Finding a partner that you can sleep comfortably next to, without being disrupted by their snoring, their quilt stealing habits or their bed hogging, is tricky business - but once you find that person, you may as well marry 'em.

Although, a new study has suggested we needn't bother trying to find a man we can sleep next to, because we're better off sleeping with the dog instead.

This is according to Dr. Christy L. Hoffman, a professor in the Animal Behaviour, Ecology, and Conservation department at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, and her team of researchers.

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They surveyed 962 adult women in the US and found that on average, women who slept with their dog or dogs reported better sleep, as opposed to women who sleep with a man. They also found that women who share a bed with both a dog and a man found their dog to be less disruptive, while also providing a greater sense of security and comfort.

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By contrast, cats were found to be as disruptive as humans while not providing the same sense of security as a dog or a human. However, cats could be better suited to night owls, as dog owners were found to go to bed and rise earlier than cat owners.

But Dr Hoffman was keen to make clear that a dog might not be the solution for everybody.

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Speaking to Broadly, she said the "keyword here is perception, this [study is based on] individuals self-reporting how they feel their sleep is affected and it's important to note that this is based on aggregated data and an average of responses, so getting a dog won't solve everyone's sleep problems."