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Having trouble sleeping? One study suggests you’ll get a better night’s sleep by sharing the bed with your dog!
A study by Australian researchers at Central Queensland University shows that more and more people are finding it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. The data, collected from 13,000 participants, shows that nearly 70% of people are regularly woken up at night, usually by their partner.
The good news? People are a lot less likely to be awakened by their dog, says Professor Drew Dawson.
“Partners were more likely to be disruptive than pets, and particularly people reporting partners who snored and partners who got up to go to the toilet and therefore turned the lights on,” he said.
While having neither a partner nor a pet in the bed generally offers the best possibility of an uninterrupted night’s sleep, when given the option of sharing the bed with your partner or with your dog – your best bet is to snuggle up next to your four-legged friend.
Read more details from the sleep study by visiting ABC News Australia.
What do you think? Do you share your bed with your dog? Do you sleep better with him next to you? Share your thoughts with us in a comment below.
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Teresa
May 2, 2017 at 9:42 am
I have 3 dogs, 2 of which sleep with me every night. The only time it's all 3 is when it storming. But I have a JRT mix who snuggles up to my side or back every night and it's so comforting to feel him against me. The other one sleeps at the foot of the bed and keeps my feet warm. I have a hard time sleeping without my dogs.
Debbie
May 1, 2017 at 4:25 pm
I purchased a bigger bed, so my yellow lab and leggy greyhound can enjoy the bed with me every night… Nothing like paws in the face and flapping jowls during a dream cycle. Love it!!!!
Frances
Sep 4, 2015 at 7:01 pm
For me it did not work. With my dog in the bed, I was getting maybe 2 hours of sleep a night. Dog not in bed, sleep great. I do with it were different.
Jodie
Sep 2, 2015 at 1:52 pm
We’ve got 4 big dogs and tho I shop them away to their own beds when we fall asleep, two or three wind up back in the bed by the am! Hey are so snugly warm and soft and their rhythmic breathing is very soothing!
Peggy Rose thompson
Jul 8, 2014 at 12:01 am
I agree totally. My 2 Chihuahuas( one named Harley 18 lbs and DannyBoy 8 lbs), these boys are my sleeping partners. I have a waterbed, and especially in cold/chilly weather the guys love to take naps on the bed cause it stays warm. Their “sister” Bonnie is part chow and part shepherd. She sleeps on the throw rug beside my bed where I can hang my arm down the side and pet her. I coudn’t ever get to sleep if I didn’t know exactly where my furbabies were at bedtime.
I can rest easy when they are near me. I am blesst to have them in my life.
Kim
Mar 2, 2014 at 5:22 pm
I cannot fall asleep without my puggle Mercie Faith she’s an awesome snuggler I would choose her before anything else. I love her.
Sharon
Feb 28, 2014 at 11:32 pm
Our bulldog Charley used to sleep in his crate, but he is such a cuddler that I started let him on the bed when I’d watch tv. Hubby finally gave in. It is now the three of us in a queen bed. Crowded, but Charley is so snugly, we’d be crowded in a king. Fortunately he is quiet and not gassy…just a bed hog. Wouldn’t have it any other way!
Suzann Reynolds
Feb 28, 2014 at 12:03 pm
I sleep with two miniature poodles and two Japanese Chins. They always sleep quiet as can be, all snuggled up, except one of the poodles who licks my nose early morning to get back under the covers. The best part … our morning routine. I get up about 7:30 am and we all head to the couch. Me with my coffee and iPad, the dogs to cuddle up and go back to sleep! Lol. It’s 9:00 am now and they haven’t moved yet!!
Del
Feb 28, 2014 at 12:23 am
My husband and I were divorced for about seven years. When we finally decided to get remarried he told me that he doesn’t like dogs in his bed. After thinking about that for 1 second, I said, “what a coincidence; Tommie (my little Maltese) said that he really objects to a man in his bed!” Guess who won!
Sandra
Feb 27, 2014 at 10:02 pm
The best part is not the sleeping, but the wakeup routine. My dogs will creep over and start sniffing me to see whether I’m awake. I’m usually still sleepy when they do this, so I try to remain still, but the sniffing and snuffling tickles, and it’s hard not to laugh. What a pleasant way to start the day!
