Benefits of co-sleeping with your small breed

Feb 27, 2012 8:06 AM by Kat Hobza

Posted in Pets & Animals / Dogs

Do You Sleep With Your Small Breed?

When you turn in at night, your little dog looks at you with big, dopey eyes, pleading with you to let him climb in bed with you. Is that weird? Is that OK? You have to admit, you kind of like the idea, but you’re worried you might be spoiling your pooch. Fear not! Sleeping with your four-legged friend is beneficial for reasons you probably never even considered.

Less hairy

There are a few of you out there (you know who you are) who have let some real beasts sleep in your bed. You know what we're talking about. Big, hairy and smelly. So why are you getting so hung up on letting your little dog sleep with you? It can't be any worse than the Yeti who was sleeping there a while ago.

Dog, not hog

This is a little dog, not a hog, so you won't be in a wrestling match for the blankets all night. Little dogs typically like to sleep in one of two places: at the foot of your bed or cuddled up next to you. It won't roll over in the middle of the night and take all the cozy covers.

Drool away!

You'll get the tactile satisfaction of having something warm and snuggly in your bed without having to worry about how you drool in a most unbecoming fashion, that you snore like a freight train or that your hair looks like it houses a small band of baboons when you wake up in the morning. Your little dog doesn't care. You are always beautiful to her.

Won't raise the temperature in your bed

If your body temperature runs a little hot, sleeping with another human can become a real problem, especially if he wants to snuggle all the time. In contrast, a little dog doesn't generate enough body heat to make you uncomfortable. And if he does, he doesn't mind if you gently shove him to the other side. Try getting away with that when it comes to humans.

No expectations

Sleeping with your little dog will be comforting to you, so you get all the benefits of sleeping with something with no expectations. A little dog isn't going to arch her brow at you in a suggestive manner when you are bone-tired. She's not going to tap you on the shoulder at 5:00 a.m., before you go to work, when all you want is another hour of solid sack time. Little dogs give all the companionship -- without any expectations.

Minimizes stress

On a semi-serious note, studies have shown that pets and people who sleep in the same bed are both more relaxed. Having your pooch next to you at night can lower your blood pressure, relieve feelings of loneliness and reduce stress. And it does the same for your little friend. Just bear in mind that, if another human wants to share your bed with you, this place of tranquility can become a battleground. Recognize that you are going to have to train either your dog or the other person to share.

Small or big?

Take this quick quiz and find out what size dog is right for you >>

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Tags: pet ownership small dogs

Comments

Comments on "Benefits of co-sleeping with your small breed"

My little Peekachu sleeps with me she does like to get up in the middle of the night and sleep in her own bed because I move around a lot but she will jump in around 4 am and then we just cuddle. She is my alarm clock at 6 am every morning and I wouldn’t have it any other way. She also is an alpha female however she minds me and is a very well behaved little girl!

My husband of 41 years passed away August 28,2011. My daughter-in-law thought I needed a dog. Meritta found a 9 pound Maltese waiting to be adopted. Keah sleeps with me and is never happier than when we are together. I feel the same way. Keah has been a blessing to me and I hope Keah thinks the same about me. P.S. Keah flies south with me and is a great traveler.

My poodle sleeps with me every night but she lays at the small of my back but I wouldn't have it any other way she's my baby... :)

My miniature poodle and min pin both sleep with me in a queenzise bed and wind up with most of the bed my poodle has to be touching my back. my min pin likes to be under the covers by my feet. Wouldn't have it any other way. So much love. God Bless all dog lovers.

My 28 pound "mutt" sleeps with me and don't tell me he won't scoot you out of your spot. He waits until I get to sleep, then buts his bum agains the small of my back and slowly, but surely roots out as much bed as he wants. It is okay though. :-)

I have both a large and a small dog. They both have the option of sleeping with me. It's me and them in a full bed. Of course sans some of my better bedspreads, etc. LOL

My rottweiler sleeps with me

Well, the black Lab sleeps with us; why shouldn't the Bushland terrier? Of course, it's a king-sized bed - we got it when we had to accommodate three Labs!

My mini dachsund sleeps with me every night. He loves sleeping under the covers

MY YORKIE SLEEPS WITH ME EVERY NIGHT AND EVERY NAP. HE LOVES IT JUST AS MUCH OR MORE THAN I.

i dont let my dog sleep in the bed with me...ive never felt really comfortable letting my dog sleep with me, but i will let my dog sleep in the room on the floor.