Okay, so picture this: I’ve always been a dog person, and a few months back, I finally got my dream dog – a beautiful German Shepherd puppy named Max. He’s got the classic black and tan coat, those intelligent, curious eyes, and a tail that wags like a metronome gone wild.
Initially, I was strict. No dogs on the bed! I got Max a comfy dog bed, placed it right next to mine, and figured that would be that. He seemed okay with it at first, whimpering a little at night, but settling down eventually.
Then came the thunderstorms. One night, the sky opened up, and the thunder was BOOMING. Max freaked. He was pacing, panting, and clearly terrified. My heart melted. I tried calming him in his bed, but nothing worked. Finally, in a moment of weakness (and sleep deprivation), I patted the bed.
He jumped up instantly, snuggled right into my side, and let out a big sigh. I figured, “Okay, just for tonight.”
- Famous last words, right?
The Slippery Slope
One night turned into two, then three… You get the picture. Max started to expect to sleep on the bed. He’d give me these sad puppy-dog eyes if I even hesitated. And honestly, I started to enjoy it too. There’s something incredibly comforting about having a warm, furry (and sometimes drooly) body pressed up against you.
But, here’s the thing. German Shepherds, even puppies, get BIG. Max started taking up more and more space. I’d wake up clinging to the edge of the mattress, while he was sprawled out like a king, snoring softly (and sometimes not so softly).
So, now, it’s a nightly negotiation. We start with him on his bed. Sometimes he stays there all night. Other times, I wake up at 3 AM with a paw in my face and a very large dog hogging the pillows. It’s a work in progress, I guess. But honestly, even though I complain, I wouldn’t trade those furry cuddles for anything.
