The Dog’s New Pillow
Jun 5th 2010
Claudia DainClaudia Dain & My Life As A Plebe
Well, it happened. Diesel’s pillow, his gigantic chew toy/pacifier, had to be thrown out. I was as nervous as a cat about throwing out his pillow, finding a new one, wondering if he’d reject the ‘fake’ pillow and swirl into a deep doggy depression.
I forgot I was dealing with Diesel, Wonder Dog of the Galaxy.
This is what happened: I bought a new pillow for him, covered in purple fuzzy fleece, and handed it to him as I walked in the front door. He sniffed it, grinned up at me (really), and carried it back to his little nest in the family room, tail swinging happily the whole way. He nestled down on his fluffy pile of blankets and buried his face in his new pillow, ignoring me completely as I picked up his old pillow and threw it in the trash.
That’s when I realized that he’d been waiting for me to buy him a new pillow for weeks, and I’d been dithering, afraid 
he’d 
reject a new pillow. Nothing could have been further from the truth.
Bad Mommy. Bad. Bad. Bad.
What kind of pillow do you like? Standard or king sized? Down or fiberfill? Soft or firm? Do you travel with your own pillow? Do you sleep on your back, side, stomach? Nestled into a mound, curled around a loved one, or straight and untouchable? Do you snore? Talk in your sleep? Do you dream?
54 Comments »
54 Responses to “The Dog’s New Pillow”
Tina on 05 Jun 2010 at 2:06 am #
3 or 4 regular pillows.
I’m always changing between sleeping on either side or my back.
I do have a slight weirdness: when my gallbladder was removed, I had a drain tube for almost a week. I had a blanket or sheet against it to help protect my side against accidentally pulling the tube. One would think that after 7 years I could sleep without having something covering my side.
KellyProellocks on 05 Jun 2010 at 2:49 am #
Ah, good on you mommy for replacing your baby’s pillow. I have 4 pillows on my bed and use 2 european pillows as cushions to prop up the other pillows on my bed during the day. I sleep on my side and my back and my belly. I curl up around my cats Acheron and Tory who sleep in the bed with me. I snore and drool, talk and sing in my sleep. Heck I have even been known to preach in my sleep and woke someone out of their own dead sleep because I was preaching that loud! My dreams are usually very strange and have been known to feature me flying or running away from someone. I even had a dream where I was being seduced on an oyster shaped bed while a vampire was outside trying to get in. I also have to have lots and lots of blankets on my bed in winter as I equate warmth with weight and I just love my cave in winter.
Judy F on 05 Jun 2010 at 4:05 am #
I sleep with three standard pillows on my bed. Two are on my side and one is on the cats side. LOL He sometimes sleeps on it but not often. I have been thinking about a body pillow. Anyone use one of them?
I sleep on my side and tummy. Very seldom on my back. Most nights I move all over the place while I sleep.
In winter I have a ton of blankets on the bed, my bedroom is over the garage and it gets chilly. Even in summer I have to have at least a sheet on me. I do wear socks all year round to bed, if my feet get cold I can’t sleep.
I dream a lot. I am sure I snore and drool esp when my sinuses are all clogged up
Jamie-Lynn on 05 Jun 2010 at 5:35 am #
I use a buckwheat pillow. I usually sleep on my side. I have not idea if I snore but both my parents and sibling sometimes do so I’m guessing yes. I definitely dream; usually weird dreams
Pesky on 05 Jun 2010 at 5:45 am #
6 standard sized, fiber filled, quilted pillows and one body pillow. Distributed as needed.
Congrats to Diesel. You’re going to have to take another picture of him cuddling with the new pillow.
Kathy on 05 Jun 2010 at 6:01 am #
awwww! that is just SO cute! I visited my friend last night and met her newly adopted greyhound. (for the 2nd time really. I was there when she was matched)
Florence has many loveys and has to gather them up in her livingroom spot. she kept stealing my friend’s slippers. not to chew but just to have near her. she is the cutest thing!
