Co-sleeping with dogs is a highly debated issue. There are pet parents who will merrily share their bed with the dog. However, a majority of the pet parents loathe the idea of co-sleeping with dogs.

As a dog parent, if you are unaware of whether to co-sleep with your dog or not, it is always ideal to make the decision based on some serious research.

This article will feature the pros and cons of co-sleeping with pets.

The bright side

There are several boons of co-sleeping with your dog. Co-sleeping with a dog is an ideal means to ensure that you spent some quality time with your pooch. So if you are an individual who works around the clock and spends less time with your dog during the day, co-sleeping can help to suppress the separation anxiety that might arise due to the scenario.

For some individuals, co-sleeping can also provide an increased sense of security and safety. Dogs are also considered to be the ideal bed warmers who can provide the perfect warmth during a cold night. Even though this is subjective to the dog behavior, the sense of security usually triggers the levels of oxytocin in humans, which improves the quality of the sleep.

The disadvantages of co-sleeping with dogs

Most of the disadvantages related to sharing a bed with your dog depend on the temperament, personality, and other factors.

One of the main concerns among the pet owners is the transmission of communicable diseases. In reality, the chances of you making your dog sick and vice versa are a rarity.

However, some scenarios are clearly an exception. For instance, if your dog is infected with ticks, as a pet parent, you might also get some tick bites. Additionally, you are providing the ticks with the perfect home to thrive i.e. a big bed.

Based on your dog’s personality, some trainers fear that allowing your dog to sleep on the bed signifies submission. This is something that can compel or convince the dog to have a dominating behavior. This can also lead to situations in which the dog will allow one of the couples to get in bed and barks or makes a tantrum when the other tries to get into the bed.

Another disadvantage of co-sleeping with your dog is that it can trigger allergies and concerns like asthma. Therefore, it is ideal to ensure that you are not vulnerable to these concerns prior to making the big decision.

Additionally, if your dog is not a good sleeper or startles quickly and you are just the opposite, this might affect the quality of your sleep.

When considering the whole picture it is ideal to consider everything prior to deciding to co-sleep with your dog. Factor-in the setup, the dog breed, dog’s temperament, whether you are a light sleeper and your dog is really active and doesn’t enjoy long sleep. Also, bear in mind that you would require to train your dog when it comes to co-sleeping with your dog. This is where as a pet parent, you need to be strong and set some rules.