Dogs have been sleeping in human beds for thousands of years. Ever since dogs were first domesticated, they have enjoyed the comforts of sharing a sleeping space with people. But why exactly do our canine companions love curling up on our beds so much? Here are some of the top theories behind this common dog behavior.
The Science Behind Dogs in Beds
On a biological level, dogs like being on soft, warm surfaces because it is comfortable. Dog bodies are designed to conserve heat, and they do not have sweat glands like humans. Laying on a cozy bed helps regulate their body temperature and allows them to relax. The elevation of a human bed also gives dogs a good vantage point to survey their surroundings and look out for any potential threats.
In addition, sleeping in a human bed can be beneficial for dogs’ health. Studies show that having a dog sleep in your bedroom (although not necessarily in your bed) can result in better sleep quality for both you and your pup. The companionship and physical closeness while sleeping releases oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone,” which reduces stress and anxiety for bonded pairs.
Pack Animal Instincts
As pack animals evolved to cooperate and bond with humans, dogs learned to take cues from their human “pack” members. When you sleep in your bed, your dog wants to join you in what they perceive as the most comfortable, safe sleeping spot. Since a dog’s natural instinct is to stick with their pack, they prefer to sleep close by or even in direct contact with their humans if allowed.
This pack mentality also causes dogs to be protective of their territory and resources. When you are in the bed, your dog likely wants to claim part of it as their own. By sleeping with you, they are guarding you and the territory you have designated for rest. This gives dogs a sense of responsibility and enrichment.
Social Attachment
Domesticated dogs have evolved to see their human owners as family. Sleeping together in a bed helps facilitate social bonding through physical closeness and security. Studies show that dogs experience a rise in oxytocin from contact with their owners. Oxytocin is known to promote positive social behaviors and collaboration between members of a species, strengthening social attachment bonds.
By inviting dogs onto the bed, owners are reinforcing social attachment and trust with their pet. Dogs respond well to this type of intimacy through actions like licking, nuzzling, and physically touching their owner. The more time a dog gets to spend snuggled up with you, the deeper their companion-animal bond may become.
Sensory Stimulation
Your bed likely smells a lot like you, which can be very appealing to dogs. Dogs have incredible sensory abilities and a sense of smell that is 1,000 to 100,000 times better than humans. They use smell to gather information about their environment. Your sheets, pillows, and blankets hold your scent, offering your dog that comforting olfactory stimulation they crave when you are away.
The textures of a human bed also provide dogs with sensory stimulation that they find pleasing. Dogs have a sense of touch that is thought to be much more acute than ours. Different surfaces like blankets, duvets, and pillows give them variety to snuggle into and rub against with their bodies as they get cozy.
Routine Comfort
Like most creatures, dogs are habitual animals. If given access to the bed routinely and allowed to sleep there with their owner, they come to expect and look forward to this comforting privilege. This nightly routine of cuddling in bed can become a cherished tradition between dog and human.
Studies show that dogs thrive on routine. Predictable patterns and consistent daily schedules help reduce anxiety and stress in dogs. Going to bed at the same time each evening in the same spot gives dogs a sense of normalcy, ownership, and belongingness. It lets them know their place in the household unit.
Separation Anxiety
Some dogs, especially those with separation anxiety, may insist on sleeping as close to their owner as possible at night. This helps wary dogs keep an eye on you and ensures you remain in contact if they need you throughout the night. Dogs with separation anxiety may become disruptive or destructive if excluded from the bedroom and denied that reassuring proximate contact.
If your clingy pooch refuses to settle at night anywhere but your bed, it’s likely related to underlying insecurities about isolation. Make sure you have thoroughly exercised them before bedtime. Providing a cozy dog bed right next to yours can be a good compromise. Consult your vet if your dog’s separation anxiety seems extreme or disruptive.
Fear and Protection
Dogs are not only pack animals but also prey animals genetically wired to react to perceived threats. This means they will gravitate to wherever they feel most secure. That safe haven for domesticated dogs is very often at their trusted human’s side.
Being in your bedroom with you—and especially in your bed—can make dogs feel less vulnerable to potential dangers at night. This proximity helps timid dogs feel braver. It also allows protective dogs to better watch over and defend their beloved human if necessary.
