LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE... NEXT TO YOU

Many studies show how sharing a bed with your dog is actually good for you.

It can benefit your pet pooch and you in many ways.

I have three beautiful corgis and a guilty secret I’m about to share... every night one of my dogs sleeps with me on my bed.

The key here is on my bed - not in my bed, or on my pillows. But when one of my pets is happily curled up at my feet we all have a great night’s sleep.

As well, making sure my dogs have a solid sleep helps my relationship with them and improves their quality of life.

So, is allowing your dog to sleep with you actually good for you?

Studies have found that sharing your bed with your pet makes you feel safe and loved and so does your dog, who is less stressed about outside sounds if they are near you. For us humans, it can help reduce depression or feelings of loneliness.

A recent study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings found letting your dog sleep in your room or on your bed did not worsen your sleep - and gave your pet the best night’s snooze ever.

The study examined 40 adults (mainly middle-aged women) who slept with a dog either in their bed or in their bedroom. Both humans and their four-legged friends wore motion-tracking devices for seven nights.

The researchers found that for some owners, sleeping with an animal companion was very comfortable and a stress reliever.

Lead author Dr Lois Krahn, a sleep medicine specialist at the Centre for Sleep Medicine at the Mayo Clinic’s Arizona campus, was reported in Time Magazine saying a purring cat or a well-behaved dog can be very relaxing and conducive to sleep. “Provided everyone sleeps well, it can be a benefit,” she reported.