In Defense Of Sleeping With Your Pup

Alright, scooch over. A new study from the Mayo Clinic has dogs everywhere feeling super justified about constantly trying to join you under the covers. It’s for your own good. (The cats, of course, are feeling smug, but cats are always feeling smug, so it’s hard to tell if it’s about this recent news.)

That’s right, a whopping 41% of participants in a sleep clinic reported better sleep when their pet was in the bed with them. This contradicts previous advice from sleep experts who have claimed that pets can ruin a good night’s sleep, sometimes by simply being in the same room.

So, which study is accurate?

Well, they both are. Putting all the information together, it comes down to a case of you and your particular pet and situation. A dog or cat who snores like a bear, gets up for frequent drinks of water, needs to pee at 3:37 a.m., and prefers to sleep on your head is probably going to cause some disruption to your sleep cycle. Seriously, save your research money, this one is a no-brainer. You’d get better sleep sharing a room with your insomniac grandfather.

But for those reporting better sleep, single people in particular experienced feelings of security, companionship and relaxation when the pet was in the bed. (Not to mention a warm place to rest cold winter toes.) And since sleep is both mental and physical, these feelings lead to more sound sleep. It’s basically a matter of compatibility, and if you and your pet sleep best together–go for it!

Here’s a simple visual breakdown:

GOOD IDEA

BAD IDEA

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GOOD IDEA

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BAD

GOOD

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BAD

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GOOD

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BAD

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GOOD

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That should clear things up once and for all.

Okay, time for you to weigh in: where does your pet sleep? And how do you feel about it? Share with us in comment box below!

The Ollie blog is devoted to helping pet parents lead healthier lives with their pups. If you want to learn more about our fresh, human-grade food, check out MyOllie.com.