Women sleep better cuddling their pets rather than their partners

You see, a new study looked into the affects co-sleeping with a pet had on sleep quality, which is the only answer to the debate you really need.

Birmingham Live reports that women, it's official: you'll probably sleep better with your arm around your DOG rather than your other half. Yes, according to new research, women actually sleep better when they shared a bed with a dog rather than another human. So, the next time you have that argument at 9pm with your significant other, don't feel bad casting him/her to the sofa. You see, a new study looked into the affects co-sleeping with a pet had on sleep quality, which is the only answer to the debate you really need. The study looked at how women who let their dog sleep in the same bed as them affected factors such as how long it took them to fall asleep, how much they were disrupted during the night and how comfortable and secure they felt throughout. Authors Christy Hoffman, Kaylee Stutz and Terrie Vasilopoulos reported: "Compared with sleeping with human partners, sleeping with dogs is perceived to cause less disruption and to bring about a greater sense of comfort and security. "Pets may contribute to an owner’s ability to relax and feel secure in ways unrelated to threat deterrence." The study went on to say that sleeping in the same bed as a pet can also reduce the risk of bad dreams as women felt more relaxed as they fell asleep. Dogs as bed partners scored higher on comfort and security scale than human bed partners and those who shared a bed with a dog didn't even take longer to fall asleep than those who didn't. But unfortunately if you're a cat owner you won't have the same findings to use as evidence next time you have a row with your human co-sleeper about where the cat is sleeping. The study reported: "Cats on the bed, on the other hand, are as disruptive as human bed partners and are associated with less comfort and security than human bed partners."

But is it bad for me or my pet?

The science says it helps women sleep well, but are there any other health issues for us or our pets? Junior vice president for BVA, Daniella Dos Santos said: “Many pet owners find comfort in sleeping with their dogs or cats." According to the British Veterinary Association (BVA) there are no real issues for you or dog when you share a bed. Daniella added: "We’d recommend that owners sharing a bed with their furry friend make sure their pets’ flea treatments are up-to-date.”

(Story source: Birmingham Live)