Should Your Dog Sleep in the Bed? A Vet and a Dog Trainer Answer the Debate

Does your dog sleep in bed with you? It’s a hot debate: Some people can’t imagine sleeping without their fur baby, while others wouldn’t dream of allowing them under the covers. But beyond personal preference, is co-sleeping with pets safe, or are there hidden risks to sharing a bed beyond having the blankets hogged?

As a dog trainer, I am personally team “dog in the bed.” Going back to childhood, I’ve always had dogs on my bed, and I believe that I sleep better when I share my bed with my dogs. I spoke with veterinarian Dr. Jolee Stegemoller, D.V.M., and she lets her dogs sleep in her bed, too.

Ultimately, if your dog is potty trained, healthy, and well-behaved, and you enjoy having them in bed, vets and trainers agree it's okay. Here’s what you need to know about safe co-sleeping, and how to decide if it’s right for you.

The most important consideration when having dogs in bed is your and your dogs' safety. Before you allow your dog to sleep in bed, they should be potty trained, relatively trustworthy without complete supervision, and crate trained.

I recommend using a baby gate or a closed bedroom door to keep dogs contained in the bedroom while sleeping. Before bedtime, make sure that dirty laundry is picked up and that medication, earplugs, and other potentially hazardous items that could be swallowed are kept out of reach.

The next thing to consider is the safety of your bed itself. “The biggest safety concern is for dogs jumping off and on the bed,” Dr. Stegemoller explains. “Breeds like Italian Greyhounds and growing puppies have delicate bones and growth plates and are more predisposed to fractures. Dachshunds and French Bulldogs are predisposed to intervertebral disk disease and should avoid high jumps.”

Dog ramps or stairs are a great option for safety. Acclimate your dog to them by using treats and praise to lure your dog up and down the stairs, showing them the safe way to get on and off the bed.

As a dog trainer, I share my life, home, and bed with two dogs: Sirius, my nine-year-old Newfoundland, and Rodeo, my two-year-old American Hairless Terrier. To accommodate a giant dog, I have a king-sized, low platform bed so we all fit comfortably. Rodeo sleeps in the bed, under the covers, and usually on me or on my pillow, which at 10 pounds is both comforting and comfortable. Sirius will sleep in bed so long as she has her own space.

Dogs are our best friends, and many of us think of them as our children, but it’s important to remember they are still animals and can be unpredictable. There are some dogs who shouldn’t be in bed for everyone’s safety: those with a history of resource guarding and those with pain issues.

“Because people may have involuntary movements while sleeping, disturbing a protective or painful dog could create dangerous situations,” Dr. Stegemoller warns. Seek support from a veterinary behaviorist to help with resource guarding behavior and to discuss the safest sleep options for both you and your dog. If you have a dog who is dealing with pain issues, speak with your veterinarian about pain management options.

You may also want to avoid having your dog in bed if they interrupt your sleep. Pet allergies can be worsened by having dogs in bed, and Dr. Stegemoller notes that flat-faced dogs like pugs can disrupt your sleep with snoring.

She also cautions that dogs who have urinary incontinence can be difficult to have in bed because of the frequent need to wash bedding. One of my senior dogs began struggling with incontinence, and I had to transition her to a bed next to mine that could be more easily washed on a daily basis.

I think of “bed privileges" as something that a dog earns with maturity and trust. None of my dogs sleeps in the bed right after coming home.

“Once puppies have been fully housetrained and are not likely to get into trouble while owners are not paying attention, sleeping in bed can be an option,” advises Dr. Stegemoller.

We want to raise our puppies to be comfortable sleeping on their own, even if our intention is to spend most nights with them in bed as adults. That way, if you need or want your dog to sleep outside of your bed when somebody is sick, you have overnight guests, or you are traveling, it won’t cause stress to your dog.

Dogs reach trustworthiness at different ages. My dog Sirius didn’t start sleeping in bed with me until she was over a year old. On the other hand, Rodeo was trustworthy overnight at about four months old and began spending most nights in bed.

When it comes to dogs in the bed, it’s really about what works best for you and your dogs. I feel and sleep better when my dogs are in bed with me, and anytime I travel without them, one of the things I look forward to most about getting home is a peaceful night of sleep next to them.