As for my pillows, I have four standard pillows on my double bed. i not only travel with my own pillow, but I bring my own blanket as well.
my kitty loves anything fleece so I have spots for her all over my apt
LoriHandeland on 05 Jun 2010 at 6:36 am #
I have one of those neck pillows with the hump on one side. I don’t travel with it because it’s HUGE. I should probably get a small travel size one now that I think about it. I saw one at Bed, Bath and Beyond the other day. It’s fiberfill, so pretty firm.
I also have a puffy, soft pillow to prop up my bad shoulder when I sleep on my side. I switch around. Start on my back, move to my side, end up on my stomach.
I have been told I mutter in my sleep. I am not surprised.
I’m sure I dream, but I don’t remember them anymore like I used to.
Claudia Dain on 05 Jun 2010 at 7:26 am #
Kelly, equating warmth with weight…that struck me. I used to feel that way and that’s changed, not sure why. I used to love to feel pressed down by blanket upon blanket in the winter. Now, I want the lightness of a puffy comforter, but no weight. I use two comforters in winter, huddling in, but the weight is still very light. I wonder when I changed?
I wonder HOW I changed?
Huh.
Claudia Dain on 05 Jun 2010 at 7:28 am #
Tina, I can SO understand that happening. It’s hard to change how you sleep, and once you do, it’s equally hard to change back!
Rachel Gibson on 05 Jun 2010 at 7:29 am #
I have six pillows on the bed but I throw them all off and sleep with my down pillow. Pillows and thread count are very important.
Claudia Dain on 05 Jun 2010 at 7:31 am #
JudyF, Number Two Son uses a body pillow (or two). He’s ALWAYS used a body pillow, only when he was a toddler it was a giant teddy bear that he threw himself around. In the past few years, I’ve started using a king sized pillow to wrap my arm around or throw my leg over (yes, I’m short enough that king sized pillow goes from my shoulders to my legs). I feel like it keeps my spine straight and I’m not stiff in the mornings.
Claudia Dain on 05 Jun 2010 at 7:32 am #
Jamie-L, so a buckwheat pillow…is it noisy? Have a different softness factor?
Claudia Dain on 05 Jun 2010 at 7:35 am #
Pesky, I would have taken a pic of him to post, but one of my kids made off with my digital camera! Time to blog…and no camera. The dog was very cooperative, ready for his close-up, nuzzling his pillow…falling asleep with one arm resting on his pillow…resting his head on the pillow while watching the fireflies outside…just adorable shot after adorable shot. And no camera!
Kids.
And, wow, you sleep with a pile of pillows! It sounds cozy and cushy.
Claudia Dain on 05 Jun 2010 at 7:41 am #
Kathy, I really think the fleece thing must be a factor. I was so torn! Standing in the pillow aisle, looking at all the choices. I wanted to get him something as close to what he had before, figuring he’d be traumatized, but then this purple fleece pillow (king sized) just seemed so right. I think it must be like a giant stuffed toy for him, and he loves his stuffed squeaky toys.
In breaking news…Diesel keeps his pillow on his nest of blankets in the family room, his toys also gathered on the pillow–essentially, he’s created a giant playpen for himself. Well, Diesel sleeps in my bedroom at night and one night a few days ago I picked up his pillow to bring it upstairs for him to sleep with. Oh, my gosh!! He had that pillow out of my hands in a few seconds and was carrying it up the stairs (and tripping on it) all by himself! He carried it down the hall and into my bedroom, where he dropped it proudly and flopped on it happily.
And that’s not the end of the story. In the morning, when I bent over to pick up his pillow, he took it out of my hands again and carried it downstairs back to his nest!!!!
This dog is a genius. He’s done it twice more, too. !!!
Claudia Dain on 05 Jun 2010 at 7:43 am #
Lori, I used to have one of those pillows, used them for years upon years. Now that my back is better, I’ve gone back to a regular pillow…and I’m not using it right! I have my head waaaaaayyy on the edge of the pillow (where the hump is supposed to be), leaving my neck unsupported. I’m trying to retrain myself to keep my head in the center of the pillow.
Not easy.
