Alright, let’s talk about this German Shepherd sleeping thing. When I first got my boy, Rex, years back, I had all these ideas. You know, crate training, nice comfy dog bed in the corner of the room. That was the plan.
The First Few Nights
So, Rex comes home, this little bundle of pointy ears and big paws. First night, I put him in his crate next to my bed. Seemed sensible. Well, let me tell you, the whining started. Not constant, but enough to keep me awake. I’d talk to him, stick my fingers through the bars. He’d quiet down for a bit, then start again. I was tired, he was probably scared in a new place. I stuck to my guns for maybe… two nights?
Night three was different. I was exhausted. The whining started, and I just couldn’t do it. I opened the crate door. Figured he’d just curl up on the rug beside the bed. Nope.
The Bed Takeover Begins
He hopped right onto the foot of the bed. Curled up small. And was quiet. Blissfully quiet. I thought, okay, just for tonight. Famous last words, right? He slept soundly, and honestly, so did I, knowing he was settled.
As he got bigger, well, he took up more space. We had a few negotiations. Sometimes he’d stretch out and push me to the edge. Sometimes he’d get too hot and jump down to the cool floor for a while, then hop back up later. It wasn’t always perfect. German Shepherds shed, a lot. My bedding showed it. And sometimes he’d have doggy dreams, twitching and making little yipping sounds.
- He started sleeping near the door sometimes, like on guard duty.
- Other times, especially if it was cold, he’d want to be right up against me.
- If he heard a strange noise outside, he’d be up in a flash, low growl, checking the window. Made me feel pretty safe, actually.
Trying the Dog Bed Again (Sort Of)
There was a period where I thought, maybe he should use his actual bed more. It was a really nice orthopedic one I got him. I’d guide him over there at night. Sometimes he’d stay for an hour or two. But inevitably, I’d wake up in the middle of the night and feel that familiar weight land at the foot of the bed, or sometimes right beside me, head resting near my pillow.
Honestly, I gave up trying to enforce the ‘dog bed only’ rule pretty quickly. He clearly preferred being close. Maybe it’s the pack instinct? That feeling of being part of the group, safe together. He wasn’t anxious about it, just seemed… content being in the same space, sharing the same sleeping area.
So, Do They?
Based on my time with Rex? Yeah, mine definitely liked sleeping with me. Or at least, in the same room, very close by, often on the same bed. He was protective, but also just seemed to want that closeness. It felt like part of our bond. It’s not for everyone, I get it. The shedding, the space, the occasional kick from a dreaming dog. But for us, it just sort of happened, and it worked. He was family, and that’s just where he ended up sleeping most nights. Felt natural after a while.
