Have you ever wondered if sleeping with your dog is good for you? Well, there has been a lot of research done to say that it is. Sleeping with your dogs helps reduce stress and anxiety. It may even help you if you have trouble falling asleep or have insomnia.
Sleeping with your dog helps you feel safer too. I mean, you have your biggest protector next to you when you’re most vulnerable. Not to mention that it build a stronger bond between you and your pooch. Do you share your bed with your pet? Tell us in the comments down below!
More info: healthline.com | ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Research says that sleeping with a dog provides comfort and security
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Sleeping with a dog is very comforting for a lot of people. 56 percent of dog owners say that they sleep with their dogs next to them. Research says that women feel safer sleeping with a dog than with a cat or even another human being.
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It’s also said that sleeping with your dog boosts and helps mental health
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In 2012, a study showed that pets help relieve mental issues like stress and anxiety. Human-animal contact benefits such factors as cortisol, heart rate, and blood pressure. And it may reduce stress-related factors such as epinephrine and norepinephrine, lower aggression, enhance empathy, and improve trustworthiness and trust in others.
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Image credits: pexels
Image credits: rukasthedog
Image credits: pexels
Sleeping with your pupper may also help you if you have insomnia
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If you feel safe and less stressed with your dog nearby, it’s natural that it will be easier to fall asleep. So if you have troubles sleeping or have insomnia, try it out. Perhaps your furry friend is all you need?
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Sleeping with your dog is good for them too
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Most dogs love to snuggle and sleep next to their owners. It’s warmer, comfier and they feel like they’re part of the pack!
Image credits: rukasthedog
Image credits: pexels
Keep in mind that sleeping with your dog can cause allergies or make them more severe if you already have them.
Also, it may be a way to spread disease if your pup likes to eat things off the ground or doesn’t like to get washed often.
You may also rethink it if your dog is very big and active.
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Yea, no one saying your dog sharing your bed is relaxing has ever had to share one with Sookie! She snores. She’s able to turn into some sort of non Newtonian liquid that fills all available space. She complains loudly if you dare to try and move. She randomly wakes you up by sneezing in your face. Finally, there’s the farts. Sookie’s farts are technically illegal under the Geneva Convention. I’m sure they count as chemical warfare. We still put up with all of this for one reason. She’s so flaming cute when she’s asleep.
There was research done to realize this? Anyone who has a dog or a cat, didn’t need research to know this.
The anecdotes from pet owners may say this, the research documents and confirms it. This kind of research can help people with certain issues, such as someone with anxiety or a child with autism. It can be useful information for therapists, social workers, dog trainers, etc. Obviously, there's more to it than subscribing a pet (not everyone makes a good pet owner, but they may be fine as volunteers in a shelter).
Load More Replies...
I agree on the fact that it's awesome to cuddle with you dog. But it creates and accentuates separation anxiety. And I speak from experience. My dog had severe separation anxiety and me my bf were hopeless, we tried everything and she would howl and refuse to eat, destroyed many things. A dog educator came and said, that our dog needed to be able to be independant even in our company (which meant no interractions if she was asking for it : petting, comming on the couch, playing...) and she had to have only one bed (we use to have several and she slept in the one closer to us each time we changed room) and she must not in any given circumstance sleep with us. After only two days of following the rules, no more stress when we weren't home. Even after lockdowns were over and we had to go back to work. We've been a bit lax on the no bed rule for a few weeks and she started to go back to her velcro dog habbit and seemed to be more anxious when we weren't focussed on her. So yeah, no bed.
It makes so much sense! We recently adopted a dog. My bf is against sharing the bed with a dog. That's fine. Few times when I was alone and didn't feel good I brought the dog to bed with me for some cuddles. After each time he would bark when left alone at home. Never had a problem with barking before, and it all fixes itself after couple of days. Not sure how to bond without him going crazy
Load More Replies... Nope, can't do it this way. My dogs get way too dirty just from our backyard. Plus they shed too much. But they do sleep on their beds in our bedroom. Well, one bed. Our cat appropriated the newest one and the dogs won't evict her.
