Do Goldendoodles Like to Sleep with You?

Congratulations, you are a Goldendoodle owner! You have one of the smartest, coolest dogs around. But there is so much to learn about them, even if you have had yours awhile. For example, you may have noticed that your Goldendoodle either does or does not enjoy sleeping in the bed with you at night. On the other hand, maybe you are only just considering getting a Goldendoodle and you are curious about this behavior. Either way, if you would like to know whether Goldendoodles like to sleep alongside their humans and why, read on to the answers below. 

Do Goldendoodles Like to Sleep with You?

It depends on the individual dog, but, in general, Goldendoodles are loyal, affectionate, and attach themselves easily to their humans, so they will usually like to sleep with you. This often translates into them being more than willing to not only make themselves at home sleeping on your couch but also snuggle up with you in bed at night.

Do Goldendoodles Like to Cuddle?

Since Golden Retrievers and Poodles are both cuddly dogs, you can expect your Goldendoodle to like to cuddle, too.

Again, it may vary for specific dogs, but Goldendoodles inherit their temperaments from the breeds they are crossed from: Golden Retrievers and Poodles. Both parent breeds of dog are known to enjoy cuddling with humans so chances are good that your Goldendoodle will as well.

Whether or not a dog will want to sleep in the bed overnight with you depends in part on the dog’s temperament. 

Some breeds of dogs are cuddlier and more couch-potato-like than others, but often most any dog will prefer a softer, more comfortable place to sleep like a bed as opposed to a crate or the floor. 

Goldendoodles are technically a cross between two recognized breeds and therefore not an officially recognized breed themselves. 

So, to get an idea of its temperament, you need only consider the personalities of both Golden retrievers and Poodles. 

Golden Retrievers

The Golden Retriever was originally bred as a Scottish gundog, however, in popular culture today, it is most recognized as the quintessential family dog. 

It is easy to see why, considering this medium-sized dog has its beautiful, iconic golden coat for one and a famously friendly and approachable attitude for another. 

Golden Retrievers make incredible athletes, but, provided that all their exercise needs are fulfilled, they are of course lovely house pets as well. 

Goldens bask in affection from their owners and return it double.

Assuming a Golden Retriever has been well-socialized with people, it would be very surprising if one of them turned down an invitation to sleep on the bed with their person. 

Poodles

Like Golden Retrievers, Poodles are highly trainable and sociable dogs. They are similarly well-muscled and need plenty of activity, given that they are bred to be sporting dogs. 

Nevertheless, poodles are not necessarily immune to the charms of snoozing alongside their humans.

Frequently obedient and loyal, poodles are likely to stick by your side most of the time and that can very well include time spent sleeping. 

Why Do Goldendoodles Want to Sleep Beside People?

Goldendoodles want to sleep beside people primarily because they are social creatures. Their instincts allow them to feel secure and comfortable sleeping this way since they consider their person to be a pack member.

Dogs, including Goldendoodles, are pack animals. This means that they are evolutionarily compelled to live in social groups. 

Since dogs are domesticated, they are primed to accept humans into their social structure and even look to us as the leaders of the pack. 

Co-sleeping is a very natural urge, then, for such animals because in the wild it would be safer to sleep with your packmates than to not.

Co-sleeping with your Goldendoodle may also facilitate bonding. 

They might want to do so because they feel close to you in addition to the fact that having you near helps them feel safe and secure. 

Why Doesn’t My Goldendoodle Want to Sleep with Me?

Regardless of breed characteristics, the preferences of individual dogs can vary greatly. This means that your Goldendoodle may not want to sleep alongside you. There are several possible reasons why, but this is not necessarily a concern if you can ensure they are happy and healthy otherwise.

How Your Goldendoodle Was Raised

If you are not the first owner of your Goldendoodle, firstly, thank you for adopting! Secondly, you will need to be understanding that your dog’s previous owners may not have raised them the way you would have.

They might have even come from traumatic, abusive, or just neglectful backgrounds wherein they were not socialized correctly. 

Dogs from these backgrounds (even Goldendoodles) need patience and kindness from their owners. 

They might not be the cuddly dogs you expect – in fact, they might act aloof or fearful towards you. 

If you are unsure how to handle situations with a dog that has been improperly socialized, you should consult an expert like a trainer and perhaps enroll in some training classes that are appropriate for your dog’s unique needs. 

Most importantly, if your Goldendoodle appears uncomfortable or becomes scared and aggressive when you try to cuddle, do not force them. 

They may become more affectionate with you over time. Even if not, if you respect them and earn their trust, Goldendoodles and other dogs can show you love in other ways.

Even if they are simply comfortable in your presence or follow you around, it is a sign that your Goldendoodle likes you. 

You Move Around a Lot

Not every dog and human is a bedmate match made in heaven! 

One or both of you can move around too much in your sleep. If your Goldendoodle does it, you may not enjoy sleeping with them and vice versa.

Involuntary movements in your sleep could push your dog off the bed or disrupt them just enough to make them want to sleep elsewhere. 

In this scenario, it may be best just to sleep separately from your Goldendoodle. 

Otherwise, sleeping on a larger bed or training your dog to sleep at the foot of the bed instead could help. 

They Are Too Hot or Too Cold

One of the reasons that dogs and humans get along so well is we have similar though not identical comfortable temperature ranges. 

That said, you might be like me and like to keep your room really warm whenever possible. 

Or you might be like my mom who always needs a fan or air conditioner, no matter the season. 

