Is there anything better than laying your head down in bed at the end of a long day and feeling your precious pup crawl into bed next to you? That moment when they curl up by your feet is enough to make anyone squeal with delight — but, of course, dogs aren’t exactly the best sleeping companions. They snore, they move around, and TBH, sometimes they’re kind of smelly. But the health benefits of sleeping with your dog beside you are pretty legit; in fact, there’s plenty of research to back them up (more on that in a bit).
Veterinarian Michelle Martinez that she has a hard time finding someone who doesn’t sleep with their dog, herself included. She says she allows her dog, Dexter, to come into bed with her, and it’s not a bad habit to have.
Here is a video citing all the benefits of sleeping next to your dog:
Does Science Support this Theory?
“This ultimately has a profound impact on your sleep, since it promotes theta brainwaves, which occur during deep meditation and the REM stage,” Backe says. In other words, why trek all the way to your yoga class when you can just take a quick nap with your pup and reap most of the same benefits? At least, that’s how my brain works, anyway.
“Oxytocin is a good enzyme hormone that comes out when people are cuddling their dogs and it causes a sense of relaxation and calmness,” she says.
It also can help stave off feelings of depression and loneliness, and it can even combat insomnia.