In the past I let my dogs sleep in bed with me. I prefer it that way for selfish reasons though. I just like feeling them near me at night, and waking up to their play and kisses in the morning. The Yorkie that still lives with my parents sleeps on their bed at the foot, along with a toy poodle and a cat by the pillows. Their bed is very crowded at night.
I decided that my little puppy is going to sleep in her crate at night in my bedroom. I miss the luxury of sleeping with my baby, but I think I made a better choice for these reasons:
1. When a Yorkie jumps off a bed, they risk injuring their legs. Even with a ramp or staircase available, half the time they choose to jump off the bed anyway. My parents' Yorkie has hurt her legs many times doing so, even though she has a little staircase.
2. The "alpha" always sleeps in the highest, best place. Keeping her in a crate on the floor at night reinforces me as alpha.
3. If she were to sleep in bed with me, she'd have to sleep at the foot of the bed. I am used to sleeping with dogs so I know I wouldn't kick her off in my sleep, but my fiance has never slept with dogs (big or small). I worry that he might knock her off in the night.
4. With two people in a queen size bed, and her restricted to the foot, she wouldn't have any room! I know she'd be bumped constantly in the night and forced to get up and move a few times. She wouldn't ever good a good night's sleep.
5. Mishka can only see out of one eye. I worry that her depth perception isn't as good, making her more likely to jump off the bed not realizing how far down it is.
I miss sleeping with furbabies, but putting Mishka in a crate on the bedroom floor is the best solution for me. It primarily gives me peace of mind that she's safe for the night. My fiance also likes it because he doesn't have to compete with the cute and cuddly puppy for my attention! |