Pet Lovers

[AnikaBrodie]

Just stopping by to say hello and give (((hugs))) to you and Buddy.   I hope the meds are making him more comfortable and that you are enjoying every moment you have with him.  Keep us posted.

[AnikaBrodie]

Does Buddy look similar to this?  I thought this dog was so cute I just had to post the photo.  I don't think he likes the hat! 

[CamilleP]

Karnerblue, I have a small step stool next to my bed so that my dogs can get up onto and off of the bed any time they want.  I have a large flat sheet over the rest of the blankets that I can take off and wash when needed.  I always let my dogs sleep on the bed with me, it's a natural extension of the denning instinct and normal pack behaviour, and strengthens and solidifies the bond between human and dog.  There is absolutely nothing whatsoever wrong with you letting Buddy sleep with you, you will get the rest you need and Buddy will be much happier, too!

[Shop Till you Drop]

i would not give it a thought for him to sleep with you.  As long as he is safe and protected in your arms, you should both be good to go.  I sleep very little either most of the time because I need  to keep my Joey in a comfortable positon for his breathing, but its all good.  Sleep is very overrated

[Karnerblue]

AnikaBrodie, thank you for thinking of us.  Buddy seems to be doing much better as far as getting sleep and relaxing.  The meds are helping a lot.  That picture is so cute ... he does look similar.  His markings are a little darker but very similar.  He does look a little irritated about the hat

[MaggieMack]

My pup sleeps on my bed every night and I never ever questioned if it was the right thing to do. Of course it is!  If I had a man in my life who disagreed with sharing the bed with my dog, I would get rid of the man. 

[NC Bandwagon]

Hello, Karnerblue.

Glad that Buddy is doing a bit better.

[GingerPeach]

@Karnerblue

I've slept with dogs ever since my first one came to live with me.

No issues whatsoever.  Enjoy your closeness with Buddy.  You will both benefit.

Fair warning, even a small dog will take up more room than you might imagine.  And once he settles, if you're anything like me and I imagine like a lot of folks here, you probably won't have the heart to reposition him!  But it's just one more thing to warm your soul about living with a dog.

(OK, you know I'm not completely serious about the repositioning.)

[Sammycat1]

No worries about sleeping with Buddy!  We've slept with all kinds of dogs who were our pets over the years -- it's their bed, in truth, after all. Once when I was younger and single, my sister's Great Dane crawled into bed with me when I was visiting her family.  When I woke up and could feel her behind me (not knowing it was her), I wondered:  who got in here with me?

If you don't have pet steps to put up against the bed, a low footstool or bench may help give him a little lift to get up and down.  We bought kitty steps for our cats as they grew older...and they went up and down them with ease.

You guys need to bunk together for some quality deep-dish sleep!

[geezerette]

Karnerblue,

I'm another one that let our dogs sleep with me.  Some preferred their own beds at various times of their lives, but always were allowed on the bed if they wanted.  (Now it's the cat that has bed rights.)  Like Camille, I keep a sheet or old blanket on top so it can be washed often and easily.  (They liked a fuzzy blanket when it was cold.)

Our last dog was a lot like Buddy, in that she needed the comfort of being with someone at all times, especially as she went downhill physically.  She was small and I didn't have anything near the bed so I always lifted her up and down.  If she needed to get up during the night, she let me know and I could get her down.  That also let me keep track of why she needed off the bed and to be available if she was having problems.  Like you, I'm a light sleeper and I often would wake even when she was just settling herself.

I'm sure it would help you get more rest and have fewer aches and pains, but if you're worried about not waking up for Buddy in case he needs you, I doubt that would happen.  You're so attuned to him at this point, I'm sure you'll still be there if he needs you.  I would watch him at first since he's not been on the bed before to make sure he doesn't accidently go off it.  A couple of our dogs have taken tumbles off the beds as they aged.

I hope you and Buddy have many peaceful nights ahead of you--together!