A friend and I were discussing a recent scene from one of our favorite PBS series on Masterpiece—Van der Valk—in which a dog actor on the show was lying next to his humans in bed, on his back, comfortably relaxed. I wondered if other dog guardians I know related to that sight. I thought I’d ask.
“Where does your dog sleep?” I inquired of online friends. “For fun, and because I’m curious,” I added.
I detailed my questions: “You have more than one dog? Tell us about them all and where each one sleeps … and why! Was it the dog’s choice or yours? I’d love to hear where each dog sleeps at night when you’re sleeping and where each dog sleeps during the day when you’re awake. Also, when you’re not home, does the dog make a different choice … or do you?”
They answered from across the globe. What would your answer be?
Jane Beecham (United Kingdom) He sleeps in our bed. When we adopted him he came with a crate but it was tiny and he’d been sleeping in the same place as his previous owner. He cried all night and eventually I got up, got him out and snuggled with him and he settled! So he’s in with us. Our choice. Sleeps in his bed in the kitchen during the day or on the hall window seat to keep an eye on what’s going on out front. Sofa or on our knees in the evening. Crate when we go out.
Isabel Alvarez Arata (Texas) On a Big Barker Bed. They are the only truly orthopedic dog bed and are really attractive too. They are an investment but totally worth it.
Cathy Collins (Michigan) My 16-year-old (up until a couple of years ago) used to sleep in bed with me. She now prefers the bedroom floor. My 11-month-old and 3.5-year-old sleep in bed with me, one at my head on my pillow and the other down around my feet. (The 3.5-year-old is an alpha and he gets to pick the place. Sometimes they switch. No squabbles. It’s an unspoken arrangement.)
Peggy Modjeski (Kentucky) My dogs sleep with us on the bed. They even have their own pillows! [When we’re not home] Puppy (a 14-month-old Picard) sleeps in a crate. Adult (a two-year-old Picard) sleeps wherever she wants, usually on the couch or bed. My older girl has always been trustworthy and has not been crated since she was about six months old. My younger male still gets into mischief. Picards are weird. I do use crates when we travel.
Adrienne Critchlow (United Kingdom) I have two dogs (a Labrador and an English shepherd). They can sleep wherever they like, as they get free roam of the house. They can choose the sofas, any of the five dog beds around the house, or on my bed (one likes to sleep on top of the duvet, one likes to sleep under it). Ninety-nine percent of the time they choose to sleep with me. Usually that means on and in the bed—but on the sofa if I fall asleep there!
Dale Ward (North Carolina) She allows us to sleep on the bed with her. Really, it’s her bed.
Photo by Dale Ward
Marcy Britt (Washington) On my bed. Both of them. They come and go depending on how warm it is.
Marilyn Marks (Connecticut) On our bed. Two 12-pound dogs. We love it, they love it … What could go wrong? (Except housebreaking issues and a little throw-up where it’s not wanted.)
Lauren Fetterman (California) In bed with me.
Jill Gibbs (Montana) They all start on the bed at night. The baby, Ian, prefers to sleep on the dog bed or right up against the door. Of course, he likes to fall against the door to get into the perfect position, hence waking me up with a jolt. The other two stick it out all night. During the day, the older dogs have free run of most rooms in our upstairs area. Ian has been given limited liberty to see if he is trustworthy. Otherwise, he stays in an ex-pen with an escape-proof top.
Photo by Jill Gibbs
Jaxon Riley (Washington) Crates in our bedroom. Except one 12-year-old who decided a year ago (after sleeping in a crate her entire life), “Crates are for suckers!” She demands to sleep on our bed.
Elizabeth Bernice Scott (Washington) In bed with me. Though sometimes he prefers to sleep on the floor. My guess is he gets too hot.
Teresa Tuttle (Texas) Wherever they wish. On our bed (we have a California King size bed) and they have beds on the floor, if they choose to sleep there.
Chadina SK (United Kingdom) My extra-long spanner takes up the width of my super queen-sized bed. I’m lucky to get a corner.
Lori Leah Monet DVM (Colorado) No dog now, but when I did [have a dog], he slept on the foot of the bed. Still have scratches on the frame from him.
Michelle Brady (Washington) Both my dogs sleep in our bed at night. One of them will sometimes move to the floor if he gets too hot, but he has that freedom. During the day, my little one either sleeps on the couch next to me or on his dog bed. My big dog either sleeps on the floor next to my husband’s desk or in my spot on the couch if I’m not there during the day. According to my husband, if I’m not home, my little one sleeps in my dirty laundry in the bathroom.