Claudia Dain on 05 Jun 2010 at 7:46 am #
Okay, Rachel, I have to ask, how is it sleeping with a down pillow? I’ve tried a few times and always find them too soft, not enough support, but now I’m wondering if I’m using cheap, flat, old down. Maybe an understuffed down? People who use down everything, from pillows to bedding, seem to love it beyond words. I’m trying to figure out what I’m doing wrong.
KellyProellocks on 05 Jun 2010 at 8:03 am #
I actually have a down pillow and I just fluff it before I flake out for the night. I would never trade it but I do need the other pillow under them to give me the height I like. Could it be Claudia that as you got younger you found that you didn’t need the weight.
Claudia Dain on 05 Jun 2010 at 8:07 am #
Kelly, I’m sure that’s it! Why didn’t I think of that?
TrishD on 05 Jun 2010 at 8:12 am #
I have to say that I’m a bit envious of Diesel… a purple fuzzy fleece pillow? I want one!!
I travel with my pillow if I can. I think I picked up that habit from my parents. Mom and dad take their pillows with them everywhere! I currently use a feather pillow my nephew left when he was visiting. I told him my daughter was using it because I figured he woudn’t take it away from him 8 year old cousin who adores him. I’m not too sure if he’d let me keep it.
I sleep on my stomach and side. My 3 cats and the dog think that the bed is big enough for them to join me and hubby. If the dog wasn’t a black lab there might be enough room but he usually wants to plop down right between us!
I don’t snore… no matter what hubby says. He has to be lying! I do dream, weird dreams. I’ve had the naked at work dream too many times to count.
Rachel Gibson on 05 Jun 2010 at 8:21 am #
Good down. No feathers. High thread count. I have 800 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets that are amazing.
KellyProellocks on 05 Jun 2010 at 8:45 am #
It’s one of my excuses for everything… well that and total math brain. You’ve heard of mommy brain? Well I have math brain where absolutely nothing math related sticks in my head. I was surprised that I didn’t have a dream with lots and lots of numbers in it after the statistics assignment that I had last semester. It was not pretty at all. Way too many numbers and I think that I went to bed and hid my head under the down pillow trying to regain my sanity. It sort of didn’t fully work.
AmyS on 05 Jun 2010 at 8:56 am #
I sleep with 3 pillows but one is actually for the cat. I always pull 2 down further into the bed and he sleeps on the bottom one. What we do for our fluffy little friends! I always sleep on my stomach, which is a back killer, but I can’t sleep any other way. I also need the fan going because I hate complete silence when I sleep.
Margaret on 05 Jun 2010 at 8:59 am #
I wish I could find a pillow that makes me happy. I’m ashamed to say how old the 2 pillows are that I’m currently using. My DH died over 15 years ago and one of the pillows was his. I have bought and discarded any number of pillows thru the years. None of them were comfortable to me. I am toying with the idea of a body pillow.
Claudia, I bought a buckwheat pillow from Amazon.com right after I got out of the hospital back in early March. My daughter has used one for years and wouldn’t have anything else. They don’t make any noise at all but are heavier than all get out. Too heavy for me. I gave her a new one for Christmas and she was thrilled, but wished it had been larger. I couldn’t manage the larger one I got for myself. So, I gave it to her and she gave the smaller one to her youngest daughter. They loves their buckwheat pillows. My daughter is the princess and the pea when it comes to sleeping. So, that’s a good testimonial for the buckwheat. Remember. Quiet but very heavy.
Rachel, I am jealous of your Egyptian cotton high thread count sheets. Lovely.
B on 05 Jun 2010 at 9:04 am #
I’d have no idea how to describe my pillows, But I like them. I have six pillows in my bed, but I usually just pick two and kick the others to the floor
I sleep on my back, my side, my stomach, and probably a few other possibilities people don’t usually consider. I’ve waken up almost upside down once. Don’t ask. I move A LOT, I toss and turn and flip and switch.
I don’t snore (but I drool), I talk on my sleep — especially if someone talks to me, I can carry on whole conversations then.
