Where Should Sleeping Dogs Lie for the Best Night’s Sleep?
With you or alone?
Surveys and studies have shown that roughly half of all dog owners let their pets share their bed. This indicates that half are for and half against this practice. It’s a half glass of water conundrum. All the research has proven is there is no right or wrong answer to this cosleeping dilemma.
Sleeping with pets goes back to ancient times. “Three Dog Night” is more than the name of a rock group popular in the 70s. It is a phrase thought to have originated in the Canadian maritime provinces, where sleeping with your dog was practiced, especially on those long cold winter nights. Aborigines kept their dogs and dingoes near them at night, not only for warmth but to keep the evil spirits at bay.
While these two cultures were for cosleeping with their dogs, Napoleon Bonaparte was against it. Josephine, the future Mrs. Bonaparte, had a Pug she named Fortune. Before they were married, things seemed to be fine between the threesome. On the wedding night, the truth was revealed. Fortune was Josephine’s constant companion. Most people in a serious relationship would ask the owner where does the dog sleep, but not Bonaparte. Perhaps he assumed the dog was separated at night from his beloved’s side. That is something we will never know, but we do know on their wedding night he found out.
That evening when the time came to consummate the marriage, the small Pug Fortune did what all dogs do when they suspect their human is being physically abused. He defended her by attacking the little man. From that night on, Napoleon bore a scar on his thigh and a grudge against Fortune.
Here’s a summarized list of the pros and cons of this cosleeping issue based on several studies and survey results.
PROS
- Dogs’ body temperature runs three to six degrees higher than humans making them very good at keeping the bed and people sleeping in it warm. Who doesn’t enjoy a warm place to sleep?
- Sleeping dogs have rhythmic breathing that relaxes and eases humans into a deep REM cycle. It’s the same breathing humans learn through meditative techniques.
- Sleeping next to your pooch relieves worry and reduces anxiety making for a more restful sleep. The sense of touch is known to have soothing effects. Close contact with your furbaby all night keeps that sensation active and elevated.
- No matter their size, all dogs instinctively know it’s up to them to guard the home and its humans. Some researchers believe this accounts for why dogs are light sleepers. When we humans can let our guard down and feel secure, we rest better.
- Being by your dog increases the amount of oxytocin(the hormone linked to feelings of happiness and affection) in your body. Donny Osmond told us in the 70’s puppy love existed. Science says he was right.
CONS
- Aggravation of human allergies. No one sleeps well when their nose and sinus passages are clogged because of allergens.
- Differing sleep cycles which can mean human sleep is interrupted frequently. Dogs are polyphasic (three or more sleep/wake cycles per night). Humans are monophasic. (one sleep cycle per 24 hour period). While this is a fact, a study on sleep efficiency conducted by the Mayo Clinic proved this has a negligible effect on human sleep. Movement detectors were strapped onto both humans and dogs for seven days. The results showed people maintained an 83 percent sleep efficiency rating when the two slept in the same room. The rating dropped to about 81 percent when the two shared a bed together. The acceptable rating for sleep efficiency is 80 percent.
- May lead to increased separation anxiety when you have to leave the dog home alone. Dogs, like humans, can suffer from this emotional trauma. However, science has not proven that there is a link between this behavior and cosleeping.
Even though the pros clearly outweigh the cons, there is no definitive answer to this dilemma. Do what works best for you and your pup.
No matter if you decide to let them snuggle you all night or put them in a crate, the unchanging fact is you’ll always have their heart and their loyalty as long as you share your home.
