Does Daylight Saving Time mess with your dog’s routine? Here’s what science says

You’re groggy, your schedule feels off, and your morning coffee isn’t hitting right—yep, daylight saving time (DST) strikes again. But while you’re adjusting to the time shift, have you ever wondered if your dog feels it too?

The researchers behind a new study published in the journal PLOS One found that ome dogs roll with the change, while others get thrown off—especially if their routine is tied to human schedules.

The researchers tracked 25 sled dogs and 29 companion dogs before and after the fall DST shift using accelerometers (think Fitbits for dogs).

They set out to answer the following questions:

• Do dogs wake up earlier or later after the time change?
• How quickly do dogs adjust to the new schedule?
• Do sled dogs and pet dogs react differently?

At first, the sled dogs were noticeably confused.

Their internal clocks were set by their handlers’ arrival time, so when Daylight Saving Time (DST) kicked in, they were ready to go—except their humans were now an hour behind.

The dogs eagerly waited, expecting their usual routine to begin, but the delay left them restless and pacing, wondering why work hadn’t started yet.

Companion dogs, on the other hand, handled the change with much less fuss.

Unlike their hardworking sled dog counterparts, most pet dogs didn’t seem particularly affected. Even as their owners’ wake-up times shifted, they largely kept to their usual patterns, lounging until breakfast was served or their morning walk was announced.

Fortunately, the adjustment didn’t take long.

While the first morning after the time change brought some confusion, most dogs adapted within a day or two. By the second morning, they had already recalibrated to their humans’ new schedule, proving once again how adaptable—if occasionally perplexed—our four-legged friends can be.

If your dog has a strict routine, they might take a little longer to adjust when the clocks change. Dogs with more flexible schedules tend to adapt with less fuss.

With Daylight Saving Time coming up on Sunday, March 9, 2025, now is the perfect time to start preparing your pup for the shift.

Instead of making a sudden change, ease them into it by adjusting their schedule by 10 to 15 minutes per day in the days leading up to the time change. Moving meal and walk times gradually will help their internal clock reset more smoothly.

Once the clocks spring forward, sticking to a routine is crucial.

Dogs thrive on predictability, so keeping mealtimes and potty breaks consistent will help them feel secure, even if the humans are suddenly running an hour ahead.

And if your dog seems a little off at first? Be patient. Just like us, they might feel a little out of sync for a day or two, but they’ll adjust soon enough.

Before long, they’ll be back to their normal selves—whether that means eagerly waiting for breakfast, nudging you for a walk, or curling up in their favorite sunny spot (even if that spot suddenly shifts an hour forward).

No matter what the clock says, one thing never changes—dogs still do their business outside. And with the days getting longer, you’ll probably be spending more time in your yard, enjoying the extra sunshine with your pup.

The last thing you want? Dodging messes when you’re trying to relax.

That’s where OmaPaws comes in. We scoop the poop for Omaha metro homeowners so you don’t have to, keeping your yard clean, fresh, and ready for all those extra hours of outdoor fun.

Call us today at (402) 979-7260 or send us a message to schedule your first cleanup. Because a happy dog—and a happy owner—deserve a clean yard.

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