I dream. A LOT. Real, vivid dreams. Sometimes, it seems like I never slept at all. If they’re good dreams, it’s great. But they’re usually weird, often enough bad dreams. I can’t NOT dream, though. It’s like there’s something missing when I don’t dream. I went off depression meds before because they kept me from dreaming.
Claudia Dain on 05 Jun 2010 at 9:43 am #
Trish, isn’t the naked at work dream supposed to mean you feel ill-prepared or something? Not that I believe that stuff.
I used to have a recurring dream where all my teeth fell out. That’s supposed to mean you’re afraid to talk or something. That, fellow goddesses, is not my problem. I told my dentist about my dream and he told me that the roots of my teeth go practically up to my eyeballs and that there is no way my teeth will ever fall out.
I never had that dream again.
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
Claudia Dain on 05 Jun 2010 at 9:44 am #
So, Rachel, I’m looking for 100% down, no feathers? Is it a firm pillow? Not saggy? I like a firm, soft pillow.
Claudia Dain on 05 Jun 2010 at 9:46 am #
Amy, I used to be a stomach sleeper, from the time I was an infant until my dr told me I had to stop because my back was in agony. It took a few days to adjust, but now I can’t sleep on my stomach at all. Weird, how we can manipulate ourselves.
Claudia Dain on 05 Jun 2010 at 9:47 am #
Margaret, thank you for the lesson on buckwheat! I had -never- heard they were heavy. That might be problematic. I’ll have to check one out at the store, see if we can get along.
Claudia Dain on 05 Jun 2010 at 9:49 am #
B, I used to remember my dreams more when I was younger. I don’t know what happened, or why, but I remember my dreams far less often now. The ones I do remember tend to be very unpleasant. A bad dream makes for a bad night’s sleep, and then I wake up exhausted. Not the point AT ALL.
B on 05 Jun 2010 at 10:05 am #
Claudia, I sleep so badly already that my Dreams have almost no influence on whether it’s a bad “night” (I very rarely sleep at night) of sleep. Now, depending on the dream it keeps me in a dark hole the entire week. I dream about death and blood and someone trying to kill me all the time. And these are the good dreams.:/
Julia London on 05 Jun 2010 at 11:05 am #
I have never put much thought into pillows. I have a memory foam pillow. I only use one pillow a night. But I do dream, a lot and vividly. I experimented with writing them down a couple of years ago, and they were so out there! Its kind of fun
Karen Hawkins on 05 Jun 2010 at 11:36 am #
Awwww! Diesel is such a cutie! I want to see pictures of him and his new pillow!
I never knew there were no many types of pillows! I sleep on one flat normal pillow. I’ve always wanted a body pillow though. I just never knew what to do with it decorating wise when it wasn’t in use, so I’ve resisted.
Sabrina Jeffries on 05 Jun 2010 at 12:04 pm #
I have a friend whose dog LOVES stuffed monkeys of any kind. She has no interest in any other stuffed animals–just monkeys. But bring a stuffed monkey in the house, and she’s all over it. I think that’s just hilarious!
As for pillows, I used to sleep on a Sobakawa pillow (the ones with the barley husks in them), but it started hurting my ear so I stopped. I always loved that it could be arranged in position so easily. When I went back to a pillow, I just went to a standard pillow. I don’t care what’s in it as long as I can fluff it or bend it to a certain position.
I sleep on my side, and I don’t like to be touched, but that’s okay because hubby doesn’t like to be touched when he sleeps either, so we sleep quite happily on either end of the bed. I don’t snore anymore (I don’t think), but I definitely dream. A lot.
Margaret on 05 Jun 2010 at 12:36 pm #
Karen, you can get shams for body pillows. Put it on top of the bedspread after making the bed each day. A sham is just a short body pillow looking think. Isn’t it?
I pretty generally sleep on my right side. Sometimes on my left or tum. I am left handed. So, I think I must unconsciously like to keep that arm free while I sleep. In case I need to hit a burglar or something. LOL
Also, something I never used to do. I sleep with the tv on all night. Somewhere, I have a remote with a sleep thingy on it. But I don’t know where it is. The digital box remote doesn’t have that feature. I don’t know why. It would be a good idea, IMO.
