Quick Answer: Roughly 56% of pet owners share their bed with a dog or cat (American Pet Products Association, 2023). The right mattress makes co-sleeping better for both of you.
Brad, Owner, 40+ years of experience: "We have been helping Brantford families sleep better since 1997. Every customer gets personal attention, honest advice, and the kind of follow-up service you just do not get from big box stores."
Reading Time: 7 minutes
The Science of Sleeping with Your Pet
You already know whether you are a pet co-sleeper. If you are reading this, you probably are. Your dog sleeps at the foot of your bed, or pressed against your legs, or somehow occupying 60% of a queen mattress despite weighing a fraction of what you do. Your cat has claimed the pillow, or the exact centre of the bed, or the spot where your knees go.
The research on this topic is more nuanced than you might expect. A 2017 study by Patel et al. published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that people who slept with a dog in the bedroom maintained good sleep efficiency (81%), but when the dog was actually on the bed (versus elsewhere in the room), efficiency dropped to 80%. The difference was statistically significant but practically small.
A separate study by Hoffman et al. (2018) surveyed over 900 women and found that dogs in the bed were associated with stronger feelings of comfort and security compared to human bed partners. Dog co-sleepers reported fewer sleep disturbances from their dogs than from their human partners. Cat co-sleepers, however, reported disturbance levels similar to human partners.
The takeaway: co-sleeping with your pet is not automatically bad for your sleep. It depends on the pet, the arrangement, and critically, your mattress.
When Co-Sleeping Helps Your Sleep
Benefits of Pet Co-Sleeping
Anxiety reduction: Physical contact with a pet reduces cortisol and increases oxytocin. For people with anxiety or PTSD, a dog's presence during sleep can provide measurable calming effects. Service dogs trained for nighttime anxiety use this mechanism therapeutically.
Warmth: Dogs maintain a body temperature of 38-39°C, slightly warmer than humans. In Canadian winters, a dog at the foot of your bed provides genuine warmth, particularly for people who sleep cold.
Routine reinforcement: Pets impose routine. Your dog needs to go out at the same time each night, which anchors your bedtime. Consistent sleep schedules are one of the strongest predictors of sleep quality.
Security: Dogs that alert to nighttime sounds can provide a sense of security that helps some people sleep more deeply. Rather than lying awake wondering "what was that noise," you rely on your dog's senses and relax.
8 min read
When Co-Sleeping Hurts Your Sleep
Honesty matters here. Co-sleeping with pets is not always beneficial, and acknowledging the challenges helps you manage them.
Common Co-Sleeping Challenges
Movement disruption: Dogs reposition 3-4 times per night. Cats are nocturnal and may be active between 2-4 AM. Each movement creates vibration that travels across the mattress surface. On a connected coil mattress, this vibration reaches you. On individually wrapped coils, it is absorbed before it transfers.
Space competition: A 30kg Labrador occupies significant mattress real estate. Couples with a large dog often find themselves compressed to the edges of a queen, which affects sleep position comfort and may create pressure points.
Allergies and dander: Even non-shedding breeds produce dander. Accumulation in your mattress can trigger nighttime congestion, snoring, and reduced sleep quality over time. A mattress protector is essential, not optional.
Temperature increase: Pets add heat to the sleep surface. A dog pressing against your legs raises the local temperature of the mattress cover and foam beneath. For hot sleepers, this can push the sleep environment above the optimal 17-19°C range.
Hygiene concerns: Outdoor dogs bring dirt, moisture, and occasionally worse into bed. A waterproof mattress protector prevents these from reaching and degrading your mattress materials.
Mattress Features for Pet Co-Sleepers
Pet Co-Sleeper Mattress Priorities
- Motion isolation (Critical): This is the single most important feature for pet co-sleepers. When your 30kg dog turns over at 3 AM, individually wrapped coils absorb that movement within the immediate zone rather than transferring it across the entire mattress. Our Restonic ComfortCare (1,222 individually wrapped coils, Queen $1,619) keeps each coil independent so pet movement stays on their side of the bed
- Durable cover fabric (Critical): Claws, even trimmed ones, stress mattress fabric. Look for tightly woven covers rather than knitted or stretch fabrics. A quality mattress protector adds another layer of defence and is much cheaper to replace than a mattress cover
- Edge support (Important): If your pet sleeps in the centre (they will), you will migrate toward the edge. Strong edge support prevents the rolling-off sensation and maintains a usable sleep surface even when a dog claims the middle
- Breathable construction (Important): Extra body heat from a pet means extra heat on the sleep surface. Coil-based mattresses allow airflow underneath the comfort layer, dissipating heat that foam-only mattresses would trap
- Hypoallergenic materials (Helpful): CertiPUR-US certified foams and quality textiles resist allergen accumulation. Pair with a hypoallergenic mattress protector and wash bedding weekly to manage dander
Making Co-Sleeping Work
You are not going to kick your dog out of bed. We know that. So let us make it work properly.
