Why I Embrace Sleeping With a Snoring Dog
Published on November 16, 2011
When it’s time for me to settle in for a relaxing night at home, I can’t get away from the sound of a deep vibrato snore that permeates my house, maybe even the neighborhood.
It may be hard to believe that the type of sonorous snoring that calls for earplugs or a pillow over your head could possibly come from just 21 pounds of wrinkled skin and a smashed face, but my Pug, Bruce, can put any congested man to shame.
However, beyond the challenges of getting a quiet night’s slumber, I’ve found that having a dog who snores actually comes with priceless benefits.
You Don’t Have to Play Hostess for Long
Although I love when family and friends visit, I admit I've never been a Martha Stewart-type entertainer. My form of hospitality extends to “help yourself to whatever you find in the fridge.”
Bruce has helped determine how many nights people are willing to stay in my home. The last time my mother slept over, she could stand just one night of tossing and turning — even after placing Bruce’s bed on the other side of the house. She said Bruce made my dad’s severe snoring seem practically inaudible.
I will be forever indebted to Bruce’s snoring for getting me fun stays at nearby hotels when my mother comes to visit now — with no hospitality required on my end.
You Have Free (and Highly Amusing) Entertainment
When Bruce gets into long-winded snoring on the couch — his lips vibrating with wind as he exhales — it's the perfect opportunity to play the puggalo. Bruce doesn’t even stir from his slumber when I grab onto his jowls and extend them in and out to play a little song with his snores.
You Always Know Where to Find Your Dog
I'm never in need of a GPS to locate Bruce. His snores are so loud they can be heard throughout the house — and I can home in on them like a gold detector on a nugget ring, his snores getting louder and louder as I get closer.
You Have a Built-In Sleep Aid for Restless Kids
Unlike most mothers of toddlers, I never had to invest in a white noise machine when it came to helping my 2-year-old daughter, Reagan, get to sleep.
Lucky for her, she doesn’t have to suffer through the sharp, sleep-depriving snores that come directly from my bedroom, where Bruce slumbers. Instead, she settles into the comforting, muffled hum of Bruce's snores through the wall.
You Are Never Truly Alone
Throughout the night, I have a constant reminder that I'm in good company as Bruce inhales and exhales. Even though I know that his snoring is a sign of some of the breathing issues pugs struggle with it, the sound can be almost addicting.
The last time my mother slept over, I realized I'd grown so accustomed to Bruce’s snoring that I had to move into the room where he was sleeping so I too could get a good night’s sleep. His snores have become part of my life. They are a signal that all is right.
