That detail isn’t innocent… and I had no idea 🤔🤯… See more

A key part of this study involved measuring “sleep efficiency.” This term refers to the ratio of time you spend actually sleeping compared to the total time you spend in bed. Experts generally suggest that a sleep efficiency of 80 percent is a sign of a good night of rest.

The study found that people with a dog in the room maintained an average sleep efficiency of 83 percent. Interestingly, the dog’s exact location did make a small difference. When the dog was actually on the bed, the efficiency score dropped by about 3 percent. Even with that slight dip, the quality of rest remained within a healthy range for most people.

Common Sleeping Habits for Pet Owners

Many people already follow their hearts when it comes to bedtime. In a 2015 survey by the American Kennel Club, about 45 percent of dog owners reported “cuddling with their canines during bedtime.” This was the most popular choice among those surveyed.

To put that in perspective, other sleeping arrangements were much less common:

• 20 percent of dogs sleep in a crate.
• 17 percent use their own specific dog bed.
• 14 percent sleep in various other spots around the house.
• Only 4 percent of dogs sleep in an outdoor shelter.

Finding What Works for You

Ultimately, the decision of where your pet spends the night is a personal one. As Pat Miller, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA wrote in an article for Whole Dog Journal, “where your dog sleeps is really nobody’s business but your own.” The most important thing is to consider your own comfort and how your dog’s behavior might affect your sleep cycles.

If you decide that sharing a bed is the right move, there are ways to make it work smoothly. Training is key to ensuring everyone has enough space. For instance, Miller suggests making sure your dog understands basic commands, such as knowing what “off” means, so you can manage the space on the mattress.

Whether your dog sleeps at the foot of your bed or in their own cozy corner of the room, the goal is for everyone to wake up feeling refreshed. And as many owners will tell you, it is very hard to say no to those sweet puppy eyes when the lights go out.