Let sleeping dogs lie…in the bedroom. That’s according to a new Mayo Clinic study that’s sure to set many tails wagging.
It’s no secret that Americans love their dogs. According to the American Veterinary Association, more than 40 million American households have dogs. Of these households, 63% consider their canine companions to be family. Still, many draw the line at having their furry family members sleep with them for fear of sacrificing sleep quality.
“Most people assume having pets in the bedroom is a disruption,” says Lois Krahn, MD, a sleep medicine specialist at the Center for Sleep Medicine on Mayo Clinic’s Arizona campus and an author of the study, in a release. “We found that many people actually find comfort and a sense of security from sleeping with their pets.”
The study, “The Effect of Dogs on Human Sleep in the Home Sleep Environment,” evaluated the sleep of 40 healthy adults without sleep disorders and their dogs over 5 months. Participant and their dogs wore activity trackers to track their sleeping habits for 7 nights.
According to the study, sleeping with dogs helps some people sleep better—no matter if they’re snoozing with a small schnauzer or dozing with a Great Dane. There is one caveat, however. Don’t let your canines crawl under the covers with you. The sleep benefit extends only to having dogs in your bedroom—not in your bed. According to the study, adults who snuggled up to their pups in bed sacrificed quality sleep.
“The relationship between people and their pets has changed over time, which is likely why many people in fact do sleep with their pets in the bedroom,” says Krahn. “Today, many pet owners are away from their pets for much of the day, so they want to maximize their time with them when they are home. Having them in the bedroom at night is an easy way to do that. And, now, pet owners can find comfort knowing it won’t negatively impact their sleep.”
So, go ahead. Turn your sheepdog into a sleep dog. Just make sure they are relegated to their own bark-o-lounger, rather than your bed.
The study, which was published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, was funded by Mayo Clinic.
I like this new
So…. How about cats?
About time this study was done! I told my wife I have a better night sleep when she sleeps on the floor next to the bed!
I have had dogs as family members and protectors for all of my 67 years of life and I can’t sleep peacefully if they are not in my bedroom. I rely on them as protectors.
I had dogs as pets. They are a family member. Common sense tells us which place is safer for our dog to sleep & to be family protector. My opinion this study was a waste of needed money!! Antibiotics for humans to fight off bacteria is needed. Hospitals are running out of choices with antibiotics to help save lives. People can die from bacteria infections since the antibiotic can not fight off the bacteria. My husband has a lung bacteria. When the bacteria is active he needs to hospitalized for IV antibiotic. Sadly to say one of these times the antibiotic will not help him.
If you have any more money to spend please spend it towards the research of antibiotics against bacteria or please send it my way. We are retired senior citizens on a fixed income. Husband also has high grade cells in esophagus which need laser treatments. We need to travel over 8 hours to Mayo Clinic at Rochester, MN. Already made 3 trips since Jan. 2017 and needs 2 more for laser. Sorry for this long comment.