However, allowing your dog to sleep in your bed may encourage a problem that's already there. For example, sleeping in bed with you can reduce anxiety in dogs, but can also exacerbate separation anxiety in the long term as your dog becomes used to having you as support every night.
The myth that separation anxiety or aggression in dogs is caused by co-sleeping is just that. A myth.
Being abandoned, surrendered to a shelter or given to a new guardian or family can trigger the development of separation anxiety. An abrupt change in schedule in terms of when or how long a dog is left alone can trigger the development of separation anxiety.
While there can be a link between bed-sharing and behavior problems, it's not known whether co-sleeping creates the problem or the problem leads to co-sleeping in the first place. For example, a dog that shares his owner's bed might have problems with separation anxiety.
Although some dogs will adjust fine to you leaving the house, many will struggle with mild to severe separation anxiety. Their instinct to stay together will kick in, and when you leave the house they may find that time devastating to their mental health.
We recommend that you don't leave your dog alone for more than four hours; for puppies much less. However, if your dog struggles with being alone they may start feeling anxious within minutes of you leaving, or even before you leave.
Separation anxiety describes dogs that usually are overly attached or dependent on family members. They become extremely anxious and show distress behaviors such as vocalization, destruction, or house soiling when separated from the owners.
Of course, there are a few potential downsides to inviting Fido into bed with you. Some include: increased opportunity for allergen or disease exposure with your pets, aggressive behavior, and disrupted sleep quality, says Fierstein.
The Cons of Sleeping With Your Dog:
Having your dog in bed with you can make your condition worse because dogs are sometimes restless and tend to move around, causing you to awaken even more often.
If you do decide to remove a dog that's accustomed to sleeping in a bed with you, first transition the dog to the floor, then outside of the room. To keep the dog in the room, try crate-training them, or giving them an elevated position equal to the bed so they can survey the room similarly.
Leaving Your Dog Alone Is Not The Answer
A common myth surrounding separation anxiety is that by somehow ignoring your dog, or by forcing them to be alone for long periods of time, they simply will get used to it, and the disruptive behavior will stop. This couldn't be further from the truth.
“In my experience, the four most common breeds of dogs that exhibit signs of separation anxiety are typically Labrador Retrievers, Chihuahuas (both mixed breeds and standards), German Shepherds and Cocker Spaniels”, says Dr.
The 'Rule of Three' means that you can gauge the time it might take for your dog to fully acclimate to his home in threes: three days, three weeks, and three months. Think of your new dog's first 3 days as their time to decompress as they transition from a shelter or foster home into your home.
Studies show that having a dog in the bed can help relieve insomnia by mitigating anxiety and modifying hyperarousal and hypervigilance. All of this creates a better mood and environment for slumber, which can help combat insomnia.
Strengthens your bond.
Spending time together in a quiet setting like the bed helps you and your pup get closer. Dogs are pack animals and will often sleep together in a puppy pile when they can, so replicating that experience with you is a great way to bond with your pup.
“In general, it is a very good thing for animals to sleep with their people.” Pets who share their human's bed tend to have a “higher trust level and a tighter bond with the humans that are in their lives. It's a big display of trust on their part,” Varble said.
Cuddling boosts your bond with your dog
Letting your dog sleep in bed with you strengthens your feelings for each other — and we can prove it. Studies show that when you pet or snuggle your dog or even just gaze lovingly into their eyes, your brain releases a hormone called oxytocin.
Go ahead and sleep with your dog—it's perfectly safe, as long as you are both healthy. In fact, sharing your bedroom with your canine companion—as long as he isn't under the covers—may actually improve your sleep, according to recent research published by Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Dogs choose to sleep where they feel most comfortable and at ease, so if your dog enjoys sleeping in your bed, or likes to snuggle up to you for a nap, they feel trust in you that they will be safe to do so.
The space they will be sleeping in to make sure it's safe and dog friendly. Move anything that could cause them injury, and consider setting them up with their own doggy den using a crate (with the door left open if you don't need them enclosed) or baby gates to section off a specific space.
Why do dogs like to sleep with you? If your pup likes to sleep with you, it means they feel secure and comfortable with you. When your dog was a puppy, they cuddled up with their littermates for warmth and comfort, so now they want to do the same with their people.
He says: “Sorry to disappoint, but that is not a sign of love. Separation anxiety is very common and a leading cause of behavioral problems. And while your dog may be unconditionally bonded to you, well-adjusted dogs also know that you will return and do not display the frenetic activity of the anxious dog.