For more, take a look at the article on how to teach your dog to sleep in its own bed, specifically if you want them to stop sleeping in yours. DogTime recommends this dog bed for a good night’s sleep!. If you notice a change in how long your dog sleeps, it could mean a lot of things from a dietary change to a thyroid problem. As social animals, dogs enjoy sleeping with their owners, working in extra bonding time after a long day often spent home alone. Unfortunately, letting your dog sleep in your bed may actually be bad for you. As social animals, dogs enjoy sleeping with their owners, working in extra bonding time after a long day often spent home alone. If you follow certain basic rules, such as keeping the dog’s coat clean, brush their teeth and use adequate parasite control, then the risks to your health are minimal. This way, you'll both get a good nights sleep. In fact, from the dog’s standpoint, it’s a compliment. Take your dog for a walk in the late evening. “The tendency that many dogs have to cuddle when they sleep is a holdover from when they were puppies. 9 tips for sleeping soundly with a dog in the bed Sharing the bed with your canine BFF can get hairy sometimes. Place your dog's favorite blanket on a cushion or dog bed kept in warm area away from drafts. "Dogs only sleep with people or dogs they trust," says Stilwell, star of the TV show "It’s Me or the Dog." Dogs in the bedroom? One way to encourage your dog to sleep is to exercise him a few hours before bedtime. In fact, sharing your bedroom with your canine companion—as long as he isn't under the covers—may actually improve your sleep, according to recent research published by Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Internationally known dog trainer Victoria Stilwell says if your dog has no behavioral problems then it’s OK to let him sleep in your bed. Dogs in wild packs huddle together to sleep, and as a result, NextGen Dog says back-to-back sleeping is an instinctual way for a dog to show you are one of the pack. If you share a bed with your dog, it's important he sleeps through the night. If you have more than one dog in your home, you might notice that they sleep back-to-back. Go ahead and sleep with your dog—it’s perfectly safe, as long as you are both healthy. Your dog is doing that to conserve its body heat, while protecting its limbs, face, and throat. Getting a Dog Out of Your Bed. If your pet likes to sleep under the covers with you, it reveals that you have a fun, dynamic relationship. If you share a bed with your dog, it's important he sleeps through the night.