Denning Instinct
In the wild, canine ancestors like wolves and coyotes would sleep in dens to protect themselves from harsh weather and other animals. This denning instinct survives in domesticated dogs. Small, enclosed spaces make dogs feel safe and cozy. A human bed provides a sheltered, den-like environment elevated off the floor. Your sheets and blankets offer further insulation and the feeling of a secure nest.
The denning instinct may be especially strong in certain breeds bred to dig out and live in underground tunnels and burrows. Terriers like Yorkshire Terriers, Cairn Terriers and West Highland White Terriers frequently like to burrow into blankets and form a cozy nest.
Previous Positive Reinforcement
If your dog has regularly been allowed up on the human bed previously, they will come to expect access as a privilege and nightly routine. Dogs are molded by positive and negative reinforcement. Repeated rewards like getting to snooze on the comfy bed at night become ingrained as a habitual perk your dog anticipates.
Being kicked off the bed suddenly can create negative emotional responses like frustration and stress. Be patient, try dog appeasement pheromones, and provide them an equally comfy alternative rest space while resetting boundaries.
Heightened Security
Dogs feel more secure and rested in elevated spaces. In the wild, sleeping on the ground leaves an animal more vulnerable to attacks from predators. Your bed is up off the floor, giving canines a sense of protection. Being physically higher up also allows them a broader vantage point to spot any potential hazards, even while sleeping.
Small dogs especially seem to perceive an elevated surface as more safe and secure. However, even large dogs often prefer sleeping on the bed or furniture compared to the floor. They seem to understand the defensive advantage despite their size.
Excess Energy at Night
Younger and more energetic dogs may have trouble settling at night if their needs for exercise and stimulation were not adequately met during the day. Getting ramped up in your bed becomes an outlet for their pent-up energy and a way to get attention.
Make sure your dog gets sufficient physical and mental exercise based on their age, breed, and temperament. Puppies and high-energy breeds like Border Collies may require a lot more activity during the day to curb restless behavior at night.
Medical Issues
In rare cases, a dog insisting on sleeping with you at night can be indicative of an underlying medical issue. Conditions like canine cognitive dysfunction, dementia or arthritis may cause changes in your senior dog’s sleep patterns and make them restless or anxious.
Medications, urinary tract infections, vomiting, and other medical problems could also be waking your dog up or making them uncomfortable. Check with the vet to rule out any health conditions that could be affecting their nighttime behavior.
Boredom
Lack of stimulation is another common reason dogs get revved up and disruptive at night. Without sufficient physical and mental enrichment during daytime hours, they have pent-up energy and attention-seeking needs to burn at bedtime.
Try expanding your dog’s range of daily activities to tire them out. Increase exercise, play more interactive games, provide chew toys and puzzles, give them a food-stuffed Kong at night, or schedule obedience training classes. A mentally and physically tired dog is less likely to be restless when you turn in for bed.
Change in Routine
Dogs are creatures of habit and get unnerved by changes to their environment and schedules. Anything that abruptly alters their nighttime routine could cause anxiety that leads to them seeking closeness and reassurance from their owner at night.
Has someone moved into or out of your home? Is there a new neighborhood noise like wildlife or construction? Did you recently relocate their crate or feeding station? Even a minor change can disrupt your dog’s normal schedule and make them suddenly restless when the lights go out.
How to Manage Dogs in Your Bed
If your dog sleeping in your bed is problematic, there are steps you can take to manage the behavior:
Set Clear Boundaries
Use crates, baby gates, and closed doors to establish clear boundaries if your dog is too disruptive at night or dominates the space. Reward them with bed access when they stay calm and respect limits.
Provide Alternatives
Give them beds in your room or nearby so they feel included but not on top of you. Use treats to reinforce sleeping on their own designated bed.
Exercise More
Take steps like more walks, playtime, or dog sports to better expend their energy during the daytime.
Ignore Attention-Seeking
If they whine or disrupt your sleep to get a response, ignore them until they settle down to reinforce calm behavior at night.
