Sharing your night-time sanctuary with a four-legged friend? Not me! The first thing I think of is breathing in dog hair and being smeared with faecal bacteria. But does reality reflect the images in my head?
Pets are awesome! Even if no-one else is excited about your existence, your dog definitely is. In they bound with tongue and tail wagging as soon as you get inside your door. They get you out into the fresh air on a regular basis and always want to have fun. I’m ambivalent when it comes to cats, but they have their plus sides too.
Stroking, playing and cuddling is all fine, but there’s a line that I just won’t cross: pets in bed. My bed belongs to me and no-one else. Well, maybe one other person, but that’s it. I’m not sharing my bedroom with an animal that sheds hair every two seconds, traipses everywhere with its bare feet and has a damp nose all the time. Gross!
Admittedly, I even found it tough to get used to my boyfriend in my bed. At least we had different shifts and sleeping patterns at the time, so I could get accustomed to it gradually. And my boyfriend takes a shower every day, unlike a four-legged friend, and doesn’t eat other people’s poo on the way home. That’s why I wouldn’t let a dog under my duvet in my wildest dreams. Just the thought of it makes me gag.
It’s also tough to banish pets from your bedroom once you’ve let them in. Their little heart will break if they can’t be by your side. The result is whining all night long, so it’s best not to do it in the first place.
Is this subjective aversion backed up by science, or am I just a whinger put off by a few harmless hairs? The answer lies somewhere in between.
Yes, having a pet in your bed can be unhygienic, but it doesn’t have to be if you follow a few guidelines. Dogs and outdoor cats can pick up all kinds of parasites like ticks and fleas, which can be harmful to humans. These little critters can infect humans with Lyme disease, among other things. To prevent this, you have to get your beloved pets wormed regularly, every three months. You should also change your bedsheets more often than if you slept alone. If you have allergies or asthma, it’s best not to have your pets in bed at all.
Scientists have also found positive effects. Many people sleep better closer to their pets, and a small amount of animal bacteria can even make you stronger and healthier. Well thanks, but no thanks. I’m doing fine on my own. And there’s another problem that has nothing to do with hygiene: hierarchy. Spending the night in the same room can mean that your dog no longer recognises your authority. He’d probably end up throwing me out of bed. Sorry, as much as I love him, I’m still the boss.
From a purely objective point of view, you can have your pets in bed with you without affecting your health, as long as you follow a few rules. But I still think it’s gross. And what about romance? How am I supposed to perform with two sad eyes looking up at me? That isn’t my idea of a ménage à trois. Pets have a place in my heart, but not in my bed.
What do you think about sharing bed with a four-legged friend?
The competition has ended.
My life in a nutshell? On a quest to broaden my horizon. I love discovering and learning new skills and I see a chance to experience something new in everything – be it travelling, reading, cooking, movies or DIY.