I used to sleep with my late american stafforshire terrier, and with my late cat too, and with my first rabbit, but my current dog (finnish lapphund) is wild. "Why would i sleep next to a human heater with all that fur?I don't need you hooman!" so sometimes i'm just awarded with a rabbit sleepingbuddy, not often so i feel privileged when i woke up like that. This pic was taken just few days after i adopted her so it was a priceless reward. 20180818_1...f67653.jpg 
My Terrier Cross started at the foot of the bed, then as the nights got colder he inched his way up. Now he just sneaks under the covers and curls up next to me. But not till my wife brings up his bedtime toy antler. Such a wee toddler. Tonk-60f91...f0e7a8.jpg 
I currently have two Boston Terriers, sisters 2 years old. Most of my dogs up until now have been senior 'end of life' rescues, who tend to be deep, quiet sleepers. My two latest dogters have been much more of a challenge. First, they are always cold and I am always hot, so I have to sleep with two 20 lb hot water bottles pressed up against me whether I like it or not. Second, they manage to take up most of a queen size bed, and almost all of the sheets. Third, these dogs enjoy my bed so much that they frequently unmake the bed, so they can get under the covers for midday naps. The problem is that I love my sheets to be immaculate white, but the girls think nothing of going for a dip in their pool, having a romp thru the back yard, maybe digging a hole or just rolling in the flowerbed and then climbing in bed for a nap. Imagine rubbing a cup of wet dirt and grass on every inch of your clean white sheets...
Maybe few blankets on top of bed sheets would do it? They will go to the blankets, not sheets
Load More Replies...
We have six dogs. We have had as many as twelve at a time. They slept wherever they damn well pleased. In bed, on the bed, on us, under the bed, behind the bed, across the bed, vertically, horizontally, on their backs, on their tummies, slanted from corner to corner, across the pillows, over the pillows, under the pillows, making a nest of the blankets and on top of us.
I agree except I have to run my sheets through the washer twice each weekly bedding change. A small price to pay. And I just bought new yellow sheets to march my yellow dog
Reasons not to sleep with dog, simple law of slumbering canine: dog sleep area (ft^2) = (dog length x dog height)^ mattress face area; dogs usually take up about 7 times more space than physically possible
Some dogs take it a bit too far. Single right now? Letting your dog sleep with you? You may have a problem if you ever have someone else in the bed. Jealousy and dominance issues can mean that your new bedmate is met with growling at bedtime.
New bedmate have to sleep on the floor then - problem solved!
Load More Replies...
Don't get me wrong, I love sleeping with our dog. But for security? Naw, not this one, my money is on the cat, who also sleeps between my legs. Like people, they all have their own personalities. My dog is gentile as all hell, but the cat will f**k you up. Not us, but an intruder? Hell yeah I'd put money down on that. Dog wont do s**t, though.
For years our dog slept in our bed. Two things put an end to it, one more than the other. The first is that he sheds copiously, and just loved to sleep under the covers. We actually had to vacuum the sheets for about 10-15 minutes every single morning when we made the bed because the shedding was so heavy. The second, and the straw that broke the camel’s back, was that he got increasingly territorial about the bed, to the point where he would nip us if we rolled over into anywhere he considered his part of the bed—-a territory that got bigger over time. We finally bought him a nice dog bed and banished him permanently. He didn’t like it at first, especially because we removed the trunk that sat at the bottom of the bed and was his step up (high bed, terrier mix dog). Now he loves his bed and we’re not sleeping in dog hair and getting bitten in our sleep.
I've never had a dog before and was quite scared of big dogs but recently bought a house with my future husband and he has a big huskie malamute. I struggle with nightmares as I'm a survivor of abuse, but things got better when I slept beside my partner. He works the night shift every so often and on those nights I've let the dog sleep in our room. She makes me feel safe and I sleep so much better with her close by.
I have terrible insomnia, but when I stay with my siblings who all have dogs and the dogs sleep with me, I sleep like a baby. There is just something so calming and peaceful about having a dog cuddled up next to you. They are angels on earth.
OK NOBODY in the world could love their dog more than I love mine. I promise you. But the reason my dog does NOT sleep with me is he "runs" in his sleep barks in his sleep and worst of all farts in his sleep. He turns the air GREEN. Seriously. 🤢🤢🤢🤢😟😟. He has an old recliner chair in the dining room that he happily sleeps on and that's fine by both of us.
Anytime we’re somewhere we can’t bring our dog with us hubs and I both have a hard time sleeping. I wake up and feel for the warm furry lump and it’s not there and I get so sad! That’s just one reason our vacations usually are camping.
Both my dogs sleep with me (but atop the covers), and I sleep soundly every night, despite chronic insomnia. I do, however, wake up with a face full of dog hair. Small price to pay.
Although I agree with the positive psychological benefits, I have been bitten mercilessly and brought home so many fleas by vacation rentals and apartments that allow dogs. :(
I used to sleep with Axl when he was a pup but now he’s grown too big, (even by golden retriever standards he’s pretty big) and enjoys sitting on my face and crushing me to death. Also he literally slapped me once. And he farts, and tries to have intercourse with my pillows. He barks in his sleep, he can’t be quiet while sleeping, sometimes he tries to sleep on top of me without realizing he is way to heavy. Not to mention I often wake up with a mouth full of dog hair somehow
When I lived alone, in my house, I did feel better, having my dog, I also agree, there are many, other ways to enjoy, our dogs on our bed !!!
