Where should your chihuahua sleep? Is it Ok for your chihuahua to sleep on the bed or in some case under the duvet with you?

Where your chihuahua sleeps is a subject that causes much discussion and in some cases arguments between partners.

According to the Sleep Foundation 56% of adults allow their pets to sleep in their bedroom. That’s a mixture of cats and dogs. The survey didn’t say how many had multiple dogs or the size of the dog.

The pros of having your chihuahua to sleep on the bed

Having your chihuahua sleep on the bed can be a comfort and if they are a service, or a medical alert dog having them close by is prudent. Although not many chihuahuas are service dogs. If yours is, I would love you to tell me about it.

Immune boosting?

Living with a dog does influence the makeup of the bacteria found in the home, and the presence of this bacterial diversity can strengthen the immune system.  So there is a tenuous justification that having a dog sleeping in close proximity is equally good for you.

But there is a flip side to the immunity boosting argument that, while chihuahuas are not rough terrain dogs, they do bring in undesired dirt on their paws, eat poop and pick up ticks & fleas the same as any dog. So, the question is do you want this on your sheets? Getting bitten by a tick can be devastating for a human resulting in long-term health implications.

Behaviour issues

Chihuahuas can be little stinkers for resource guarding behaviours and imprinting themselves to one person in the house. This can lead to your chi deciding to not share their cosy spot on the bed snuggled with their favourite person, and they won’t allow partners or kids near the bed or even in the room.  They might growl, snap at anyone who tries to move them. Pip who came to stay with us a couple of years ago did this. He shot out his bed and chased Mr Chihuahua Power down the hall when he tried to come to bed!                                 

Both behaviours are unacceptable and should never be ignored as they can escalate. Seek advice from a force-free trainer and never punish your dog.

Danger to the dog

A danger of your chihuahua sleeping on the bed is injury to your chi. You might roll over in your sleep or fling out an arm and hit your chihuahua which would wake them abruptly and the consequences could be a bite.

I had an email from a reader asking for help after such an incident. Her chihuahua was asleep on the pillow, the owner rolled on the dog who then bit her in the face, she then smacked the dog in shock retaliation and their relationship was broken. The dog became fearful of the owner and wouldn’t go near her. An incident like this goes in as a flash bulb memory (a memory accompanied by stress) and it would be very difficult to repair.

Another thing to consider is additions to the family. If you are likely to have children later, establishing a good sleeping arrangement early is going to be better for everyone. Changing where your chihuahua sleeps once a baby is born is going to be difficult and a little unfair.

Fidget factor

While dogs do have a similar sleep pattern to people, they do differ slightly. This can create disturbance to your sleep and an early wake up call. Prince likes everyone to be up a cocks-crow and once he’s disturbed everyone, goes in his crate for a ‘post annoyed everyone’ nap!

Chihuahua’s like to burrow, then get hot, then like to burrow again and this fidgeting can disturb your sleep.

Peeing on the bed

Boys may pee up something that’s vertical like a pillow trying to over mark people smells. Marking on the bed can also be driven by excitement or stress, so make sure your chihuahua isn’t able to stand on the bed and bark out the window. Girls can be naughty as well, and squat on the duvet as it’s nice and absorbent. Make sure your chihuahua is fully toilet trained before they are allowed upstairs. 

Get advice on toilet training your chihuahua with our easy to follow guide. It’s free to download.

While I don’t mind the dogs on the bed they don’t sleep on the bed at night. They all have their own beds on the floor.

If your chihuahua sleeps on the bed is a personal decision and there is no right and wrong. It’s what works for your family.

Personally, I feel it’s better for a dog to have its own space whether that’s a cozy crate or a comfy bed.  But unless the dog is resource guarding or refusing to move when asked, it’s up to you.

Need more help with chihuahua Behaviour?

There is a lot that can be done to help a dog that has got themselves in this kind of emotional state, we teach you how to grow calmness and rebuild your walk by building your chihuahua’s confidence in our award-winning course at Chihuahua School. click the link to find out more.

You can join our email series on ‘Better Walks with Your Chihuahua’ and get helpful training advice direct to your inbox.