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The secret to a good night’s rest? Let sleeping dogs lie next to you
NBC News • • world
Key Points:
- A University of Toronto study using activity trackers found that sleeping near dogs does not disrupt human sleep; rather, humans tend to disturb their dogs' sleep more often.
- The research, involving 25 humans and 38 dogs during the COVID-19 pandemic, showed no significant difference in sleep quality or duration whether dogs slept in the bed or nearby.
- Participants felt safer sleeping with their dogs, suggesting a deeper evolutionary bond between humans and dogs that may contribute positively to sleep habits.
- Previous studies have shown mixed results about pet ownership and sleep quality, but dogs may help improve sleep consistency by encouraging regular bedtime routines.
- Experts note that while dogs can promote consistent sleep schedules, factors like a dog's size, nighttime noises, or snoring (especially in certain breeds) can still potentially disrupt human sleep.