I would love nothing more than to fall asleep with a big cuddly Golden Retreiver every night and wake up to one in the morning. I love dogs so much!
My cat used to sleep in my bed before I moved. But not anymore. I sleep terribly with him near me as probably my mother instinct kicks in and I lie still when he cuddles up to me - like as if a baby is next to me. I don't turn as much as I would have. And the hairs. A dirty, hairy bed is not sexy. And I don't want to clean the sheets every day, there's no time for that! So no, the cat doesn't sleep with me, and if I ever have a dog again, that won't either. If it works for you, its good. But for me, I learned I sleep better without pets. (Also can't sleep spooning / when someone touches me).
Partner is firm on showering before bed. (Best part of the day) The cat at least pretends to clean itself. Dog in the bed? Hard no. (Braces for onslaught of down votes)
Should mention dog is 95#’s and rolls in everything it can find that smells “interesting”
Load More Replies...
Yea, no one saying your dog sharing your bed is relaxing has ever had to share one with Sookie! She snores. She’s able to turn into some sort of non Newtonian liquid that fills all available space. She complains loudly if you dare to try and move. She randomly wakes you up by sneezing in your face. Finally, there’s the farts. Sookie’s farts are technically illegal under the Geneva Convention. I’m sure they count as chemical warfare. We still put up with all of this for one reason. She’s so flaming cute when she’s asleep.
There was research done to realize this? Anyone who has a dog or a cat, didn’t need research to know this.
The anecdotes from pet owners may say this, the research documents and confirms it. This kind of research can help people with certain issues, such as someone with anxiety or a child with autism. It can be useful information for therapists, social workers, dog trainers, etc. Obviously, there's more to it than subscribing a pet (not everyone makes a good pet owner, but they may be fine as volunteers in a shelter).
Load More Replies... I agree on the fact that it's awesome to cuddle with you dog. But it creates and accentuates separation anxiety. And I speak from experience. My dog had severe separation anxiety and me my bf were hopeless, we tried everything and she would howl and refuse to eat, destroyed many things. A dog educator came and said, that our dog needed to be able to be independant even in our company (which meant no interractions if she was asking for it : petting, comming on the couch, playing...) and she had to have only one bed (we use to have several and she slept in the one closer to us each time we changed room) and she must not in any given circumstance sleep with us. After only two days of following the rules, no more stress when we weren't home. Even after lockdowns were over and we had to go back to work. We've been a bit lax on the no bed rule for a few weeks and she started to go back to her velcro dog habbit and seemed to be more anxious when we weren't focussed on her. So yeah, no bed.
It makes so much sense! We recently adopted a dog. My bf is against sharing the bed with a dog. That's fine. Few times when I was alone and didn't feel good I brought the dog to bed with me for some cuddles. After each time he would bark when left alone at home. Never had a problem with barking before, and it all fixes itself after couple of days. Not sure how to bond without him going crazy
Load More Replies... Nope, can't do it this way. My dogs get way too dirty just from our backyard. Plus they shed too much. But they do sleep on their beds in our bedroom. Well, one bed. Our cat appropriated the newest one and the dogs won't evict her.
I used to sleep with my late american stafforshire terrier, and with my late cat too, and with my first rabbit, but my current dog (finnish lapphund) is wild. "Why would i sleep next to a human heater with all that fur?I don't need you hooman!" so sometimes i'm just awarded with a rabbit sleepingbuddy, not often so i feel privileged when i woke up like that. This pic was taken just few days after i adopted her so it was a priceless reward. 20180818_1...f67653.jpg
My Terrier Cross started at the foot of the bed, then as the nights got colder he inched his way up. Now he just sneaks under the covers and curls up next to me. But not till my wife brings up his bedtime toy antler. Such a wee toddler. Tonk-60f91...f0e7a8.jpg
I currently have two Boston Terriers, sisters 2 years old. Most of my dogs up until now have been senior 'end of life' rescues, who tend to be deep, quiet sleepers. My two latest dogters have been much more of a challenge. First, they are always cold and I am always hot, so I have to sleep with two 20 lb hot water bottles pressed up against me whether I like it or not. Second, they manage to take up most of a queen size bed, and almost all of the sheets. Third, these dogs enjoy my bed so much that they frequently unmake the bed, so they can get under the covers for midday naps. The problem is that I love my sheets to be immaculate white, but the girls think nothing of going for a dip in their pool, having a romp thru the back yard, maybe digging a hole or just rolling in the flowerbed and then climbing in bed for a nap. Imagine rubbing a cup of wet dirt and grass on every inch of your clean white sheets...