Patti
Feb 27, 2014 at 8:34 pm
I can’t sleep well WITHOUT my dogs, just can’t get into that deep sleep. My night starts off with the Great Dane and then sometime during the night my husband’s Black Lab moves in and the Dane gets huffy and leaves the bed. The Lab throws out a LOT of body heat is real snuggly but gassy. If it gets below 0 F. then BOTH dogs stay on the bed and the cat joins us! We humans have to sleep on our sides to make room for the crew!
Irish Carlisle
Feb 27, 2014 at 4:22 pm
My dog sleeps with me every night. I couldn’t imagine a world without dogs. And I can’t sleep without mine!!! She’s my snuggle buddy!!!
gracie
Feb 27, 2014 at 3:21 pm
i have 2 dogs and they are always with me i have to have them scoot over so i can get into bed they like to hog the bed up, but early in the am like 2-4 am they always have to go outside to do their thing, so no i dont get a goodnight sleep i also have two cats that sleep with me too.
Andrea
Feb 27, 2014 at 12:41 pm
Yes! It took about 3 years for our beagle/pug mix to want to sleep with us, He slept in his open kennel or a dog bed in the living room. But now that he does- he is less prone to bark at EVERY little noise. He’s a hot dog, so he never burrows in/under the blankets, and we keep a dog bed in the room so if he wishes he can sleep in it. But he loves to sleep in our bed and he lets us know when it’s bedtime 😀
Patricia Burgess
Feb 27, 2014 at 12:36 pm
I was recently in hospital for four nights without my dog, Mollie, next to me. My first night home with her curled up next to me was my first good nights’ sleep in a few nights. Didn’t realize how much I could miss her. She is my shining star.
Tom Scruggs
Feb 27, 2014 at 12:28 pm
I can’t sleep without my Ebenezer by my side. Oh, and here’s a hint for Sheri Breeggemann: sprinkle a little cinnamon on Mattie’s food and it will stop the gas. It’s fine for her and she’ll probably love the taste!
Michael
Feb 27, 2014 at 11:37 am
LOL! This article is completely backwards. I got better sleep with my dog in the kennel. Since leaving her out, I get woken up repeatedly in the middle of the night by her stepping on me and licking my face and neck, and my wife never has a “good morning” anymore because the dog jumps on her while she’s dozing.
vicky
Jun 1, 2013 at 7:36 pm
I love my boys. They have the bed the house everything. Anything that is mine is theirs
Pamela Jarvis
May 31, 2013 at 6:51 pm
I have 2 mini longhair dauchunds that sleep with me. They do not settle down unless I let them lick my feet. Too bad if I want them to skip the routine, they burrow in and mess up the covers until they get their licks in.
carol
May 3, 2012 at 11:36 pm
well yes of course. We (large husband and I) share bed with cat, sometimes 2 cats. The dog is welcome but he does not like to be in our bed EXCEPT when we are on our boat in the V-berth which has barely enough room for the two of us. Then EVERYBODY wants to be in the bed – the dog, both cats, and in the past, a dog guest who was with us too. I think it is fun but they all crowd next to my husband, who is nice and warm and big.
f shultz
Sep 2, 2015 at 9:19 pm
we are generously sized, as well, and our dogs — bigger than 100 lbs– always slept in our double bed with us. How I miss them!
Sheri Breeggemann
May 1, 2012 at 11:04 pm
My little Bulldog Mattie sleeps with me! She snores louder than my ex-husband! Lol! She is also a little gasey! If she wakes up at night she bats me with her paw so she can go back under the covers! If I wake up, Mattie thinks its time to play! So we play for a few minutes then back to sleep! She is the best snuggler so I don’t mind ! Actually, I can’t sleep well at all if she is not there! Sometimes my son grabs her for the night! Mattie thinks Ralph is pretty sexy!
cece
May 1, 2012 at 7:36 pm
I have three dog (Three Dog Night!) and can’t rest peacefully unless they are all with me – my main sexy boyfriend, the golden that sleeps next to me, is my soul mate. The other two try to vie for the night but can’t win – my sexy boyfriend is always the champ. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE him 🙂