Dixie
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Posted 07/11/12
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#1
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I know some of you allow your dog to sleep on top of your bed...yeah, I know we shouldn't.
My questions is this; if you allow the dog on your bed to rest or sleep at night, does that say to the dog he is Alpha? I always figured this was an old wives tale.
I am going to interview a trainer that is highly recommended. But one of her clients told me she says..no dogs on the bed. That sounds like outdated information to me...
What do you think?
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Dixie
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GinaG
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Registered: 04/09/09
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Posted 07/11/12
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#2
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Dixie...from my own experience I had a great time letting my Mastiffs come up on the bed to say hello. They usually got off though, it was too warm for them. I knew many, many Mastiff folks who had their dogs sleep with them, but as I recall the dogs were VERY possessive of the owners. After I was diagnosed w/chronic pain, they were not allowed on the bed, they didn't seem to mind and they had their own beds. If you could put up with the hair, smell and such I guess it's ok..I know how fastidious you are with your Mastiffs and I doubt any harm will come from it...but all night? They usually hog the whole bed, leaving YOU on the floor...LOL..
have fun hon..
Gina
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dixierockstarr
Registered: 11/28/11
Posts: 939
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Posted 07/11/12
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#3
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Dixie sleeps with me but I've got as big a bed as they make. She usually only sleeps a few hours on the bed because when I wake up she's on the floor next to me and I have to be careful jumping down. Its kinda like she is putting me to bed, lol.. She does jump back up and snuggle up tight to me if I'm having a bad night (depression issues).
I don't think it creates any alpha issues. She is well mannered and we are doing great in our obedience training. Dixie is groomed regularly so there isn't any odor issues but I have to wash my sheets ALL the time cuz the hair bugs me.
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Christin 
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Mom to Bravo son of
Intl Ch Dixie Rockstarr (RIP baby),
Fiona our pound puppy,
Chloe our kitty,
And 3 handsome gentlemen Brockton, Christopher and Jordan
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dixierockstarr
Registered: 11/28/11
Posts: 939
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Posted 07/11/12
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#4
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Oh No! I just had a thought! What if she/we do smell and I'm used to it and don't know!?!?! I've got to go to my moms and tell her to smell me now!
Also just wanted to add... you know you own a mastiff when you're spooning with your dog and can't reach the end of her chest!
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Christin
Member MCOA
Mom to Bravo son of
Intl Ch Dixie Rockstarr (RIP baby),
Fiona our pound puppy,
Chloe our kitty,
And 3 handsome gentlemen Brockton, Christopher and Jordan
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brindlelove
Registered: 12/26/11
Posts: 278
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Posted 07/11/12
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#5
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Bella starts off on the floor on her bed. When we wake up she has somehow SNUCK into bed with us!!!! She is now 14 months old and outside of her and my wife hogging up the bed (see thread about you know you awn a mastiff when thread because I have gotten used to the sofa LOL. That's with a king bed LOL) I have seen NO side effects. Actually she has become more in tune with us. She has actually started to respond better to training and just in general listens MUCH better. Remember Dogs are pack animals and when you understand that you can mold your dog into what most people only dream of.
Now if you do not spend the time socializing your dog or training them I can see how they MIGHT become possessive. It's just them protecting the weakest link in the pack. Basically doing what they are supposed to do. In short train properly, keep your house cool and have plenty of snoring contest. Sleep away and enjoy!!!!
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You know you own a mastiff when youre dog weighs more than your wife!
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erikam
Registered: 01/21/12
Posts: 1,528
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Posted 07/11/12
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#6
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I think "alpha" and all the dominance stuff is getting pretty discredited. That said, there are plenty of wonderful positive trainers that don't like dogs on the bed - many use "nothing in life is free" and it has nothing at all to do with alpha or punishment. Ask the trainer why, if it is some goofy thing about alpha, go elsewhere. However there are lots of people whose dogs are totally out of control, and the last thing that would benefit ANYONE is to have the dog sleeping anywhere but in a crate, with a nice kong where it can not destroy anything or growl at anyone. Also beware of one-size-fits-all trainers, if it is a blanket policy with no exceptions, then IMHO she is not working with You and YOUR dog. Why pay someone to train their imaginary dog ?
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Tracy
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Registered: 05/30/06
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Posted 07/11/12
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#7
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I dont let thm on the bed, and raised my bed pretty high where it takes a full gainer with a half twist to get in it at night so they wont get on it. More for my own ability to sleep than anything else. Before we did this to the bed, I woke up one night thinking I had been buried alive and panicking b/c I couldnt move. Turns out I had a mastiff down each side of me, holding the covers in place. The claustraphobic in me emerged kicking!!
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Lilliesmomma
Registered: 09/03/10
Posts: 209
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Posted 07/11/12
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#8
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Lillie will start out on the couch or on the floor of my bedroom by the time I wake up she is usually in bed with me. Not always but usually. The puppy still sleeps in her crate.