Maybe few blankets on top of bed sheets would do it? They will go to the blankets, not sheets
Load More Replies... We have six dogs. We have had as many as twelve at a time. They slept wherever they damn well pleased. In bed, on the bed, on us, under the bed, behind the bed, across the bed, vertically, horizontally, on their backs, on their tummies, slanted from corner to corner, across the pillows, over the pillows, under the pillows, making a nest of the blankets and on top of us.
I agree except I have to run my sheets through the washer twice each weekly bedding change. A small price to pay. And I just bought new yellow sheets to march my yellow dog
Reasons not to sleep with dog, simple law of slumbering canine: dog sleep area (ft^2) = (dog length x dog height)^ mattress face area; dogs usually take up about 7 times more space than physically possible
Some dogs take it a bit too far. Single right now? Letting your dog sleep with you? You may have a problem if you ever have someone else in the bed. Jealousy and dominance issues can mean that your new bedmate is met with growling at bedtime.
New bedmate have to sleep on the floor then - problem solved!
Load More Replies... Don't get me wrong, I love sleeping with our dog. But for security? Naw, not this one, my money is on the cat, who also sleeps between my legs. Like people, they all have their own personalities. My dog is gentile as all hell, but the cat will f**k you up. Not us, but an intruder? Hell yeah I'd put money down on that. Dog wont do s**t, though.
For years our dog slept in our bed. Two things put an end to it, one more than the other. The first is that he sheds copiously, and just loved to sleep under the covers. We actually had to vacuum the sheets for about 10-15 minutes every single morning when we made the bed because the shedding was so heavy. The second, and the straw that broke the camel’s back, was that he got increasingly territorial about the bed, to the point where he would nip us if we rolled over into anywhere he considered his part of the bed—-a territory that got bigger over time. We finally bought him a nice dog bed and banished him permanently. He didn’t like it at first, especially because we removed the trunk that sat at the bottom of the bed and was his step up (high bed, terrier mix dog). Now he loves his bed and we’re not sleeping in dog hair and getting bitten in our sleep.
I've never had a dog before and was quite scared of big dogs but recently bought a house with my future husband and he has a big huskie malamute. I struggle with nightmares as I'm a survivor of abuse, but things got better when I slept beside my partner. He works the night shift every so often and on those nights I've let the dog sleep in our room. She makes me feel safe and I sleep so much better with her close by.
I have terrible insomnia, but when I stay with my siblings who all have dogs and the dogs sleep with me, I sleep like a baby. There is just something so calming and peaceful about having a dog cuddled up next to you. They are angels on earth.
OK NOBODY in the world could love their dog more than I love mine. I promise you. But the reason my dog does NOT sleep with me is he "runs" in his sleep barks in his sleep and worst of all farts in his sleep. He turns the air GREEN. Seriously. 🤢🤢🤢🤢😟😟. He has an old recliner chair in the dining room that he happily sleeps on and that's fine by both of us.
Anytime we’re somewhere we can’t bring our dog with us hubs and I both have a hard time sleeping. I wake up and feel for the warm furry lump and it’s not there and I get so sad! That’s just one reason our vacations usually are camping.
Both my dogs sleep with me (but atop the covers), and I sleep soundly every night, despite chronic insomnia. I do, however, wake up with a face full of dog hair. Small price to pay.
Although I agree with the positive psychological benefits, I have been bitten mercilessly and brought home so many fleas by vacation rentals and apartments that allow dogs. :(
I used to sleep with Axl when he was a pup but now he’s grown too big, (even by golden retriever standards he’s pretty big) and enjoys sitting on my face and crushing me to death. Also he literally slapped me once. And he farts, and tries to have intercourse with my pillows. He barks in his sleep, he can’t be quiet while sleeping, sometimes he tries to sleep on top of me without realizing he is way to heavy. Not to mention I often wake up with a mouth full of dog hair somehow
When I lived alone, in my house, I did feel better, having my dog, I also agree, there are many, other ways to enjoy, our dogs on our bed !!!
I would love nothing more than to fall asleep with a big cuddly Golden Retreiver every night and wake up to one in the morning. I love dogs so much!
My cat used to sleep in my bed before I moved. But not anymore. I sleep terribly with him near me as probably my mother instinct kicks in and I lie still when he cuddles up to me - like as if a baby is next to me. I don't turn as much as I would have. And the hairs. A dirty, hairy bed is not sexy. And I don't want to clean the sheets every day, there's no time for that! So no, the cat doesn't sleep with me, and if I ever have a dog again, that won't either. If it works for you, its good. But for me, I learned I sleep better without pets. (Also can't sleep spooning / when someone touches me).
Partner is firm on showering before bed. (Best part of the day) The cat at least pretends to clean itself. Dog in the bed? Hard no. (Braces for onslaught of down votes)
Should mention dog is 95#’s and rolls in everything it can find that smells “interesting”
Load More Replies... 
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