Staying in close contact makes it easier to pick up fleas, ticks or skin mites a pet may carry, and can worsen allergies.


~ Roger Valentine, holistic veterinarian


Rochester, Minnesota, nearly 60 percent of the pet owners in the study slept with their pets inside the bedroom. Twenty-two percent of the patients were likely to have pets sleeping on the bed with them. Plus, 53 percent said their sleep was disrupted to some extent every night. Twenty-one percent and 7 percent of their dogs and cats, respectively, snored. Yet, a British study of 420 UK cat owners conducted


by the nonprofit Cats Protection revealed that 44 percent of respondents (including 51 percent of women polled) said they enjoyed a better night’s sleep with a cat in bed with them than with a human companion. Benefits listed included an absence of snoring, more space on the bed and soothing purrs. “The advantages of letting your pet share your bed include companionship, warmth and a sense of security,” advises Mah- aney. Among the drawbacks, he notes lack of space for people to sleep, interruption of normal sleep patterns and the pet’s confusion about its expected place to sleep.


Nip Problems in the Bud To break a pet of a bed-sleeping habit, Mahaney recommends applying persistence, consistency and the following tips:


n Establish a separate area or bed for the pet to sleep. A cat or dog bed can be as simple as a clean, soft blanket placed nearby.


n Use positive reinforcement techniques. Offer a tiny training treat, “good-dog” clicker noise or praise when the animal is com- fortably resting in its own bed, to reinforce this desirable behavior.


n Immediately address any territorial aggression when co-sleep- ing with a pet, such as growling or nipping. First, authoritatively say, “No!” Then put the pet on the floor or into its own bed and give the command to sit and stay.


n If problematic behavior persists, seek consultation with a veterinary behavior specialist.


Let Sleeping Dogs Lie


If a family member decides to share a bed with a pet, Mah- aney offers the following recommendations:


n Let it sleep on top of the covers, instead of under them.


n Be aware of the need to remove environmental debris, including fecal material, on its coat before bedtime.


n Give the dog an opportunity to void itself within a reasonable timeframe before going to sleep. A typical healthy dog should not have to get up in the middle of the night to urinate or defecate.


n Allow a cat the opportunity to exit the bedroom throughout the night to play, eat, drink and use the litter box. Cats are noc- turnal animals and are more likely to be active during lights out.


Erik J. Martin regularly contributes to WebVet.com, from which this was adapted.


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