Your dog has their own bed. Possibly a very expensive one. And yet, somehow, every night they end up in yours.
If that sounds familiar, you’re certainly not alone. A Harris Poll of American pet owners found that 70% of dog owners frequently or occasionally allowed their dog to sleep in bed with them. (Harris Poll, 2011)
So why do we love sleeping next to our dogs so much?
Apparently, We Actually Like It
There’s something undeniably comforting about hearing a dog snoring away next to you, and research suggests we’re not imagining it. A survey commissioned by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that 46% of Americans sleep in the same bed with a pet at least some of the time. (American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2022)
Dogs, it seems, have become considerably more than pets. They’re family. And family apparently gets half the mattress.
Science Has Even Studied It
Researchers associated with the Mayo Clinic decided to find out what actually happens when humans and dogs sleep together. They equipped owners and their dogs with activity trackers and monitored them for seven nights.
The good news? People with a dog sleeping in their bedroom maintained good overall sleep efficiency. The researchers concluded that having a dog in the bedroom may not be as disruptive to human sleep as previously suspected. (Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 2017)
There was one catch. People slept slightly better when their dog was in the bedroom rather than actually on the bed.
Try explaining that distinction to a Labrador at 2 a.m.
But Think About Where Those Paws Have Been…
Here’s the less adorable part. During an average day, your dog’s paws can go from sidewalks and grass to mud, dust, gravel, hot pavement and everything in between. Then those same four paws jump straight onto the sofa - and eventually, for millions of dogs, into bed.
Beyond keeping them clean, it’s worth paying attention to the condition of your dog’s paw pads too. Paw pads are naturally tough, but everyday exposure to rough surfaces and changing weather can leave them feeling dry, rough or cracked.
That’s why checking your dog’s paws can be an easy addition to their evening routine.
The 30-Second Bedtime Paw Routine
Before your dog settles down for the night, take a few seconds to check their paws. Wipe away any dirt from the day, check between their toes for anything that shouldn’t be there, and look at their paw pads for unusual dryness, cracking or irritation.
If their pads are dry, apply a thin layer of a dog-safe paw balm and gently work it into the pads. Bedtime is actually a particularly convenient moment for paw care: your dog is settling down for several hours rather than immediately heading back outside.
And yes, there’s a decent chance they’ll still lick their paws.
That’s why we made Bark + Barly Paw Balm lick-safe and fragrance-free, with ingredients including shea butter, sea buckthorn oil, sunflower seed oil, beeswax, lanolin, candelilla wax and vitamin E.
No irritating essential oils. Just a simple paw-care routine for the four paws that follow your dog everywhere - including, apparently, your bed.
So, Should Your Dog Sleep With You?
That’s entirely between you, your dog and whoever is currently clinging to the remaining six inches of mattress.
But if your dog does sleep beside you, you’re in very good company. Millions of Americans do exactly the same thing, and research suggests that having your dog nearby doesn’t necessarily mean sacrificing a good night’s sleep.
So tonight, before your dog climbs under the covers, give those paws a quick check.
After all, if they’re coming to bed with you, their paws probably deserve a bedtime routine too.
