Should Our Furry Friends Sleep in our Beds?

Should Our Pets Sleep in the Bed with Us?

We all love our pets deeply so a lot of us want to let our pets cuddle up with us in bed at night. Some people say it’s going to far and others say it can even be bad for our health, still, a lot of us do it. So is it worth it?

Personally, I let my dog sleep in my bed with me. By no means does it allow me the perfect night’s sleep, but one gives up a lot for their dog’s happiness. Others who also let their pets sleep with them might make arguments such as “it’s just always been that way”, “they don’t take up much room”, “it’s comforting”, or “my dog gets whatever they want”. Cuddling up with your pet at the end of a long day can be relaxing and stress-releasing. It’s not perfect, though. Though a dog may only take up a small portion of the bed, as long as they are on top of the covers, they make it impossible for the covers to move.

Other people set boundaries for their pets. Things like setting kennels in the bedroom or even give them their own room. Some people value their sleep too much to let their pets encroach on their sleeping area. Some might even make a case that having pets sleeping in kennels/crates and altogether separately gives the pets boundaries and routines that are good for regulating behavior.

The argument has been made that this habit might be bad for our health because it forces you to lose sleep to make a lot of adjustments. These are things such as adding another “person” to the bed, sharing covers, and having to deal with making sure your pet behaves in bed and stays in bed. The only health “risk” is losing sleep, but most of us already don’t get enough sleep so what’s another hour a night lost to our pets?

Finally, the question comes to mind: Stress-reducing or stress-inducing? Being with your pets at night can be great for reducing stress as that is one of the many benefits of having a pet. On the other hand, one must ask themselves what they love more… their pets or their sleep.

for a case of a dog owner in dilemma and the expert's solution click here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/21/dog-in-bed-sleep-bedroom_n_1957972.html