Pros and cons of letting your French Bulldog sleep in your bed

Should I let my Frenchie sleep with me?

Nearly 65% of French Bulldog owners let their dog sleep with them in bed. Three out of 10 people see this as a positive experience and enjoy the warmth and feeling of security it brings. Reasons that 27% won’t allow their pets up onto the bed, is for fear of injuring their dog or making the bed unhygienic. 

Should I let my frenchie sleep in my bed with me?

There isn’t a simple yes or no answer here. It would be easy to say no and to rule it out outright. That is because there are risk factors from a physical and behavioural point of view. You could end up doing more harm than good. But, there are potential benefits in certain circumstances. So, it is important to look at the issue from different angles before making your own choice. 

So what is the right answer for Frenchie owners? Should you allow your Frenchie to share your bed?

Frenchies sleeping in your bed: the pros and cons.

There are lots of Frenchie owners that will choose to bring their pet into their bed as a means of comfort and support – either for themselves or for their pet. But, there are plenty of pros and cons to this approach.

It is important that we fully appreciate these potential issues, rather than simply seeing the benefits of sleeping next to a Frenchie. Those that fail to do so could cause more harm to their pet and the pet-owner relationship down the line.

Ultimately, it is up to you what to do and you need to base your decision on your personal situation. But, here are some of the main pros and cons in short. 

Should I let my Frenchie sleep with me?

Pros of having a Frenchie in your bed:

1) Sleeping with a Frenchie can provide some form of comfort and support to the dog, especially if they are a rescue animal.

2) Sleeping with a Frenchie can also provide a similar level of comfort and support to owners with mental health issues.

Cons of having a Frenchie in your bed:

  1. There is the risk that your Frenchie might become overly attached to you as the result of staying in your bed.
  2. Breathing difficulties, including snoring, could be exacerbated or end up damaging your own sleep patterns. 
  3. There is the potential risk of ill health and injury from sleeping with humans away from a more suitable dog bed.
  4. It is also important to consider the impact that having a Frenchie in bed might have on your partner.

Straight away, we can see that there are more cons than pros to this list. The idea of allowing a Frenchie in bed can sound great, and there are some genuine reasons to do so. But, there are also plenty of dangers and negative considerations. So, let’s look at these in more detail. 

Your Frenchie is definitely going to want to sleep with you. 

SAYS Po The FRENCH BULLDOG

This is where the problem starts. It isn’t just that we feel the urge to sleep next to our Frenchies. It is also that our Frenchies really want to sleep next to us. Dogs want to sleep with other animals to feel safe and warm. This desire will only increase if that other animal is their caregiving owner that showers them with love and affection. Frenchies have an affectionate nature and strong bond where they crave this sort of attention. They will love the opportunity to cozy up next to you and feel special. It is easy to give in, especially when we consider the next point. 

There is the temptation to let Frenchies into our beds because they are criers

Frenchies can cry and get quite upset when they don’t get what they want. They can also show signs of distress if they feel unsafe or that their owner is abandoning them. These feelings may manifest at night when they are left alone in a dark room, especially if they aren’t ready to sleep.

Frenchies can also wake up to noises in the middle of the night and feel the need to alert you, or at least take comfort from you. Softer-hearted Frenchie owners will cave in and bring their dog into bed. Before long, this could become a regular habit. 

Frenchies are criers

This temptation only increases when we have rescue dogs. If your Frenchie came from a rescue and had a bad start in life, it is easy to feel a stronger desire to shower them with love and support. You want them to feel as though they are safe and can trust you to provide that security at all times.

Sleeping beside them could be just what they need to get over any issues they have and to settle into their new home. This is where is it important to weigh up those pros and cons to find the best solution. You might have to make a personal sacrifice for the greater mental health of your animal.

Benefits of sleeping with Frenchies 

There is also the fact that many dog owners feel better at night when they have their animals with them. It is a comfort to people that perhaps have sleep disorders or mental health issues to have their dog’s presence. This is more important than ever for some people with mental health issues that have to deal with the isolation and uncertainty caused by the Covid pandemic. Some studies suggest that women feel more comfortable and secure sleeping with a dog than a human partner, but this all depends on the person and underlying reasons. 

But, Frenchies are also snorers. 

Are French bulldog puppy snores cute?

That is a matter of opinion and there are enough YouTube videos to suggest that many owners find this endearing. However, there is a difference between a Frenchie snoring gently during a nap in the middle of the day and one sounding like a construction site right beside you at 3 am.

Heavy snoring can disrupt your sleep pattern, much like sleeping beside a human snorer. You need to be honest about whether having your Frenchie in bed is actually bad for your own health at this point. 

Snoring comes down to their genetics as a brachycephalic breed. Their deformed shape of the face and airways leads to issues with airflow. This is true for any breed bred to have that shorter muzzle. It is unnatural and can lead to some serious respiratory problems.

