How important is a comfortable bed? How far would you go for a good night of sleep? Considering that some people spend $150,000 on a “luxury bed”, I would say it’s pretty damn important! Guess what, your dog thinks a comfortable bed is just as important.

Ever wonder why your dog does circles and circles and circles before lying down? Technically speaking, it is an inherited behavior from dogs’ ancestors. The wild ancestors of dogs did this to pad down the grass where they slept to make their spot more comfortable, at least just a little bit more comfortable. So, a comfy place to rest has been important to dogs since long before they were domesticated. It is time dog owners make their dogs’ sleeping arrangements a priority, so let’s get into it. 

Letting Your Pup Sleep in Bed with You

You probably spent a decent amount of money on your own comfortable bed (hopefully you didn’t spend $150K on a bed though), so why not just have your puppy sleep in bed with you? If you let your fluffy friend sleep in bed with you at night, you are not alone. According to American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, 42% of all dog owners let their dogs sleep in their beds. And who can blame you?? There isn’t much that is as calming and stress-releasing as snuggling with your puppy! Now there are a few things to consider when allowing your pup to sleep in your bed. 

Health & Hygiene 

One of the most obvious considerations of having your dog sleep in bed with you is if you have allergies or asthma. Up to 20% of the world population is allergic to pets, that is 1.5 billion people! So, before you decide to let your new puppy sleep in bed with you or your kids make sure no one in the family is allergic. Even if no one in the family has allergies or asthma, we still suggest getting a HEPA air purifier to reduce pet dander. That way, everyone can enjoy spending time with our furry family member without any worries. I know what some of you are thinking… “Well I have a hypoallergenic dog so I don’t have to worry about that.” Actually, you do. There is no such thing as a hypoallergenic, don’t take my word for it listen to the doctors at Mayo Clinic. 

Health Benefits of Dogs

There are a lot more communicable diseases from dogs to humans than most people realize. Before jumping into these various diseases, it is important to point out that it is scientifically proven that owning and spending time with dogs is great for your health!

The Benefits

Reduce stress

Lower heart rate

Lower blood pressure

Provide emotional support

Encourage healthy behaviors like regular exercise

Even prevent certain illnesses

The benefits of hanging out with your best friend greatly outweigh the concerns. However, it is important to understand and watch out for certain health concerns, especially when it comes to sleeping in the same bed as your pup. Most of the following are quite rare to be transmitted from healthy dogs that regularly visit the vet, but high-risk individuals like people with autoimmune disorders, cancer patients, transplant recipients, and HIV-positive individuals ought not sleep with their dogs. The Center for Disease Control has produced the following list of diseases that humans can contract from dogs:

There are 5 more common illnesses to be on the lookout for;

1. Campylobacter – Campylobacter disseminates through contaminated food, water or stool of infected animals, and will lead to symptoms of diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and fever in humans. 
2. Dog Tapeworm – Tapeworm spreads through the ingestion of infected fleas, and symptoms do not usual show in humans but may be seen in bowel movements. 
3. Zoonotic hookworm – Hookworm transmits by contact with contaminated soils, and will show physical symptoms in humans of red curly lines under the skin and skin will be itchy. 
4. Toxocara roundworm – Roundworm infects by unintentionally swallowing roundworm eggs from the surrounding environment. Yes, that can include kissing your dog that recently came in contact with roundworm. Roundworm can enter human retina causing swelling, scarring and even blindness. The disease can also attack other parts of the human body like the liver, lungs and the central nervous system.
5. Rabies – Rabies is a very fatal neurologic disease for both dogs and humans. Thankfully, rabies can be easily avoided by proper vaccination at the vet. 

There are 16 less common diseases to mention: 

