Does daylight saving time affect our pets?

Your dog doesn’t know what daylight saving time is… but they definitely know if dinner isn’t served when they expect it to be. Although our pups can’t read clocks, canines are attuned to their regular routines, notice natural light cues, and—here’s what I find most impressive—might even be able to smell the passage of time. (You read that right! Acclaimed author and dog aficionado Alexandra Horowitz talks about this hypothesis at length in her book Being a Dog.)

All this means that daylight saving time can cause our companions some stress. Here’s how to ease the transition—plus support your pup’s circadian rhythm year-round. Your dog will thank you for the health benefits (and you’ll thank yourself for dodging their intense stares, deep sighs, and dramatic pacing when they’re convinced you’re off their schedule)!

Why daylight saving time can confuse your pup

Even a single-hour shift—“springing forward” in March or “falling back” in November—can feel significant when our dogs’ days are built around predictable patterns.

Diurnal mammals like us, our canine companions are most active during the day before winding down at night. Their internal clocks are influenced by natural light (especially in the early morning and late evening) and daily routines (including walks, meals, play, and bedtime).

Sudden schedule changes can cause problems

When a dog is used to things happening a certain way at a certain time, abrupt shifts can have unintended side effects. We often see this when families move to a new home, adopt another pet, have a baby, or start working in the office when they used to be remote.

Around the start and end of daylight saving time, it’s common for dogs to:

• Wake up too early in the morning (or even in the middle of the night)
• Beg more often and more intensely
• Experience general restlessness and an inability to settle down
• Show changes in their appetite
• Struggle with out-of-sync bathroom timing (which is particularly problematic if you need your pup to reliably do their business before you head out the door to work!)

Young puppies, senior dogs, and pups with specific medical needs might be even more sensitive. And in multi-pet households, dogs might feed off each other’s energy to create some group chaos, especially around mealtime.

Although these behaviors are frustrating for the human end of the leash, remember that your pup isn’t trying to be bad or drive you crazy. They’re just confused! Most of these reactions are based on biological rhythms rather than intentional choice. And we have good news: A few tweaks can make the transition easier for both of you.

Adjust your dog’s schedule bit by bit

Think about jet lag for a minute. Gradual adjustments feel gentler than sudden leaps! By easing into your new schedule before daylight saving time hits, you can help your dog feel more regulated and less stressed.

If your pup currently has a set routine—say they eat breakfast, go on a walk, and head to bed at about the same time each day—try to tweak things slowly. For example:

• Start at least a week before the official time change.
• Move your dog’s meals by ten or fifteen minutes each day.
• Do the same for walks, play, and bedtime if possible.
• In the spring, you’ll want to start feeding your dog earlier. (Good news: This is usually easier than feeding them later in the fall!) Once we spring forward, 5 pm in daylight saving time is the same as 4 pm before the clock change.
• In the fall, you’ll want to start feeding your dog later. After falling back, 5 pm feels like 6 pm to your dog.
• If your pup is really a stickler for their familiar schedule, you can start even sooner—a full two weeks in advance—and tweak things by just five minutes. (This is actually what I do for my own sleep schedule around the time changes. I start adjusting my alarm by a couple minutes each day well ahead of time so the final clock change shocks my system less.)
• If your dog is on a timed medication schedule, get in touch with your vet for guidance. My dog takes twice-daily phenobarbital to control her epilepsy, for example. It can be extra important to adjust med delivery slowly to avoid side effects!

Consider making your routine more flexible overall

If you and your dog are up for it, a long-term option is to make their schedule less strict so future time changes are even easier. When your dog is used to eating, walking, playing, and napping at different times of day? Daylight saving shifts become no big deal!

This is something I’ve personally prioritized with my Australian cattle dog. (I grew up with childhood dogs who struggled if dinner was even a minute too late, and I didn’t want to feel trapped like that when I adopted my own pup—especially as a young professional with unpredictable work obligations.) Although Scout and I wake up at the same time each day, the rest of our routine—when we eat, walk, play, and so on—is pretty up in the air. It works for us!

Know that this approach fits some dogs better than others. What matters most is finding what feels right for your unique household.

Support your dog’s circadian rhythm year-round

The more you and your pup feel in sync with your internal, natural body clocks, the less susceptible you’ll be to struggles when our external timekeeping changes. Here are a few ways to get started. Experimenting with even one or two can help you feel more energized!

• Exposure to low-angle light in the morning—basically, just getting outside within an hour or so of sunrise—can reset your internal clocks. Don’t look directly at the sun, of course! But try to make sure some rays reach your eyes in your peripheral vision.
• The flip is true at night: Keeping your evening environment dim, with limited overhead light, can help you and your dog naturally wind down. (This is the time of day to wear those fancy blue-light-blocking glasses, if you have a pair.)
• Seeing some natural light around sunset can also help inoculate you against the adverse effects of too much bright indoor lighting before bed.
• Eating right before sleeping can sometimes keep our dogs (and ourselves) awake. Try to feed their last big meal of the day at least a few hours before it’s time to go to bed.

Don’t worry: Most dogs adjust quickly!

After a couple of days, the majority of pets get used to our semi-annual time changes—just like we people do, if sometimes begrudgingly. Dogs are adaptable as long as their basic needs are consistently met.

If you do notice any lingering issues—say your pup is having a hard time holding their bladder as long as they used to or starts waking up during the night—don’t hesitate to reach out to your trusted veterinarian or trainer. They’ll help you get back on track and prepare for the next clock switch.