What’s The Best Place for Your Dog to Sleep in?

All dogs are different. Some may never sleep in your room even if the door is wide open while others will scratch at the closed door needing to be with you. It’s important that every member of our household can sleep soundly and comfortably. 

Whether they sleep on a dog bed in another room or share your bed, our faithful companions need a warm and comfortable sleeping spot. After all, their doggy relatives in the wild are known to create a nest out of the dirt to curl up in. This keeps them warm and helps them feel safe. And a safe place where they can comfortably nap or chew a toy is probably one of a dog’s favorite things. As an owner, you can probably think back to a funny memory of your dog doing something silly or sweet in their bed or on the couch.

5 Common Places For Your Dog To Sleep At Night & What’s the Best?

Listed below are the 5 places for your dog to sleep, as well as any disadvantages or perks each may have.

1. Sharing Your Bed

We all know it’s hard to resist cuddling up with your dog and sleeping in the same bed. This option is certainly a popular choice for dog owners, even if it means fighting for space or acting as a human pillow.

Yet, sharing a bed with a dog — even if you don’t have an allergy to animals — can increase your chances of catching allergies to pollen and dirt, or even parasites that cling to your dog’s fur. Plus, older dogs may find it hard and painful to climb onto beds and may have leaky bladders.

It’s important that your dog(s) has their own bed that isn’t yours. If they have a dog bed somewhere else in the house, they can comfortably nap or relax during the day. And much like us, dogs need their own space.

2. On The Carpet Or Floor

Sometimes, dogs just need a horizontal surface to plop down and digest their food or sleep off after a strenuous butterfly hunt. Because they’re expert nap machines, dogs will often find a sunny spot or a comfortable carpet and simply sleep on the floor. 

Some dog owners have sleeping mats in their dog’s favorite spots for this very reason, giving them the choice of a comfortable nap. It is not the most comfortable place for dogs to lie on the cold hard floor, even if they are healthy. Older dogs with joint aches or health conditions appreciate the comfort of a cozy carpet when the bed just seems too far away.

3. The Couch

Good old-fashioned couch sleeping is a go-to for a lot of dogs — if they’re allowed on the furniture. It’s hard to disagree with their choice when you see them blissfully passed out.

But it’s always best to have more sleeping options for your canine companion, and whether it’s a dog bed or a sleeping mat, it will give your couch a bit of a break (from wear and tear) if your dog has the choice of sleeping somewhere else. Couches can also be notoriously hard for older dogs with arthritis to climb on.

4. Crates or Cages

Though crates and cages are less than ideal for your furry friend, many owners choose these sleeping spaces as a means of toilet training their puppies. Crates can also feel comforting to certain dogs and reduce chewing from anxiety. As an alternative to enclosing their dogs, many pet owners have opted for chew toys and other items to entertain them at night, while finding ways to let them be active during the day.

5. Dog Beds – The Best Place for Your Sleepy Dog

Dog beds are the most popular choice for both dogs and their human owners. Place them anywhere around your home and yard, and easily clean and dust them when dirty. 

Dog beds come in a wide range of sizes and styles to meet the decor of your home, and they give your dog much-deserved comfort. Plus, there’s nothing sweeter than watching your dog fastidiously sort out its dog bed before settling down to sleep.

Comfort Is King

At the end of the day, we all know our dog doesn’t need anything over the top to be happy.

A simple, comfortable, and warm bed dogs can hunker down in is an essential thing. And for us humans, the convenience of cleaning an easy-care dog bed gives us more time to spend with our furry pals. It also means our couches and carpets last a little longer.