Prepare your dog for the clocks changing

Clocks ‘spring forward’ and ‘fall back’ in the UK, to mark the beginning and end of the summer season, due to ‘Daylight Saving Time’. So, our clocks go forward by one hour at 1am on the last Sunday in March and move back one hour at 2am on the last Sunday in October.

The reason our clocks move back and forth is to increase the amount of daylight hours we can enjoy. 

Since the clocks changing has an impact on our routines, it’s easy to see that even one hour’s difference can have a major effect on our dogs as well. 

Let’s explore the ways we can support our dogs as the clocks change…

What does Daylight Saving Time mean for our dogs?

Our pets seem to have an incredible ability to tell the time – though when the clocks change, it can take a while for them to readjust their natural rhythm. 

Both dogs and cats are considered creatures of habit, meaning they find comfort in having a set routine every day. The clocks changing can affect your dog in the following ways: 

Exercise

Lots of dogs love going for walkies at set times of the day. When clocks change, our canine companions could become restless if they aren’t exercised at the time they’re expecting to venture outside with you. 

Mealtimes

Breakfast and dinner are the most exciting times of day, according to many of our dogs! But making them wait for their meal without warning of a change to their daily routine can cause some pets to feel anxious or stressed. 

Toilet times

Alongside the changes to their mealtimes, our dogs might struggle with any sudden changes to their toileting habits, too. For example, your dog might toilet following each meal, need to be let out in the morning, or have to ‘relieve their excitement’ when you get home. If they can’t perform these activities at the times they expect, your dog could become confused when the clocks change and may have accidents indoors.

Bedtime

Reliable sleeping patterns tend to allow a restful night’s sleep for dogs and pet parents alike! Any changes to your dog’s sleeping routine could become an issue if they aren’t tired enough to settle down to sleep. Trying to settle a pet who isn’t tired could result in unwanted consequences, e.g. over-excitement or destructive behaviour.  

How to help your dog prepare for the clocks changing

To avoid the shock of sudden changes to your dog’s routine, there are ways to prepare them for that one-hour difference in the weeks leading up to clocks changing:

Remember: Please contact a vet if you’re concerned about how your dog’s coping with the clocks changing.

Exercise

Altering the time of your dog’s daily walk gradually, by increments of 15 minutes a day, could be enough to support them to adjust to the clocks changing. 

However, as your dog’s exercise times shift slightly each day, in the lead up to a clock change, the types of walks you both enjoy may also change. Therefore, it’s important to consider the impact a differing walking route could have on your dog, too. 

For instance, if dogs enjoy running around an open field in summer and won’t be able to over winter, start spending a couple of minutes a day walking on pavements. 

Mealtimes

While preparing for the clocks to change, it might be helpful to adjust our canine companions’ feeding times accordingly. So, to save the stresses involved (for you and your dog!) when mealtimes change by an hour, you could spend the week before shifting their feeding time in 15-minute increments. 

As clocks are about to ‘spring forward’, you could begin to feed them 15 minutes earlier each day in the week before that change. By doing this, your dog will happily accept their new mealtime, because they’ll already be prepared for that difference!

Likewise, when preparing for clocks to ‘fall back’, you might help your dog adjust to the time difference by feeding them 15 minutes later each day, starting the week before.  

Toilet times

Providing your dog has set toilet times, e.g. straight after meals or right before bedtime, you’ll need to prepare them in advance of the clocks changing. 

Sometimes, pet parents can align the change in their dog’s toilet schedule with gentle adjustments to their feeding routine, by letting them out following their breakfast and dinner. 

However, if your dog has trouble getting used to their new routine, it’s worth keeping to their normal toileting schedule, until their body adjusts naturally to the change in time. 

Bedtime

Since springing forward to an earlier bedtime might mean they have extra energy, your canine companion could benefit from going for a walk closer to bedtime or from some in-house playtime.

Home time

Dogs who expect pet parents to return from work at the same time every day may end up suffering separation anxiety when the clocks change, if nobody’s home ‘on time’. Visit our article about separation anxiety in dogs for further information and handy hints on how to help your canine companion feel better. 

Medication

If you’re concerned that the clocks changing may cause problems with your pet’s medication timings, please speak to your vet, since they’ll know and understand your case best.

To get expert advice from the comfort of your home, at any time, you can speak to the RCVS-registered vets and vet nurses over at Joii Pet Care.