First of all, I’d like to say that I’ve been reading the various threads on this forum with great interest and I'm really impressed by the time and effort some of you put into informing and guiding owners who are feeling a bit lost.
I’ve already learnt so much thanks to you, so thank you!
Anyway, back to the point:
I’ve read a few topics on this, but opinions seem to vary so much that it's starting to worry me. I’m about to adopt a White Swiss Shepherd; he’ll be with us at the end of December if all goes well.
I’ve got a question about bedtime, which is clearly a big debate!
Is it really essential for a dog's well-being to be kept out of the bedroom? I was planning on having the puppy in my room, in a designated spot. While looking through breeders' websites, I’ve noticed some advise against this, mainly for the dog's sake.
I’m expecting some chewing and a few accidents, so I’m fairly prepared and not particularly worried about it happening, but if it’s genuinely bad for the dog, that concerns me a bit more...
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Translated from French
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Actually, I think we’re the ones who want to assign a specific sleeping spot to the dog. I have two dogs who are perfectly fine being left alone, yet they sleep with me. Separation can be practised at other times of the day; in my experience with seven dogs since I was a kid, I’ve never felt that this increases a dog's anxiety, and we’ve never had dogs that were particularly known for being happy on their own. However, you do need to establish some ground rules, especially if you let the dog on the bed. You should always ask a dog to get down from their sleeping spot, rather than just shoving them off.
At night, I get the impression that dogs choose comfort over the owner’s presence anyway. The main thing is to do what works for you; I struggle a bit with all these modern rules that sometimes just frustrate both the owner and the dog for various reasons. For me, it isn't vital to sleep with my dogs, but some people love it and find it comforting, so go for it (provided the dog wants to, obviously—Iago sometimes chooses to sleep in the hallway and I just let him be). That said, you shouldn't let a dog follow you into every single room. Don't let your dog in the bathroom, the loo, or right under your feet while you're cooking.
Thank you so much for your replies.
I grew up with various dogs and most of them had access to the bedrooms, but like you, Ulthia, they didn't necessarily spend the night there. So, can learning to be alone be undermined by letting the dog sleep with you?
The dogs I’ve lived with (mostly through fostering) all had several sleeping spots – for the day, for the night, in the living room, in the bedroom, in the garden... and they’d rotate between them. Maybe that’s a bit unusual then :/
(As for partners, it’s not an issue in this instance, but you definitely have to be careful not to instil habits that you might regret later!)
The problem is also that at the moment, someone is also sleeping in the living room. So the dog would inevitably be with someone, at least for now. Perhaps it’s better to keep them in one place regardless, the main living area in particular...
We’re planning to get them used to being alone for a few hours a day, gradually at first, using fairly standard methods (going out for 5 mins, then 10, etc.). I’m just worried about stressing them out or upsetting them.
Thanks again, I’ll have to have a proper think about all this.
Hi everyone! I’m a bit of a rule-breaker myself as my dogs have always slept in my room. They stay in their own dog beds, obviously, but they’re allowed in the bedroom (only at night and if I’m actually there). They tend to come and go during the night; they often start the night with me and finish it in the lounge... So they aren't clingy, but we did have to work on that. It all depends on what you’re happy to allow and what a current or future partner might be okay with, so it's worth thinking about now to avoid unsettling the dog further down the line... It’s really up to you and depends on your dog; my situation won't work for everyone (some dogs might really struggle with it).
Hi!
To be honest, everyone has their own way of doing things and what works for one person might not work for someone else. My dogs have never slept in my bedroom because I like to have my own space. Some people say it helps the puppy settle in if they're in the bedroom at first, but I think it's easier to set the right habits from the start: the dog should have their own bed (not on the sofa or in a human bed), ideally in the same spot you'd want them to use as an adult. For example, a dog bed in the living room.
Having the dog glued to you all the time when you're at home can lead to separation anxiety when you "disappear". They need to learn how to be alone every now and then, and to understand that their owner isn't necessarily far away and that they're perfectly safe.
Having their bed in the living room gives them a permanent base they can go to whenever they like. Since dogs don't sleep the same way we do, they need to take long naps during the day. It’s better if they can always sleep in the same place, as it reinforces that "this is my corner, where I feel safe" feeling.
What I’d worry about with a White Swiss Shepherd is encouraging an unhealthy emotional dependency.
They’re already the type of dog prone to separation anxiety, so I think it’s vital to help them learn to be a bit more independent, for their own well-being above all else.