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~and a rescued reverse brindle male~
Lillie
Abby
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BlusMom
Registered: 03/23/12
Posts: 435
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Posted 07/11/12
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#9
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1 my 3 mastiffs sleep on the bed with me all night. 2 i have never owned dogs that did not sleep on the bed. 3 if they get hot or are not sleepy they lay on the floor ubntil it is time for them to come to bed. 4 it is my bed NOBODY gets in before me. I am ALPHA.
5 I wouldn't have it any other way. and believe me it used to be and now I am making up for not having my babies on the bed with me their whole lives.
Furniture and new rugs and such are overrated the dogs are priceless and irreplaceable I can always get new carpet or sofa and such.
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Theresa
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BlusMom
Registered: 03/23/12
Posts: 435
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Posted 07/11/12
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#10
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oh yes and they share nicely all i do is tell them on the bed to make room for whoever was the slowpoke and got their last.
Nothing like seeing dogs play "last one is the rotten egg"
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Theresa
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GinaG
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Registered: 04/09/09
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Posted 07/11/12
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#11
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Theresa, you crack me up. I would love to be one of your Mastiffs (wait did that sound right?)...well you know they are lucky to be loved by you and so comfy no matter what...
sleep well.
Gina
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gina anelli
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BlusMom
Registered: 03/23/12
Posts: 435
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Posted 07/11/12
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#12
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Gina,
It is how I was raised. even though my grandma did not let her dog on the bed I remember our job was to feed him before we sat down to eat on Sundays. becasue it wasn't fair for him to smell all our food and have to wait to get something to eat. he got fed before her grandchildren.
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Theresa
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mekotessa
Registered: 10/02/08
Posts: 544
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Posted 07/11/12
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#13
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I think that if a dog is naturally very dominant or possessive you might wan to reconsider letting it on the bed, but if your dog is confident with his position in the family then I don't see why it would be an issue. Iactually think sharing my bed with My dog is a great bonding experience. He rests his head on my legs and ican tell he relly enjoys the physical closeness. The major rule is they must get off when I ask. If they can't follow this rule then no more bed snuggles!
I have always let my dogs on the bed and have never had a pet that I would even consider to be dominant...they are all big babies who get their feelings hurt if I even look at them wrong.
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Dixie
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Posted 07/11/12
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#14
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He just lays at my feet. He jumps off several times a night because he gets to warm.
I never used to allow a dog on my bed. But, with a mastiff that went out the window.
The trainer comes highly recommended but she's expensive so this is my way
of sort of checking her out. The theory of no dogs on the bed seemed like
outdated information.
Thanks!
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sarahk2
Registered: 04/17/07
Posts: 948
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Posted 07/11/12
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#15
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The dogs sleep on my bed - sometimes just Truman, sometimes just Joey, sometimes Jazzy (when I help her up) and sometimes all of them. Most of the time they rotate throughout the night because they get hot. The Newfie has no desire to sleep on the bed and would prefer to sleep in the coldest spot in the house. But, they come up invited, which means I control it (as long as I'm awake). I don't see how one rule applies to all situations. My guys are very needy and yes, I probably feed into that a little bit, but I like that. I don't have kids and they are the closest I'll have to kids so as long as it doesn't cause a problem, I don't see the big deal.
I can see how there may be a problem if you have a dominant dog - but none of mine are really outwardly dominant. The behaviors they exhibit that appear dominant are curtailed if I catch them in the act. But, I can't see one rule applying to all dogs - that doesn't make sense to me.
Oh...and despite my husband's claim to the contrary...there is room for one more. Especially since they rotate in shifts.
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AnnetteSt
Registered: 05/11/12
Posts: 97
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Posted 07/11/12
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#16
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I concur that the whole dominance thing is pretty much discredited. Kima sleeps most of the night on her bed next to mine and then early in the morning climbs into my bed. I think it is just what is comfortable for you. I live alone and having Kima close by, as young as she (4 months on the 17th) is, makes me feel safer.
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Dixie
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Posted 07/12/12
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#17
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Isn't that the truth Annette? Somehow I always feel safer with a mastiff around the house.
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Janine
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Registered: 07/23/07
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Posted 07/12/12
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#18
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None of my mastiffs ever wanted to sleep on the bed, they all had beds around the floor next to ours but not one ever attempted to get on.
My sable shepherd does sleep with us on the bed but the black one gets off and sleeps on the floor next to the bed.
Only this morning I was half asleep with my arm over what I thought was my husband, (he is not that hairy, but I was in another world and so tired this morning). I mumbled as to if he was going to work or not as I thought it was getting late, I heard my husband laugh and opened my eyes to see I had my arm around Blade who had his head on the pillow was was so comfortable snuggled into me.
Janine.
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