Debates are ongoing over whether dogs should be allowed to sleep with their human guardians. I don’t see why there should be strict rules. If you and your dog love it, do it and let them feel the love. If there are disagreements with who you sleep with, find something that works for both of you. and the dog. From a practical point of view, and considering the well-being of a dog, knowing the sleeping relationships that the dog was used to in its former home is very useful information when people decide whether or not to welcome this individual. especially.
Who allows and does not allow their dog to sleep with them?
I just found out about a recent online poll called Should Dogs Sleep on Your Bed? which offers a fair amount of data on who allows their dog to sleep on their bed and why or why not. There are some interesting surprises in this study. Here are some of their results.
- 76% of the 1,000 respondents allow their dog to sleep with them.
- Of those who don’t allow their dog to sleep with them, 26% feel guilty for their decision, but 57% still keep their pets close, allowing them to sleep in the bedroom.
- 56% of married pet owners say they sleep better when they share a bed with their dog and their human partner.
- Nearly a third of married pet owners say they and their bedmate disagree on whether or not to allow the pet to sleep on the bed at night.
- 33% of married pet owners say they sleep better when sharing their bed only with their dog.
- Single dog owners (80%) are slightly more likely to sleep with their dog, while slightly fewer married dog owners (73%) allow it.
Top Reasons People Sleep With Their Dogs
- Reduces feelings of stress: 67%
- Decreases feelings of anxiety: 60%
- Reduces feelings of loneliness: 59%
- Their pet feels more comfortable: 55%
- They feel safer at night: 53%
- Reduces feelings of depression: 51%
- Promotes stronger dog-human bonds: 51%
There were few differences between people who slept alone and those who shared a bed.
Reasons why dogs are not allowed to sleep with their human(s)
- Worried about germs and cleanliness: 45%
- Concerns about fleas and ticks: 40%
- The animal is anxious and moves: 29%
- Concerns about allergies: 21%
- Animals wee or poo in bed: 18%
- The animal is too noisy: 15%
There’s still a lot to learn about dog and human bedtime habits
Obviously, not everyone wants to share their bed with a dog. I was delighted that more than half of respondents said they slept better when they slept with their dog and their human partner and surprised that a third of married pet owners said they slept better when they only shared their bed with their dog.
A few women told me that they, too, slept better when their male partner was away and only their dog snuggled up to them. They also said that sometimes it disturbed their human relationships.
A few men have told me similar stories. Someone asked me if it was known whether men or women are more bothered by the presence of a dog in a shared bed and my first conclusion is that there can be a number of reasons why one or the other is more disturbed that go beyond the genre.
It would also be interesting to learn more about attitudes toward dogs and humans sleeping together in same-sex relationships, among animal activists and those who aren’t, and what kinds of trends are emerging in different religious, cultural and socio-economic groups. I also wonder if a dog’s breed, mix, gender or size makes a difference, for example, the ratio of dog size to human size.
What about cat-human sleep relationships? How does this dog and human data compare to decisions to sleep or not sleep with pet cats? Some people I know prefer to sleep with their cats rather than their dogs because they are smaller, move less, and don’t bark or “chase deer” in their dreams.
I can’t wait to learn more about if and how individual factors – for example, the personalities of a dog and a human – and relationship factors – dog-human and human-human – influence the choice to sleep in the same bed as their companion dog. It would also be interesting to know how often and why people who don’t like to sleep with their dog change their minds to please their human companions and if, when and why those who don’t want their dog in bed are listening. needs of the dog and allow him to sleep with him when he requires extra attention and contact comfort.
There is still much to learn about the sleeping habits of humans and dogs and this information has very practical value, in the field.