Can’t Sleep? Study Shows That Your Pets May Be the Perfect ‘Sleeping Pills’

We live in a world that often seems like it never sleeps. There’s always something going on. That’s probably why many of us have disrupted sleeping patterns. Many people also complain that they can’t get a good night’s sleep.

A study done by the well-respected Mayo Clinic in Arizona proves that your pets — specifically, dogs — may prove to be the best remedy for insomnia. The researchers tracked the progress of 40 healthy adults with no sleep disorders and their dogs. Both the people and their dogs wore tracking devices that took note of their sleep patterns. The data gathering covered five months.

The presence of pets already have a calming effect on their owners.

The study’s participants could be categorized into three groups. There were people who didn’t let their dogs into their bedrooms and let them sleep elsewhere in the house. Some people let their dogs sleep inside their bedroom. Other let their dogs get into bed with them.

In her article in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Najja Parker noted:

“After analyzing the results, the researchers found out that those who kept their dogs in their bedroom experienced better quality of sleep, compared to those whose dogs slept in other parts of the house.”

Interestingly enough, those who let their pets get in bed with them didn’t sleep so well.

This is the prescribed setup for pet-induced sleep.

The researchers emphasized:

“The sleep benefit only applies to having dogs in your bedroom — not in your bed.”

In a Metro feature by Ellen Scott, the study’s lead author Dr. Lois Krahn explained why pets had the same effect as sleeping pills. For one, she said that the pet owners got a sense of comfort and security because their dogs were nearby.

She also added,

“Many pet owners are away from their pets for much of the day So they want to maximize their time with them when they are home. Having them in the bedroom at night is an easy way to do that.”

It's cute but this isn’t the ideal scenario for health experts.

Then again, she pointed out that while it’s great to have the pets in the bedroom, it was not advisable for them to be actually in bed with you. The Metro article noted: “Cats and dogs like to move around and fidget, which can end up disrupting your sleep.” Moreover, medical experts say, being too close to your pet may lead to health risks. Thus, it’s best to keep a healthy distance. Being in the same room already works.