Margaret on 05 Jun 2010 at 12:39 pm #
Sabrina, not wanting to be touched when you sleep brings to mind that all romance h/h’s seem to sleep spoon fashion. What’s up with that? I’d feel smothered. Not to mention it would be like sleeping in the oven. Kiss me good night, sugar, and move your body way over!
Claudia Dain on 05 Jun 2010 at 1:00 pm #
Sabrina, Diesel only likes stuffed toys that are naturally colored, as in: the stuffed squirrel must be brown or black, not pink. He won’t touch a stuffed toy that is brightly hued.
What the…?
Jane on 05 Jun 2010 at 1:48 pm #
I use a king sized pillow. It’s down and a little firm. I sleep on my side and I also have a body pillow that I can rest my leg on it. I do talk in my sleep and there have been times I’ve talked so loud that I woke myself up.
Paula on 05 Jun 2010 at 2:34 pm #
I have 2 feather/down pillows but usually slip down the bed a bit and only sleep on 1 of them. I sleep on my front or side but do sometimes wake up and am on my back. Whan I had my knee op a few weeks ago I had to sleep on my back and I couldn’t sleep properly, it took 2 weeks til I couls sleep on my stomach again. As I am asleep I don’t know if I snore or talk but I used to sleep walk but don’t seem to now. My youngest does sometimes sleep walk though.
Kathy on 05 Jun 2010 at 2:52 pm #
funny about the natural coloured stuffed toys. Florence the greyhound likes squeaky bright pink and purple toys. and her mom’s pink fuzzy slippers. She’s still just learning how to be a pet and not a race dog as her racing life only stopped 2 wks ago.
my friend was actually overjoyed to report this week that Florence drank out of the toilet for the first time. thus confirming her new pet status.
Karen Rose on 05 Jun 2010 at 3:44 pm #
Cute Diesel story!
My dog loves pillows – especially mine. During the day when I take a writing break, I find him on my bed with his head on my pillow. He’ll lift his head, just a bit as if, “Yes? You want something?”
Now that my office is moved across the house, he’s taken up sleeping on the tile floor outside my office door. Maybe he just wants to be near me
Or maybe the move coincided with summer and he’s more comfortable with cold tile on his tummy…
Jamie on 05 Jun 2010 at 3:45 pm #
On vacation on time, I learned that I am allergic to down pillows. I woke in the middle of the night with an asthma attack. I didn’t want to disturb my friends in the room, so I went to the bathroom. I then went back and noticed it was the pillow causing it, so spent the rest of the vacation only using the Euro pillow – so you can guess I use poly pillows.
I have three pillows on my bed and find it almost impossible to find that perfect pillow that gives you enough firmness, yet softness. Because of my asthma and all, I need two pillows to keep up my head. I usually sleep on my side, but can sleep on my back. I used to travel with a small pillow and like to travel that way, but I sometimes forget about the pillow. Boudoir sized pillows aren’t always cheap.
I am told I snore sometimes and that I sound a bit like I almost gasping for air. Yeah, should get that sleep apnea test, but never take the time. I do dream alot. I sometimes go to sleep with a conscious dream and then go into the sub-conscious. (not sure I am spelling that right.) I have been told that I have talked in my sleep and that I have sleep walked. My Mom saw me once and it freaked her out.
Jamie on 05 Jun 2010 at 3:51 pm #
On the animal front – I had a cat, who loved this catnip bear. It was cute how she would hug her teddy bear. My current cat, Archie, has a thing for fuzzy mice. When my niece moved in with her cat, Bouncer, he took the mice and from the other room, we would hear Bouncer as he made loud meowing noises (that sounded like a pain meow) as he played with him. Since then, I haven’t seen Archie playing with the mice.
Have others noticed that some toys are one animal toys – per se?
