It seems it really is a dog’s life, as a new study from Churchill Pet Insurance shows that over half of dog owners (57 per cent) let their pet sleep with them, either on or in their bed, at night.

If that wasn’t proof enough of Britain being a nation of dog lovers, nearly half of those people (48 per cent) say that their own sleep is interrupted as a result of their dog sleeping with them. Given that approximately 6.5 million UK households own at least one dog, it is safe to say that many of us are not getting enough sleep each night.

Peter Bishenden, pet insurance expert at Churchill, comments, “This study shows that dog owners really do go the extra mile when it comes to their pet, putting their own comfort second to that of their dog.”

The most popular reason given by dog owners for letting their dog sleep with them is the feeling of companionship (68 per cent), while 22 per cent cite the feeling of security that a dog brings at night.

Just over a third (34 per cent) of dog owners also admitted to taking their dog into account when buying a new bed.

K9 Magazine editor Ryan O’Meara comments, “It’s no surprise to me that Britain’s dog owners are taking their dogs needs into account when buying a new bed. Having seen first hand just how much dogs like to wriggle, stretch and take up as much space as they think they can get away with, factoring them in to a bed purchasing decision seems like a sensible plan.”

Churchill the dog can currently be seen in his first ever pet insurance television advertising campaign. Entitled ‘Bones’, starring ‘Churchie’ and Martin Clunes, the commercial sees dogs coming from far and wide, overcoming obstacles along the way, to thank Churchill for his pet insurance as only a dog would; with bones.