I'm a Dog Trainer, and Here's What I Really Think About Pets Sleeping in Your Bed

"I believe this embarrassment of letting your pets sleep in your bed stems from outdated dog training information that suggests you need to be your dog's "pack leader." In reality, dominance theory has been widely disproven and is considered harmful by leading dog training and veterinary organizations. Essentially, if you want to co-sleep with your dog, and your dog enjoys being in bed, generally, I professionally recommend it."

"Having a dog in bed can help people to feel safer, more comfortable, and less lonely. I know that personally, I sleep better when co-sleeping with my dogs than when I'm sleeping alone or even next to another person. A study from the Mayo Clinic found that 41% of participants expressed that having pets in their bed was unobtrusive or even beneficial to their sleep."

"Some research has shown that people who co-sleep with dogs may experience more sleep disturbances or take longer to fall asleep. However, these studies also found that co-sleeping with pets was also associated with increased feelings of personal safety. Importantly, participants did not report significant differences in daytime functioning."

Allowing dogs to sleep in bed with owners is professionally recommended by a certified dog trainer, contrary to outdated dominance theory that has been widely disproven by leading veterinary and training organizations. Co-sleeping with dogs provides psychological benefits including increased feelings of safety, comfort, and reduced loneliness. Research from the Mayo Clinic found that 41% of participants reported pets in bed were unobtrusive or beneficial to sleep. While some studies indicate potential sleep disturbances, participants reported increased personal safety without significant daytime functioning impacts. The trainer personally co-sleeps with both her dogs and chose furniture specifically to accommodate their needs.

Read at Apartment Therapy