Why a dog might want to sleep with its owner
Most often, this habit is developed during puppyhood. The baby has just arrived in your house; he was recently separated from his brothers and sisters. And, of course, he suffers very much from this. Wanders around the apartment at night and starts whining. And when the owner takes the puppy into his bed, he begins to feel warmth, care and calms down.
Lately, our Jack also sometimes sleeps with us. But when he was very little, we stood firm and did not allow him to climb onto our bed.
And at the age of 7 months he became very ill. I had to treat him a lot. I will never forget his sad eyes looking at me from below. I felt so sorry for him. This is where I gave up. I took him in my arms, hugged him, and we fell asleep together. Now we even worry if Jack doesn't immediately jump onto the edge of the bed.
The Root of Behavior
First, dogs are pack animals that are descended from wolves, who lie with their pack members for safety and warmth. Although it is not entirely necessary for the survival of the domestic dog, the evolutionary trait of self-preservation still persists in our canine companions. Just like wolves, dogs are born in litters and thus their behavior is reinforced from an early age. From the first days of life, puppies sleep in a place that provides them with the comfort and safety they need to grow up healthy and strong. Domesticated dogs may not have six or eight domestic siblings to cuddle with as they grow older, but they still have their own two-legged pack members to cuddle with. Because dogs consider their owners to be part of their family and pack, they like to rely on their owner to show them this and provide them with comfort and security, and gain it in the process. Relying on its owner is also their way of protecting what they love, even if there is no real threat or danger. This brings us to the second reason - attachment. Dogs will gravitate towards people they feel connected to or have a close connection with. Allowing your dog to lie next to you or on your lap strengthens the bond you share and is considered a sign of affection.
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For almost all dogs, having a loved one around them is simply a pleasant experience that can calm them down, make them feel safe and make them happy. In most cases, the owner feels the same and enjoys the bonding experience. In short, many times our furry pals lie on top of us for companionship and cuddles. All dogs, regardless of breed, show their affection in one way or another. However, there are certain breeds that are said to be more affectionate than the average dog and demonstrate this by wanting to be in your space as much as possible. Great Danes and Labrador Retrievers are great examples of super-friendly family dogs that love nothing more than their owner's hands, despite their large size.
Other social reasons
Earlier, in a conversation about dogs in human life, I mentioned that the ancestors of modern dogs were wolves. In the wild, when going to bed, all members of the pack try to snuggle closer to each other. This way they warm up to each other and feel safer. Only individuals expelled from the pack are forced to sleep separately.
Every dog perceives all members of the family in which it lives as a pack. And, therefore, it is very important for her to feel needed and involved in this “pack”. It is difficult for her to understand why she should not be close to her relatives.
Therefore, when a dog sleeps in the same bed with its owner, it simply perceives itself as a member of the pack. If your dog falls asleep with you, have you ever noticed what position he sleeps in? By this position you can determine how much she trusts you and how close you are to her.
If your four-legged dog sleeps with his back or butt pressed against you, then you can be sure that he trusts you 100%. The back or butt are the most vulnerable parts of the animal’s body. And in the event of a sudden attack (so the dog thinks), they will be reliably protected, since they are under the reliable protection of a relative (that is, you).
How safe is it for a dog to sleep with its owner?
Some owners, explaining why they should not let their dog on the bed, claim that this is harmful for the pet itself. In most cases, all the harm from sleeping together comes down to the fact that the owner may accidentally lie on the animal, crushing it, or throw it to the floor. In this case, there is a risk of injuring the dog.
However, according to other criteria, being in the bedroom with the owner cannot be called dangerous. On the contrary, it improves the dog’s sleep quality, gives it a feeling of security, and strengthens its relationship with the person.
How does sleeping with a four-legged animal affect human health?
Is co-sleeping with a dog safe? What problems can arise if a dog sleeps with its owner in an embrace?
Sleeping together with a four-legged animal is not so unsafe. For those who suffer from allergies, doctors strongly recommend not even allowing the animal into the room where you sleep.
