Should My Dog Sleep in My Bed? Pros, Cons and What the Research Says

"Should my dog sleep in my bed?" Start with who else sleeps there. The American Academy of Pediatrics says babies should never share an adult bed, and allergists advise keeping pets out of the bedroom of anyone with a dog allergy. People with a weakened immune system should ask their doctor first, and a dog that growls over its spot should stay off the bed until a behavior professional has helped. If none of those apply, and your dog is healthy and on flea and tick prevention, the question is mostly about how well you sleep.

This guide covers what sleep research has measured so far, the real pros and cons, who should skip it, and how to set things up if you decide to let your dog sleep with you. The health points come from the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics and allergy specialists, and each study is named so you can look it up.

What the sleep studies found

Research on dogs in the bed is still thin. The two studies cited most often are small, but they are the best evidence available.

Mayo Clinic, 2017. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic tracked 40 healthy adults and their dogs for seven nights, with activity monitors on both the people and the dogs. On average, the people were asleep for 81% of the time they spent in bed. But sleep efficiency was lower when the dog was on the bed than when the dog slept elsewhere in the room. The authors concluded that a dog's presence in the bedroom may not be disruptive to human sleep, as had been suspected, but that where the dog sleeps makes a difference. It was a small study of people without sleep disorders, each with one dog.

Canisius College, 2018. A survey of 962 American women, published in the journal Anthrozoös, asked about bed partners. Women who shared a bed with a dog rated the dog as less disruptive to their sleep than a human partner or a cat, and linked the dog with stronger feelings of comfort and security. These were the women's own impressions, though, and the study did not find a strong link between bed sharing and overall sleep quality scores.

So a dog in the bedroom seems fine for many people, while a dog sleeping in the bed may be a tradeoff. Some people sleep better with a dog close by. Others wake up more and do not notice. Only you can judge whether your dog sleeps in your bed quietly or keeps you up.

The pros of letting your dog sleep in your bed

• Comfort and security. Many owners say they feel calmer and safer with a dog beside them, which matches what the Canisius survey found.
• Warmth and closeness. A dog that likes to snuggle can be a cozy sleeper on cold nights, and the time to cuddle at the end of the day matters to a lot of people.
• Bonding. For a dog that is alone during the workday, nights near you add up to more time together. This can help some anxious dogs settle.
• Easy routine. If your dog already sleeps well on the bed and you wake up rested, there may be no reason to change. Some people simply say, "I like my dog to sleep in my bed," and that is a fine reason if nobody's health or rest suffers.

The cons of co-sleeping with your dog

Your sleep may suffer. Dogs shift, scratch, bark at noises, wake at dawn and take up more room than you expect. The Mayo Clinic study measured lower sleep efficiency with the dog on the bed. If you wake up tired, track a week of nights with the dog on the bed and a week with the dog in its own bed in your room, then compare how you feel.

Germs and parasites. The CDC says even a dog that looks healthy can spread germs to people. A 2011 review in the CDC journal Emerging Infectious Diseases estimated that 14% to 62% of pet owners let pets on the bed. In that review, titled "Zoonoses in the Bedroom," the authors concluded that infections passed on through sleeping with pets are uncommon, but serious cases have been documented. Fleas and ticks can also hop into bedding. Keeping your dog on year-round flea, tick and parasite prevention from your vet, keeping up with vet visits, and washing your hands after contact with saliva all lower the risk.

Allergies and asthma. For anyone allergic to dogs, the bedroom is where dander matters most. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology notes that keeping pets out of the bedroom can reduce allergy symptoms, since you spend about eight hours a day there. If someone in your home has allergies or asthma, our guides to pet allergies and asthma in kids and reducing pet dander have practical steps.

Behavior problems. Some dogs guard the bed. If your dog growls, stiffens or snaps when you move, when a partner comes to bed, or when you ask it to get down, keep it off the bed for now and talk with your vet or a certified behavior professional. The ASPCA notes that some dogs guard their favorite resting spots, and these dogs often guard their owners' beds too. It recommends a qualified behaviorist for resource guarding. This is about guarding a valued spot, not proof your dog is trying to be the boss. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior has warned against using "dominance" to explain and correct dog behavior, and recommends reward-based training instead.

Who should not share a bed with a dog

• Babies. The American Academy of Pediatrics says infants should sleep on their own firm, flat surface in the parents' room, with no bed sharing and nothing soft in the sleep space. A dog in an adult bed with a baby goes against that advice. Keep dogs out of the baby's crib or bassinet too.
• Young children, unsupervised. A dog startled awake can snap. Small kids and dogs are safer in separate beds.
• People with a weakened immune system, including during cancer treatment or after a transplant. Ask your doctor before letting a pet in bed.
• Anyone with dog allergies or asthma that flares at night.
• Light sleepers or people with sleep disorders. If you already struggle to sleep in bed through the night, a moving dog adds one more thing to wake you.

Puppies and new dogs

A puppy or a newly adopted dog usually does better with a crate or its own bed in your bedroom at first. A crate or dog bed gives a puppy a clear place to settle while it learns house-training, and starting with the dog off the bed means you can invite it up later on your terms. Taking it away after months of letting it sleep in the bed is harder. If you just brought home a shelter dog, our post on building trust with a rescue dog covers the first weeks.

How to share your bed with a dog and still sleep well

• Keep up with parasite prevention and regular vet checkups, as the CDC recommends.
• Wipe paws after walks and bathe or brush your dog on a regular schedule.
• Wash the bedding weekly, or use a washable blanket on top where the dog sleeps.
• Give the dog a set spot, such as the foot of the bed, and teach an "off" cue with treats so it will get down when asked.
• Invite, don't default. Some owners have the dog wait until called up. That makes it easy to say no on nights when you want the bed to yourself.
• Size matters. A large canine in a full-size bed with two adults may mean nobody sleeps well. A dog bed beside yours lets you sleep beside each other without sharing a mattress.
• Older or small dogs may find a high bed hard to get on and off. Pet steps or a dog bed on the floor can help.

The bottom line

If you want your dog to sleep in bed with you, sleep better than you did without it, have no allergies or health concerns in the bed, and your dog is calm and well cared for, there is no strong reason to stop. If you wake up tired, sneezing, or dealing with a dog that guards the bed, a dog bed in your bedroom is a good middle ground. In the Mayo Clinic study, people with a dog in the bedroom but off the bed slept best, so that setup may give you the comfort without the restless nights.

Sources: Patel, Krahn et al., Mayo Clinic Proceedings (2017); Hoffman et al., Anthrozoös (2018), Canisius College; Chomel and Sun, "Zoonoses in the Bedroom," Emerging Infectious Diseases, CDC (2011); CDC Healthy Pets guidance on dogs; American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology on pet allergies; American Academy of Pediatrics 2022 safe sleep recommendations; American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior position statement on dominance; ASPCA guidance on dogs and resource guarding.