Snoring is a lot like the snorting and other noises they make during the day when exercising. It is also why Frenchies are more prone to hiccups, something you can read about in our other guide. 

In addition to this, there is the risk that your pet will develop other difficulties as they sleep – such as sleep apnea and obstructions when breathing. This is a risk wherever they sleep, as there is little you can do about their physiology without medical intervention. But, they may be better off in a comfortable dog bed than thrashing around under thick blankets or dealing with a big pillow. 

Could you physically harm your Frenchie by letting them stay in bed with you?

This is an important question when considering the risks of Frenchies sleeping in your bed. Could the act put them in any physical harm? We might not consider this at first because of the desire to stay warm and comfortable, and the fact that Frenchies seem so happy to be there. But, there are reasons that our pets have their own beds. 

The first issue here takes us back to that idea of snoring and obstructed airways. There could be the risk that your bed and the environment you are in isn’t ideal for dogs with breathing issues. Your dog may end up in a posture that isn’t ideal for good breathing.

They may also become caught up with pillows and blankets that add to the constriction. From there, there may be other allergens or irritants on the sheets or pillows that aggravate their airways.

The other risk is that you could end up physically hurting your dog by rolling onto them in the middle of the night. You might insist that this wouldn’t happen because you are careful to fall asleep with the dog in the ideal position, such as spooning them with your arm over them. But, you can’t be sure that you will both stay like this in the middle of the night. Your dog may wake, get up, and then get back into bed somewhere else. 

Of course, there is also the risk that your pet will harm themselves Frenchies that toss and turn in the night could injure themselves, roll out of bed, get tangled in the sheets. That is why it is so much safe for small dogs like this to have their own beds close to the ground with little more than a thin blanket to cover them. 

Should I let my Frenchie sleep with me?

Could you harm them psychologically or regarding their behaviour patterns? 

This is a big concern. If you establish sleeping in a bed as a norm, there is the risk that your pet will expect this to happen every single time. This could then lead to some issues with attachment. Puppies that grow up accepted in the bed may have a hard time adjusting to a dog bed as adults. They may also grow overly attached to their owners and struggle with separation. Training Frenchies to become independent isn’t easy if you have already shown them that this sort of 24/7 attention is a positive thing. 

Don’t forget about the impact that Frenchies in bed can have on partners. 

Frenchies aren’t hypoallergenic. This could be a problem for partners with dog allergies that want to stay over. It is no fun for them to have an enjoyable night with you only to get an allergic reaction because your dog was in that spot the night before. 

On that note, if you do have a partner over for the night, what happens to the Frenchie? Do they come and join you when it is time to sleep or do they get confused when someone else takes their place in bed?

There is also the risk that Frenchies could get jealous of partners that become a more permanent part of the household and “usurp” them as the primary object of affection in the bedroom. This is less of an issue if your Frenchie never sleeps in your bed, to begin with. 

It might be better for all concerned to not let Frenchies sleep in your bed. 

Why you shouldn’t let your Frenchie sleep in your bed

The range of potential issues here is why it is probably a better idea to not share your bed with your Frenchie. Instead, train your puppy to sleep alone in its own bed rather than making sleeping in your bed a norm.

This is easier said than done at first, especially when they start crying and you feel bad for leaving them alone. But, this early training can set up a better relationship and stronger boundaries that they can use throughout their life. 

Make sure that they have a space that is clean, secure, and appealing that they can call their own. Their dog bed should be just the right size with soft padding and a nice smell. You can make it smell like you if that will calm them further. You can also provide them with comfort items that they will enjoy, such as stuffed animals to sleep beside. Take your time to figure out what works best. 

Is it okay to cover my French Bulldog with a blanket?

Yes, it’s okay to cover your Frenchie with a blanket. They’ll enjoy the comfort and warmth a blanket offers. Once they’ve settled in their bed you can tuck them in with a blanket, just like a human child ( yes I know we baby our dogs so much!). They’ll appreciate the gesture and security of an extra layer, especially in winter. So go on, say night night.

In summary

In the end, the decision here really does come down to your personal situation. There are downsides to this approach, especially if you bring a partner into your bed later on or wake up to a snoring Frenchie. You may also end up dealing with stubborn attachment issues.

But, you also shouldn’t feel bad about doing this if you have an insecure rescue dog or if your Frenchie provides essential emotional support at night. Do what is best for both of you without putting anyone in any danger. 

Mother of Frenchies

I’m Sarah-Jane White, an Animal Behaviourist and Trainer and one of my degrees is specifically in Canine Behaviour and Training. I’m a supporter and occasionally foster for the Phoenix French Bulldog Rescue and French Bulldog Saviours. I have grown up with bullbreeds and currently have one fawn pied French Bulldog called Dolly, her nickname is Po, after Kung Fu Panda because she loves noodles and has some great ninja moves.

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