When we first get in, he cozies up real close, usually lays his head on my leg, my shoulder, or my chest, and is very respectful. More importantly, he is warm, cuddly, and with Mike often working til the wee morning hours, he's an appropriate bed buddy that won't land me in divorce court. It's one of the most peaceful, tranquil parts of my day. However, after a few hours the bliss is gone. I'm usually awakened by the discomfort of a large mass pressing against me and the covers forming a turniquat around one of my legs. What I find is Tucker has completely claimed the bed and has systematically shoved me right up to the edge. Any attempts to move him are met with dead weight and then the battle ensues. First I have to break free and unravel myself from the spider web of covers I'm trapped under, then I have to literally sit up and push him with all my force back over to his side of the bed. The funniest thing is, he pretends to be in a dead sleep. Yes, I said pretend. I know I tell my classes all the time that dogs are not calculating, but I tell you, he should get an Academy Award for this performance, because I am quite sure if I were opening up a bag of treats he'd spring out of that bed like greased lightening. So, this may go on a couple of minutes, and then we are back to our peacful co-existence, until Mike comes home and kicks him out of the bed entirely!
But we do this dance every night and will continue to do so? Why? For those first few tranquil, peaceful moments that I simply must have. No matter what has occurred during the day, those moments make everything seem alright. Those moments helped get me through Bryan's illness. Those moments help get me through a hard day at PNI.
Tucker will be 9 years old in September. I will continue to cherish every night he is still here and able to shove me to the edge of the bed.
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5 comments:
Awe...
I look forward to the day that Raven will be recovered from her shoulder surgery and can return to sleeping on my bed with me. Winston won't sleep on the bed. But she will jump up in the mornings for petting and wrestling.
I always enjoyed the Sunday morning cuddling and wrestling matches we'd all have before it was really time to get up. Some day, maybe by this summer, the girls will be back to sleeping upstairs and we can add Ric into the morning ritual of cuddling and wrestling.
That was cute.
I live for those moments as well. After a day at daycare it's wonderful to come home and curl up with either a sleepy pup or one that's excited I've come home.
Phoenix is definitely the one to cuddle up by my chest, constantly sneaking a kiss in at anytime, whereas Cote loves to curl up in the crook of my legs.
I love sleeping with Cote. I hardly even move and neither does he. Just like Tucker, he's extremely warm. But also like Tucker, there are a few blissful hours and then the struggle begins. He gets up, does a few turns and flops back on the bed like a dog that weights 80 pounds. That lasts for about an hour and then he's up again and digging the covers around to suit his preferences. By the time he's done my feet have been uncovered and that's when he's banished to my mother's room. Lol.
When Phoenix was crate training it was odd not having a warm body in the bed, but she's spoiled now and comes and goes through out the night. I actually think I move too much for her. She stretches out too much for us to be comfortable together. Cuddling is the best way to end any day.
Yeah, there is something great about having your dogs with you on the bed.
Lately, I've not been letting more than one dog sleep with me. I just didn't want to have to fight my way in or out of bed or be fearful of someone deciding to jump on my tummy. Not that it happens often, but it is always a possibility. So mostly Harley gets to sleep with me, she cuddles up nicely next to me and if I stir too much because I'm hot or restless, she has enough sense to move to another spot.
When the whole clan sleeps with me, we have a battle for space. I have a King Size bed and there is oodles of room for cavaliers and me, but guess what, they all want to sleep on my 1/4 of the bed. And many nights that's really about all I end up with.
Most nights are really peaceful. Some nights however, Harley gets some kind of gurgly belly. I have no idea what she eats to cause this. But she wakes up, then starts doing her little snort thing, then she jumps down and starts with the back leg kicking/scraping along the carpet to make plenty of noise. I hate those nights, because she wants to go out--not to do anything in particular--well, maybe it is something in particular, she usually eats grass. The interesting thing is that she never throws up, or so far as I can tell relieves herself in any way, but she has to go out, and it has to be for 10 to 15 minutes and it has to be in the middle of the night, nothing else will suffice. This is generally followed up by an early wake up call. Sigh.
But aside from all this, our little fivesome has slept well together for a couple of years now. I really miss it (even the hassle of fighting for a little sliver of space) when I don't have them on the bed with me.
Brandy
I love all your stories. I don't allow any of my dogs to sleep with me through the night for there own safety. My husband gets up very early and never uses the lights. I am also afraid of having them flung or kicked when covers are pulled or moved. I am scared that somebody will get stepped on, namely Herbie. Mae does sleep in Corrinn's room on the bed except when she is spending the night over at a friends house. Than she is crated too. If I go to bed early to watch TV, Herbie is curled up in on my stomach, or in the crook of my legs. While we are watching TV downstairs lying on the couch he is stretched out on my chest(like a baby) or legs. Which is so comforting and relaxing.
The great thing about him is since he's so small I can moved him around w/o him getting up. Piper is only allowed to sleep on the bed when we are at hotels, and sometimes at home when Roy's not home, she is just to big and really does hog the bed, you all have seen her sleep upside down and legs everywhere. I wish she was allowed more often, I have the human bed hog and flalerer, and snoorer. Sick days are the best days for them they spend all day on the bed of whomever is home.
Brandi
I hear you about the gurgling belly, and the chicken sratching, Mae does the chicken scratching when she gets excited, and also does the roll around the floor stretching. Piper gets the gurgling stomach if she's not feed the night before, sometimes it's so loud that she does wake me up, then I give her a cookie and after a few minutes she eats it the sound stops
I used to let Rascla and the cats sleep with me. But I could not take the cats jumping on and off the bed all night long. so then it was just Rascal and me until Hopey entered the picture. Recently rascal has started guarding the bed. So now dogs sleep on their beds on the floor and people sleep on the beds.
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