Science says: dogs can lose sleep over their problems

This is the saddest news of the day: your dog can apparently, just like you, lie awake because they are worrying about their concerns.

Hungarian researchers have tracked the sleep patterns of pets after positive experiences, such as being petted by their owner and playing, and compared those to negative experiences, such as being separated from their owner and being approached threateningly by a stranger. What turned out? Playful dogs were significantly less stressed than quieter, shy dogs.

For all dogs, it was true that they slept better when their owner was nearby, but on days when they had a stressful experience, they spent more time in REM sleep (the sleep phase in which there is an increased heart rate) and woke up more quickly.

Strangely enough, anxious dogs actually fell asleep faster than dogs that had a positive day, despite the fact that they did not sleep as well. Further research showed that this is a protective sleep in response to stress, but they did wake up multiple times a night due to their worries.

I don't think you'll ever forget this, but make sure to remember it extra well now: don't forget to say goodnight to your beloved pet tonight and throw in an extra nice cuddle so your little one can sleep peacefully.

Source: Royal Society