MAD is Barking about: DOGS UNDER THE COVERS WITH YOU

So we've seen STARK's and RAVING's take on dogs sleeping with their owners and it makes you think - Is it right or wrong for a dog to be sharing a bed with you?

There are some who think it is ok for a dog to share your bed as it is family after all and yet there are others who think that dogs cause allergy attacks or disrupt your sleep if they shared your bed.  I think this concept of sleeping with an animal is something that is cultivated from young via cartoons, movies etc. You know the scene where the little girl is tucked into bed with her loyal dog either at her feet or right beside her? If you don't know that scene then you've had a very sad childhood...so help you God!

Anyways I came across this pic which totally put things in perspective for me:




At the end of the day, there is no right or wrong answer as to whether your pooch should be on or off your bed. We just have to apply some common sense. If you are prone to allergy attacks then there should be NO PETS in your bed. If you have OCD and you can't stand dog hair on your bed, pillows or up your nose then DON'T sleep with your dog. If your dog has separation anxiety, it is not advisable for your dog to sleep with you as it is going to make it more dependent on you and more anxious and stressed when you are away from it. If you don't have a well balanced dog where it has a bit of an attitude problem or if it doesn't respect you or see you as a pack leader then absolutely do not let it on your bed as it can get very territorial. It will see YOUR bed as its own territory and if you encroach on its space then you could be in for a nasty bite! If your other half doesn't like the dog in bed and you don't want to wreck your marriage or relationship, then DON'T SLEEP WITH YOUR DOG!

On the other hand, if you suffer from high blood pressure then the answer to your problem may be to cuddle up with your pooch! Many studies have shown that stroking dogs or even being close to them has a calming effect on humans which successfully lowers blood pressure. If you are single and sometimes feel lonely, your dog can take those blues away! If you let your dog sleep with your children then you can rest assured that your kids are safe and sound and you can have a peaceful night's sleep. If you have a well balanced dog then cuddling up with your pet is only going to strengthen the bond further!

So as you can see, there are pros and cons to cuddling up with your dog but those PROs and CONs are dependent on you! You should know your dog best so you get to decide where it sleeps. It is never the BED that causes problems in dogs, it is the lack of awareness on the part of the owner that manifests undesirable behaviour in dogs.

With that said, we can put this matter to rest... To sleep or not to sleep with your dog, it's a question only YOU can answer truthfully!