There was a time when Speck slept in the bed with us. I’m not real fond of having a dog in my bed and I swore I’d never start that habit again. But, Miss Rita is so special. I know I’m going to regret this!
Just this week, she’s decided she wants to go to bed in the big bed when I go to bed. How can I say no to her?
It’s not exactly like she’s sleeping IN the bed because she doesn’t really want to be that close. She’s happy to sleep on top of the bed.
Rita in the Bed
Yep, there’s a dog under that pile on the bed. Yesterday while out, I bought another dog bed. We have several but I wanted one that I could easily wash. Rita tends to smell like a dog when she gets warm and sleeping in the bed all wrapped up in that sheet . . the dog, the bed and the sheet smell like after a couple of days.
Rita in the Bed
It looks like there’s more dog than there is bed! Vince has a habit of giving them both treats every time they do something. Speck has gotten really thin in his old age but Rita . . not so thin. I keep telling him we are not doing her any favors letting her get overweight. I speak from personal experience! 🙁 I’m working to get her weight down and I’m with her more than he is so I should be successful.
We have a queen bed . . we need a king bed if she’s going to sleep there too. I’m afraid I’m going to kick her off the bed. I really don’t move much while sleeping. In fact, I rarely even turn over once but I keep waking up making sure she hasn’t been pushed over to the edge of the bed.
I would have said no to her idea except I wonder . . if since she can’t see, maybe she’s not comfortable being in the living room without us around. Maybe she feels more secure close to us.
They say not to give in and baby her because she’s blind. They don’t say how to discipline yourself to accomplish that. I can only imagine what it must be like for parents of children who have bad things happen to them or who are handicapped. I know the best thing to do is continue “normal” but, if she wants to sleep on our bed, we’ll just get a bigger bed . . simple as that. I haven’t mentioned that idea to Vince yet. He’ll probably say Rita can stay and I can go to another bed . . most nights that’s how it ends up anyway. Either I stay up way too late and don’t want to wake him up or by the time I go to bed, he’s in the middle of the bed and snoring and it’s just easier to go sleep in another bed than to try to wake him up. I wonder what Rita will do when that happens . . if she’ll want to go in the room where she’s used to going or if she’ll be happy to go wherever I go.
We’re creating a very spoiled dog . . and who cares?
Sandy says
Rita looks very comfortable, but I follow the rule my mother had when I was growing up: No dogs or cats on beds or other furniture! I don’t have a cat, but my dog knows Mom’s rule. I’m glad I don’t have to deal with dog hair in my bed or on my couch.
thequiltingprofessor says
hey Judy – your house, your dog, your sleep – – you know what is best for you, Rita, Vince, and how to balance it. Just love the dickens out of her (and maybe a few less treats !)
Kathleen
Diane/FL says
I have two chihuahuas and they don’t run my home but I do tend to give in when they want to sit with me or sleep with me when my husband is out of town. When he is home, there is too many to have all of us in the bed so they sleep in their kennel next to our bed. My girl chi has managed to slide off the foot of the bed and got “sausage rolled” in the covers so she never touched the floor. She just laid there until I got her unrolled. It was kinda funny.
My only hard and fast rule is no roaming around the house at night (living in tornado alley and midnight hunting for dogs while sirens are blaring will cure that!) and I only give treats on nail clipping day as it is so stressful for all of us. They get theirs and I get mine! ?
I agree with you about treats. We aren’t doing them any favors. I just wish I could get someone to dole out food in exact portions to me so I could maintain a healthy weight. Lol
Sheri says
Would it work to have some kind of ottoman pulled up next to the bed that she can sleep on? That way she is near you, but you’re not waking up afraid that you’ve kicked her off. It’s nice that she wants to be with you. 🙂
montanaclarks says
“We’re creating a very spoiled dog . . and who cares?” Yep–we have a very spoiled little dog and we love her to pieces. Emmi has a ramp at the end of the bed. She usually starts out with us in our king size bed but sometime during the night will leave to get a drink of water then go to her own bed which is one of the recliners in the living room. She’s a spoiled girl for sure!
cassews says
Whatever works for the three of you … Yep she deserves to be spoiled just a wee bit !!!
Pat says
Loved sleeping with my fur babies. One slept in the middle and one only sleeps with us when it cold weather or storming weather (he was like Rita when it came to storms). Both have gone over the Rainbow bridge and I don’t think we have had a full night sleep since. Rita and Speck are luck guys to have you guys.
Dianne says
That’s right, Judy. Who cares if she’s spoiled?