Five Great Reasons to Share a Bed With Your Dog

Dogs are the best companions, although it’s probably a good idea to not tell your other half that! They’re also great to share a bed with, as they provide comfort, warmth, and many other benefits. It’s great for your dog to have its own bed for when you don’t want something heavy lay on your feet, but sometimes you just need that extra cuddle. These are our top five reasons for sharing your bed with your dog:

1. Anxiety Relief. Dogs are extensively used to treat severe anxiety disorders, and there’s a reason for that. They’re gentle, and help to relax people, meaning they are as effective as many pharmacological interventions. Being relaxed when you are trying to drift off is essential for good quality sleep, and having a dog to help you forget about the world is a great first step. That is until you’re woken up at 6am because your dog needs to let you know that it still loves you, by licking your face – it’s a small price to pay!

2. Safety. It doesn’t matter how old you get, when it’s dark and you hear a noise in the kitchen you have an internal freak out. Burglar or bogeyman, having a dog in your bed will provide that extra sense of protection. Even if you have a Chihuahua, just knowing something else is there will make you feel safer. The extra sense of security, if nothing else, will help you accept your fate and fall back to sleep. After all, what is someone going to steal from the kitchen, the Breville blender?

3. Happier Dog. Dogs absolutely love spending time with their owners. The only thing that they love more is sleeping. Combining the two, and letting your dog sleep on your bed, will relax them and make them feel unbelievably loved. Dogs are much like people, and need to feel safe and loved. There are few better ways to reassure your dog than with a 7am cuddle before you both have to face the day (although admittedly, your dog probably has it easier as it never has to meet your boss!).

4. Warmth. There’s nothing more comforting on a cold Sunday morning in December than cuddling up to your dog, knowing that you don’t have to get out of bed for another few hours. It only gets better when your other half offers to make breakfast, but most of us have to settle for the dog at the end of the bed! Dogs are built for providing warmth, with their thick coats and love of cuddles, and so really it just makes sense to let them share your bed.

5. Treat Depression. A dog will love its owner no matter what. If you don’t let a dog on your bed, it isn’t going to care too much, but bring surrounded by that lover when you fall asleep can help to treat a range of conditions, including anxiety and depression. If you’re feeling down, and need something to lift you out of a cycle of depression then there are few better things than the unconditional love of a little bundle of fluff. Feeling down, and then fighting off a dog while it insists on licking your face in the morning is a great way put a smile on your face, and give you the strength required to face the day!

From Topfido.com