Puppy Hero sheds light on dogs and Seasonal Affective Disorder

Daylight savings time has officially started and the clocks fell back. Now it’s getting dark at 5:00 pm and while a lot of us are sad about it, how does it affect our dogs?

A recent study by Puppy Hero went in-depth about Seasonal Affective Disorder also known as SAD. The experts decided to share some signs you can look for and tips to help your pup out as winter comes calling.

There’s no better place to start than with things you might notice about your dogs and honestly, these should be pretty easy to spot. The first sign is that your dogs seem more lethargic and sleepy than normal. Coupled with having no desire to play games, exercise, or go for walks is a big red flag.

Another sign to be on the lookout for is a change in behavior such as enhanced irritation or aggression. In addition, you might notice them either not wanting to eat or eating a lot more than normal. The final sign is your dog not being able to sleep well or being restless and sad.

Puppy Hero shares tips on helping dogs with Seasonal Affective Disorder.

While some of those signs might be normal behavior for your dogs, it’s always good to be on the lookout for changes as that’s the first tip. Make it a habit to watch your dog and see if some small changes on your end might help them. Another tip is to make sure your dog is getting enough exercise as shorter days can impact that so going on a short walk is a great idea.

Another tip is to make sure your dogs are getting enough sun exposure. Whether it’s letting them run around outside or even putting their bed by a sunny window, those are easy fixes. Lastly, just spend some time with your pup. Interacting with them is great medicine for both of you so that’s always a perk.

Puppy Hero also reached out to Liz Clifton, a rescue dog rehabilitator who shared some fun activities to do with your dogs. You can buy or make a snuffle mat which is a way for your dogs to play and do something while looking for a treat on the mat. You can make a digging box which is a cardboard box filled with pet-safe items that you can add treats or toys to. Lastly, play some relaxing music to help keep the environment calm for you and your pup.

If you’re seeing these changes in your dog, I’d try using these tips and hopefully, it’ll help out both you and your dogs. Seasonal Affective Disorder tends to hit everyone differently so trying a few of these things and being attuned to your dog is the best way to figure out what’s going on.

Did you know dogs could have Seasonal Affective Disorder? Will you be using any of these tips for your pup? Share with us.