Women have a more restful night snoozing next to a dog than they do next to another person, according to a new US study.
The research, which looked at the sleeping habits and sleep quality of nearly 1,000 women – 55 per cent who shared their bed with at least one dog, 31 per cent with a cat and 57 per cent with a person – found dogs were less likely to wake the women and were associated with stronger feelings of comfort and security.
On the other hand, cats and humans were equally disruptive, with cats ranking below both dogs and humans on the feelings front (bad luck cat lovers).
Woman’s best friend?
The researchers say this may be partly due to the responsibility of dog ownership – in short, your four-legged friend will usually ensure you get to bed earlier and get up earlier.
Also, a dog is less likely to toss and turn than your human partner, plus they’re not staying up late to watch sport (snore) or stealing the doona.
The research backs up a previous study that found both men and women who sleep with a dog generally got better-quality sleep.
Of course, there are downsides to sharing your bed with a furry companion – namely a bed that’s full of hair (and if they’re anything like my dog, the odd bit of flatulence).
But lesson learned – dogs rule, men drool.
