The Pros And Cons Of Letting Your Dog Sleep With You
When it comes to sleeping with dogs, or “co-sleeping”, owners tend to be divided into three camps:
• Those that gladly share their bed,
• Those that share their room but not their bed, and
• Those that don’t allow their dog in their bedroom.
Most Americans are obsessed with their dogs but only about half of them admit to letting their dog sleep in their bed, according to a survey by the American Pet Products Association.
So, if you share your bed with your dog, you’re not alone. But how are you sleeping?
46% of people who sleep with their pet claim they sleep better and 19% say they sleep worse, according to a survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
Aside from a good night’s sleep, what are the other pros and cons of letting your dog sleep in your bed:
Pro: Spend More Time Together
Cuddling up with your dog at night gives you more time to spend together, especially after a busy day.
Con-Sometimes Space Is What You Need
Sometimes you just need some me time and since German shepherds have no concept of personal space, that can be hard to come by when they share your bed.
Pro-Can Help Keep You Warm
German shepherds are warm and fuzzy and when it's freezing, make the best space heaters.
Con-Can Make You Too Hot
Sometimes sleeping next to your dog can feel like sleeping with a hot potato and make you too warm to sleep comfortably.
Pro-Cuddling With Your Dog Reduces Stress
Cuddling with your dog can help you relax. Scientists have even found that snuggling your dog can help reduce cortisol levels, the hormone responsible for stress, anxiety, and depression.
Con-Lack of Sleep Can Cause Stress
German shepherds take up a lot of space in bed and easily disrupt your sleep, which can increase stress when you’re overtired.
Pro-Being Close To Your Dog Can Help You Relax
Similar to reducing stress, being close to your dog can also increase feelings of happiness and relaxation. Hence, having your pet so near can help you fall asleep.
Con-Can’t Get Comfortable When Contorted Like A Pretzel
Having your pet so near can also prevent you from getting comfortable so you can fall asleep. Especially, when you feel bad about making your dog move.
Pro-They’ll Keep You Safe
Having your German shepherd beside you all night can help you feel safe since they will always watch your back and be alert to any unusual sounds or happenings.
Con-False Alarms
Since they are so observant, they will occasionally alert on a false alarm, such as when they hear an unusual sound in the neighborhood and want to make sure you hear it, too.
Pro-You Won’t Trip On Them At Night
Having your dog on your bed will prevent you from tipping over them in the dark as you make your way to the kitchen to sneak a late-night snack.
Con-Dog Fur In Your Bed
You may not trip over them, but your German shedder is sure to leave plenty of pet fur in your bed.
Pro-Your Dog Is Comfortable
Knowing your dog is comfortable and content is a great feeling and can give you peace of mind while you sleep.
Con-You Sacrifice Comfort
Many owners will sacrifice their own personal comfort for their pets, which can disrupt sleep.
Pro-Your Dog Doesn’t Care If You Snore
Unlike your partner, your dog doesn’t care if you snore and won’t wake you up at night to ask you to roll over.
Con-Your Dog Might Snore
If your dog snores, runs in their dreams or makes other noises while they sleep, it can keep you from getting a good night's sleep.
Pro-Make You Feel Loved
Having your dog at your side while you sleep will make you feel loved and there is nothing more special than the bond between a German shepherd and their owner.
Con-Prevent Loving
Sharing your bed with a large dog can prevent you from snuggling up with your partner for fear of waking the dog.
We’re sure that half of dog owners will agree with the pros on this list while the other half will relate to the cons. Of course, the ones in the pro camp will contend that the pros outweigh all the cons and there is no right or wrong answer.
However, as far as sleep quality goes, the Mayo Clinic Proceedings studied The Effect of Dogs on Human Sleep in the Home Sleep Environment. The study showed that having a dog sleep in your room improves your sleep, but having a dog sleep in the bed with you does not. Humans with a single dog in their bedroom maintained good sleep efficiency; however, the dog's position on/off the bed made a difference," the researchers concluded.
Sleeping with your dog is a very personal decision that also involves your partner and your pet’s preferences. We hope you enjoyed this fun comparison and would love to hear if you sleep with your dog or not.
As always, please feel free to share with your friends.
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