Lifestyle Zone

Lifestyle. Ashgrove veterinary nurse Sandy Collis counts her lucky stars for the day she met partner Duane Cannell.

He was one of the few people who did not shudder in horror when she revealed she shares her bed with a couple of dogs.

Now Schnitzel, a four-year-old schnauzer, and Pollywaffle, a three-year-old spoodle, have been joined in the bedroom by Cannell's own dog, Jackson, a border collie-cross, who has been upgraded to his own mattress at the bottom of the family bed.
"He loves them as much as I do. Schnitzel is such a little, fat, round hot water bottle, so we both like sleeping near him.

"When I was living by myself it could be quite scary so I felt more secure with the dogs in the bed."

Collis says occasional snoring sometimes keeps her awake (especially from Cannell) but, usually, all five of them sleep well.

Writer Amanda Logan shares her marital bed with two dogs, who boast a combined weight of more than 50kg, despite knowing the practice is frowned on by animal training experts.

Logan and her engineer husband, Pete, upgraded to a king-size bed earlier this year to accommodate their seven-year-old dogs - Ruben, a 30kg labrador/staffy-cross and Ella, a 23kg doberman/kelpie-cross.

Logan, who who has just sold her pet supplies business and doggy daycare centre, knows it's not considered proper behaviour by dog trainers but she is confident she has the situation under control.

She says Ruben, who lies in a spoon position, and Ella, who sleeps at their feet, have been in and out of the bed for the past six years.

"I was a very good dog owner and the dogs started out in our laundry, then we moved them outside with their own kennels. But then we moved and were renovating (with no fence) and my husband then went overseas for three months to South America so the dogs moved into the bed," Logan says.

"They slept out in the lounge room for quite a while but towards the end of last year they were back in the bed again because Ella had an operation.

"Our friends think we are insane."

Collis and Logan say that they would not have allowed their dogs in the bed if they were aggressive or domineering but both women feel comfortable that the humans in the relationship are seen as the pack leaders.

"It depends on the personality and breed types," Collis says. "You don't want dominant dogs in bed with you but there's no challenging in our house - I'm still the boss.

"Luckily our dogs haven't shown any sign of aggression but have such lovely natures."

Vet Mark Debritz, of Ashgrove Ave Veterinary Clinic, on Brisbane's northwest, says allowing dogs in the bed is up to the individual.

He owns a Jack Russell breed which is too active to sleep inside.

"Often people are in a situation where their pet is their only companion," he says.

"We have a lot of clients who have no children. Their dog is treated as another member of their family to the extent of sharing the bed with them and sitting on the couch, so it's a good stress relief and it's therapeutic.

"It often depends on the temperament of the dog and what you want out of your dog.

"Some people are very structured and issue very stern commands while other people have a casual style.

"Ideally, you want to be in control for obedience and behavioural issues.

"You don't want to become a slave to your pet."

Internationally renowned canine behavioural specialist and dog trainer Val Bonney allows her german shepherd dogs occasionally to lie on her bed - only at her command. They are not allowed to sleep on the bed.