By: Katie Borders

National/World Editor

Dogs on the bed: one of the most controversial household issues. As a full-time dog lover and proud goldendoodle owner, I have witnessed my fair share of parents who go from reluctant to shouldering the responsibility of taking care of a new puppy to some of the cheesiest dog lovers that I have ever seen. I have seen my fair share of this shift to dog lover, and it’s always amusing to look back and think about how my own parents went from being opposed to getting a dog to some of the biggest lover of dogs, even stopping fellow dog owners on the streets to ask about their dogs or heading to Target to pick up an extra squeaky toy or two for our dogs.

I practically begged my parents for one dog. I remember when I got my first dog at nine years old, both of my parents insisted that it would most definitely not be allowed on the couches or the beds. Fast forward to eight years later, our two family dogs rule the house. They jump onto the couches and beds whenever they please, hiding their bones in the pillows and covers as a special surprise when you sit down, reminding you of their ever-present playfulness.
The process was admittedly a bit slow. With our first family dog, he started off strictly crate-trained. Yet somehow, he slowly warmed his way into my parents’ hearts, softening their views on them and turning them into hardcore dog lovers. He migrated to the couches and then to the bottom of the beds. Within the span of another week, he crawled his way up to the top of the bed and onto the pillows. While some people may shake their heads at the thought of an animal sleeping on the bed, these little unemployed freeloaders are lifelong companions and deserve their place on the bed. Even the little troublemakers, like my two mini goldendoodles who have hearts bigger than some people, deserve their place on the bed. Granted, they each somehow spread out and take up a good quarter of the bed with their presence and have their own designated pampering pillows.

There is nothing like that feeling of trying to relax in bed after a long day of school and feeling something uncomfortable and sharp under your pillow. Chances are, it’s probably just another smelly dog bone that your dog has stashed away under your sheets. Loyal protectors of the house and loving companions, this act demonstrates both a level of trust your dog has in you and a nagging, yet adorable reminder of your dog’s presence in the house. 

There really is nothing like the sight of your clothes being covered in dog hair and the smell of wet dog permeating the couch after you’ve bathed them. For some reason, dogs’ little quirks and personalities make them what anyone could ever ask for. These domesticated hunters may be unfit for security purposes, with their sole attention on the next belly rub, but at least they bring a little spirit into the household.