Women sleep better with dogs

Women who share their bed with a pup at night may sleep better than those who sleep next to a human, report scientists in the journal Anthrozoös. In a study of 962 female pet owners, those who slept with at least one dog had significantly lower scores of sleep disturbance and reported higher feelings of comfort and security compared with human bed partners. “Dog moms” also had a more consistent schedule of earlier bedtimes and wake times, which has been shown to promote deeper sleep. The study authors theorize a dog’s presence may foster calm and ward off disruptive bad dreams.