Many we know like to sleep with their dogs in the room or in their bed. This includes small to very large dogs. Per VCA Hospitals, 62% of small dogs, 41% of medium-sized dogs and 32% of large dogs sleep with their owners.
Where? In a survey polling owners about where their dogs sleep, the American Kennel Club found that 45% of pups are sleeping in their owner’s bed, 17% were in various places indoors or outside their shelters, 37% in a crate or dog bed.
This survey is supported by one from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (“AASM”) that found almost half (46%) of respondents sleep in the same bed with a pet.
We humans love our dogs so this data and the reports from friends is little surprise. What do the studies say about how it affects our sleep?
Okay in the Bedroom A Mayo Clinic study found that sleeping with dogs in the bedroom doesn’t appear to negatively impact sleep. (The study also found that people are not listening to physicians who have been telling them to keep dogs out of the bedroom.) “As long as the dogs were not on the bed, their presence in the bedroom did not appear to be a big issue for the sleep of their owner,” said researcher Lois Krahn, M.D., who was involved in the study.
Less Okay on the Bed The only caveat the researchers discovered was that dogs “on the bed was a different story,” Krahn said. “You have to be sensible, pay attention to your own needs, your own sleep. And then think of how you can incorporate the dog and don’t let the dog do exactly what it wants.”
Dogs in the bed can be disruptive because of the way they stretch and also because their sleeping position on the bed can make a difference.
Additionally, there are potential obedience and aggressiveness issues. As pack animals, dogs may view the bed as a very special place. Being invited into it and sleeping side by side may build trust, but it also levels the playing field. Once the dog expects that the bed belongs to them, they may feel like they’re the ones allowing you on it. This is not what you want behaviorally.
The Appeal
Yet another survey by the AASM supports these findings. In the survey, pet owners talked about why they enjoy sleeping with their dogs in their bed:
- Comfort and security: a protective dog can add a sense of safety and security.
- Bonding: some report that the rhythmic breathing of their dog helps calm and promote sleep.
- Warmth: dogs can be added warmth on a cold winter night.
Potential Health Issues
Many owners put up with mild allergies due to their dogs that range from pet dander to other environmental factors dogs bring into the home. Having time to detox from the dander during the night may be important to long-term health. In these cases, some recommend that your bedroom be completely pet-free.
There are also other potential health issues. For example, we know a friend who ended up with a tick issue due to sleeping with her dog.
Bottom Line
As the Mayo researchers found, if you really want to share your bed and sleep with your dog, that’s probably what you’re going to do. And that is okay if it is working for you and your partner. It is, of course, best if you understand the potential impacts — effect on your sleep, behavioral issues that might arise in your dog, and if you have allergies or other potential health risks due to your dog.
Easy sleeping to you!
Photo credit: Image by Jess Foami from Pixabay