Pros And Cons Of Sleeping With Your Dog – 3 Important Things To Know Must

Olivia Moore | Last updated: Apr 7 2023 main-post-page-img

Sleeping with your dog can be a cozy and comforting experience, but there are always pros and cons of sleeping with your dog. On the positive side, having your dog by your side at night can provide a sense of security and companionship. Many dog owners find that sleeping with their dog can help reduce stress and anxiety, as the presence of a beloved pet can promote relaxation and decrease loneliness. Additionally, snuggling up with your pup can release oxytocin, the “love hormone,” which can strengthen the bond between you and your furry companion.

Related Article: Pros and Cons of Being a Guardian Dog Owner

On the flip side, there are potential drawbacks to sharing your bed with your dog. One major concern is hygiene, as dogs can carry dirt, allergens, and parasites into your bed. This can be particularly problematic if you have allergies or respiratory issues. Another consideration is sleep quality, as dogs may move around during the night, snore, or disturb your sleep with their movements. Additionally, allowing your dog on your bed may disrupt boundaries and cause behavioral issues, such as separation anxiety or dependency on sleeping with their owner.

Sharing a bed with a dog, cat, or any pet is in the nighttime routine of many in the U.S. According to a survey, approximately 43% of pet owners share their bed with their beloved pets. Sharing a bed with your dog helps alleviate your feelings of depression, loneliness, and anxiety. But this can be risky for your health too.
So, let’s discuss the pros and cons of sleeping with your dog in detail.

Pros Of Sleeping With Your Dog

Below are the pros of sleeping with your dog.

Pros 1: Sleeping With Your Dog Improves Your Mental Health

The interaction of an animal with humans can improve their mental health. Research shows that these interactions help lower the stress hormone cortisol and depression levels.

When your stay with your dog, it boosts the production of happy hormones like dopamine and serotonin. The production of these happy hormones reduces stress levels, decreases the feeling of loneliness, and eases the effects of depression.

According to a study published in the journal, Social Sciences sleeping with your dog can also help those suffering from long-term chronic pain. Sleeping with your dog also enables a sense of security in their companions and reduces their reactions to external factors.

Cary Brown , a professor of rehabilitation medicine at the University of Alberta says that sleeping with a dog increases well-being and helps to feel relaxed while overcoming loneliness that often escorts chronic diseases.

Pros 2: Sleeping With Your Dog Promotes Healthy Heart

The American Health Association researched the health benefits of owning animals, and it turns out that we owe much of our longevity to dogs. Sleeping with your dogs by your side also reduces human heart problems. More people owning dogs can recover from heart-related setbacks. A National Library of Medicine study stated that simply touching your dog reduces human blood pressure.

Pros 3: Sleeping With Your Dog Can Both Heal Your Sleep Efficiency

Sleep efficiency? Sleep efficiency is all about a person’s sleeping style. So if your partner is absent, sleeping with your pet dog can give you a feeling of warmth, relaxation, and contentment.

Cons Of Sleeping With Your Dog

Now, have a look over the cons of sleeping with dog.

Cons 1: Co-Sleeping Can Be Dangerous For Children

One of the most serious drawbacks of sleeping with a dog is that it can be dangerous for your children. If your dog gets scared at night, it might bite your children. The most common reason behind kids in the emergency is animal bites.
It’s also possible that you might roll over on your frail dog during sleep, and it gets hurt badly.

Cons 2: Sleep Schedule Is Disturbed

Sleeping with your dog or any pet also has some downsides; it can disturb your sleep in many ways. And a sleep-deprived person gets irritated by little things. So you should have known how a night of good sleep makes you look fresh and at peace.
Dogs are polyphasic animals and have 3 hours of wake/sleep cycles per hour every night. In addition, a guard dog will always stay alert for any sound or abnormal activity. A part from it, a dog can also snore or hog your part of the bed.

Cons 3: Animals Can Be A Source Of Transmitting Germs

Animals can be a source of transmitting germs and diseases to humans. Maybe your dog has parasites like ringworms, mites, fleas, and ticks by any minor mistake you have made in taking care of them. So make sure you have all the up-to-date equipment for preventive medication equipment. Also, take your pet dog for regular veterinary checkups.

Conclusion

In conclusion, sleeping with your dog can be a personal choice with both pros and cons. It's important to weigh the benefits of companionship and comfort against the potential drawbacks, and make a decision that aligns with your health, lifestyle, and preferences.

Written by

Olivia Moore

Olivia is a freelance writer and pet enthusiast who writes articles on animals to help owners and their pets live their life in the best way. She resides in Australia and is currently doing her master’s degree in wildlife biology. Besides her studies, she has found a new love for working online and writing about animals. She is passionate about creating awareness about pets. Her mission is to write content on their health issues and the best ways to make their pets content. She loves to write about animals of all types but her specialties are dogs, cats, and birds.