Having a dog brings a lot of joy to families and often they’re treated like a member of the family. But should you allow your dog to sleep with you?
The Center for Sleep Medicine at the Mayo Clinic wanted to find out so researchers gathered 40 dog owners and recorded their sleep practices over 7 nights. All owners along with their pets wore accelerometers, to keep track of their activities.
The team found people who had their dog in their bed with them often had poorer-quality sleep.
People assume a dog anywhere in the bedroom can disrupt one’s sleep. But this study found it didn’t and owners actually got a good night’s sleep when their dog slept on the bedroom floor. It’s a much better option than allowing them to wake you when kicking, scratching or hogging covers.
Partha’s RX
1. Many owners feel they don’t spend enough time with their dogs. Instead of letting them in your bed, spend quality time by taking them on daily walks or playing ball.
2. It takes time to break a dog’s sleeping habit. Ignore them when they’re on your bed, but do praise them when they jump off. Provide lots of love and treats when dogs use their own pet bed.
3. If you suffer from pet allergies or asthma, don’t allow dogs in your bed or bedroom. Allergy shots might help you build up pet dander tolerance.
4. Make sure your dog gets routine vaccinations and flea and tick medicines. Bacteria and diseases carried by fleas and ticks can be transmitted to people.
