Single dog owners rejoice! If you’re sharing your bed with a dog and no one else, you could be getting better sleep than people who share a bed with a human partner.
According to research conducted at the Department of Animal Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation at Canisius College and headed by Christy Hoffman, women who sleep in bed with dogs report more restful and consistent sleep patterns than women who share a bed with a human partner.
Sorry, cat owners, your kitty cat could be disrupting your sleep just as much if not more than your partner’s snoring, wakefulness, or bed hogging—dogs reign supreme when it comes to peaceful nights!
How Dogs Promote Restful Sleep
Do you find yourself waking up to wrestle your partner for the covers, or shove them back to their side of the bed? Maybe they sleep talk, disturb you with loud snoring, or the need for a a 2 am pee..
Dogs—with the exception of some brachycephalic (short nosed) breeds—don’t snore very loudly, rarely hog the covers, and usually have a consistent sleep schedule, making them excellent bedfellows.
Sometimes I get annoyed that my dogs want to go to bed and get up at the same time every day, but when I look at the big picture, they really do help me keep a consistent routine and get enough sleep. My partner, on the other hand, can easily be convinced to stay up late or sleep in.
According to the results of the research conducted at Canisius College, dogs also promote a greater sense of security than human partners. Women responding to the study even had more positive tones of voice when describing how they felt when sleeping in bed versus sleeping with a human partner. Researchers speculate that this is because dogs are likely to alert to strange noises or intruders and are less likely to sleep through disturbances than humans.
Dogs vs. Cats: The Ultimate Sleepy Showdown
While dogs improve sleep quality, cats do the exact opposite. In the same study, researchers found that cats cause significant sleep disruptions, and unlike dogs, don’t provide emotional and psychological security to their owners in bed.
A win for the dog-people, to be sure, but don’t overestimate how good sleep with your dog is just yet! Certain breeds prove to be the exception to the rule and could be disrupting your sleep rather than improving it. If your dog is a loud snorer, for example, they might be just as disruptive as a human partner who snores or a cat who wants to play while you sleep.
Summing It Up: Everyone Should Sleep with a Dog
Next time you send your partner to the “doghouse,” consider that they might actually be enjoying better rest than you!
Whether you’re single or have a partner, you should get a dog! Not only do dogs make our lives more fun and give us unconditional love, but they can also help us get higher-quality sleep. Visit your local rescue and meet some of the adoptable dogs, your best friend, and the best night of sleep you’ve ever had are waiting!
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