Benefits for Your Health, Risks, and Precautions

Pets benefit their people in many ways. Whether sleeping with your dog or cat enhances those benefits is up for debate and may depend on your personal circumstances.

May not decrease sleep quality

Having a dog in bed can affect your sleep. Of course, there are other contributing factors, such as the number of people and pets, pet size, and bed size. It all has to sync up.

A small study of adults found that people sleep just fine with a dog in the bedroom but less so when the dog is actually in the bed. A good solution may be to keep a dog bed beside your own.

Other research found that when compared with cats and other people, dogs in bed were perceived to be less disruptive to sleep.

If you wake up refreshed and aren’t fatigued during the day, your dog is probably a good sleeping buddy.

Provides comfort and security

A 2018 survey of adult women showed that a dog in bed is associated with comfort and security more so than sleeping with another person or a cat. It’s a feel-good thing, particularly if you’re lonely or separated from your dog most of the day.

Boosts mental health

Pets help relieve stress and anxiety. They foster social and emotional connections, which can affect mood and overall mental health.

A 2012 study showed that human-animal interactions may benefit stress-related factors, such as:

• cortisol
• heart rate
• blood pressure

There’s limited evidence showing they may help:

• reduce stress-related factors such as epinephrine and norepinephrine
• lower aggression
• enhance empathy
• improve trustworthiness and trust in others

A 2016 study suggests that for people with long-term mental health problems, pets should be considered a main source of support.

Sleeping next to your furry friend may help reinforce those benefits.

While dogs can make good sleep companions, there are other factors to consider.

May decrease sleep quality

Dogs are always on the alert, so they’re light sleepers.

One 2020 study shows that having a dog in bed increases human movement. This can potentially disturb sleep, but those people rarely remember waking up due to dog movement. This research was conducted on a very small sample of women and may not apply to a wider population.

A dog that snores, slobbers, or overheats the bed is probably not an ideal sleep mate. You may wake up still tired or longing for a daytime nap.

Cats are nocturnal, so they can be challenging nighttime sleep partners. They may want to play or even purposely wake you up.

May aggravate allergies

Pets can carry allergens like dust and pollen into your bed. This can aggravate severe allergies and asthma.

May spread disease

Bacteria, parasites, and fungi can all spread from dogs and cats to humans. Germs can spread through:

• touching feces
• licking the face or an open wound
• scratches
• bites

In the United States, the risk of disease from sleeping with your pet is low, with most risk coming from:

May cause injury

A dominant or aggressive dog in the bedroom is a significant risk for dog bites, especially for children.

There’s no evidence to support the theory that allowing your dog in bed will make them feel dominant.

Some dogs growl or bark when you approach the bed because they may view their sleeping spot as territory to be guarded. Consistent training can break this habit.

Kids and pets make wonderful companions, but children are more susceptible to germs than adults, particularly if the pet tends to lick.

Aggressive dogs may be especially dangerous to children, and it’s more difficult for a child to get quality sleep with a pet in the bed.

Pets shouldn’t sleep with an infant. If you’re not sure your little one is old enough to have a pet in bed, talk to your child’s doctor.

If you share a bed with someone else, it’s important that they agree with the sleeping arrangements. Here are more tips for achieving nighttime harmony:

• Walk your dog before bed.
• Train them to wait for permission to get on the bed.
• Be consistent with rules. If you don’t want your dog on your pillow or under the blankets, make no exceptions.
• Discourage aggressive behavior by removing your dog from the bed.
• Visit the veterinarian for regular checkups and vaccinations.
• Use preventive flea and tick treatments.
• Deworm as advised by your veterinarian.
• Wash your hands after cleaning up after your pet.
• Change your sheets and bedding regularly.

When things hit a snag and a good night’s sleep can’t be had, have your dog sleep elsewhere until you work things out. Get advice from a veterinarian or professional dog trainer.

Even if you enjoy having your pet in bed, it’s not always a good idea. In some cases, you’ll need to put a temporary hold on bed sharing. In other cases, it’s best avoided altogether. If you have serious health issues, ask your doctor if it’s safe for your pet to sleep in your bed.

Consider sleeping without them if your pet:

• is a new addition and hasn’t had a checkup or vaccinations
• isn’t potty trained or has diarrhea
• has worms, mites, fleas, or ticks
• bites or scratches
• moves around a lot
• snores
• is a big drooler
• is very large

Or if you have:

• a sleep disorder or are a light sleeper
• severe allergies
• a compromised immune system or serious health issues
• an open wound

Many people look forward to snuggling up with beloved animal companions. Pets have been known to affect sleep. But for many people, the emotional benefits balance any negatives. It all comes down to personal choice.

When weighing pros and cons, consider your health, your dog’s health, and quality of sleep. Take up problems or concerns with a doctor or a veterinarian.

If your dog is well-behaved and you wake up feeling refreshed, then roll over and let them hop in.