It is a well-known fact that dogs bring immense love to their owners' lives. Many people enjoy cuddling up with their warm, furry friend, especially on a chilly evening.

New research suggests that this isn’t just comforting. For women, a dog could actually be the key to achieving a much better night’s sleep.

Dogs can be their owner’s best sleep partner, particularly if that owner is a woman.

A recent study confirmed what many dog owners may have already suspected. Women sleep better when they share their bed with a dog than with a human partner.

Research-Backed Findings from the United States

The research was published in 2018 and has reignited the debate on the internet in recent days. It was conducted by Canisius College in Buffalo, New York.

The study explored the overall impact that pets have on human sleep quality. Researchers gathered data from nearly 1,000 women across the United States.

The findings showed that dogs are better bed partners for women than human companions are.

"We found that women commonly rate dogs as better bed partners than cats and human partners and report that their dogs enhance their sleep quality," stated Christy Hoffman, an animal behaviourist and the lead researcher of the study.

The data revealed specific trends in how the women who participated shared their sleeping space.

55% of the women who took part in the study shared their bed with at least one dog.

Another 31% slept with at least one cat. Meanwhile, 57% of the participants slept beside a human partner.

Why Dogs Improve the Night’s Rest

The key difference between dogs and people appears to be routine and consistency. Dogs may adapt more easily to their owner’s schedule compared to a human bed partner.

Human partners often go to bed and wake up at very different times. These differences in schedules can frequently lead to interrupted sleep.

Dogs who slept in their owners’ beds were consistently perceived as being less disruptive. They may also make less noise than a human partner.

"We found that women commonly rate dogs as better bed partners than cats and human partners and report that their dogs enhance their sleep quality."

A dog also helps enforce a stricter sleep routine for its owner. This is because a dog needs to be taken outside upon waking up.

People who keep a stricter sleep routine are typically less likely to report insomnia. They are also less likely to feel sleepy during the day.

Where Cats and Humans Fall Short

While dogs were celebrated as sleep partners, the research found that other companions were less helpful.

Cats sleeping in the bed with their owners were found to be just as disruptive as human partners. Cat owners also reported fewer feelings of security and comfort.

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Cats are naturally nocturnal animals. This means they may be much more active during the night, which disrupts human sleep.