There was a piece on Bustle recently that explored a question that affects all of us: Should you sleep naked or wear clothes to bed?
I’m staunchly on #TeamNudeSnooze, only because I don’t have any roommates who might see me naked. “But Nicole,” you might be thinking, “I’m here for dog stuff, not human stuff.” Right you are, my friends.
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There is no denying that a puppy in a pair of footed pajamas is the cutest effing thing anyone has ever seen, but cozy as it may seem, the science points to sleeping in the nude as the healthiest way to dream. Though there haven’t been any pawfficial sleep studies on the merits of letting your dog’s bits dangle, a quick Google search shows that peeps care about their dogs’ sleeping habits.
Here are some things you might want to ask yourself the next time you try to stuff your pup in a baby onesie before bed.
1. Being on the cooler side allows for more restful sleep.
If your room is hotter than a dragon fart, then you might have some trouble falling and staying asleep. And this might be the case for your pup too, whose tossing and turning to find the cool side of the bed will leave you both groggy and cranky come morning. The science behind it? Your body temperature drops as you fall asleep and rises as you wake up, and wearing a Disney Snuggie to bed might mess with your bod’s natural ability to regulate its temperature. Your dog may be more sensitive to this disruption, since he can’t just break a sweat like a human can to cool down.
2. Do you mind getting fecal matter on your clean sheets?
Folks who are pro-pajamas have argued that bits of poo are a big concern if you’re the type to sleep in the nude. In this BuzzFeed video, one guy passionately reminds us that bodies are just big poop machines, so it might be worth covering up so you don’t end up getting pink eye:
Friendly warning: This video contains colorful and hilarious language not suitable for young puppies.
If your dog’s like mine, wiping her butt before letting her get on the bed might be useful, especially if your dog likes to point her rear end in your face. Keeping your dog’s butt covered is probably useless anyway, since dog-related bacteria is EVERYWHERE in your home, especially your pillow. If you’re so concerned about doo-doo stains on your sheets, encourage your pup to sleep in his own bed.
3. Studies show that airing out your privates is a good thing.
For humans, it’s pretty simple. Your parts get sweaty, bacteria love moisture, and after a full day of being confined by fabric, you might be harboring some nasties that will alter your body’s natural infection-fighting bacteria. The solution? Nod out with your hog out! Dogs already do this with good results, so I guess it makes sense. Besides, no one likes a chafed wiener, and it’s not like your dog can tell you his pajamas are rubbing him the wrong way.
4. Skin-to-skin contact fosters relaxation.
It’s been found that petting a dog can lead to lower blood pressure for humans, even more so than through human conversation alone because who wants to talk to people anyway. Touching a dog is good for you, so why cover him in a layer of cloth? Expose that glorious fur and stroke your way to a healthier life and a happier pup.
Featured image via @inusa.d
