Our current dog (Molly, 13yo female Schnoodle had since pup) has been sleeping on a dog bed in our MBR forever. We recently (5 weeks ago) added a 3yo female Yorkie (Fiona) to the family.

Fiona had been thru at least 2 other homes, and has some serious dog on dog aggression issues. After finding the Leerburg site (2 weeks ago), we restarted ground work with Fiona (aka Operation Tough Love) and will continue to work on her "Cujo" alter ego.

Fiona is currently sleeping in a crate in our MBR closet, and Molly now sleeps in an open (for now) crate where her bed used to be. Ultimately we were planning to have a crate on either side of our bed, but I am beginning to question whether that is a good idea...

My dogs sleep in crates in the dining room. The only time a dog is crated in my bedroom is when they are young and I need to hear if they have to get out to potty.

If I was doing groundwork with a newly adopted dog with issues, t'aint no way I would allow that dog in my bedroom, especially if I am reinforcing the position of the older dog by allowing that dog in the bedroom.

I will sometimes allow dogs to sleep in the bedroom with me, but only behaved, respectful "know what they will be missing if they let it go to their head" dogs LOL

 Quote: Richard Boisvert

Our current dog (Molly, 13yo female Schnoodle had since pup) has been sleeping on a dog bed in our MBR forever. We recently (5 weeks ago) added a 3yo female Yorkie (Fiona) to the family.

Fiona had been thru at least 2 other homes, and has some serious dog on dog aggression issues. After finding the Leerburg site (2 weeks ago), we restarted ground work with Fiona (aka Operation Tough Love) and will continue to work on her "Cujo" alter ego.

Fiona is currently sleeping in a crate in our MBR closet, and Molly now sleeps in an open (for now) crate where her bed used to be. Ultimately we were planning to have a crate on either side of our bed, but I am beginning to question whether that is a good idea...

I'm just a PET owner NOT a Professional trainer or Behaviorist, but here is my "gut feeling" on this:

The last time I had 2 dogs, was when I got a young female Akita puppy & brought her home to live with my 7 year old male Borzoi -- His dog bed was on the floor next to my own bed ... In order to establish my new Akita's lower status in our "Pack Structure" I did NOT allow her to sleep in my bedroom at all (Akitas are typically quite Dog-Aggressive).

She accepted this Family Hierarchy as perfectly normal, and I reinforced her lower rank by all the other Usual Methods such as feeding my Borzoi first, having him go through doorways first, get into & out of the car first, etc. -- My Akita grew up & never EVER showed any Hint of Aggression toward my Borzoi, even though she became an "equal opportunity hater" of ALL Other DOGS ... But she always respected him as her Superior.

When he passed away 7 years later at the age of 14, she went straight to his old bed in my room (for the 1st time in her life) and moped there for 3 months while grieving his loss -- Nature had taken its course & in the wake of my Borzoi's passing, my Akita had "ascended his throne" ... She remained an Only Dog until her own death this past June, with sleeping privileges in my room, but her preferred places to spend the night were either stretched across the threshold of my doorway OR lying in the livingroom vestibule.

Just personally speaking, I would crate your dog-aggro Yorkie overnight anywhere EXCEPT in your own bedroom, and I would reserve the privilege of sleeping UNCRATED on the floor by you for your Old Schnoodle who has EARNED IT

My current dog (female) sleeps on her bed in the living room and the new puppy (male) sleeps in his crate beside her bed.

I trust her; I don't trust him.

5 dogs here that sleep wherever they want to. The three smallest in my bed, the two bigger dogs on the floor of the bedroom on dog beds.

BUT--all new dogs added to the pack sleep in a crate (door shut) for several months as they adjust to the new pack and the pack adjusts to them.

Like Candi suggested, I wouldn't upset the old dogs' routine to accommodate the newcomer--especially since it's the new dog stirring things up. The new dog has to adjust to the ways of the established pack, not the other way around.

Given the option, Duke would always sleep at the foot of the bed, but he hasn't the sense to stay on padding OR the bed and it makes his hips hurt. So he goes in the crate for his own good.

Chance would eat the cats if we left him out

The living area of my home has tile floors. To keep my walking hairball off of the carpets, I installed a baby gate at the hall entrance to the living area (it is no longer needed; Sadie will no longer come on the carpets unless invited. The door is still there for other reasons.).

In this living area, she has a crate with the door removed, and this is her area when she is inside. She crates herself when she wishes, and the rest of the night she is stretched out on the cool tile (summer) or curled up on the entry rug (winter). She stirs quite a bit at night and thus will move from the crate to the floor and vice versa. If I am in the living room when she crashes, or, God forbid, I fall asleep watching TV, she will often be curled up on the floor next to the end of the sofa where I am.

She has no problem being crated all night, but the door gets in my way when l leave it open for her, so I take it off and give her free access to her area 24/7. It's just the two of us and she is very trustworthy in the house. She sometimes reminds me about the "no horseplay indoors" rule if I'm giving her a hard time.

My 5 y/o Border Collie sleeps on the bed (if it's hot she opts for the floor). She understands the rules so it's no big deal. My 7 m/o Border Collie sleeps in a crate (in the bedroom) because he likes the idea of getting up to play at 3 AM...

With Tracy and others, I don't change the present pack members' beds to accommodate a new member. No, the new member accommodates. (That said, what I say is what happens .... but what I say is, the senior guys have seniority. )

I do all that Tracy said, in fact. There is zero upheaval or anxiety for existing members when a new member joins.


All that said, I have one (small one) on my bed, at the foot, one in a bed under a chair next to the bed, and one in a bed on the floor at the foot.

My dogs have always slept in my bedroom. Older dogs on their beds or on mine. Younger pups in crates.

Seems that I have always had a series of either multiple dog beds or crates in my bedroom. The most at one time was a dog bed & 2 crates. Young pups are always in a crate next to the head of my bed so I can keep an eye on them (& peek into the crate) in case they need to go out.

At the present....Zasha sleeps on my bed & Bodie likes to sleep in his crate rather then on his bed or the throw rugs in the room...his choice.