Last night, my husband was out of town on business, so I had all three of our dogs in bed with
me, vying for prime position. The top spot is as close to the pillows and the top of the bed as
possible. It’s a lot. They also like to try to steal my heating pad, but Momma isn’t giving that up.
Bad dogs.
I have heard of the term “three-dog night” most of my life. Then, of course, there is the band.
With a little Googling, I found out it comes from an Australian tradition of sleeping with dingoes
for warmth when it gets really cold. I love this. Long live the dingo!
Last night was cold. Really cold. Definitely a three-dog night here in Kentucky. Luckily, I had just
the three pooches for it. They did not hesitate to jump into bed and cuddle in tight. Leaving me
feeling like a mummy pinned in my blankets.
Here’s the rub: My dogs are bed hogs. They also like to flank me and don’t usually want to be
touching each other—only me. They have to be touching me at all times. Rules.
Have I mentioned that I’m menopausal!? I’m always hot—hotter than a gas station hot dog.
Being surrounded by dogs just sets me aflame! It was not a restful night.
This is why I have taken to sleeping in the guest bedroom most nights. I love my husband and
my dogs, but they are a lot. If I want any sleep, I need a cold room and no one too close to me.
It’s just too much. Plus, you add in the fact that I’m a very light sleeper, and it’s just best that
I’m alone or only have one dog by my side.
Lord have mercy, it was a long night when I had all three of them. One spent fighting for covers
and then throwing covers off when the hot flashes inevitably came.
Then, there is the new dog on the block, Gus. He does not like to be disturbed when he is
resting. Touch that dog in a deep sleep, and he may bite your face off. He’s a super good boy
during the day, but he loves his beauty sleep. My husband says he is an asshole. I just think he
can sometimes have asshole tendencies. He’s a sweet boy. I love him dearly.
I know a lot of folks say you shouldn’t sleep with your pets, but I really do love the cuddles. A
paw to the kidney in the middle of the night, not so much.
Our dogs have always slept with us, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. However,
three dog nights can be difficult, but at the end of the day, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Dogs are a gift we humans don’t deserve, but I’m sure glad we have them. Whether it is on a
cold night or just for some cuddles when I’m feeling down. Dogs are the best.
