There is no evidence-based universal winner between sleeping with a dog and sleeping with a partner. The studies available do not directly compare the two under the same conditions. They do suggest a useful distinction: a dog sleeping in the room but off the bed may be a better compromise than sharing the mattress, especially if movement or nighttime activity wakes either person.
What the evidence says about dogs and sleep
Studies measure different things, so their findings are not a simple verdict on whether pets help or harm sleep. Some assess how people feel about their sleep; others track movement or look at insomnia symptoms. Those measures can point in different directions.
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Pet owners do not all experience the same effect
A 2015 study of 150 consecutive patients at the Mayo Clinic’s Arizona Center for Sleep Medicine found that 74 (49%) reported having pets. Among pet owners, more than half allowed pets to sleep in the bedroom. Fifteen pet owners (20%) described pets as disruptive, while 31 (41%) considered them unobtrusive or beneficial. This was a sleep-clinic sample, not a population estimate. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 2015.
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In a seven-night study of 40 healthy adults and their dogs, human sleep efficiency was lower when the dog was on the bed than when it was in the room but off the bed (P=.003). The researchers concluded that people with a single dog in the bedroom maintained good sleep efficiency, but the dog’s position on or off the bed made a difference. The study was small and did not include people with sleep disorders. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 2017.
#1 Best Overall
- Polyurethane Foam: The EHEYCIGA orthopedic dog bed features memory foam and egg crate foam to provide even support and pressure relief. It offers a good balance of softness and support, making it particularly suitable for elderly dogs to alleviate joint pressure.
- SOFA BED DESIGN: This bolster dog bed is designed with 3-sided bolsters to offer additional support for your pet’s neck and head, promoting restful sleep. The surrounding sides encourage your dog to snuggle in and enjoy a comfortable night's rest.
- WATERPROOF COVER: A waterproof film is positioned between the fleece surface and the bottom fabric, ensuring the dog bed remains dry. However, the sides are not waterproof.
- EXTREME COMFORT & MULTIPLE SIZES: The sleeping surface is covered with cozy fleece, creating a soft and inviting sleeping area for your pet. Whatever the size of your dog, we have a dog bed suitable for medium, large, and extra-large breeds.
- CARE INSTRUCTIONS: Remove foam, machine wash cover separately in cold water only, on a delicate cycle.Do not bleach, tumble dry low, and reshape as needed. Do not machine wash or dry the foam core. Allow the bed to expand for 24-48 hours after unpacking.
A larger survey found associations, not proof of cause
A nationally representative cross-sectional study of 1,591 US adults found that 758 (47.6%) reported co-sleeping with pets. Co-sleeping was associated with poorer perceived sleep quality and greater insomnia severity, but not with perceived sleep efficiency or multidimensional sleep health. Because the study was observational, it cannot show that sleeping with a pet caused those differences. Scientific Reports, 2024.
Dog or partner: how to choose an arrangement
The available evidence cannot rank a dog against a romantic partner: the sources do not establish a controlled, direct comparison between them. For a couple, the more useful question is which arrangement lets both people sleep comfortably and consistently.
Rank #2
- Luxurious Padding Support - Filled with 3-1/2" premium polypropylene fiber through 6 keyhole fixation, excellent elasticity supporting and long-lasting recovery ability, effectively comforts dogs with strong supports to bony and joint areas, pressure relief, relieve joint pain, body aches, arthritis.
- Ultra Soft Rose Velvet - Adopt heavy weight deluxe plush material make it super soft, cozy and not easy to shedding, full stuffing to ensure your little furry friend surrounded by love & warmth, helps them to calm down faster, ease anxiety, and sleep well.
- Non-Slip Pad Design - This KSIIA dog crate bed equipped with ANTI-SLIP & ANTI-SCRATCH bottom, prevents your dog kennel pad from moving when your pet steps on or off, they will feel secure and happy.
- Machine Washable - Thanks to the 6 keyhole fixation and high quality filling, our kennel pad can be fully washed by hand or washing machine and can remain shape after times wash. Easy care: wash gentle with cold, then tumble dry low. Let your pets enjoy a breathable, clean and hygienic crate bed.
- Multi-Purpose Dog Bed - This durable dog crate mat measures 35"L x 23"W x 3-1/2"H, for dogs up to 60 lbs, it can be used as a crate bed, dog pillow, kennel bed, cage bed, crate pad even as a dog travel bed in a car or truck. It arrives as a vacuum packed bed in a box, so pat it or let it inflate for about 24 hours before your dog use it!
- Sleep continuity: Notice whether either person wakes because of movement, noise, heat, or the dog’s nighttime activity. A review of bed-sharing research notes that subjective reports and objective sleep measures can diverge: someone may feel comforted even when measurements show more movement or awakenings. Review of human and pet bed-sharing research.
- Comfort and reassurance: A dog nearby may feel calming to one person and disruptive or uncomfortable to the other. The Mayo clinic sample included both perceived benefits and disruptions, but it cannot predict how a particular household will feel.
- Allergy or asthma symptoms: Cough, congestion, a runny nose, or watery eyes around the dog can make falling or staying asleep harder. Review of human and pet bed-sharing research.
- Shared agreement: Both partners should be comfortable with where the dog sleeps. A sleep study cannot settle a household disagreement.
- The dog’s location: Consider the human bed, a separate dog bed in the bedroom, or a sleeping place outside the bedroom. The small actigraphy study is especially relevant to the difference between on-bed and in-room sleeping.
