Study finds owners more often wake dogs than dogs disturb owners
Research from the University of Toronto shows that humans are likelier to interrupt their dogs' sleep than the reverse, and sharing a bed does not affect objective sleep quality.
Scientists at the University of Toronto equipped 25 adults and 38 dogs with motion sensors for a month-long study, tracking nightly movements. Results showed that while owners and pets often moved at the same times, human motions usually came first, suggesting owners wake their dogs more often than dogs wake owners. Published in PLOS One, the research found no measurable impact on sleep length or quality from sharing a bed with a dog, even though many owners felt their pets kept them awake.
Respondents said the presence of a dog increased their sense of security, yet households with several dogs reported worse perceived sleep, a discrepancy not reflected in the objective data. Experts note that while co-sleeping can boost emotional wellbeing, it may also lead to subjective feelings of fragmented sleep.