Claudia Dain on 05 Jun 2010 at 4:34 pm #
Jane, that is so funny that you woke yourself up by talking! I talk, too, but only wake up other people. LOL
Claudia Dain on 05 Jun 2010 at 4:35 pm #
Paula, my sister used to sleep walk. It scared my parents to death! You never knew where she was going to end up.
Claudia Dain on 05 Jun 2010 at 4:36 pm #
Kathy, it’s so weird, isn’t it? Why would a dog have color preferences? I thought they were color blind!
Claudia Dain on 05 Jun 2010 at 4:37 pm #
Oh, Karen, I think he wants to be near you. I say that because Diesel is always near me. I really want to think that’s intentional.
Claudia Dain on 05 Jun 2010 at 4:38 pm #
Jamie, I’ve heard that allergies to down aren’t uncommon. It makes me kind of afraid to try one since I don’t want to develop yet another allergy. I seem to get more of them every year.
Sabrina Jeffries on 05 Jun 2010 at 4:53 pm #
Diesel sounds very smart to me. *G*
Margaret, you’re so right about the romance couples. Our first night together, my hubby and I tried sleeping in each other’s arms. After a few minutes, he said, “Are you comfortable?” I admitted, “Not really.” He said, “Me either.” With a sigh of relief we moved apart. He said, “It looks so cool in the movies.” “Yep,” I said.
I guess we’re just not a movie couple.
Karen Hawkins on 05 Jun 2010 at 5:27 pm #
No, Sabrina, fyou guys are a real couple and those are the coolest of all.
Louisa Cornell on 05 Jun 2010 at 6:30 pm #
What a smart boy and of course he wants to be near you! I can’t go anywhere in my house without a canine/feline escort. A trip to the bathroom becomes a parade. I have to be careful stepping out of the shower because the bath mat is usually occupied by three or more dogs and a couple of cats. I sleep on firm foam pillows – king sized. I woudln’t mind a body pillow, but I already have one. It’s called DOGS. Each of the house dog’s has his or her own position on the bed when we go to sleep and if I roll over everyone has to move. The three boy cats sleep at the foot of the bed. The female cat sleeps on the pillow next to mine. It belonged to my late Great Dane, Glory. She raised Rebecca from the age of 4 weeks and I can’t throw out the poor kitty’s only link to her “Mama.” I sleep on my side for the most part with a dachshund snuggled into my chest and another one against my back. The chihuahua’s are on either side of my knees. The basset hound is on my feet. Needless to say I don’t need much in the way of blankets. Recently I was awakened by one of the chihuahuas who kept looking toward the foot of the bed and sighing heavily. After the third time I realized the basset was snoring.
Louisa Cornell on 05 Jun 2010 at 6:31 pm #
LOUDLY !! I rolled Boudreaux onto his stomach, he never even twitched, and the snoring stopped. The chihuahua went back to his place behind my knees and slept through the night.
KellyProellocks on 05 Jun 2010 at 7:33 pm #
I will admit that my cat Acheron snores. A lot! Tory isn’t as bad thank goodness. But when they both want to sleep in the bed with me it can get interesting because when they spread out I only end up with a quarter of the bed. Acheron and I are having a bit of a battle over the middle of the bed as I know that it is my spot but he thinks it’s his. I also am one of those people that likes to be held when I sleep. I also love to wake up with my head either on a man’s chest or shoulder.
E.R. on 06 Jun 2010 at 6:44 pm #
I use standard pillows. I don’t mind king-sized, but standard is the norm at the household. I have one body pillow; in fact, I think I need a new body pillow since the one I have is near the end of its lifetime. I prefer the middle-ground of soft and firm in my pillow, though I wouldn’t mind having a pillow tailored to your head. As for traveling, I wished I could bring a travel pillow, but I forget about it.
I sleep on my back and on my sides; I’m not a stomach sleeper. During that time-which-women-are-from-to-get, I sleep straight and untouchable. Otherwise, I’m relaxed and have my body pillow nearby. I don’t talk in my sleep, but I do snore once in a blue moon. And I dream LOTS.
Danielle on 09 Jun 2010 at 11:02 am #
I have to have King size pillow standards dont cut it for me.