Can I Sleep With My German Shepherd Dog?

Most of us spend a good amount of time with our German Shepherds, and sometimes, it looks like we didn’t spend a lot of time with them. We want to spend more time with our lovely German Shepherd, but unfortunately, the end of the day is coming, and it’s time for bed. 

But now you're thinking "What if I let my German Shepherd sleep with me? Is this a good or bad idea?" If you have this thought on your mind, don’t worry! You’re not the only person who has this problem.

Most new German Shepherd, and other dog owners in general, want to know it’s sleeping with their dogs is a good idea, is this healthy, or not, and after weeks of research, we have an answer to your question.

It is absolutely okay to sleep with your German Shepherd dog, if you, or he, doesn’t have any health problems. In fact, in the latest research by Mayo Clinic, scientists believe that sleeping with your German Shepherd dog can improve your health and the quality of your sleep.

During the research, scientists find out that sleeping with your dog will rather have a positive impact on your life, than a negative impact.

In the last few years, the number of people who sleep with their dogs was significantly increased, and before you decide to let your German Shepherd sleep with you, have in mind that this can a negative consequence for your dog, and in some cases, negative consequences for you.

If you want to learn more about this hot topic, then stay with us, because we’ll now uncover all the must-know facts and tips, before you let your German Shepherd sleep with you!

Should my German Shepherd sleep in my bed?

If you and your dog don’t have any health problems, you can let your German Shepherd dog sleep with you in your bed. But have in mind that he can unintentionally bite you if you roll over and startle him. Before you let your German Shepherd sleep with you, you can work and train with him on bed-sharing.

Before you let your German Shepherd sleep with you, we suggest you follow these steps:

• Clean your German Shepherd from dead dog hair
• Clean the coat of your German Shepherd with a wet mat
• Make sure that you have enough space in your bed for you and your dog
• Have obedience training with your dog almost every day

Related blog post: Why does my German Shepherd sleep by the door?

Why does my German Shepherd want to sleep with me?

If you notice that your German Shepherd wants to sleep with you, or he is always close to you, sits always on your lap, and follows your everywhere, he is saying to you that he feels safe with you.

It's the next step in the bonding process that started when you and your German Shepherd dog first met. Your presence reassures your dog, and he needs regular reminders that you are there for him.

There a plenty of reasons why your German Shepherd actually wants to sleep with you, and here are the top 10 reasons why German Shepherds want to sleep with their owners:

1. They are feeling lonely
2. German Shepherd get cold sometimes
3. Your bed smells good
4. Your bed smells like them
5. German Shepherd love to stretch out
6. They feel left out
7. German Shepherd are entitled
8. Your sheets feel good
9. They know it’s wrong
10. Your German Shepherd just loves to be near you

Why my German Shepherd won't sleep with me?

If your German Shepherd doesn’t want to sleep with you in the bed, the reason for this usually it’s not you, it’s because of the bed. If the bed isn’t comfortable enough, they will simply just refuse to be in that bed.

But if you’re curious and want to learn more, we have found 10 common reasons why your German Shepherd doesn’t want to sleep with you in your bed:

1. Your bed isn’t comfortable enough
2. They’re being bribed to sleep elsewhere
3. Your bed is too small for them
4. They’re not enough tired
5. They don’t know that it is sleep time
6. They’re stressed out
7. Something more interesting is happening
8. They are being protective
9. They are physically incapable of getting into the bed
10. All the spots are already taken

Should I let my German Shepherd puppy sleep with me?

You shouldn't allow your German Shepherd puppy, in the beginning, to sleep with you. The best practice is to put your German Shepherd in a cage or in the dog bed to sleep. Once your German Shepherd is fully potty-trained, sleeping soundly, and happily acclimated to its crate, you can let him sleep with you in your bed.

At first, you want to put a cage near you, in the same room where you sleep. Your German Shepherd will see that he isn’t alone, and he will feel more comfortable and safe. Later, you can move a cage to the other room.

