Sleeping with Two Dudes....I mean Two Doods

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I knew some of you would like that title. My husband and I have a king size bed and it always seemed like enough room until we got our doodles. Now, I like sleeping with our dogs, but my DH does not like sharing his space. Every night, Vern and Fudge start out on our bed while I watch TV. I know I have said in previous posts that neither of my dogs will jump up on the bed or jump off the bed, so in order for them to start out on the bed with me, I have to put them up onto the bed. Fudge is no problem, but hoisting Vern is like putting a cow on our bed. Frankly, I don't mind doing this, because they stay on the bed and there is no jumping up and down and they stay put. However, when the DH comes to bed, it starts to get interesting. Inevitably, Vern will want down soon after the DH gets comfortable and will stand on the edge of the bed. When my husband gets up to put him down, Vern will lay back down. So, each night the conversation goes like this...."Vern, this is the last time I am getting up to put you down.....didn't you say that the last two times you got up?....I mean it, Vern, I am getting tired of this....try saying Let's go....LET'S GO, VERN.....just lift him off the bed...he weighs a ton.....now my back is killing me.....Is Vern ok???" At this rate, I think I have three options....get some doggie steps, a California King Bed (aren't they bigger?) or a new, more patient, DH :)

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Hey Laurie! I sleep with du(o)des too! One of them is Bandit and the other is DH. Bandit is small so he doesn't take up much space. Rosey prefers her "own" bed though. She started off sleeping with us but decided that she's a big girl I guess. I am shocked Fudge and Vern won't jump into the bed! Even little Bandit can soar the 20" hike up!! I would say go with the steps though, if they did learn to jump you might get the wind knocked out you or something even more painful:)

[Suzanne & Jack]

You forgot option 4 -DH gets his own bed. Since mine goes to bed so much later than I do (4:30am wake up). He sleeps in another bedroom. The 3 dogs go to bed with me. Once I go to work he moves into the dog's room.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Allyson...where does Taquito sleep??

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

The funny thing is when my kids were little I was adamant about them sleeping in their own beds. If they got up in the middle of the night, we would immediately return them to their beds. Now, some nights I have a combined total of 120 pounds of doodles sleeping with us. Thanks for all the ideas. I have looked at the steps a few times at TJ Maxx and Jane, I saw your video and remember when you were considering the steps. My biggest concern is that once we have the steps they will be running up and down them at night and not settling like they do instantly when I put them on the bed........and sometimes, for my sanity, I really need them to settle at night. It all runs smoothly until my DH comes to bed. Allyson, I like your idea too about training them to get off the bed when he comes to bed. That combined with the steps might be the key.. thanks everyone for great ideas.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Oh, I really don't think you should get another DH...he's already sounding like a great Doodle Dad (and they don't grow on trees). I have the stairs for Guinness, and they are awesome. He can get up and down whenever he wants, so he still feels really independent. It took about two days to get him trained to use them (and there's a video on my page showing it), but they're the best thing ever.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

We trained Peri to jump off the bed once we get into it - DH says "okay Peri, go to bed". She hops off (and always makes an annoyed HUFF) and goes to her bed on the floor. You can do it!!!!!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

The California King is minus 4 inches wide and 6 inches longer and then you have to order your sheets.
My DH does not want our Doodle on the bed - she still sleeps in her crate and we all like it that way. Once she came on the bed while playing and stopped, looked around and laid down - it was the cutest thing but I was thinking uh oh....3 minutes later she got up and got down....she likes her own space - ha ha, DH said "you are lucky, me what did I do?

[Camilla and Darwin]

Maybe if you refuse to lift them on or off they will eventually figure out they have to do it on their own. I totally know what you mean about training the owner though, Darwin has us wrapped around his furry paw. :-)

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Camilla, Vern and Fudge can absolutely do it, but for some reason they don't. Probably because they have mom and dad trained. They have no problem getting on top of the hot tub and there is no cheese involved :)

[Camilla and Darwin]

Or you could teach Vern to jump off and on the bed on his own. :-) It couldn't take more than a few pieces of cheese, right?