Sieeping with dogs - results of an internet-based survey

Abstract

Introduction: According to surveys conducted annually by the American Pet Products Association, more than 45% of dogs sleep in their owners' beds. This gives rise to the question: Is this trend also seen in other countries? To find answers, we decided to conduct a survey with the focus on sleeping habits of pet owners in Austria.
Methods: Between July and October 2013, pet owners were invited to answer a web-based questionnaire on the frequency of sharing their beds with a dog. The online survey developed by experts of the ISWF and the Clever Dog Lab Vienna consisted of 22 questions addressing various aspects related to sleep habits and sleep quality.
Results: From the 635 completed questionnaires, 631 were analysed. A total of 93% of the participants were females (mean age: 38.5 years) and 43% of the sample owned more than one dog. Results showed that 78% of participants sleep regularly with their pet (s) in the same bed/room. Although 26% described their sleep as mildly, but frequently disrupted by the pet, the overwhelming majority believed their sleep quality to be positively influenced by the
presence of the dog (9.1; maximum 10 points). They also rated their sleep as 'sounder' (8.7) and 'deeper' (8.1), fall asleep 'more easily' (8.6), and 'feel safer' (8.2).
Discussion: Our results are in line with the findings of surveys conducted in the US. Thus, we conclude that sleeping with dogs is a common sleeping arrangement. However, the question which remains unanswered is: Is this a healthy habit?

