Do you share the bed?

Many of us share our bed with our beloved one, including the dog. A recent survey found that half of dog owners sleep with there dog. The highest percentage who share there bed are single females between the ages of 18-34. Almost 6 out of 10 women in this group allowed the dog on the bed. The group more likely to boot the dog off the bed are married men over 45 years of age, but even in this class, just shy of 40% still sleep with their dog. Many rich famous people have given their dog’s bed privileges. According to the information carved on his tomb, the Egyptian pharaoh Rameses the great had a hound named Pahates with the title “bed Companion to the Pharaoh”. Alexander the Great was another who was known to sleep with his hound, Peritas after he rested from his battles. So many historical people have been known to share there bed with there four legged friend. People may find the dog a since of security, but from the dogs point of view this may raise some unwanted implications that result from this sleeping arrangement. Psychologists have learned that dogs uphold an almost military pack hierarchy, with the pack leader being the general and so on down the ranks. The “Alpha” dog is the leader of the pack; he demonstrates his position by taking control of resources and position of power. He chooses where he wants to go and the Alpha dog chooses where he sleeps usually the highest elevation so he can look down on the others. So if you sleep on the bed and the dog sleeps on the floor, you subtly assert your position as pack leader, but if the dog sleeps on the bed and is at the same elevation as you, this implies the same power position and equal status. This can undermine your position as pack leader with the dog having a demanding behavior or even outright disobedience. There is an additional pitfall, pack members acknowledge the leader and move out of the way or they are physically bumped out of the way, by being forced back a step or two the dog admits his lower in status. Another form of this behavior is leaning, which is often really nothing more than a passive version of the shoulder bump. A dog showing dominance will lean his weight onto another dog. If the dog moves, even slightly, this indicates he has conceded higher status to the dog doing the leaning. Unfortunately, if our dogs lean on us in bed we may, out of politeness move over to give them more room, so we don’t disturb them. This is a signal that is read by the dog as evidence that they rank higher in status then we are. If you want to sleep with your dog, at least make him move when you choose to turn or have move space. This will help to undermine any delusions of grandeur that Max may be tempted to develop.

Another problem that studies show with having your dog as a bed partner, is it has caused some controversy, emotional strain in 13 percent of relationships with one partner objecting to the dog sleeping on the bed. In history, General George Armstrong Custer fought with his wife about the dogs sleeping on the bed, these heated arguments got so bad that she threatened not to sleep beside him if it involved the dogs in the bed, they came to a compromise agreement, when he was at home the dogs could sleep in the bedroom but not on the bed, and when he was in the field, the dogs could sleep with him. So tread lightly in this matter, your selection of bed partners can have a powerful influence on your life, even if that partner has four legs and a tail.

It is important that all pet owners know how to prevent and recognize and rectify problem behavior. Bringing home your new puppy is exciting, but his future depends on how he spends his formative months with you. It’s easy to spoil your new acquired friend, but you’re not likely to enjoy the problem behavior that will result from such permissiveness. On the other hand, a puppy with obedience and well-socialized will be on the road to a long and happy life. Prevention is easier then correction when raising a puppy. Here are some basic techniques to help prevent bad habits from developing.

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