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Sharing a Bed with Your Dog: Good or Bad?

Many people consider their dogs a big part of the family and in some cases treat them like their children. It’s great to be able to spoil your beloved pooch with plenty of pampering, love, treats, and toys. However, just where do you draw the line when it comes to what your dog can and cannot do in the house?

One thing that has caused a lot of controversy over the years is whether it is healthy for dog owners to allow their pets to sleep on the bed with them. When it comes to cats, most people don’t bat an eyelid if they see cats on their owners’ beds – in fact, many expect it. However, with dogs, it seems to be something of a grey area. So, is sharing a bed with your dog good or bad?

The good news is…it’s mostly good

You may have friends and family who are not dog owners or pet lovers and moan at you about sharing your bed with the dog. Well, this is not because they are experts but because they simply don’t know what the benefits of sharing your bed with your dog are. Some of these include:

  • Warmth: The body temperature of a dog is significantly higher than that of a human. One of the key reasons why many dog owners like their pet to sleep on the bed with them is because of the added warmth that it offers. When the weather is cold, having your dog to snuggle up with can be great. It’s not so good in the summer, however, so it might be best to get your pet used to sleeping in his dog bed during the warmer months.
  • Relaxing: Dogs have very rhythmic breathing, and this is something that can really help people to relax. If you feel stressed or you struggle with sleeping, hearing your dog’s breathing can actually make you feel more relaxed and help you to get off to sleep more easily. On the downside, if you have a very large and heavy dog, you may find that the slightest movement can wake you back up again, so this is something to bear in mind.
  • Safety and security: Another major reason why so many dog owners like to share a bed with their pet is that it makes them feel far more safe and secure. Many people worry about things such as break-ins, particularly those living on their own. Having the company of your dog at night can help you to feel safer – and it he is a protective dog, you will definitely enjoy greater security.

So, the upshot is that while there are a few considerations that you need to think about such as the temperature and the size of your dog, by and large sharing a bed with your dog is not a problem if that’s what you like to do. In fact, according to statistics, more than 60 percent of dog owners let their dogs share their beds, so it definitely can’t be all that bad!

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