Why our precious pooches like to sleep near us and six small changes to make them more independent … if that’s your goal
You buy your pet plush beds and blankets yet they still prefer your spot on the sofa, tucked under your desk while you work or in your bed, even when you’re not in it! Sound familiar? It can be frustrating if it affects your functionality, but veterinary surgeon Dr Scott Miller – host of Vet on the Hill and a familiar face to viewers on popular ITV show This Morning – tells Tabish Ali what to do if you want to encourage more independent sleeping.
Do dogs tend to sleep in their own bed during the day if you’re there? Never, in my experience. Dogs sleep where they feel most comfortable, which in my dog Mango’s case is as close to me as possible. If you watch carefully, it’s often the moment you stop moving that matters. The second you sit, your dog picks a spot within reach and drops as if the day’s work is done. A bed across the room might be soft, but it’s also separate. For a social animal, separation rarely wins.
Dogs are companion animals, so they like to feel part of the pack and connected by touch or smell to their favourite people. That instinct shows up in ordinary domestic scenes. You stand up to make tea and they follow. You sit down and they fold themselves against you. A dog bed, although a lovely thought and a way to keep your dog comfortable, out of the way and off the furniture, in most cases they are much happier right beside you.
For many dogs, the sofa is not “furniture” – it’s the centre of the household. If you want your pet to use their own bed more, the simplest starting point is often placement. A quiet corner can feel like a penalty box. A bed beside the couch or near your workspace lets them “be with you” while learning a different default spot.
Your dog wants to feel safe and reassured when sleeping and, in most cases, that’s as close to their slumbering owner as possible.
Why do dogs get clingier at night? Gone are the days when we banish the dog from the bedroom and many dog lovers have their pooch sleep on the bed, so they feel calm and everyone can enjoy a good night’s sleep together.
Night-time is full of cues that signal separation. Dogs that seem independent during the day can become clingier at night, particularly if they are young, anxious or simply used to being close. That closeness does not have to mean bed-sharing. For some households, a dog bed in your room is the sweet spot: near enough for reassurance, far enough for uninterrupted sleep.
Champagne Irish Sheep Wool Dog Bed, €175, at Stable of Ireland.
Are there any pitfalls to your dog sleeping in your room at night? If they snore, flat-faced dogs can be very noisy sleepers and disrupt their owner’s ability to get a good night’s rest. Other dogs may fidget and be unsettled, though usually with well-timed pre-bedtime rituals of a late toilet break, a short walk and feeding, these issues can be easily ironed out in time.
Routine does most of the heavy lifting here. A calm wind-down can make a remarkable difference to how quickly a dog settles and how long they stay asleep.
How can we encourage independent sleep without stress? If sharing a bed isn’t working, the aim is not to make your dog feel pushed away, but to make their own space feel predictable.
Using a crate is a great way to encourage a dog to feel comfortable sleeping alone. They’re often misunderstood, but used properly they’re not punishment. They’re boundaries with comfort. Rather than incarceration, it needs to be thought of as a cosy den, somewhere very comfortable that makes your dog feel secure when you’re not in close contact. Introduced gradually in short bursts, generally started as puppies and reinforced consistently, dogs can get used to this being where they sleep at night, enjoying the consistency and security it brings if they aren’t so welcome in the bedroom. For adult dogs who have always slept on the bed, the transition needs patience. Start with daytime familiarity and build positive association. Keep the routine steady. The goal is a new habit, not a nightly battle.
6 small changes you can make to create separation (if you want it):
1. Bring the bed closer to you: place it beside the sofa, desk or bed.
2. Add a familiar scent: a worn t-shirt can make a new bed feel like “their” space faster.
3. Adjust for temperature: swap heavy bedding for something lighter during the day or by season.
4. Stick to a routine: toilet break, short walk then quiet time before sleep.
5. Reward the right choice quickly: praise and offer a small treat the moment they settle down.
6. Make their crate a den: comfortable, calm, never used as punishment.
