The Dirty Truth About Letting Your Dog Sleep in Bed 

Let’s be honest: sharing your bed with your dog can feel like peak cozy living. They’re warm, loyal, adorable, and somehow manage to take up 80% of a mattress they didn’t pay for. But as sweet as it is, how unsanitary is it, really?

Disclosure: PetGuide may receive a small affiliate commission from purchases made via links in this article but at no cost to you.  

1. Your dog is not exactly freshly laundered

Even the cleanest walks outside, sniffs suspicious things, rolls in mystery smells, licks themselves, etc. This is how dogs can bring dirt, bacteria, dander, pollen, and outdoor grime into your bed. 

For most healthy adults, this usually isn’t a major danger, but it does mean your sheets are probably dirtier than you realize.

2. The paws are the problem

Your dog’s paws are basically tiny outdoor shoes they never take off. Sidewalks, grass, mud, dog parks, bathroom breaks, puddles, and who-knows-what-else can all end up on their feet.

This foaming antibacterial cleanser is made to clean your dog's paws and has a convenient scrubber brush top. It's highly rated on Amazon and can give you peace of mind if you share a bed with your dog.

Many dogs also roll in questionable things with ripe smells (mine will gladly roll in cow poop if given the chance!). You definitely don’t want that in your bed! And don’t forget that you might not always be around to witness the rolling.

3. Allergies can get worse

Even if your dog isn’t obviously dirty, they still shed dander and hair. They can also carry pollen and dust from outside, especially during allergy season.

If you wake up congested, itchy, sneezy, or with irritated eyes, your furry bedmate may be part of the problem. It doesn’t mean your dog is banned for life, but it may mean you need stricter rules.

4. Some situations call for a hard no

If your dog has fleas, ticks, worms, diarrhea, a skin infection, or any mystery illness, they should stay out of the bed until the issue is handled. 

The same goes if someone in the home has a weakened immune system, open wounds, severe allergies, or is especially vulnerable to germs.

5. You can make bed-sharing cleaner

If you’re not ready to evict your dog from the bed, make the setup cleaner. Wipe their paws after walks, keep up with grooming, use flea and tick prevention, wash their bedding, and wash your own sheets often.

A designated blanket just for your dog can also help. Think of it as their assigned seat, even though they will absolutely ignore it sometimes.

Since it's not especially healthy to bathe your dog all the time, these hypoallergenic pet glove wipes are a solid option. They remove surface debris and condition your pet's fur simultaneously.