For dog owners, it’s no longer acceptable to relegate your furry friend to the doghouse. In fact, 55 percent of pet owners surveyed said they share their bed with at least one dog. But is sleeping with your dog a good idea?
While there has been debate surrounding the subject for years, many studies find that sleeping with your pet can actually be good for you. A dog’s body warmth, steady heartbeat and protective nature can make co-sleeping with them feel safe and cozy.
Increases Sense of Security :
Feeling safe can play a large part in how well you sleep. A recent study explored how the presence of a pet in bed impacted womens’ sleep quality and found that it made them feel more secure and comfortable.
Think about it — your dog’s instinct is to protect. They will let you know immediately if anything is amiss while you are asleep. While this can be problematic for overly-protective or sensitive dogs, many people find that knowing their dog is protecting them helps them sleep more soundly.
Set boundaries:-
Teach your pet where it is appropriate for it to sleep. You may not want it laying directly on your pillow but are comfortable with it sleeping by your feet. In this case, you may need to endure a training period where you instruct the pet or move it to the appropriate location at night until it learns where its “spot” on the bed is.
Offer an out:-
Allow your pet the opportunity to come and go as it pleases. This is particularly true for cats, which are nocturnal. According to experts, your pet may want to get up to eat and play throughout the night, so you should leave your bedroom door open. Otherwise, your sleep may be disrupted by a whining animal that wants to get out.
Keep cool:-
Sleep with a cooling mattress or light blankets to counteract the extra heat your pet will create in bed. Both dogs and cats have higher body temperatures than humans, so they are naturally warmer than us. Add to that their proximity in bed, and you could be struggling to sleep due to the extra heat!
Stick to a schedule:-
Maintain a routine to help your pet sleep more soundly. The more you’re able to go to bed and wake up around the same time each night, the faster your dog or cat will be able to adjust to your sleeping schedule so it does not wake you up in the middle of the night. Changing the schedule may alter your pet’s sleep schedule, too, making it more difficult to resume a pattern later.
Be diligent :-
Be diligent — but reward them too. Some dogs and cats simply can’t handle being locked out of a room while you sleep. They’ll whine or meow until they get their way. It’s okay to let them into the bedroom — just try your best to keep them off the bed if they’re known to be disruptive. Be diligent about keeping them off the bed, but reward them too to help them stay happy in their pet bed. Use treats or other pet training tactics so they quickly learn over time that their pet bed, not the human bed, is for them.
