I let the adoptive family decide if they are going to ask their new pet to sleep in a crate.
Not everyone wants their pets to sleep in the bed with them.
Therefore, if my foster dogs sleep in crates already and the family plans for their new pet to sleep in a crate at night, my foster dog is going to have a less stressful transition to the new home and family. If I allow my foster dog to sleep in the bed with me and the adoptive family prefers the dog sleep in a crate, I’ve presented a more confusing situation for the dog, and the adoptive family has one more issue they have to train.
In short, families who want their pets to sleep in the bed with them appreciate the fact that they get to give their dog the special experience of joining them in the bed. Families who prefer their dogs to sleep in crates really appreciate that this training is already done in the foster home.
Can my foster dog sleep in my bed?
Sleeping area – It is often tempting to allow your new foster dog to sleep in your bed. This is not recommended by most dog behavior and training professionals because this might not be the best thing for the dog, and it is a habit that is incredibly difficult to break once it has been established.
Crates Can be Helpful on Your Rescue Dog’s First Night
I am not a not a big crate fan for long-term use, although there are exceptions. Some dogs really like their crates, especially smaller breeds as it feels like a secure den.
But even if you do not plan to use the crate on a long-term or regular basis, it is smart to have your dog sleep in a crate for the first night. Make sure the crate is big enough so your dog can stand up and turn around. Put a comfy pad in the crate with lots of fluffy blankets.
If you have a puppy or a really frightened dog, you can also place a soft teddy bear and a hot water bottle wrapped in a blanket in the crate. This will comfort your pooch and remind her of being close to her mother and siblings. It should also help her settle down more quickly and sleep through the night. I would also close the door to the crate for the first night, so she doesn’t wander off and pee in the house. If you hear her moving around a lot or whimpering, then you should probably take her out for a potty break.
Should My Dog Sleep in My Bed
It’s funny to think back to a time when I thought I valued any possession more than my dog’s freedom to destroy it. When I first took Peter in as a foster, I was under the impression that he would not sleep in my bed. It was against the rescue’s rules, first of all, but I’d also recently purchased a linen duvet cover that cost $169, and that was on sale and with a discount code. I loved it very much. The duvet cover was beautiful—soft, pristine, and a soothing pastel pink, the exact color of Peter’s inner ear. I barely let myself sleep on it. It seemed ridiculous to me that I would invite a dog to ruin something that I enjoyed explicitly for its immaculateness.
Peter slept in his crate the first night. The next day, while I was typing on my laptop in bed, he popped up on the side, and surveyed the on-top-of-the-bed situation. He didn’t jump up—oh, he wouldn’t dare!—he was just politely checking it out. He looked like a seal emerging from the water, with slicked-back ears, a little smooth head, gigantic eyes, and, well. God damn it.
Now I’ve adopted him, and we sleep together always. And unless it’s a particularly good day, the best parts are always in the morning in bed with Peter and at night in bed with Peter. When it’s time for bed, I’ll ask Peter, “Do you want to go to bed?” He doesn’t really have any agency in the situation, because he is technically my prisoner, but I like to offer him the illusion. He’s always thrilled at the prospect and bounds away to my bedroom.
People can get a little squeamish about dog-human co-sleeping. This is wrong, so I thought it might be useful to enumerate the reasons why they get squeamish and then forcefully shut them down.
Well, yeah, it is gross. Basically, in order to enjoy sleeping with your dog friend, you just have to pretend it isn’t disgusting. Convince yourself that you aren’t affected by the fact that you have to lie in repose among the many things that have fallen off a dog’s body. It’s essentially a meditative practice.
My bed is full of Peter hair at all times. I change my sheets and wash my duvet regularly, but the amount of time it exists without dog hair is: never. The moment I put my sheets on the bed, they are haired. I now own a hand broom with rubber bristles made specifically for “sweeping the bed” to remove dog hair, et cetera, and actually it’s fine. It’s fine.