1. Brucellosis – This is a bacterial disease that will create flu-like symptoms in humans that can develop into a chronic illness.
2. Capnocytophaga – This bacterium lives inside of dogs’ mouths and transmitted to humans by bite, scratches and close contact with dogs. Capnocytophaga does not often make people sick unless they are high-risk individuals. 
3. Cryptosporidium – This parasitic disease spreads in contaminated water or food and shows symptoms of diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and nausea in humans and dogs.
4. Echinococcosis – Another parasitic disease that infects through water and food that is tainted with a certain type of tapeworm eggs, and shows up in humans as slowly progressing cysts that can become large enough to compress organs that attach to.
5. Ehrlichiosis – This disease is transmitted by ticks and the human symptoms of fever, headache, chills, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash.
6. Giardia – Giardia is spread through stool contaminated water and food that causes diarrhea, greasy stools, and dehydration in both humans and dogs alike. 
7. Leishmaniasis – A protozoan disease disseminated by sandflies which can create ulcers on skin or cause fever, weight loss, enlarged spleen, and anemia in humans. 
8. Leptospirosis – This bacterial disease is spread through body fluids of an infected animal and can lead to flu-like symptoms in human, but can lead to kidney and liver failure in dogs if untreated.
9. Lyme Disease – Another disease that is spread by ticks and can lead to Bell’s Palsy, arthritis and even death in humans.
10. Staphylococcus (MRSA) – MRSA is a bacterium that can be found on the skin of humans and animals, and is an extremely difficult illness to control because MRSA has become resistant to many antibiotics. MRSA skin infections can advance to the bloodstream or lungs creating a life-threatening situation. 
11. Pasteurellosis – This bacteria is transmitted by bites and scratches that cause very painful wounds and if allowed to spread can affect the nervous system. 
12. Plague – Yes, The Plague! While rare, there are about 8 infections reported every year in the United States, with the majority coming from rural areas of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and California. Dogs usually do not develop clinical disease when infected, but for humans, as we know, it is very serious. 
13. Ringworm – Ringworm is a fungus that is spread from infected skin, hair, and nails of dogs to humans by contact. The symptoms include rash in the shape of rings, redness, itching and can even cause hair loss or nails to crumble. 
14. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) – Yet another bacterium transmitted by ticks that causes humans to have fever, rash, headache, vomiting, stomach and muscle pain that usually start in two (2) to fourteen (14) days from infection. 
15. Salmonella – Salmonella infect comes from contaminated food and usually does not make dogs sick. Therefore, an infected dog that shows absolutely no symptoms can pass it to humans. In humans it can be serious especially in high-risk individuals because it causes violent vomiting, diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. No one wants this, trust me from firsthand experience!!
16. Sarcoptic Mange – Tiny mites cause this parasitic skin disease and is passed between animal to animal close contact. People are not able to become infested with the canine version of mange but can have localize reaction from mites on infested dogs.

Poor Quality of Sleep

Besides considering the rare but possible transmission of these diseases when deciding to let your fluffy friend sleep in your bed, there is another health concern to ponder; the negative impact it can have on your quality of sleep. I mean it’s hard enough sometimes dealing with our partner’s snoring at night, think about the rolling, kicking, scratching, and snoring of your pup adding to that! According to a study conducted by the Mayo Clinic, 53% of pet owners who allow their pets to sleep in bed with them reported nightly disturbances caused by their pets. Lack of sleep causes all kinds of health problems like; heart attack, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and more. Afterall, militaries all over the world use sleep deprivation as a common form of torture. In reflection, if you and/or your partner already have a hard time sleeping through the night it might be best to let your pup sleep elsewhere.

Where Should Pup Sleep

If you have decided that your bed isn’t the best place for pup to sleep, don’t worry there are plenty of ways to build a strong connection with your furry friend and get a strong night of sleep. The first thing to consider is that dogs are pack animals so not only do they desire a strong connection with their pack (that being you; their family) but it is essential to their confidence and obedience. One of the strongest ways to build this connection with the pack is sleeping arrangements. Allowing your dog to sleep in the same room as you is extremely important in developing a strong bond and building their confidence. This is especially important to puppies and newly adopted fur friends this helps them get comfortable and adjusted in their new home. 

Knowing this, it is pretty obvious to state that you should make sure you pup has a nice comfortable place to sleep in your bedroom. It should be nearby your bed so they feel the comfort of being close to the “pack-leader” who’s provides security to the pack. Being physically close is one of the strongest ways to build connections with others. Since we all spend a total of about 33 years of our life sleeping (based on an 80-year lifespan), why not get some valuable years sleeping near our four-legged best friends!

Every take a nap on the couch? What about dozing off while sunbathing in the lawn? It’s nice to have multiple places to catch some rest, your pup will enjoy the same. You should be sure to have a nice cozy place for your best friend in any area you spend a lot of time; living room, kitchen, yard… Another tip would be maybe finding a place in a corner for them to sleep, which is another common instinctual way for your pup to feel comfortable in their sleeping environment. 

Consider your Pup’s Needs when Buying a Bed

If you have a big dog or have a dog breed that is predisposed to having joint problems like hip dysplasia, you really should consider getting an orthopedic rated dog bed. These beds are constructed to take pressure off their joints and relieve their bodies of stress of their weight. 

Orthopedic Bed

Does your pup typically curl-up when she is sleeping? If so, you should buy a bed to match her sleeping pattern and get a rounded or curved bed to make her as comfortable possible. 

Round Bed

Many dogs like to sleep under blankets for the warmth or comfort, some even like to worm their ways underneath their beds. If you have seen your dog doing this, he will most definitely enjoy a tent of cave bed to get peaceful sleep.

Tent Bed

When you spend a lot of time outside with your pup it’s inevitable that they will want to have a nice place to rest and relax. Raised dog beds will help your dog regulate their body temperature from the environment, get them up off the cold ground or allow them to cold off during a hot day, also prevent them from sleeping in any bug infested areas of the yard.

Raised Bed

For the fancy furball, consider a premium dog bed made by some of the top human mattress makers. For the discerning dog and dog owner matching beds are not a bad idea. 

Premium Dog beds

There is a bit more to consider than most realize when deciding where your best furry friend should sleep. Whether you decided to let your dog sleep in your bed or not, it is important to have their own sleeping space. Remember it is important to locate their sleeping den in areas you spend a lot of your time, and chose the right type of bed based on your pup’s preferences. Make sure your dog gets her sleeping beauty just like you!