Hi Sarah, First off I really think all dogs are pack dogs...they need both kinds of relationships...that's just my opinion though. Mine are all a pack...I have 2 chis, a Boston, a shih tzu, and poodle named Nugget, a giant rott/chow mix named Caleb and soon to add a yorkie. All of them are bonded to me but enjoy each other as well and each have a certain role to play in our house. Because we would get no sleep with 5 in bed we do combo sleeping lol! I have a night stand that I converted into a side-car dog bed for a couple. I used a piece of non slip rug material, then a same sized piece of ironing board reflective material, then a heating pad on top of the night stand in that order. Then I placed a rectangular dog bed on top. It does not move and they are right by my face at eye level...4-5 inches away. Usually the smallest Chi, Myrtle and the Boston, Mable sleep together in that...facing me...with their soft fleece blankets on top of them. They love to be covered up each night...that's how they know it is time to sleep. The Shih tzu, Shuai-Li, the poodle, Nugget all sleep on top of the bed in the valley. Caleb is on the floor on my husbands side in his own dog bed. Mouse the other chi sleeps with my daughter as they are pretty much a package deal. Sometimes when it gets extra cold Myrtle and Mable will just sneak over and snuggle under my chin or arm but usually they stay in their bed. Little Myrtle is 3.5 lbs and she does just fine sleeping with us when she sneaks over. They both know to wait for mama to be asleep to make the move lol.
I do have crates...and I use them...but for short periods if we are having a lot of people over or an occasional nap and at grooming time. My guys have to be use to the crates on some level because we live in the mountains and get evacuated a lot...and I want that event to be as stress free as possible. If you are worried about rolling over on Charlie, you could always place his crate up level with your mattress and facing you. That way he could see you and be part of your sleep routine. Eventually you might even be able to take the door off and he would just sleep there as his bed. I really believe that sleeping with you will not bond him to the pack but more to you...at least that is how it has always worked here. Have you posted pics of Charlie yet? I can't remember seeing him...love the name! I would be singing that "good and plenty" song to him all the time...Charlie says... Hugs from the Dog Park, Deanna Sent from my iPad On Dec 30, 2010, at 7:16 AM, s p <[email protected]> wrote: > Heya everyone, > > So Charlie, my first chihuahua and the smallest dog I've ever been owned by, > is now months old and a whopping 3 lbs.He's a coby applehead and about 10 > inches long so he's wee. Anyway, we've been having him sleep in his crate at > night and he's doing fine with that but I was wondering where your chis sleep. > > We have dachshunds and they sleep in the bed. Charlie gets along with them > wonderfully but he isn't a 'pack' dog. Dachshunds are pack dogs, they need > that pack system to be happy and Charlie plays with them but he goes to work > with me and shopping and such when they don't. > > So far we haven't let him in the bed at night. Mainly because, well, he's wee > tiny small, but I've been worried he'll bond too much with the pack and lose > that "Mommy is the bestest thing in the whole wide world I want to be with > her' mentality. I've never had a chi. We've had bulldogs in the past and they > couldn't be allowed to be in the bed because they got possessive of it. The > dachshunds do fine, they borrow in and snuggle and there's no personalty > changes but they do it as a pack. > > Where do yours sleep? Has it changed them at all? Should I keep Charlie in > his crate? Would occasionally being allowed in the bed, say on the days I > don't take him to work, be okay? The husband and I are split on this. Charlie > slept with us last night, today is our day off, and he curled up under my > chin, on my pillow, next to a dachshund just fine. He slept the whole night, > didn't fuss, didn't mess on the bed...but well, we're not sure it's safe or a > good idea or whatever. Chihuahuas are so different than dachshunds or > bulldogs that I'd thought I'd ask you all and see what you think... > > It was nice to wake up to a chi tail over my nose this morning...lol > > Sarah > > > "If you do not change your beliefs...Your life will always be like this." ~ > Lazyboy > "Some will say there is safety in numbers, tell that myth to the edge of the > herd." ~ "Blood" by Gaia Consort >
