Re: Bedtime Dilemma

In Reply to: Bedtime Dilemma
Posted by:  Rebecca
Posted on:  December 28, 2001 at 10:35:03

: My 20-month old, Brutus, has been sleeping in bed with me for as long as I've had him, I think. When he was a brand new puppy, he would NOT tolerate staying in the crate all night, so we were suckered right off the bat. I love have him sleep with me, MOST of the time. As many people have posted, sleeping with a JRT is a unique experience. It's amazing how much room a 25 lb animal can take up when he wants to.

: On to my problem. My boyfriend loves Brutus, almost as much as I do, but he's allergic to all dogs, so sleeping with Brutus under the covers, and all over the bed is quite uncomfortable for him, but nonetheless he tolerates it as much as possible and I change the bed clothes about every night to help. In about a year, Brutus and I are planning to move to my boyfriend's house, where he has stated already he will NOT allow Brutus in the bed, and he'd rather him not be in the bedroom at all.

: Brutus has his own bed that he sleeps in during the day or evening, when we're home -- when I'm work he seems to sleep in his crate more than they bed, but he has a choice when confined to the kitchen. Nighttime, though equates sleeping in our bed for Brutus - so the question is - how do we get Brutus out of the bed -- gradually? cold turkey? Can someone please tell me something that won't make me feel guilty? I KNOW he'll be fine - occassionally I spend the night out, after walking him at what would be our normal bedtime, and coming home first thing in the morning, but I feel bad about kicking him out of the bed entirely, though I understand there is a good reason for it (allergies, and he really isn't easy to sleep with when there are 2 grown ups in the bed)....HELP!

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Hi Rebecca,
I really don't have a solution to your problem nor do I have any way not to make you feel guilty about it.

I will tell you that allergies to animals don't work this way, either you are allergic to them, this mean bed, house, apartment or whatever or you aren't. You just can't be allergic to them in the bed although that may make them worse and not in the house. I will tell you that you do have quite the dilemma. I will also tell you that if you do move in with him sooner of later his allergies will not accept Brutus in the house.
I wish I did have a simple solution to this but there isn't one.
Regards
Linda