the bedroom

[Jimyg]

As winter is coming my girlfriend has decided we should have Hugo upstairs as its very cold downstairs. I am worried though as I have heard from people it can create problems in the dog? He is 10 months now I'd love him upstairs but I don't want to cause any problems! How true is this and how many cockers sleep on the bed?

[elaine.e]

What problems do you think it might create?

When I only had 1 Cocker (William) I used to allow him to sleep on the bed sometimes but it never caused any problems. If I let him sleep there he was fine but if I didn't he still settled perfectly well downstairs. But now I've got two I don't let them sleep on the bed. That's partly because I want some space to sleep, partly because Cocker number two, Louis, is a total minger and also in case he decides to guard the bed against William. The two of them get on reasonably well but Louis sometimes likes to guard things when William is nearby.

[Ruby Tuesday]

Our dogs usually sleep in our room and sometimes come up on the bed. I would only be concerned about doing it if a dog was quite dominant. Other than that, as I see it, it is natural for dogs to sleep with their pack. Our Ruby used to be a nightmare when she slept in the kitchen, she would bang on the door for ages. After a while I realise she wanted to be near us and she settled straight away. Ironically now she is a bit older, she sometimes chooses not to come upstairs!

[Emilyoliver]

The most likely problem would be your own disturbed sleep!  Mine sleep on the bed (and wriggle and take up 3/4 of the space).  But I like them there so that's how it is - I'm tired and they're happy   They certainly have no problem with the arrangement! I suppose what you need to consider is whether you are happy with him on the bed all the time. It will be difficult for him to understand why one day it's fine and then the next it's not. (although Elaine has mentioned that William didn't mind).  It's up to you what you allow or not., but consistency is important I believe.

[Wenco18]

Mine have their beds either side of our bed and jump up for cuddles in the morning  

I spent months trying  to get Lottie to settle downstairs, eventually moving her bed upstairs and she settled no problem.

When we got Lola she joined us and I like to have them near us  

It depends on whether you want Hugo to move back down in the summer, I have no experience of that I'm afraid  
 

[Jimyg]

I have been told it can 'spoil the dog' as in becomes massively dependant and have bad sepration anxiety and even lead to aggression so sounds like utter rubbish then! I have no problem with him upstairs when he's been ill he stayed upstairs with us. Plus it saves me setting my alarm clock  thanks for the advice

[LinziS]

Until the age of around 2 Erin slept in her crate but when we took it away she just took it as her right to sleep on our bed which was fine she was no problem. She does take herself downstairs or lies on the floor on a cushion at times.
 We stopped closing Tilly crate door about 4 weeks ago and she too thinks it is her right to snuggle up beside us on the bed...however she is a wriggler and likes to be as close to me as she possibly can...even if that means lying across ma head She never gets off the bed during the night...just continually changes position    and I have also found that she will stay there long after everyone else is up...she is just too comfy.
Think Erin was a bit annoyed at first that she now had to share the space and grumbled at times.
I am just glad we have a big bed

[Emilyoliver]

I work full time, and have done so throughout their lives. They do follow me everywhere in the house (as cockers do), but have no separation anxiety/ issues when I'm out. Again, it's routine and consistency that's important. Having Hugo in the bedroom shouldn't suddenly result in other negative behaviour. And you'll get that extra time sleeping in the mornings!

[cangrejo]

My two sleep on the bed, Charlie snuggles up to the back of my head making very contented little hhmmm noises    Dexter curls up feet end, they did wake me up once having a grumble at each other when Dexter tried to steal Charlie's prime head cuddling spot    When it's really cold they creep in under the covers and steal my hot water bottle by lying on it

Sometimes I wake up teetering on the edge with the two of them sprawled out taking up a lot of space, but I like having them there, they have both slept better since being allowed to sleep on the bed and they don't have any issues like separation anxiety 

[Robbie34]

So, just what are the problems this is supposed to create?  People who know nothing at all about dogs quite often say daft things.

All of my Cockers have slept in my bedroom without causing any problems for them and, as others on here will testify, so have thousands of others.  There is nothing like being woken up in the morning with sloppy Cocker kisses. 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Charlie has been upstairs since day1, the only 'problem' it has caused is that he takes up too much bed space lol. would I haveitanyother way? of course not

[Jane57]

Riley has been upstairs for a couple of months now, I feel much better so does hubby knowing he is nearby.
He did sleep ok in his crate downstairs fort the first few months we had him but he woke us about 5.30am each morning.

He will come up on the bed and go back down on the floor or his own bed or the ensuite , whatever he chooses, he never lies still anywhere for long  to be honest . He usually is back on the bed at about 6am and starts fidgeting, scratching etc, and the minute he "knows" we are even slightly awake he is up at our faces with big licks and cuddles, I love seeing how soft hubby is with him hehe

[maddy74]

Willow has always slept in our room but was crated from 8 weeks until about May of this year when she was ill. At the time she was ill so we let her sleep on the bed, this was a temporary arrangement but now 5 months on she is still with us. She will not go back in her crate without a fuss. She is still crated when we go camping but now knows she is on the bed at home. She is still fine when left when we go out to work it hasnt caused SA. The only trouble it has caused is that she is wiggly and takes up MOST of the bed  She is also a bit of a b****r when one of us has got into bed and the other hasnt she will lie on that side of the bed and asking her to move falls on deaf ears and she goes limp and turns into a lead weight when we try and move her  On a plus side she makes a great foot warmer 

[Patp]

Jinley used to sleep quite happily downstairs, but it was my OH who said he wanted her upstairs.  And now after her "last wee" she is upstairs before us. 

Just a warning .... there isnt a bed big enough - we have a super king size and I still end up balancing on the edge with Jinley in the middle taking up the room of a small giraffe

I have not seen any change in her behaviour (other than that she now loves a lie in). 

Oh...and your private life will never be the same again! 

Pat

[jonnytrabant]

No right or wrong in my opinion on this issue. Whatever feels right for the owner I say, mine sleeps downstairs and is never allowed in the bedroom never mind on the bed. I have no wish to sleep on his bed, so I guess he has no wish to kip on mine.