Ladies are you having problems sleeping? Well a new study says that if you want to get more sleep it’s time to let the dog join you in bed.
When it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, there are plenty of things that might make it better, but perhaps adding our favorite canine companion isn’t one we would instantly think of. But, according to a new study, if you want to sleep better at night, it’s actually beneficial to let your dog share the bed.
In the Anthrozoös journal, a study titled, “An Examination of Adult Women’s Sleep Quality and Sleep Routines in Relation to Pet Ownership and Bedsharing,” revealed that sweet dreams come courtesy of our dogs (at least for women).
It turns out that most sleep studies just focus on what it is like to sleep with human partners. But up until now, there had been little research into how well we are sleeping with our pets. Thanks to this new study, that’s all changed, as 962 female pet owners weighed in on what it is like to sleep with their animals.
According to People Magazine, the study determined that 55 percent of dog owners let their pet sleep with them in the bed versus 31 percent of cat owners. And of the 962 women surveyed, 57 percent also share the bed with another human. Of these three bed mates, it seems that dogs are the least disruptive and can actually make for a more restful night.
Not only were dogs less likely to be disruptive at night, but they “were associated with stronger feelings of comfort and security.” In comparison, both cats and humans were seen as being a bother when it came time to rest. And when it comes to felines, it seems that they are also not nearly as comforting as canines.
While this study gives us a clue as to how well we rest when our dogs share the bed with us, it did conclude that more research was needed to determine if overall quality of sleep is improved in some way. So while women feel comfort and a sense of security when the dog shares the bed, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the quality of their sleep is better.
Basically, what we know is that for women, sleeping with our dogs is a positive thing because we feel secure and comfortable with them in bed. And not only that, but they are less likely to wake us up than our human partners or a cat.
We love knowing that there was a study done to determine which bed partner is the best and dogs were the clear winner. Although we admit we aren’t that surprised thanks to our own experiences with cuddly pups.
Are you surprised by the results of this study? Do you think sleeping with your dog improves your sleep?