Alright, let’s talk about this whole thing with German Shepherds and sleeping near their owners. When I first got Duke, my own GSD, I had all these plans, you know? Crate training, designated dog bed in the living room, the works.
The First Few Nights
So, night one, I put Duke in his fancy new crate. He looked at me like I’d lost my mind. The whining started almost immediately. Not just little whimpers, full-blown ‘let me outta here’ cries. I stuck it out for maybe an hour, couldn’t take it. Felt like a monster.
Night two, I thought, okay, maybe just the dog bed in my room? Set it up in the corner. Duke walked in, sniffed the bed, gave it a little circle, then walked right over to the floor next to my side of the bed and flopped down. Just like that. Stayed there all night.
Finding the Groove
This became the routine. I left the dog bed there, sometimes he’d use it for a bit, but mostly? Floor. Right next to me. If I shifted in bed, his head would pop up, ears twitching, just checking. Then back down.
- Proximity was key: He didn’t seem desperate to be on the bed, just near it. Like he needed to be in the same room, close enough to know I was there.
- Cool spots preferred: Especially in summer, I noticed he’d often move from the carpeted area to the small bit of exposed hardwood near the door. Guess he liked the cool surface.
- Always alert: Even when sound asleep, any weird noise from downstairs, and he was instantly awake, listening. That protective instinct, man, it doesn’t switch off.
So, Do They Like It?
Based on my time with Duke? Yeah, I’d say they definitely like being near their owners when sleeping. It’s not always about cuddling up in the bed, though some might. For Duke, it seemed more about being part of the pack, being close, being in a position to keep an eye (or ear) on things.
He never caused trouble, never seemed anxious once he found his spot. Just seemed content and secure knowing his human was nearby. Honestly, it felt good knowing he was there too. It’s like having your own personal, furry security detail, even while you’re both knocked out. Every dog’s probably a bit different, but for my German Shepherd? Sleeping in the same room, close by? Absolutely. That seemed to be his sweet spot.
