Does Screen Time Impact My Dog's Sleep?
Hello, and welcome back.
I hope you’ve enjoyed spending the ‘month of light’ here with us.
Last week, we talked about the importance of getting outside daily in the different phases of natural sunlight. As a reminder, this was to help keep your dog’s circadian rhythm working correctly.
Today, I wanted to address a form of light that can negatively impact our dog’s system. Blue light is created by artificial lighting - both from fluorescent lamps and screens (TV, computers etc). And a study at Harvard University concluded that Blue Light is detrimental to the circadian rhythm of animals, including humans and dogs.
Being exposed to too much Blue Light - especially in the evenings - can negatively impact sleep, by suppressing melatonin production in the body. Melatonin is a hormone that naturally should increase in levels as nightfall approaches. It’s what allows us (and our dogs) to get quality sleep and rest. Too little melatonin may contribute to insomnia and restlessness. Not only will disturbed sleep impact your dog physically, but it can also lead to behavioural challenges and stress as well.
If you have a dog who struggles with sleep… having bright CFL bulbs or your TV on close to bedtime might be why your canine companion is restless overnight.
Try dimming or turning off your lights near to bedtime (or swap to bio-adaptive lighting). And put down those phones, close the laptop, and switch off any other screens. It will help your dog - and you - to enjoy a much better night’s sleep.
And before we go, did you know, too much screen time has also been found to increase depression in dogs? This is because we humans spend too much time looking at the screens instead of our dogs, leading to less time interacting with them. This can cause a dip in your dog’s overall mood-state.
So, until next time, try to spend more time in natural outdoor light… avoiding screens and indoor artificial light when possible.
Caroline