Sleeping with Your Dog Doesn’t Disrupt Rest, Study Finds

New research shows sleeping with dogs doesn’t harm human sleep, according to a University of Toronto study.

October 8, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Toronto, Canada — A recent study from the University of Toronto challenges common assumptions about co-sleeping with pets, revealing that humans are more likely to disturb their dogs’ rest than the other way around.

The research, published in PLOS One, involved 25 human participants and 38 huskies and malamutes in southern Ontario. Activity trackers monitored sleep patterns over four weeks, showing that sharing a bed with a dog had no negative impact on either party’s sleep quality or duration.

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While some individuals reported disrupted sleep due to multiple dogs, objective data from the devices did not support these claims. The study also found that synchronized activity between humans and dogs occurred, but it was the humans who initiated movement, disturbing their canine companions. Experts suggest that dogs can help establish consistent sleep routines, acting as natural timekeepers for their owners.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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