Want to Sleep Better Tonight? Study Says Bring Your Dog into Your Bedroom

Feeling a little tired today? If you are hoping to catch a few extra winks tonight, the trick to snoozing better might be as easy as having your four-legged-friend in your bedroom.

According to a new study, scientists from the Mayo Clinic examined 40 adults who did not have sleep disorders and their dogs over a five-month period to track their sleep. For the study, both the dogs and their humans wore activity devices that tracked their sleep patterns each night. After examining the data, researchers found that participants that slept with their dogs in their bedroom had more restful nights than those who did not invite their pups into their sleep space.

Considering more than 40 million American households have dogs, this study will have everyone wagging their tails--well if we had tails they would be wagging.

Researchers noted that no matter the size of the dog, from a tiny pup to a giant pooch, sleep was enhanced. However, before you cuddle up with your dog, it's important to note, the study found that those who snuggled with their pet at night actually suffered from a lower quality of sleep. Researchers found that any sleep benefits were only with those that had dogs in their bedroom and not in their bed. Sorry, Fluffy, looks like it's the dog bed for you tonight.

"Most people assume having pets in the bedroom is a disruption," lead researcher of the study Lois Krahn said. "We found that many people actually find comfort and a sense of security from sleeping with their pets."

According to the American Veterinary Association, 63% of dog owners consider their canine companions to be important member of their family, and with busy schedules, often our dogs spend a lot of their day without us. So if keeping our dogs in our bedroom at night actually helps us sleep better and makes our dogs happy, bedtime will be a win/win for everyone.