In this blog post, we answer the following question: Can my Yorkie sleep with me? We talk about the possible consequences of your dog sleeping in the same bed as you, both for you, and your pet.
Can my Yorkie sleep with me?
Some studies have shown that Yorkies that enjoy the privilege of sleeping in bed with their owners, can present problems in their behaviour, confuse their hierarchy in the family and become rebellious and rude pets.
It is not bad that they sleep with us, the question is how we teach them and what we allow them to do.
Practically depending on how it is taught, it will present some aggressive behaviours and other behaviour that triggers dogs that sleep in a bed, such as protecting the person they sleep with or the person with whom they have a better relationship in case of sleeping with the couple. When these behaviours occur it is important to suppress them immediately as they are characteristic of a dominant dog.
We must bear in mind that the dog is our companion and not our enemy, so if you want to sleep with him, why not? After all, it is an individual decision.
Why do our pets prefer our bed over theirs?
Your bed is probably much more comfortable, it also gives you pleasure to be closer to its owner and in the winter season, it is certainly warmer.
But in case you do not want your pet to sleep with you, you must make sure that the dog has a good bed and that it is as close as possible to you and so that you can get them to sleep in your bed, for as long as If the pet is a puppy, it is very important to avoid putting them on the bed and the sofa.
Dogs just like children need rules, however, they are also the first to break them.
However, some specialists emphasize that it is better to let our dogs sleep with us after they are adults since when they are very young they tend to be very clumsy and to urinate anywhere, in addition to that they may bite anything they get on top of the bed due to the growth of its teeth, so if you want to avoid a mess in your room and your bed, the idea is that you avoid sleeping in it while it is a puppy.
Now we must talk about the rules that we must put in our dogs in case we allow him to sleep with us.
The dog must have good behaviour in bed, if we are talking about adolescent or adult dogs, it is important to allow them their space but letting them know that they must maintain adequate behaviour when they are in bed.
It is necessary to avoid that the dog digs in the pillow or the mattress or some occasions chew the pillows, in case the dog breaks these rules it is necessary to be very authoritarian and to make known that the privilege of being able to sleep in the bed is lost.
If you have just adopted an adult or adolescent dog, it is necessary to wait a few weeks before allowing him to climb into the bed, even though he shows good behaviour, since he is arriving in a new environment and you have to allow him to adapt to it.
A stable relationship must be created between the dog and the owner before allowing any benefit at homes such as getting on the bed or even the sofa.
What if your dog sleeps in your bed?
Speaking of your dog’s emotional well-being …
A dog needs to have a bed. The fact that he sleeps in his bed next to you increases the attachment between you and your dog and will make him much more dependent.
This can lead to serious problems of separation anxiety, hyperactivity and cause that when you leave him alone, it is a very difficult experience for him to cope with. Separation anxiety problems can become so serious that your dog could slip into depression, loss of appetite, or destructive behaviours.
Dogs like to scent objects and spaces that are “theirs” and that is important and very valuable to them. Therefore, if you allow your dog to sleep with you, then it may mark your bed with urine and scratches it to leave its smell (and those are very difficult habits to remove).
Many people get upset that dogs urinate and mark their beds, yet allow them to sleep on it. It is very difficult for a dog to understand human protocols so if you do not want her to mark or urinate on your bed, you should teach her to sleep in her own space.
Ideally, your Yorkie has his bed to rest on. Dogs often refuse to sleep on the floor because they don’t like to sleep on flat surfaces, but if you give them a nice, comfortable blanket or bed, they will surely be happy to sleep on it.
* No problem if she sleeps in the same room as you. The issue with anxiety problems is only if you sleep in the same bed.
Speaking of your Health …
There are several reasons why it can be unhygienic and unhealthy for your dog to sleep in the same bed as you. A wide variety of organisms that cannot be seen (including bacteria and fungi) live in your dog’s hair, skin, and paws. Some of them are harmless, while others can multiply quickly and cause infections.
