11/14/2025
New peer-reviewed study, and the first scientific proof, shows dogs sleep better when they’re close to the people they love. Researchers found dogs took longer to relax, tossing and turning more and had poorer sleep quality when their human was gone. Your presence helps them relax, fall asleep faster, and rest more deeply especially in new or stressful environments.
The study found:
• Dogs fell asleep faster when their owner was in the room.
• They slept more deeply (more time in non-REM or “deep” sleep).
• Their sleep was more efficient — meaning less tossing and turning.
• When the owner was gone, dogs took longer to relax and had poorer sleep quality.
• These results suggest that dogs feel safer and more relaxed when near their humans, even during sleep.
