Researchers recently found that for autistic children, living with a service dog can have serious positive effects on their own sleep habits.

According to a new study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, service dogs significantly improve the sleep quality of children with autism.

The study recruited 75 families of children with autism; 39 already had a service dog, and 36 were on a waitlist for a service dog. Researchers had the caregivers fill out a survey on their child’s habits and lifestyle, as well as their own.

Comparing the results, they found that “having a service dog was significantly associated with better child sleep behaviors, including better sleep initiation and duration and less sleep anxiety,” wrote Dr. Kerri Rodriguez , the lead author of the study.

Source: The Wildest

https://www.thewildest.com/dog-lifestyle/dogs-improve-sleep-autistic-children-news