Is it right to sleep with your dog in bed?

ADVANTAGES OF SLEEPING IN THE SAME BED WITH YOUR DOG

Approximate reading time: 7 minutes

Sleeping with your dog may be recommended by professionals in some cases to help you fall asleep, with depression, or anxiety.

70% of dog owners admit to resting in the same bed as their pets. But is it really good for you and your best friend to share the mattress and the sheets?

Table of contents

1. Sleeping with your dog can be therapeutic

2. Recommendations for sleeping safely with your dog

• Avoid allergies

• Be extremely hygienic

• Protect yourself from diseases

• Puppies should sleep in the park

3. Sleeping with your dog is a personal decision

Sleeping with your dog can be therapeutic

As I'm sure you've already seen if you usually allow your dog to sleep in your bed, doing so is really pleasant. Although some studies suggest that the presence of the animal could disturb your rest, the truth is that other research claims that the opposite is true. These are the main advantages of sharing a bed with your pet.

• Psychological benefits. Sleeping with your dog can help people with anxiety or depression to alleviate their symptoms. Having your pet next to you while you sleep can help you with your emotional state, as you will feel more relaxed and accompanied.
• It regulates blood pressure. According to a study carried out in 1988 by the Journal of Behavioral Medicine, sleeping with your dog helps to lower blood pressure, which significantly improves rest.
• It improves rest. Contrary to popular belief, a study by the Canisius College of Buffalo showed that people who slept with dogs had better quality sleep than those who did not or even those who slept with other people.
• Sense of security. Many people report feeling safer and more secure if their dog is by their side when they sleep. Beyond the psychological factor, dogs have very acute hearing that allows them to alert us to possible dangers.

Recommendations for sleeping safely with your dog

According to experts, there are certain risks associated with sleeping with a dog in the same bed as you. Among the reasons given for not advising against sharing a bed with a dog are the worsening of sleep. If you are a light sleeper and your dog is very active even at night, it is possible that they will wake you up, although this can vary greatly from case to case, so it is a personal decision that you have to make. In any case, here are some tips to prevent sleeping with your dog from becoming a problem.

• Avoid allergies

It is not recommended that people with allergies share a bed with their dogs, as the allergenic particles are in the fur and skin, so by sleeping so close together they would be exposed to them all night long. This could cause severe allergy symptoms and a long-term worsening of symptoms. However, even if you are not allergic, there are some precautions you can take to avoid developing this problem, such as vacuuming your bed sheets daily and changing them frequently. In this sense, the Australian Cobberdog is considered a hypoallergenic dog, as they do not shed their coat or produce dandruff, so they can be a great sleeping companion as long as you take the other measures we recommend.

• Be extremely hygienic

Unlike cats, dogs frequently go outside, touching the ground with their paws and exposing themselves to all kinds of germs and bacteria. That is why we recommend that you clean their pads very well with wipes designed for this purpose or simply with a little soapy water after returning from walks. You can wash them more thoroughly when you come home from the street and, later, before going to bed, simply wipe them with a damp cloth. Also, if you are going to let your dog sleep next to you, try to give them frequent baths (up to once a week is appropriate, as long as the soap has the correct pH, although you can space them out more if your pet is not so dirty). On the other hand, brush them very well every day to prevent all that excess hair from ending up between your sheets in the case of breeds that moult.

• Protect yourself from diseases

If you are going to share a bed with your pet and you want to minimise the risk of parasites, bacteria and viruses, such as hookworms and roundworms, it is very important that you keep your pet's vaccination records up to date, as well as regular deworming. Also, make sure you visit your vet more frequently to make sure your dog is as healthy as an apple. We also recommend checking your dog's coat regularly for parasites such as fleas and ticks.

• Puppies should sleep in the park

We do not recommend that puppies sleep in bed with us. As they are still small and fragile, they could be crushed or kicked unintentionally in the middle of the night. Furthermore, the best way for correct development and independence is for puppies to sleep in their own playpen (until they are approximately 8 months old), where they will have their food bowl, water bowl, pee pad tray and bed, in other words, everything they need for a restful rest, which, at this age, is essential for their learning and growth.

Sleeping with your dog is a personal decision

In short, if you want to share a bed with your dog when you go to sleep, bear in mind that you will have to be extremely hygienic and assess whether their presence does not really disturb your sleep. We advise you not to allow your pet to sleep on the sheets, but on top of the quilt and at the foot of the bed, for better hygiene and a better night's sleep. Another option is to let your dog sleep in the same room but not on the mattress. In any case, this is a very personal decision that each family should make with everyone's best interests in mind, including the dog's! If you are determined to rest close to your furry friend, take the necessary precautions and enjoy this warm and comforting experience. Happy dreams!