Science says it's better to sleep next to a dog than a human

Pooch snuggles win

If you've got a dog, you'll know that there's nothing quite like a snuggle on the sofa while binge watching Ru Paul's Drag Race. They look adorable when they're sleeping, our entire camera roll is basically delfies, and they give the best cuddles.

But did you know that sleeping next to your cute canine is actually really good for you? A study by The Mayo Clinic found that you get a better night's sleep when you snooze next to your pet pup.

Researchers found that the 40 healthy individuals involved in the study slept better when next to a dog, no matter how big or small the pet in question was, or how much it moved in the night.

The Mayo Clinic's Lois Krahn said: 'Most people assume having pets in the bedroom is a disruption. We found that many people actually find comfort and a sense of security from sleeping with their pets.

'Today, many pet owners are away from their pets for much of the day, so they want to maximise their time with them when they are home. Having them in the bedroom at night is an easy way to do that. And, now, pet owners can find comfort knowing it won’t negatively impact their sleep.'

Another study found that we love dogs more than we love other humans (true), and even newer research shows that you get a better night's sleep when you sleep next to a dog rather than a partner (true again).

The scientific study by Dr. Christy L. Hoffman, a professor in Animal Behaviour, Ecology, and Conservation at Canisius College in New York tracked sleeping habits to find out whether sleeping next to a pet affects women's sleep patterns.

And the results showed that those who slept next to a dog reported a better, more restful sleep than those who slept next to a cat, or another human. Apparently, dogs are less disruptive and we experience feelings of comfort and security when cuddling a pet pooch.

Dr. Hoffman told Broadly that the 'keyword here is perception, this study is based on individuals self-reporting how they feel their sleep is affected.'

She added that it is 'important to note that this is based on aggregated data and an average of responses, so getting a dog won't solve everyone's sleep problems.'

If you haven't got a dog, don't worry - this is probably the most perfect excuse to get one.