Anti-Anxiety Training
Consult with a certified dog trainer or veterinary behaviorist to address issues like separation anxiety that may be contributing to the behavior.
Maintain Consistent Routines
Stick to regular schedules for feeding, exercise, and access to beds to give your dog a sense of nighttime predictability.
Potential Risks of Dogs in Beds
While co-sleeping with your dog can feel cozy, there are also some risks to consider:
Disrupted Sleep
Dogs may frequently reposition, steal covers, snore, scratch, or wake you up in the night as they readjust.
Spread of Parasites
Intestinal parasites like worms or fleas can transfer from your dog to humans and multiply rapidly in home environments.
Dirt in the Bed
Letting dogs under the covers can track in dirt, dander, pollen, bacteria and other microscopic allergens that build up in sheets.
Accidents on Bedding
Puppies, excited dogs, elderly or sick dogs may urinate, defecate, or vomit on your expensive bedding and mattress.
Excessive Dominance
If dogs control the bed space or growl when humans enter the bed, it can lead to boundary and obedience issues.
Aggravated Allergies
People with asthma and dog allergies will likely experience worse irritation and symptoms when their dog sleeps in the bed with them.
Lack of Space
Sharing a bed with a large dog or multiple dogs can leave you cramped, uncomfortable, and waking up sore.
Increased Body Heat
Having a furry canine radiator in your bed can mean becoming overheated in the night, especially during summer months.
Establishing Bedroom Boundaries
If having your dog sleep in your bed is problematic, then it’s time to reestablish bedroom boundaries. Here are some tips for training dogs to sleep in their own bed at night:
Transition Gradually
If they are accustomed to sleeping with you, gradually transition them to their new sleeping space over 2-4 weeks. Start by moving their bed right next to yours, then slowly inch it out of the bedroom over time.
Positive Reinforcement
Reward them lavishly with praise, petting, and treats when they sleep contentedly on their own new bed. This motivates good behavior.
Remove Temptations
Keep your bedroom door closed or use baby gates/crates to block bed access if needed during the adjustment period.
Spend Time Apart
Help them learn to self-soothe by temporarily leaving the house or having them sleep in another room 1-2 nights per week.
Meet Exercise Needs
Make sure they get sufficient physical and mental stimulation during the daytime so they are tired out at night.
Nighttime Potty Routine
Take them on a final bathroom break right before bedtime to reduce middle of the night restlessness and accidents.
Bedtime Cues
Establish a relaxing pre-bed routine like massage or soft music to help signal settling time.
Soothing Scents
Rub an old t-shirt that smells like you or use a calming pheromone diffuser near your dog’s new nighttime sleeping area.
Ignore Protests
Expect some initial complaints like whining or barking. Refuse to respond or reward this, no matter how persistent they are about regaining bed access.
Should Dogs Sleep in Bed with Humans?
There are valid pros and cons regarding whether to let dogs sleep in your bed or not. Some major considerations include:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Enhanced bonding and attachment | Disrupted sleep from dog’s movements |
| Increased feelings of security and protection | Possible spreading of fleas or intestinal parasites |
| Provides dog better oversight of home threats | Increased risk of allergens triggering asthma/allergies |
| Regulates body heat distribution for dogs | Lack of space and discomfort from large dogs in the bed |
| Oxytocin release fosters social attachment | Dogs may crowd, scratch or exhibit dominance towards humans |
Overall, it comes down to your individual circumstances, preferences and relationship with your dog. Some dog owners love snuggling with their pups at night. Others need more defined boundaries and undisturbed rest.
Assess your specific situation and try out different approaches to find the best nighttime arrangement that suits your needs and lifestyle.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, dogs gravitate to our beds at night because they are drawn to comfort and closeness with their human pack. As social creatures evolved to bond with people, dogs see sleeping beside you not just as pleasant but also as beneficial for their safety and security.
While puppy eyes begging you to lift the covers can be hard to resist, unrestricted bed access is not ideal for all owners and dogs. Compromises like having dog beds in the room or rotating co-sleeping nights might work best. Finding the right balance comes down to understanding canine instincts while also prioritizing healthy boundaries and habits in your home.