Either way, if your preferences strongly lean one way or the other, you might easily be making your bedroom uncomfortable for your dog to sleep in. 

Keep in mind that Goldendoodles sport a hairy coat and thus are usually capable of regulating their own internal thermostat well in average room-temperature settings. 

Keeping the room a little cool is superior to keeping it too warm since temperature drops are conducive to helping mammals fall asleep and have a restful sleep. 

If your dog is panting and/or jumps off the bed and tries to get out of the room, this is likely a sign they are too hot. 

Conversely, if they shiver or cannot seem to curl up tight enough and keep adjusting and re-snuggling, they might just be too cold. 

Their Age

As your Goldendoodle ages, their personality will change, which could make them more or less likely to want to cuddle or sleep in your bed. Pain makes a big difference too. 

An aging dog will often begin to experience joint pain and inflammation just like a person. 

This will make hopping on and off the bed more of a challenge and possibly less appealing than just staying on the floor. 

If you think your Goldendoodle is having pain like this, see your veterinarian in case there is something they can prescribe them that will help. 

Additionally, you can purchase dog stairsteps or use an ottoman or something as an intermediate step to help your dog get on and off the bed. 

It is Just Their Personality

As mentioned, each Goldendoodle is unique. There may not be a single thing wrong with them and they still just might not like to sleep along with you and prefer somewhere else. 

That is okay! If there are no other signs of a problem, let your pooch choose his favorite way to rest. 

Pros of Letting Your Goldendoodle Sleep With You

We all love puppy cuddles. And if dogs are fun to cuddle during the day, they’ve got to be extra comforting as you’re drifting off to sleep. Below is a list of benefits you can receive by sleeping with your dog:

• Releases Oxytocin: This hormone is also known as the love hormone. It tells your body that it is safe and healthy to form a bond with the dog beside you.
• Eases stress and anxiety: The release of oxytocin provides a feeling of safety and love, which reduces stressful feelings.
• Makes your dog feel more secure: As mentioned above, Goldendoodles don’t like to be alone. They will feel much more secure if they get to sleep with you.
• Extra warmth: Having an extra body in bed with you gives you more heat, so your nights don’t have to be as cold and lonely.
• Helps you bond with your dog: Because of the released oxytocin, you and your dog will be closer because of these precious moments you spend together.
• Greater security: It’s always nice to know that if someone is sneaking into your house, you’ll have an attentive bedmate to wake you up.
• Morning cuddles and love: What a great way to start out the day! Cuddling with your best friend without even having to leave the bed.
• Decreases loneliness: Goldendoodles make great companions. If you live or sleep alone, having on of these loving dogs sleep with you can help feelings of loneliness immensely.

There are plenty of great reasons to choose to sleep with your dog. Check with your vet before you decide, because there may be health concerns that are specific to your situation that you should be aware of. House that Barks says, “According to recent research, the many benefits outweigh the cons of sleeping with your dog.”

Cons of Letting Your Goldendoodle Sleep With You

So what are the cons? Why would a vet or other health professional suggest not sleeping with your pet? Here are some examples of why you might want to avoid sleeping with your Goldendoodle:

• Sleep quality could be affected: Anytime you get a new bedpartner, adjusting to how they sleep takes some time. Your dog might be the type to take over the whole matress, or maybe they’re a really squirmy sleeper.
• Could make allergies worse: If you have a mild dog allergy, sleeping with your pet can make your symptoms worse, as well as your sensitivity.
• Possible transmission of disease: There are diseases dogs can transmit to humans and vis-versa that could be potentially devastating to either of you.
• Possibility of creating more separation anxiety: If you sleep with your dog, there’s a chance you could spoil them and make it even harder for them in those times when you have to leave them behind.
• Could make intimacy with your partner more challenging: When you get into bed, your dog will want to get in with you, even if sleeping isn’t the activity you had in mind.

These are important factors to consider when deciding whether or not to sleep with your Goldendoodle. There may be other factors dependent on your household situation (for example, a newborn baby that needs to sleep by your bed) that you need to keep in mind when making your decision.

Should You Let Your Goldendoodle Sleep With You?

There are many reasons you might want to let your dog sleep with you, including excessive whining, but just because your dog misses you, doesn’t mean you should give in and let them sleep on your bed. You want your reasons to be beneficial for both of you. There are other solutions for whining.

It is perfectly normal and safe to let your Goldendoodle sleep on their own bed, or in a crate, though you may discover you need to train them with a crate before you lock them up in one all night long. Again, Goldendoodles get intense anxiety when they’re on their own, (source).

While your Goldendoodle would probably love to sleep with you, the decision is largely up to you. You must weigh the risks against the benefits and decide what works best for you and your Goldendoodle. Make sure you speak with your vet to make sure they approve of your decision.

Sleeping With Your Goldendoodle

Like so many questions about dog behavior, the answer quite often just boils down to “it just depends!”

This does not seem like particularly helpful until you start breaking down the why of each kind of scenario as we did here while discussing when and why a Goldendoodle may be likely to sleep in the bed with you. 

It is a behavior that is certainly well within their nature and that they are highly likely to adopt, especially if you are accommodating to it and raise them yourself to be co-sleepers with you. 

It is also possible to train them to sleep elsewhere if you prefer. 

But if you find that they do not want to sleep with you at night and you would like them to, consider the reasons they may not, help them if you can, or respect their desires if you cannot. 

This will help ensure a harmonious relationship with your Goldendoodle overall.