Ask A Dog Trainer: Should I allow my dog to sleep in my bed with me?

Q: Should I allow my dog to sleep in my bed with me?

A: In my experience, allowing your dog to sleep in your bed with you is a very unwise decision if you want your dog to be psychologically healthy. Dogs are, to varying degrees, dominant or submissive but anytime you allow your dog to sleep in your bed with you, they instantly view themselves either as equal or as more dominant than you.

This is only "bad" if you don't want your dog to be your leader in their mind and you be the follower in their mind. When your dog views himself as your leader, then he will enforce rules in the household rather than submit to your rules that you've set for your household.

Therefore, if you find yourself frustrated that your dog is not submitting to the rules that you've set for your own household, and yet you're having them sleep in your bed with you, you're asking your dog to do two different things and he can only act on one of those two things. This is why I recommend having your dog sleep in either a crate or a dog bed inside or outside of your room.