The benefits of sleeping with German Shepherd dog

During the last couple of years, it’s turned out that sleeping with your German Shepherd it’s more beneficial than harmful. The latest study shows that 55 percent of pet owners share their beds with at least one dog.

Are you still thinking that sleeping with your German Shepherd isn’t a good idea?

Sleeping with your German Shepherd can be really beneficial, and here’re the top 10 benefits of sleeping with your dog:

1. Reduce depression
2. Promotes theta brainwaves
3. Increase sense of security
4. Eases insomnia
5. Maximizes comfort
6. Improves sleep quality 
7. Reduce stress
8. Lowers blood pressure
9. Strengthens bond with the dog
10. Better overall health

The cons of sleeping with your German Shepherd dog

When it comes to sleeping with your German Shepherd dog, there are more pros than cons, but as always, nothing isn’t perfect. Sometimes our furry friend can cause serious trouble in our bed and turn our sweet dream into the worst nightmare. 

The problems (cons) that may occur when you sleep with your German Shepherd are usually dominance aggression of your dog, allergies, more dirt and bacteria in your bed, negative affect on your love life, and if you don’t sleep alone, you need to make a deal with your partner.

Can my German Shepherd puppy sleep outside?

In this case, owning a German Shepherd it’s more beneficial because they’re smart, high-energy dogs with a long coat, and all that benefits will help them when it’s time for sleeping outside. But when is a perfect time to let your German Shepherd puppy sleep outside?

The best period to start teaching your German Shepherd dog to sleep outside is between 3 to 6 months. In that period, they will be strong, brave, and big enough to endure the night outside alone. 

But if you planning to start teaching your German Shepherd how to sleep outside, make sure that he has a place where he can sleep, water to drink, and that the outside temperature isn’t below normal for your puppy. 

Generally speaking, the German Shepherd will be okay until the temperature drops to below 45°F (around 7°C). But this is for an adult dog, and we suggest you not leave your puppy outside if the outside temperature is below 50°F (10°C).

How to train my German Shepherd to sleep in bed with me?

If you want to teach your German Shepherd how to sleep with you, follow these steps, and you will save tons of your precious time!

1. Begin by allowing your new German Shepherd puppy (or adult dog) to sleep in his crate, bed, or designated space for the first several months. This will educate him that you go to bed and he goes to his bed at night. This pattern will reduce his worry about being away from you while also demonstrating to him that sleeping alone is perfectly fine.
   
   
2. Make going to bed a simple task. If you make going to bed a big thing, your dog will believe it's a big deal as well.
   
   
3. Throughout the day, don’t allow your German Shepherd dog to be in the bed. The bed must be only the human zone, just as their crate is just their zone.
   
   
4. Consider dedicating a section of your sofa to your German Shepherd dog if you let your dog sit on it. You may accomplish this by putting a blanket on a certain portion of the couch, enticing your dog to sit on it, and rewarding him for doing so. You may either redirect them back to the blanket or relocate them off the sofa when they leave that area.
   
   
5. Place the blanket on the area of your bed you want to dedicate to your German Shepherd dog after you're sure he's totally potty trained and doesn't suffer from separation anxiety. Prepare for bedtime by inviting your dog to join you on his blanket. Reward him with a treat for staying on the blanket. If he moves to other sections of the bed, bring him back to his blanket or remove him off the bed completely, just like you did on the sofa. He'll start to figure out that if he stays on the blanket, he can sleep on the human bed.

If you don’t see results immediately, don’t panic! Some German Shepherd learns faster than others, but if you’re consistent, we are 100 percent sure that you will teach your German Shepherd how to sleep in the bed with you.

Conclusion

If you train your German Shepherd properly, we are sure that you will enjoy and have sweet dreams together! When you train your German Shepherd how to sleep with you in the bed, make sure that you don’t skip crucial steps, otherwise, he will not understand what he can, and can’t do.

But if thinks that sleeping with your German Shepherd isn’t healthy at all, go back and read all benefits again! If your German Shepherd is a healthy, clean, and well-trained dog, you can always allow your German Shepherd to sleep with you! 

Have sweet dreams!