Pets can be carriers of bacteria and fungi that do not affect them, but that could harm us. For example, ringworm, which occurs when a particular type of fungus grows and multiplies anywhere on the skin, scalp or nails.
Remember that dogs live barefoot and any amount of bacteria lodge on their paws. They lie on the floor, in the street, on the carpet and when they get on your bed, all that dirt and all those parasites are distributed on your blanket, on your sheets, on your pillows and can make you sick.
If you suffer from allergies, it is not a good idea to let your dog sleep in your bed. Mites in your hair and dead skin particles can exacerbate allergies or bring on new conditions. Fleas and ticks are also often a problem, especially in places with hot weather.
The hygiene/health issue will always be a personal decision. It must be considered that there are people much more susceptible to contracting diseases than others.
If you don’t care about hygiene and the fact that your dog sleeps with you doesn’t bother you, we suggest you think about their emotional well-being. Evaluate if your Yorkie has problems with separation anxiety or hyperactivity. If the answer is yes, it will be essential that for her sake you begin to modify the habit of sharing the bed.
Why are Yorkies so clingy?
The main reason why Yorkies seem so clingy is that they are very protective of the house and its people, despite being small they are not afraid at all if they have to protect their family.
Yorkies love to have fun and play any game, whether it be playing ball, chasing a rope, or running after an object thrown at them. As they have an outgoing and playful personality, they make them the ideal dog for children, young and old alike.
We must always ensure that our dog socializes with other dogs; pets that are carried in their arms and do not step on the ground, because the owners are afraid that they will get together with other dogs, they are hurting their pet; because they are herd animals and need contact with their peers.
Animal welfare is not only about giving them food and affection, they need to act like dogs because they are not human beings.
The consequences of humanizing dogs are that dogs will have imbalances, which translates into anxious, aggressive, biting, barking dogs, etc; all because of the bad socialization that their owners have given them.
We have to educate them correctly so that the whole family has a healthy, calm and balanced coexistence.
Why is my Yorkie very dependent on me?
A dependent dog is one that constantly demands the attention of guardians and family members, and can also have the same behaviour with other people. It occurs when hyperrealism has developed in the animal towards one or more members of its family.
This occurs, above all, in dogs that have been weaned prematurely and, therefore, have not been able to learn the basic codes of social conduct that mothers transmit. Likewise, it is usually common in dogs that have not received adequate education or do not have a routine.
Final thoughts
In this blog post, we answered the following question: Can my Yorkie sleep with me? We talked about the possible consequences of your dog sleeping in the same bed as you, both for you, and your pet.
In conclusion, a dog needs to have a bed of its own. The fact that he sleeps in his bed next to you increases the attachment between you and your dog and will make him much more dependent.
Besides, remember that dogs live barefoot and any amount of bacteria lodge on their paws. They lie on the floor, in the street, on the carpet and when they get on your bed, all that dirt and all those parasites are distributed on your blanket, on your sheets, on your pillows and can make you sick.
If you have any questions or comments on the content, please let us know!
FAQ on Can my Yorkie sleep with me?
Are Yorkies attached to their owners?
Yorkies can become very attached to their owners and become incredibly protective of the whole family. Yorkies are great dogs as guard dogs, no matter their size.
Why are Yorkies so needy?
Some Yorkies may be needy and clingy because they like (and are used to) being coddled and pampered by their owners. When you stop giving them so much attention, they seem too needy.
Why do Yorkies have separation anxiety?
Yorkies have separation anxiety if they are not properly trained or do not have a routine. Some other reasons include neglection, changes in pet parents, hereditary issues or boredom.
Can Yorkies be left alone all day?
It is not advisable to leave a Yorkie alone all day. Yorkies are very affectionate and rely on their human parents. You can leave a baby Yorkie by himself up to 3 hours a day, and an adult Yorkie 4 to 6 hours a day.
References
Yorkieadvice.com
Petsworld.in
Animalwised.com
