't know what I would do if he wasn't there!

But, he jumps up at every noise and either looks out the window or runs downstairs to check it out. 

My other two are too big and we don't let them in the bed with us.  If I let all three dogs in, there wouldn't be any room for James or I!  After James gets up to get ready for work, Schatzi will climb into his spot, but she's not very cuddly (like Rowdy).

I was the one who was trying to break Rowdy of the sleeping on the bed habit.  (He does have a nice little bed next to my side, and he will sleep in that for an hour or so when he gets to hot.  Then he comes crawling back under the blankets....)  James thought it was cute that he would cuddle on the bed with me, so he let him up every night.  I just don't recomment sleeping with the dog between the two of you.  One person gets the feet and those just aren't as cuddly.

Hee hee, I have a hat that says "Sleeps with Dogs"  -- need I say more?

Both of my ratties sleep with us.  Josie always sleeps under the covers and we've woken her up many a time to make sure she's alive...she sleeps SO still and SO deep that it scares us!  Molly sleeps in between Kevin and myself with her head in between our pillows.  It's become quite uncomfortable, so we just bought a king bed!  Can't wait to get it in 

I've never let any of my dogs over the years sleep in people beds.  As a child, my mother wouldn't let us do so.  As an adult, I'm afraid I agree with the original poster.  I adore my rat terriers to death, but I want all my bed to myself.  I don't want to be crowded.  I don't want hair or odor in the bed.  I don't want to worry my rather sizeable husband will roll over on them (they only weigh 10 lbs), I don't want to be randomly awakened by a bark.  Maybe that's selfish of me.  I don't think any of my dogs have had warped psyches because of it, either.  Each to their own on the bed question.

I also use the crate as a bed because  want my girls to think of their crates as their "den", their bed, a private place to rest, sleep & get away from it all.  Not a place of punishment.  In fact, I have NEVER put a dog in a crate out of anger, as punishment, as we humans call it.  Personally, I don't think dogs understand the concept of "punishment".  From day one in their new home, my puppies sleep in a soft padded crate with fun toys so they learn, as Martha says,  "Crates are Good Things."  Every day of their lives they are put to bet in them at night with a treat.  My new rescue Zipper just  LOVES to go to bed at night!  She LOVES her crate! And ya get TREATS, too, even! She's such a love!   After adults, the door is left open during the day & they occasionally go get in them voluntarily, though they usually prefer the sofa or our lap if available .