Bailey is a rescued Australian Shepherd. When I got him he was abused and a nervous wreck. He didn't really trust anyone, and for the first few nights he didn't really sleep. When he did, he had bad nightmares, would yelp and shake and wake up hyperventilating and aggressive. Slowly over time, I found something that helped him. I read before bed, so I would get him next to me, gently pet his head and read him a chapter from whatever book I was reading. When I would lay down I'd pet his head gently and hold his paw. Eventually he mostly stopped having his bad dreams.
It's become a routine. Now if I ask if he's ready for bed, he won't stop nudging me until I read to him. It's cute and I'm reading anyway, so why not. Afterwards he snuggles up next to me for his pets and gives me his paw to hold.
A few weeks ago I had trouble sleeping. I was tossing and turning nonstop. I got a bit frustrated because Bailey would NOT stop pawing at my shoulders. He'd been walked, had food and water and I was perplexed. Finally I moved my extra pillow and he came and laid right by my face, nose to nose. Then he started putting his paw on my head and petting me.
Bedtime has changed. He still gets his head pats and story, but now he stays awake and gives me pets every night. It's the sweetest thing I've ever seen, and I don't know what I would do without him.
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from Pets https://www.reddit.com/r/Pets/comments/esqypk/bedtime_with_bailey/
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