The importance of sleep for one’s health should go without saying. The ideal approach to obtain restful sleep is a topic of great interest to a large number of researchers. But forget about meditating before bed and drinking chamomile tea. It has been found that women sleep better when their dogs are nearby. That’s correct, a study by Canisius College in New York State revealed that dogs make more comfortable sleeping companions than either people or cats.
Christy Hoffman, Ph.D., an animal behaviorist and the study’s chief researcher, said, “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.”
According to Research, Women Sleep Better Next to Dogs
Hoffman arrived at these conclusions after surveying almost a thousand American women. According to the findings, 31% of the participants and 55% of the participants shared a bed with a cat or a dog. Moreover, 57% of these ladies slept in the same bed as a human companion, compared to the other 40%.[1]
Hoffman also found out why dogs appeared to be the most comfortable bedmates.The first explanation is that dogs’ sleeping habits more closely reflect human sleep patterns than those of cats.
Hoffman stated, “It is not surprising that dogs and cats have different sleep schedules because dogs’ major sleep periods tend to coincide more closely with humans’ than do cats’.”
Even though these similar sleeping habits might have advantages, additional research is necessary to be certain. However, Hoffman has some ideas about how this might function.
She said, “Dogs may be better at accommodating their human’s sleep schedule than human bed partners.” Human bed companions frequently go to sleep and wake up at significantly different times from one another. Sleep disruption is undoubtedly a result of schedule discrepancies between spouses. It’s possible that canine bed companions adjust to their owner’s schedule more easily than do human bed partners.
Dogs also need specific routines and obligations, like an early morning stroll. These kinds of regimens support their users in sticking to a schedule, which enhances the quality of their sleep.
Calm and Safety
Dogs also have a tendency to remain rigid during sleep. Anyone who has ever shared a bed with a fidgety partner understands how annoying they can be. Nonetheless, the study’s female participants stated that, in contrast to cats, who tended to come and go, their dogs spent the most of the night on the bed.
This implies that cats might be more prone than dogs to disturb sleep by getting in and out of bed at different times. Furthermore, Hoffman stated, “We discovered that dog owners tended to go to bed and wake up earlier than cat owners and also adhered to more regular bedtime and wake time schedules.”
The third and most crucial reason is that dogs provide their owners a sense of security.more so than in relationships with humans or even cats.
“Some dog owners may find solace in the knowledge that their pet will notify them in the event of an intruder or other emergency; also, a dog’s barking may dissuade a possible invader. Hoffman stated that whereas a dog may offer psychological consolation, a cat is less likely to assume this function.
The Ideal Sleep Partner
Dogs are the ideal sleeping companions, according to the study, although their advantages vary depending on the situation.A dog might, for instance, snore or overheat the bed. Furthermore, a lot of owners report that their cats aid in their ability to go asleep.
Remember that the study relied on the volunteers’ perceptions of the effects of their pets on the quantity and quality of their sleep. Therefore, further impartial study is required before it can be said with certainty that dogs make better sleeping companions. Nonetheless, Hoffman thinks that since pets are common in American homes, these research might be helpful.
“This line of research will be valuable to develop a clearer picture of the contexts under which co-sleeping with a pet may be detrimental to one’s sleep quality, and the contexts under which pets and their presence in their owner’s bed may positively impact sleep quality,” the spokesperson stated.
For example, studies have indicated that women sleep better on their alone than in the company of a human, but many people hold the opposite view. In the future, scientists may employ Fitbit-like gadgets to measure people’s sleep quality objectively under various sleeping scenarios.
Father Sends a Letter to Son Weekly for Years With No Reply, Suddenly Receives Photo from Him
The Polaroid felt heavy in James’ trembling hands. His heart raced as he flipped it over, eager for an explanation. On the back, written in Andrew’s unmistakable handwriting, were the words:
*”This is my son, Dad. His name is James.”*
James stared at the photo again, his eyes welling with tears. In it, a young boy with unruly dark hair and sparkling blue eyes stood in a park, clutching a soccer ball. He looked no older than six.
James’ heart ached as he traced the little boy’s face with his finger. *I have a grandson,* he thought, his chest tightening with emotion. But the joy was laced with sorrow. Andrew had kept this from him for years.
Flipping the photo back over, James noticed something else:
*”He asks about you. I don’t know what to say.”*
James sank into his armchair, the weight of the years pressing down on him. He remembered the fight with Andrew at his late wife’s funeral. Words had been exchanged in the heat of grief—words James deeply regretted. He had tried to apologize countless times, pouring his heart into every letter he’d sent over the years, but Andrew had never replied.
Now, here was this boy—his grandson—who didn’t even know his grandfather.
James wiped his tears and resolved to try one more time.
That evening, James sat at his desk and began to write.
*”Dear Andrew,
I cannot express how much seeing that photo meant to me. Thank you for letting me meet James, even in this small way. I know I’ve hurt you, and I know I’ve failed as a father in ways that I can’t undo. But I want to be better—for you and for him. Please let me.
With love, always,
Dad.”*
He folded the letter and placed it in an envelope. This time, he didn’t feel the familiar despair. For the first time in years, hope stirred in his heart.
Weeks passed, and James checked his mailbox every day with renewed anticipation. One afternoon, as the sun set, he found another envelope waiting for him.
Inside was a single sentence:
*”James wants to meet his grandfather. Are you ready?”*
James clutched the letter, tears streaming down his face. After all the years of silence, the door to reconciliation had finally cracked open. He knew this was his second chance—not just to mend his relationship with Andrew, but to be a part of young James’ life.
And this time, he wouldn’t waste it.
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