About half of pet owners who sleep next to their pets admitted that their four-legged animals do not allow them to sleep peacefully. The tails sniff, snore, breathe heavily, and roll over from side to side. In the middle of the night they jump out of bed and click their claws on the floor, walking around the apartment, and then jump onto the bed again.
This, of course, prevents a person from getting a full night’s sleep. But, despite all these inconveniences, few people refuse to cuddle their pet at night.
Well, if you cannot deny yourself the pleasure of hugging a furry pet, then I advise you to consider the following recommendations.
Down with insomnia
Dogs are better than any sleeping pill in helping you fall asleep in the evening. Touching your pet's fur creates an ideal atmosphere of comfort and warmth that makes you fall asleep. Plus, the dog transfers its calmness to the person, as a result of which his pulse and breathing slow down, which contributes to rapid falling asleep and a pleasant, restful sleep.
Communication with your shaggy friend in the morning, on the contrary, has an invigorating effect, no worse than a cup of strong coffee.
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Thus, these amazing abilities of doggies should be regarded as another evidence in favor of the fact that you should not drive them away from your bed.
Precautionary measures
If your dog sleeps with you, there are some precautions you need to take:
- Your pet must be vaccinated and treated against parasites.
- After each walk (especially in the evening), thoroughly (with tar soap) wash your pet’s paws, belly, and butt. It is not necessary to wash the body with soap every time; simply wipe it with a damp palm.
- From time to time, check your pet for fleas and skin infections that can be dangerous to humans (lichen, fungus). If something is wrong, you will immediately notice changes in the skin and coat (redness, hair coming out, etc.).
- Be sure to maintain hygiene. Clean your animal's teeth, ears, and trim its nails.
- Do wet cleaning of the room where you sleep more often.
- Ventilate your bedroom before going to bed.
Well, if you still can’t get enough sleep when your dog sleeps with you, then you need to come to some kind of compromise.
The dog sleeps on the bed: what scientists say
I think I will express a general opinion about all dogs if I say that if you put a four-legged dog in bed for at least one night, he will remain there for all the subsequent ones) The bed is a valuable territory for which the whole family fights, because it is in it that we replenish our strength and get precious sleep. It is often difficult to imagine a dog owner who would not allow his dog to sleep with him. It's so nice to have a soft heating pad in your bed.
Have you ever thought about how having a dog sleep on your bed affects your sleep? Scientists from the Arizona Clinic conducted a whole study on this topic. This scientific work is aimed “at an objective assessment of the influence of a dog on a person’s sleep if it sleeps in the same bed or in the same room with you.”
For the study, 40 volunteers without sleep disorders were recruited, each of whom was the owner of a dog older than 6 months. Sleep quality was monitored over a week using accelerometers.
Sleep medicine specialist Lois Krahn: "We've found that many people actually find a sense of comfort and safety from sleeping with their pets." But proximity to a pet costs them dearly. According to the study, dogs that shared a bed with their owners were deprived of quality sleep compared to a group of dogs that were assigned separate sleeping quarters in the same room as their owner's bed.
Ultimately, the study says, “the presence of a dog in the bedroom may not be disruptive to human sleep if the dog sleeps on its own bed.” If you let your monster under your blanket, then be prepared for his claws when he starts chasing the cat in one of his dreams.
Is it possible to train a dog to sleep on a bed?
It happens that opinions differ in the family, and then the pet suffers - dad allows the dog to sleep on the bed, but mom doesn’t. Choose a clear position and act together. If you have a situation in the spirit of “I felt sorry for the little one, and now this boar takes up the whole bed,” do not despair) Firstly, you must understand that the dog must have its own corner, its own den. Provide her with a comfortable bed.
Secondly, if you decide not to let your dog on the bed, don’t let him. The dog doesn’t understand why it’s okay to lie on the bed now, but not in two hours. Thirdly, it is much easier to train from the very beginning than to wean. But this is also real. To prevent your dog from getting psychologically traumatized and causing a serious conflict, buy a new blanket. Take a position - new thing, new order. You are not allowed to jump up and sleep on the bedspread, not on the bedspread. Always be patient and remember that you will definitely not find anything by shouting. Good night to you!