Try a nearby-but-off-the-bed compromise
If one person wants the dog close and the other is losing sleep, place a separate dog bed in the bedroom. This matches the room-sharing arrangement that performed differently from bed-sharing in the 2017 study, though the study did not test dog beds as a product or show that any particular bed improves sleep. A washable bed may make a separate sleeping spot easier to maintain. Use a ramp or stairs only if the dog needs help reaching that spot.
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Agree on an arrangement, then pay attention to actual sleep, symptoms, and comfort over time. If either person continues to wake frequently or has persistent allergy or asthma symptoms, adjust the setup and consider appropriate medical or veterinary advice.
Rank #3
- WARM PLUSH SURFACE - The dog bed is designed with a luxury plush Sherpa top and a slip-resistant bottom, providing extra coziness for dogs to sleep comfortably
- WATERPROOF & MACHINE WASHABLE COVER - This removable cover is constructed with a three-layer fabric design for ultimate comfort and protection. The top layer is made of soft, luxurious plush to keep your dog cozy. Sandwiched in the middle, a TPU waterproof barrier effectively blocks liquids from seaching the inner foam, ensuring it stays dry. The sides are reinforced with durable, scratch- and bite-resistant technical fabric for long-lasting use. It is recommended to clean up in time to protect the health of the dog
- RELIEVE STRESS WITH EGG-FOAM - The orthopedic dog beds filled with 3 inch thick High-Density egg foam, to help dog relieve pressure on the spine, muscles, and joints when resting and relaxing on the pet bed
- DESIGNED FOR PETS - Rectangle shaped mattress is perfect for pets to stretch out when its sleep. It also can be placed on living room, any elevated dog bed & dog bed trampoline or in a crate & pet house
- ABOUT PACKAGING - PLEASE NOTE that the pack was compressed,we suggest putting it for 48 hours to best status after openning
Health considerations when a dog sleeps nearby
Allergies and asthma
Close sleeping proximity can aggravate symptoms for people with pet allergies or asthma. Cough, congestion, a runny nose, and watery eyes can interrupt sleep; the effect on a particular person depends on their symptoms and exposure. Review of human and pet bed-sharing research.
Infection risk
US public-health guidance characterizes disease transmission from sleeping with pets as generally low risk, while documenting that infections have occurred. CDC guidance recommends routine veterinary care, flea and tick prevention, and deworming for people who choose to sleep with pets. Low risk does not mean zero risk. CDC Emerging Infectious Diseases; CDC podcast guidance on sleeping with pets.
Rank #4
- MEMORY FOAM: The EHEYCIGA orthopedic dog bed features memory foam and egg crate foam to provide even support and pressure relief. It offers a good balance of softness and support, making it particularly suitable for elderly dogs to alleviate joint pressure.
- SOFA BED DESIGN: This bolster dog bed is designed with 3-sided bolsters to offer additional support for your pet’s neck and head, promoting restful sleep. The surrounding sides encourage your dog to snuggle in and enjoy a comfortable night's rest.
- WATERPROOF COVER: A waterproof film is positioned between the fleece surface and the bottom fabric, ensuring the dog bed remains dry. However, the faux linen sides are not waterproof.
- EXTREME COMFORT & MULTIPLE SIZES: The sleeping surface is covered with cozy fleece, creating a soft and inviting sleeping area for your pet. Whatever the size of your dog, we have a dog bed suitable for medium, large, and extra-large breeds.
- CARE INSTRUCTIONS: Our dog bed features a removable and washable cover with a zipper closure, making it easy to clean. Remove the foam insert, and the cover can be washed in a machine. Please note that the foam insert is not washable. Allow the bed to expand for 24-48 hours after unpacking.
What the studies cannot settle
The direct objective comparison of a dog on the bed versus in the room involved just 40 healthy adults and dates to 2017. The larger 2024 study was cross-sectional and relied on self-reported outcomes. Reviews also find that subjective and objective sleep measures can diverge, and results vary across partner and pet studies. Together, these findings support individualizing the sleeping arrangement—not a blanket claim that a dog is always worse or better than a partner.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- Ultimate Sleep Surface - Our dog bed adopts 300gsm deluxe plush which is skin friendly, comfortable and not easy to shedding, full stuffing to ensure your little furry friend surrounded by love & warmth, helps them to calm down faster, ease anxiety, and sleep well.
- Universal for All Seasons - In the summer the dogs will be so afraid of the heat that they won't be able to use too thick pads, but our dog crate bed have a moderate thickness, both a certain degree of support, and the dog will not feel hot and stuffy lying on the mat. Four seasons universal, all year round this one mat is enough to use!
- Durable Machine Washable & Easy to Clean - Our crate bed can be fully washed by washing machine and can remain shape after times wash. Always keep your pet’s sleeping area fresh, breathable, and hygienic for long-term daily use. Let your puppy enjoy a breathable, clean and hygienic kennel bed.
- Balanced Firmness & Ideal Thickness - Say goodbye to bulky fluffy beds and uncomfortable hard rugs! Our mat features a slim, well-balanced design that stays firm without collapsing. It supports your dog’s body perfectly, relieves joint stiffness and hip problems, and helps older dogs move, stand and rest with total ease.
- Perfect Crate Fit & Versatile Placement - Tailored to fit most standard dog crates, kennels and pet houses perfectly. The sleek rectangular shape lays flat and stays in place, creating a stable, padded resting surface for crate training and daily confinement. Beyond crate use, this flexible mat works great on floors, sofas and beds indoors. It is also foldable and lightweight for easy carrying, making it a handy resting pad for camping, road trips and other outdoor adventures.
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