Sharing your bed with your dog can be a comforting and joyful experienceâbut is it really OK to have dog on bed? This seemingly simple question stirs up debates among veterinarians, dog trainers, pet lovers, and sleep experts alike. Some advocate the closeness as a bonding experience, while others caution against potential health, behavioral, or hygiene risks.
In this in-depth guide, we go beyond the basics to explore not just the pros and cons of letting your dog sleep on your bed, but also rarely discussed implications, science-backed findings, and practical advice tailored to help you make the most informed decision for you and your canine companion.
Table of Contents
- Why This Question Matters
- The Emotional Bond: Comfort and Companionship
- Health Considerations: Allergies, Zoonotic Risks, and More
- Behavioral Impacts on Your Dog
- What Does Science Say?
- Sleep Quality and Disturbance: Human and Dog
- Rarely Discussed Concerns
- Cultural and Regional Differences
- Veterinarians vs. Dog Trainers: Differing Opinions
- Things to Consider Before You Decide
- Best Practices if You Let Your Dog Sleep on the Bed
- Alternatives to Co-Sleeping
- Conclusion: So, Is It OK to Have Dog on Bed?
Why This Question Matters
Choosing whether or not your dog should sleep on your bed isn't just a matter of comfortâitâs about hygiene, training, emotional well-being, and long-term habits. Once a dog becomes used to a sleeping arrangement, it can be difficult to change it later. Therefore, understanding all aspects of this choice is essential for both you and your pet.
The Emotional Bond: Comfort and Companionship
Sleeping with a dog is comforting for many. Studies have shown that close contact with pets can release oxytocin, the "love hormone," which fosters emotional bonding and reduces stress.
âSharing a bed with your pet can provide emotional comfort, reduce anxiety, and help people fall asleep faster.â â Dr. Lois Krahn, Mayo Clinic Sleep Specialist
Emotional benefits include:
- Reduced feelings of loneliness or depression
- Increased sense of security at night
- Improved mood and decreased cortisol levels
However, emotional dependency on the dog for sleep may become a concern if it affects your ability to sleep alone or travel without your pet.
Health Considerations: Allergies, Zoonotic Risks, and More
Allergens and Pet Dander
If you or your partner suffer from allergies or asthma, co-sleeping may exacerbate these conditions. Pet dander, fur, and even traces of outdoor pollen or grass brought in on your dogâs paws can linger in your bedding.
Zoonotic Diseases
Zoonotic diseasesâthose transmissible from animals to humansâpose another risk. While the chance of transmission is low, it's not negligible. According to the CDC, conditions like ringworm, salmonella, or even fleas and ticks can be passed from pets to humans through close contact during sleep.
Read more on zoonotic disease risks from the CDC
Behavioral Impacts on Your Dog
Sleeping on the bed may reinforce behaviors that can make training more difficult, especially with dominant or territorial dogs.
Potential behavioral issues:
- Resource guarding of the bed space
- Separation anxiety when youâre not home or traveling
- Confusion about hierarchy, especially if you're still establishing pack leadership
Trainers like Cesar Millan suggest that allowing bed access should be a privilege, not a right, and should be granted only once your dog has fully accepted you as the pack leader.
What Does Science Say?
A study published by the Mayo Clinic Proceedings examined the impact of dogs in the bedroom on human sleep. Interestingly, while having a dog in the bedroom (not on the bed) did not significantly disrupt sleep, those who shared the bed with their dog experienced lower sleep efficiency.
âHumans with a single dog in their bedroom maintained good sleep efficiency; however, the dogâs position on the bed made a difference.â â Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 2017
This highlights the nuanced effects dogs may have on human restânot necessarily disruptive, but certainly impactful.
Sleep Quality and Disturbance: Human and Dog
Dogs are polyphasic sleepersâthey sleep multiple times throughout the day and night. Humans, on the other hand, are monophasic. Your dog might wake up, shift around, or even bark at noises in the middle of the night, disrupting your sleep cycle.
Likewise, your tossing and turning may affect your dogâs rest, especially if your dog is older or has joint issues.
Rarely Discussed Concerns
Partner Discomfort and Relationship Impact
Dogs in bed can create space issues, affect intimacy, or even become a point of conflict in relationships. If your partner is uncomfortable or allergic, their sleep and overall comfort could suffer.
Dog Safety During Sleep
Large dogs may fall off the bed; small dogs might get trapped under covers. There are even instances of owners unintentionally rolling onto their pets during deep sleep, especially with toy breeds.
Night-Time Behavioral Triggers
Some dogs, especially rescue animals, may experience night terrors or reactive behavior. These can manifest in sudden growling, nipping, or startling awakeâsomething many owners don't anticipate.
Cultural and Regional Differences
In many Western households, dogs are viewed as family members and welcomed on beds. In contrast, some Asian and Middle Eastern cultures consider it unhygienic or inappropriate.
Understanding this cultural lens is important, especially for multi-generational households or those with traditional family values.
Veterinarians vs. Dog Trainers: Differing Opinions
- Veterinarians often focus on health and hygiene, leaning toward discouraging co-sleeping due to potential disease transmission.
- Dog trainers, particularly those following behaviorist frameworks, may allow it conditionally, provided that the dog exhibits appropriate behavior and the human remains the âalpha.â
This division of opinion underscores the importance of evaluating your own priorities and boundaries.
Things to Consider Before You Decide
Before making the decision to allow your dog on the bed, ask yourself:
- Do you or anyone in your household suffer from allergies?
- Does your dog have behavioral issues such as resource guarding or separation anxiety?
- Is your sleep regularly disrupted?
- Are there health conditions (in humans or dogs) that require special attention?
- Will this affect your relationship with your partner?
Best Practices if You Let Your Dog Sleep on the Bed
If you choose to co-sleep, here are some best practices to minimize risk and discomfort:
- Use a washable, protective mattress cover
- Bathe and groom your dog regularly
- Establish clear rules (e.g., no growling or stealing blankets)
- Train a command like âoffâ for when you need the bed to yourself
- Do not allow bed access until your dog is house-trained and obedient
- A human dog bed can make your co-sleep comfortable
Alternatives to Co-Sleeping
If you're on the fence or your dog struggles with boundaries, consider alternatives like:
- Dog beds beside your bed
- Crate training with the crate in the bedroom
- Orthopedic beds for older dogs with joint issues
- Elevated cots for ventilation and cleanliness
These options allow closeness without full bed sharing.
Top-rated orthopedic dog beds by The Heaps Variety
Conclusion: So, Is It OK to Have Dog on Bed?
There is no universal answer. The decision to allow your dog on the bed should be based on your lifestyle, health conditions, dogâs behavior, and sleep quality.
For some, co-sleeping enhances the human-dog bond and provides unmatched emotional comfort. For others, it may be disruptive or unhygienic.
Ultimately, it is OK to have dog on bedâif it works for you. Just be sure to weigh the pros and cons and take proactive steps to ensure it benefits both of you.
âThe best sleeping arrangement is one that brings harmony to the household, keeps everyone healthy, and fosters a respectful relationship between human and dog.â â The Heaps Variety Pet Experts
If you found this guide helpful, browse our collection of dog beds and accessories tailored for every sleeping arrangementâwhether it's on the bed or beside it.
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