Compromise solution
If you want your four-legged dog not to suffer because of the ban on sleeping with you, but at the same time you want him not to interfere with your rest, then try to place the dog’s bed as close to your bed as possible.
Read the rules for keeping dogs in an apartment, where the issue of properly equipping a sleeping place for a pet is considered. Place one of your clothes in his bed so that he can smell you and not feel lonely.
Positive sides
On the other hand, despite all the dangers and inconveniences of sleeping with a dog, there are also positive aspects. The presence of an animal has a therapeutic effect. A person relaxes while sleeping with a dog, feeling its presence nearby or hearing the animal’s light snoring, calms down and quickly falls asleep. Scientists from the University of California have found that pets can have a positive effect on the human immune system.
Pets are known to have a positive effect on children with autism who have difficulty communicating with people. When communicating with a dog, children do not get hung up on worries and become more open to communication and joyful.
There is a popular belief that hairless dog breeds have a special healing effect on human health. Interaction and hugs with the Chinese Crested and Xolointzintli help normalize blood pressure and eliminate joint pain. Even if this is not the case, in any case, a person experiences positive emotions from contact with an animal, improving his mood.
There is no reason to be afraid if the dog is healthy, the owner monitors the pet’s hygiene, and does not experience anxiety during sleep. Otherwise, it is better to arrange a sleeping place for your pet next to the owner’s bed.
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Why is it harmful to sleep with pets in the same bed?
Is sharing a bed with a pet okay for you? We talk about the pros and cons of sleeping in the company of four-legged pets.
According to research conducted by the American Per Products Association, nearly half of dog owners prefer to sleep with their pets.
Despite the fact that this phenomenon is quite common among pet owners, it causes a lot of controversy among scientists and doctors. From time to time, studies are conducted that suggest that sleeping with a dog, for example, can pose a threat to human health.
Does this mean that by sharing a home with a pet, we are doing ourselves more harm than good?
Potential harms of sleeping with a dog
Restless sleep
A pet can cause sleep disturbances for the owner. The Associated Professional Sleep Societies conducted a study that found that 64% of people who share a bed with a pet have poor sleep quality scores. In addition, the majority of respondents said that their pet regularly wakes them up. Sleep problems often affect a person's health and well-being throughout the day.
Infections and allergic reactions
From a hygiene point of view, sharing a bed with pets is, to put it mildly, not advisable. It must be remembered that dogs and cats are carriers of various infections and parasites, some of which pose a danger to human health. But research suggests that zoonotic infections (diseases transmitted to humans from animals) most often occur in people with already weakened immune systems. Pet fur can cause allergies and asthma attacks, but this only applies to allergy sufferers.
Division of territory
Don't forget about comfort. Sleeping with a pet in the same bed will also mean a “fight” for the best place. A large dog can easily sprawl out and take up most of the bed, or jump out of it in the middle of the night and then go back under the covers. If the pet is small, then the owner’s sleep is still restless - in fear of crushing the animal.
Benefits of sleeping with dogs
Despite all the above inconveniences, scientists and animal owners agree that there are still more benefits for the psyche and human health in general from sleeping together with four-legged pets.
First of all, it is worth noting the therapeutic effect. People suffering from insomnia and inner fear can relax while sleeping with a pet. The fact is that light snoring or snoring nearby has a calming effect on many.
Scientists at the University of California Veterinary Institute say dogs can boost their owners' immune systems. At night, the animal shares not only its energy, but also its so-called immune bodies. It was also found that dog owners are the most common among successful people.
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Psychiatrists claim that dogs can treat childhood autism. Doctors note that children who have difficulties with communication, spending time with a dog, stop focusing on their experiences and begin to establish contact with peers. Taking care of a pet, they become more open and cheerful. In the treatment of cerebral palsy, there is a separate therapy using dogs - canistherapy.
If the pet is healthy and its presence does not disturb sleep, then you can safely enjoy its company at night.
For those who share a bed with a pet, doctors recommend ventilating the room more often, carrying out wet and dry cleaning, and changing bed linen weekly. We should not forget about the health of pets: wash them regularly, comb them, take anti-parasitic measures and be sure to wipe their paws after a walk.
