Prepare Now for the End of Daylight Savings Time

Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 1, 2020, at 2:00 am. Start now to adjust your pet’s schedule to prepare them for the change of time.

While we are excited about the extra hour of sleep that the end of daylight savings time signals, don’t be surprised if your dog is up at his usual time ready and waiting to go out. Remember, it’s not your dog’s fault.

Circadian Rhythm

Animals don’t set their routines by the clock that we use to stay on schedule. They have their own circadian rhythm–a biological clock that helps them know when to eat, sleep, go potty, and do everything else in their day. So when you change the clock back an hour for the end of Daylight Saving Time, it can affect your dogs.

Since we can’t explain the change to them – they just wonder why we’re acting so strangely all of a sudden! To our dogs, we’re feeding them at a different hour, taking them for a walk at an odd time, or even keeping them awake when they’re usually cozied up in their beds.

Preparation

William Berloni, the author of Broadway Tails and director of behavior for the Humane Society of New York, recommends:

1. Adjust their schedule in 15-minute increments a few days before the time change, it makes the transition easier. This incremental change is easier than trying an hour all at once.
2. Alarm set the alarm 10 or 15 minutes later each day until everyone is getting up at the correct time. Unfortunately, you won’t get that extra hour of sleep, but your pets will have a smoother transition to the new schedule.

Since dogs are more attuned to human activities, they will probably accept these changes as soon as they realize that they will get their meals and walks, just a little later than expected.

Patience

Unfortunately, some activities must shift by an hour. If you are away from the house at work all day and your dog has to wait an extra hour to go outside and relieve himself, accidents can happen. Be patient with these incidents and don’t punish him. He’ll adjust within a few days and your household will once again run like a well-oiled machine—at least until Daylight Savings Time returns in the spring. Until then, drop by Braxton’s and pick up supplies so that you are totally prepared.