Photo by Michelle Brady
Shelly Keel (Idaho) Journey sleeps wherever she wants. Sometimes she chooses to stay in the living room, sometimes she goes into her crate, and usually at some point in the night, she hops up on my bed and sleeps next to me.
Glenda Lee (Maine) In bed with us. All 200 pounds of them! Seriously considering upgrading to a California King. Regular king is really close. It’s got to be bigger than a standard king! Now that the weather is cooler, Dixie the pyr stays in bed until I get up, sometimes longer. She claims the middle of the bed. Daisy the lab mix sleeps down by my feet. I had to build a platform so Dixie could get in bed but she loves sleeping with us so it was worth it. She wouldn’t use stairs so … Fortunately she isn’t a gassy girl since that’s the end always up by the pillows!
Michaela Kelso (Washington) We have a California King. Not big enough for two adults and 200 pounds of dogs. The main difference between a standard king and a Cal King is that the Cal King is a bit longer, but not as wide as a regular king. Unless one of you is super long, a standard king is actually better.
Marla Cooper (California) In my bed, of course!
Doug Kelley (Washington) Wherever he wants! Welcome everywhere.
Trish Ryan (South Carolina) Our bed. If he’s chilly, he will snuggle up to my husband, who’s a furnace. If he’s warm, his bed. If it’s a work day, he naps on his library couch, lol.
Neil Rubenstein (Florida) Miss Rilee usually sleeps on her own couch or on the floor next to my bed.
Heidi Ritz (Texas) My dog sleeps under my bed. It’s her safe space and has been ever since I got her over 15 years ago. Occasionally she will creep out at night and sleep with me for a few hours, but she always returns to her safe cave.
Tim Beau (Oregon) Coco follows me into the bedroom and sleeps on his bed on the floor. Dina (Dee-nah) comes in later and scratches on her bed until she gets all her covers where she wants them. During the day they sleep on our couches.
Sheila Gomez (Washington) Ki sleeps on my bed. He is my service dog. Zula is usually in a soft crate with the door open or she occasionally will sleep on the bed for a short time, and Zev sleeps on his big soft bed or by the front door. They are either in the front room or outside in a crate on their own. Ki is always with me, on the couch, floor by feet, or gone with me.
Teri Stripes (Washington) Vixen slept in her crate until we traveled and stayed in a hotel. There she would not sleep in her crate and hasn’t tolerated doing so again at home. That said, she handles crate time great, just wants to sleep in bed with us or sleep on the floor when she gets too warm.
Sandra Sandy Machado (Florida) Unfortunately, she sleeps in her bed in my room and not on my bed.
September B. Morn (Washington) My 12-year-old rottweiler (Viggo) and one of my two Shetland sheepdogs (Daisy) share my king-size bed with me. They sleep on their side of the middle and my side is just for me. I taught them this from the beginning and they totally cooperate. My other sheltie (Soulie) sleeps in his large wire crate right next to the head of my bed. He came to live with us only a year ago, so he doesn’t have seniority. He and my rottie—both males—are sort of rivals (as silly as that seems) and wouldn’t be comfortable sharing the same sleeping space. (Pic of Daisy lounging on her side of our bed. The dogs have more pillows than I do.) During the day, Viggo lounges and naps in his huge wire crate in the living room. It has a pricey six-inch-thick mattress in it that’s actually nicer than the one I sleep on. Both shelties usually hang out and nap next to my desk chair or in the foot space under my desk. Near bedtime at night, Soulie usually either puts himself to bed in his bedroom crate or snoozes on my bed for an hour or so until I’m ready to go to bed.
Photo by September B. Morn
Lynn Brezina (Illinois) Usually in their crates. Occasionally, when there are loud noises, Shep will sleep in my room on the floor.
Khris Erickson (Wisconsin) Whimsy sleeps not just on my bed, but in my bed. She’ll paw at the top of the covers until I lift them up and let her in. She’s a great hot water bottle in the winter! Quinn sleeps in his crate with the crate door open. He’s a much bigger dog than Whimsy, and tends to get hot more easily. During the day, Whimsy has to sleep on the couch I’m sitting on, and Quinn has his own loveseat!
Marty Kittelson (Washington) Our dog sleeps between my husband and me at the bottom of the bed. Our cat sleeps between us at the top of the bed. Sometimes there is room for us!
NEXT WEEK More answers from around the world when I asked that very simple question, “Where does your dog sleep?”
