When Liv Arnold introduced Groot, a Maltese-Shih Tzu cross, into her life five years ago, she had no idea how much comfort her dog would bring to her bed.
As a young puppy he used to sleep in his crate. But once he was fully potty-trained and a little older, Arnold had no qualms about putting Groot to bed. You can hear him squeak as he stretches,” says the 35-year-old author of romance novels. stepping stone.
If bed-sharing with pets improves sleep, then there’s no reason to stop thinking about it, experts say.credit:Stocksea
The 2022 Great Australian Dog Survey, conducted by a dog food company, found that 65% of dogs sleep in their owner’s bedroom.
The numbers aren’t surprising, say Dr. Moira Jange, sleep psychologist and CEO of Sydney’s Sleep Health Foundation, but they say they’re common. For someone like Arnold, the experience is fun. “A lot of people say, ‘I sleep better when I sleep with my pet. I feel more comfortable and safer,'” says Junge.
Dr. Kate Monement echoes these sentiments. The animal behaviorist and consultant for Pets Behaving Badly in Melbourne raves about the sense of security, safety and camaraderie that pet owners can get from having their beloved animal in the bedroom.
But it’s not all smooth sailing. Junge’s biggest concern is that pets can disturb his owner’s sleep. Dogs can bark at outside noises, all animals can writhe, and larger animals can “hog” beds, Monet confirms.
Arnold explains that even a relatively small animal can occupy a bed, and the groot (which she calls “a little fuzzy ball”) spreads out so it “takes up the whole room.” . However, she sees it as a minor downside, far outweighed by the positives.
If being in bed with your pet is ruining your sleep, Junge recommends setting firmer boundaries so Fido can sleep elsewhere. But if your pet is fast asleep and you want them to share your sleeping space, Monet says there are things you can do to make it a safer and more hygienic experience. says.