Full text

Behaviour 265
sleep was between 4--6.5 h per night lormed the 'short-sleep group',
while the rest (45.2%) who slept lor >6.5 h lormed the 'control group'.
All completed the Risky-Gains-Task, and their reaction time (RT)
in
choosing sale- and risky options was taken as indication
01
their
decision-making time.
Results: Group differences
on
age, gender and body-mass-index
were non-signilicant (ps>0.05). Regression analyses showed that
sleep duration signilicantly moderated the relationship between sleep
need and
RT
in making both sale (F(8,31)=4.69, P =001) and risky
decisions (F(8,30)= 2.857, P =017). For sale options,
RT
in
the
short-sleep group increased less with increasing sleep need than
control group. For risky decisions,
RT
in
the short-sleep group
decreased with increasing sleep need while it increased among the
control group.
Conclusions:
When sleeping less than 6.5
h,
high sleep need
individuals spent less time than those with lower sleep need
in
making risk-related decisions. Our results highlighted the need
to
consider both sleep duration and sleep need
in
investigating the role
01
sleep
in
risky decision-making.
Acknowledgement:
HKU Seed Funding Programme lor Basic
Research 10401664
P839
Sieep
and
risk
of
accidents
and
injuries
of
adolescents
attending
classes
in
two
rotating
shifts
B. Radosevic-Vidacek',
A.
Koscec' ·2 and
M.
Bakotic'
, Institute for Medical Research, Occupational Health, 20epartment
of
Psychology, University
of
Zagreb, Genter for Groatian Studies,
Zagreb, Groatia
Objectives: Several studies examined relationship between insuffi-
cient and irregular sleep and risk behaviours
01
adolescents whose
classes started
in
the moming. We examined that relationship
in
adolescents who attended classes
in
the aftemoon every other week,
and had more opportunities lor sufficient sleep but showed more
irregular sleep schedules.
Methods:
We analysed data
01
adolescents
11-18
years
01
age Irom
primary
(N=
1105) and secondary schools
(N=
1258). A Croatian
version
01
School Sieep Habits Survey was used to collect data on
sleep characteristics, daytime sleepiness, and risk
01
injuries and
accidents.
Results: Groups
01
adolescents reporting none, one, and more than
one accident
or
injury
in
the previous six months differed
in
sleep
duration on week when school was scheduled
in
the moming
(P
< 0.001), bedtime delay between weekend and school week with
moming schedule
(P<
0,05), and daytime sleepiness
(P<
0.001).
No difference was observed between the three groups
in
measures
01
sleep duration irregularities or
in
bedtime delay between a school
week with morning and a week with aftemoon schedule.
Conclusions:
The results indicate that insufficient sleep
in
the week
when school starts
in
the moming is predictive lor risk
01
injuries and
accidents even
in
a school system
in
wh ich adolescents have
opportunity
to
sleep enough every other week when school is
scheduled
in
the afternoon. Irregularities
01
sleep schedules and
duration
in
such school system do not seem
to
have negative
consequences lor risk
01
injuries, with the exception
01
Ihe bedtime
delay on weekend.
Disclosure:
Nothing to disclose.
P840
Sieeping
with
dogs
-
results
of
an
internet-based
survey
G.
Kloesch'·
2,
M.
Kemetholer'·J,
l.
WallisJ,
S.
Seidel2 and
J.
P.
Oittami4
'Institute for Sleep-Wake-Research, 2Neurology, Medical University
of
Vienna, 3Messer/i Research Institute, 4Anthropology, University
of
Vienna, Vienna, Austna
Introduction:
According
to
surveys conducted annually by the
American Pet Products Association, more than 45%
01
dogs sleep
in
their owners' beds. This gives rise
to
the question:
Is
this trend also
seen
in
other countries? To lind answers, we decided
to
conduct a
survey with the locus
on
sleeping habits
01
pet owners
in
Austria.
Methods: Between July and October 2013, pet owners were invited
to
answer a web-based questionnaire on the Irequency
01
sharing
their beds with a dog. The online survey developed by experts
01
the
ISWF and the Clever
Oog
Lab Vienna consisted
01
22 questions
addressing various aspects related
to
sleep habits and sleep quality.
Results: From the 635 completed questionnaires,
631
were analy-
sed. A total
01
93%
01
the participants were lemales (mean age:
38.5 years) and 43%
01
the sampie owned more than one dog.
Results showed that 78%
01
participants sleep regularly with their pet
(s) in Ihe same bed/room. Although 26% described their sleep as
mildly, but Irequently disrupted by the pet, the overwhelming majority
believed their sleep quality to be positively influenced by the
presence
01
the dog (9.1; maximum 10 points). They also rated their
sleep as 'sounder' (8.7) and 'deeper' (8.1), lall asleep 'more easily'
(8.6), and 'lee I saler' (8.2).
Discussion:
Our results are
in
line with the lindings
01
surveys
conducted
in
the
USo
Thus, we conclude that sleeping with dogs is a
common sleeping arrangement. However, the question which
remains unanswered
is:
Is
this a healthy habit?
Disclosure:
Nothing
to
disclose.
P841
Absence
of
rapid
eye
movements
during
sleep
in
zebrafish
K.
Karisson,
B.
B. Ärnason and
H.
I=>orsteinsson
Reykjavik University, Reykjavik, Iceland
Objectives: Zebralish (Oanio reno) have emerged as
an
excellent
model
lor
sleep research but
to
our knowledge no attempts have
been made to discem
il
sleep
in
zebralish entails REM-NREM cycles.
In
the current experiment we measure eye movements and changes
in
respiration during sleep
in
zebralish.
Methods:
We use custom-written image analysis routines
to
quantily
eye movements and respiration across the sleep-wake cycles. Sieep
was delined according
to
previously established behavioral criteria.
Eye movements and respiration was quantilied during periods
01
immobility at day, at night and at night with lights-on.
Results: Ouring periods
01
immobility with lights-on eye movements
are prominent.
In
co
nt
rast, during periods
01
immobility with lights-off
there are no discernable eye movements. Moreover, we lound no
eye movements du ring behaviorally delined sleep. During periods
01
immobility with lights-on eye movements are prominent.
In
contrast,
du ring periods
01
immobility with lights-off there are no discernable
eye movemenls. Moreover, we lound no eye movements du ring
behaviorally delined sleep. We show signilicant reduction
in
respi-
ratory rate lollowing the onset
01
behaviorally delined sleep.
© 2014 The Authors
Journal
01
Sieep Research © 2014 European Sieep Research Society, JSR
23
(Suppl. 1), 1-331