Pet Co-Sleeping Protocol
Mattress protector (non-negotiable): A waterproof, hypoallergenic mattress protector goes on your mattress before anything else. It protects against moisture, dander, dirt, and accidents. Replace it annually. This single addition extends your mattress life by years.
Size up: If you are a couple with a medium or large dog, a Queen is too small. Consider a King. The cost difference between a Queen and King mattress is a fraction of the sleep quality improvement when three bodies are sharing the surface.
Designated zones: Train your dog to sleep at the foot of the bed rather than between you and your partner. A folded blanket at the foot creates a visual and textural boundary that many dogs will respect.
Bedding strategy: Use a dedicated top blanket that your pet sleeps on, over your sheets and duvet. Wash this blanket weekly. Your sheets and duvet underneath stay cleaner, and you are not washing your entire bedding set every few days.
Paw cleaning routine: A quick paw wipe before bed, especially in Canadian spring and fall (mud season), keeps your mattress environment cleaner. A damp towel by the bedroom door takes 30 seconds.
Annual mattress inspection: Unzip your mattress protector once a year and inspect the mattress surface. Even with protection, check for any dander buildup or moisture penetration. Vacuum the mattress surface if needed.
Brad at Mattress Miracle knows this conversation well: "At least half the customers in our showroom have a pet that sleeps with them. It is one of the first questions I ask now, do you share your bed with a dog or cat? Because it changes the recommendation. Motion isolation goes from nice-to-have to essential. And I always recommend they leave with a mattress protector, not just a mattress."
Sharing the bed with your dog or cat? Mattress Miracle at 441½ West Street in Brantford carries waterproof mattress protectors that are essential for pet owners. Accidents, fur, and dander get into your mattress over time and void your warranty. A good protector keeps the mattress clean underneath. Dorothy recommends a protector to every pet owner who walks in. It is the cheapest insurance for your mattress investment. Call (519) 770-0001.
Shop This Topic at Mattress Miracle
Popular picks at Mattress Miracle:
- Restonic ComfortCare Dalton & Albany mattress
- Whitney double-sided mattress
- Somnia 3.0 posture support pillow
Or browse the mattress collection in our Brantford showroom.
Find Your Perfect Mattress at Mattress Miracle
We are a family-owned mattress store in Brantford, helping our community sleep better since 1997. Come try mattresses in person and get honest, no-pressure advice.
441 1/2 West Street, Brantford, Ontario
Call 519-770-0001Frequently Asked Questions
Is it bad to let your dog sleep in your bed?
Research is mixed. A Mayo Clinic study found that dogs in the bedroom maintain good sleep efficiency. Dogs on the bed slightly reduce efficiency but provide comfort and security benefits. The key factors are motion isolation (your mattress absorbing pet movement) and hygiene (mattress protector, regular bedding washing). For people with pet allergies, co-sleeping is not recommended.
What is the best mattress for sleeping with pets?
Pet co-sleepers need superior motion isolation, durable covers, and breathable construction. Individually wrapped coil mattresses like the Restonic ComfortCare (1,222 coils, Queen $1,619) absorb pet movement independently. Always pair with a waterproof mattress protector.
Do cats disrupt sleep more than dogs?
Generally yes. Research by Hoffman et al. (2018) found cats cause similar sleep disturbance to human bed partners, while dogs caused less. This is because cats are crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk), meaning they may be active during your deepest sleep hours between 2-5 AM.
Will my pet ruin my mattress?
Without protection, yes. Claws stress fabric, moisture degrades foam, and dander accumulates in materials. With a quality waterproof mattress protector, your mattress is fully shielded. Replace the protector annually and wash bedding weekly. The mattress itself should last its full expected lifespan.
What size mattress do I need if I sleep with my dog?
A couple with a medium to large dog should seriously consider a King. A Queen provides 60 inches of width, split three ways, that is 20 inches per body. A King provides 76 inches. The extra width is the difference between comfortable co-sleeping and nightly space competition.
Sources
- Patel, S.I., et al. (2017). The effect of dogs on human sleep in the home sleep environment. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 92(9), 1368-1372. doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2017.06.014
- Hoffman, C.L., et al. (2018). An examination of adult women's sleep quality and sleep routines in relation to pet ownership and bedsharing. Anthrozoös, 31(6), 711-725. doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2018.1529354
- American Pet Products Association. (2023). National pet owners survey. americanpetproducts.org
- Grandner, M.A. (2017). Sleep, health, and society. Sleep Medicine Clinics, 12(1), 1-22. doi.org/10.1016/j.jsmc.2016.10.012
- National Sleep Foundation. (2023). Pets and sleep. sleepfoundation.org
Visit Our Brantford Showroom
We are located at 441½ West Street in downtown Brantford. Free parking available. Our team does not work on commission, so you get honest advice based on your needs.
Mattress Miracle , 441½ West Street, Brantford, ON · (519) 770-0001
Hours: Monday–Wednesday 10am–6pm, Thursday–Friday 10am–7pm, Saturday 10am–5pm, Sunday 12pm–4pm.