Somebody Forgot to Make the Bed. Somebody Else Took Full Advantage.
Somebody forgot to make the bed, and somebody else took full advantage. A black and tan German Shepherd puppy lies on a rumpled white bedspread, front paws planted in front of him and big floppy ears pointing in two directions at once. He gazes off to the side with soft brown eyes and the faintly worried expression shepherd puppies are famous for, as if he heard a noise in the hallway. The tan of his legs and chest glows warmly against the white fabric, and behind him a crumpled blanket and a wooden nightstand blur into a quiet bedroom.
Whether dogs belong on the bed is a personal choice, and plenty of families happily share. If you want a German Shepherd to sleep in its own space, the puppy stage is the time to decide, because habits formed now tend to stick. Shepherds grow into large dogs that can take up a surprising amount of mattress. Whatever your rule, consistency matters more than the rule itself. It also helps to protect bedding with a washable cover while puppies are still mastering housetraining, and to keep a set of steps or a ramp handy so a young dog does not have to leap down from a tall bed.
Some owners allow bed time only by invitation, using a simple cue like up and off, which shepherds usually learn quickly.
This puppy, for one, looks quite sure he has already been invited. Indefinitely.
