My Pet Won’t Let Me Sleep
It is quite common for cats and dogs to sleep in the same bed as their owner. In fact, according to some studies, 45% of dogs and 62% of domestic cats sleep in the same bed as their owner. But can this habit disturb people’s sleep?
How can a pet affect your sleep?
According to tests, people who sleep with their dogs can be disturbed during their sleep for many reasons. At night , pets often whine, wander, snore, feel the need to go out on the street or sleep under the covers.
Other tests have shown that people who sleep with pets are often woken up by their four-legged friends at least once a night. Most owners agree that resuming sleep is quite difficult after these interruptions. On the other hand, many say that sleeping with their pets comforts them, so they leave these occasional little harassments in the background.
Why won’t my pet let me rest?
There are many reasons why pets often disturb sleep owners. One of the most frequent is the need to go outside to pee. Another reason may be that the temperature is too low and that the animal prefers to sleep under your blankets rather than a closet on the ground floor.
On the other hand, there are some dog breeds that need to sleep with the owner, as this strongly affects their mood. If you have a Pomeranians or a Shih Tzu you will surely have experienced this type of behavior before.
In other cases, no doubt, harassment can be quite a mystery. A dog that wakes up frequently to urinate may have a urinary tract infection or even vaginitis. A cat that wanders aimlessly all night and whines for no reason may be suffering from a cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS). If medical problems can be ruled out, it is very likely that some of your pet’s strange nocturnal behaviors may be causing you, at least in part.
The best time to decide where your pet will sleep is when he joins your family. If it used to, from the beginning, to sleep alone in his personal space, such as a fruit-box, it is likely that in the future no Hoops i even getting into bed. Conversely, if you let your dog or cat sleep with you in the bed, they will quickly get used to the idea that this is their bed too.
If you allow your pet to share your bed or bedroom with you, you need to set the rules of the game right away. If you please your cat once by playing with him at 3am, he will probably try to repeat this behavior the following nights, as will your dog when he wants to have a snack in the middle of the night.
Some steps can be taken to prevent these uncomfortable situations. For example, you can extend play sessions with your pet, or have your dog have dinner later.
How do I put an end to this hassle?
If you have a dog, put pillows, sheets and night games at the foot of the bed to keep him entertained. Teach him to get out of bed when you see him restless and remember to reward good behaviors, because this is how dogs learn.
If, on the other hand, you have a cat, arm yourself with patience. As you well know, cats have their own temperament and if they perceive that the bed is actually their territory, in the future it will be difficult to convince them otherwise. For this the best is to share the bed, but at the same time teach the cat where to go and what are the right moments for play and for meals. In this way you will avoid that the cat comes to interrupt your rest.
And remember, creativity is the key to success, so share your space with your feline, and don’t get too fixated on certain behaviors, after all they are cats and you have to get used to their character.
