How could you say no to that face? (image) iStock

Research shows that pet owners just love having their pooch in between the sheets - but is it good for you?

Forget about online profiles, going to random bars or swiping incessantly on your smartphone – if you want to sleep with someone who makes you happy, choose your pet.

New research has found that people who share a bed with their pet – overwhelmingly a dog or a cat – are much more likely to report a peaceful night's rest.

Australians are a nation that loves the companionship of a furry friend, with more than 63 percent of households owning a pet, of which 53 percent are cats or dogs. So it's little wonder that so many of us let them paw their way between the sheets.

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic's Center for Sleep Medicine found that 41 percent of pet owners said their presence in the bed helped them sleep by providing security, companionship or relaxation.

The study found single people were more likely to report that sleeping with their pet in the bed brought comfort, with many describing it as "soothing".

The data was taken from 150 patients at the Center for Sleep Medicine, who were probed for information on what pet they owned, whether it slept in the bed, and their self-reported quality of sleep.

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One woman described her two small dogs as "bed warmers", while a single 64-year-old woman said she felt more content when her dog slept under the covers by her feet.

Dr Lois Krahn, the author of the study, believes the study is limited because people could be blinded by the love they feel for their furry companions.

"Respondents appeared eager to disclose whether they owned a companion animal and where it slept but seemed more reluctant to reveal any undesirable consequences," says Kahn.

"This response bias may have resulted in these data underreporting the frequency of disrupted sleep."

The study echoes

recent research

that found children who slept with a pet companion were less likely to suffer from social anxiety, have improved physical activity and even a lower BMI.