With the winter weather not letting up, owners who haven’t been able to take their precious pup outside for their usual amount of walks may have seen a difference in behaviour.
Dog behaviourist for natural dog food brand Barking Heads, Adem Fehmi, shares the signs of canine Seasonal Affective Disorder and what owners can do about it.
There is some evidence to suggest that dogs can suffer from SAD during the winter months, however possibly not in the same way that humans experience this condition. Canine SAD is a term that can be used to classify a change in behaviour, typically one that suggests that a dog is suffering from a low mood or is ‘depressed’. It is typically a term coined solely from observing a dog and an owner reporting a change in behaviour. There are no veterinary medical tests to determine if a dog is suffering from ‘SAD’.
Symptoms that may suggest that your dog is suffering from Canine SAD include:
- Your dog appearing ‘sad’, more quiet than usual, or withdrawn
- Your dog appearing stressed or anxious in contexts that they would not usually display such behaviour
- A change to your dog’s appetite
- A change to your dog’s sleeping habits or pattern
- A change in how active, settled or agitated your dog is
- A change to your dog’s temperament and usual behaviour
Although the above symptoms may point to your dog suffering from Canine SAD, from a behavioural point of view and my experience as a Canine Behaviourist, it is likely that any changes to your dog’s behaviour during the Winter months of the year actually stem from a change in routine for your dog rather than a psychological condition brought on by a change in temperature, weather or the number of hours of sunlight in a day. This is not to say that these things do not play a part in the changes in your dog that you might be experiencing, they most certainly do, however a dog’s behaviour is not likely to be caused directly by them, they are instead caused by potential changes to a dog’s usual daily routine because of them e.g. they are caused by a change to the way that an owner exercises, cares for, and spends time with their dog due to the colder, wetter weather and less hours of daylight in the day to carry out their usual activities with their beloved dog.
For example, a dog may spend less time outdoors exercising as their owner has less time to walk them due to the darker mornings and darker evenings, not to mention that wetter or colder weather may also reduce the duration of their usual walks. Similarly, if they are a dog who frequently joins their family on outdoor activities, they may also simply be getting less exercise and mental stimulation overall due to their owners choosing to spend more time at home or spend more time socialising with others indoors rather than outdoors.
As a result of this change in routine, sometimes even small, a dog may feel more stressed, anxious, agitated or have more energy than usual to place into unwanted behaviours such as chewing, barking, digging, running around in the home and so on over being settled or simply sleeping. Some dogs may even show their displeasure at the change in their routine and their owner’s behaviour by becoming more withdrawn and, in extreme scenarios, owners may even see an increase in aggression-based behaviours.
My top tips for preventing a change in behaviour during the Winter months and helping your dog to keep a positive state of mind are:
- Be mindful to keep the level of outdoor activity you usually carry out in the Spring and Summer months the same, if not more. Aim for at least two constructive walks a day that help your dog to release pent up energy, express their natural behaviours as a dog. Walks should also be tailored to your dog’s likes, whether this be a game of chase, a slower walk with opportunities to sniff, or socialising with other dogs and people, or even all of these things!
- Consider joining a training class. Not only will you and your dog likely benefit from the added obedience training undertaken, it will also provide valuable opportunities to socialise in a controlled environment – for both you and your dog!
- Invest in and increase your use of food dispensing toys. These can be great boredom busters and stress relievers, and offer your dog an opportunity to express natural behaviours. There is a huge range on the market to choose from now a days, from easier toys such as lick mats and snuffle mats, to rubber food dispensing toys and even ‘puzzle’ style food dispensing toys for the ultra ‘gamer’! Choose a toy that suits your dog’s life stage, physiology and sparks their interest.
If changes in behaviour are observed in conjunction with a change in season, it is important that you not assess if perhaps you, as an owner, have changed the way you have been caring for your dog.
However, it is also important to note that Canine SAD should not be assumed by an owner to be the root cause of any change of behaviour in a dog during a change of season and, instead, it is important to always seek veterinary advice to rule out an underlying health condition that may have sparked the change. If no underlying medical conditions are found to be the root cause of a change in behaviour, advice from a certified behaviourist should be sought in order to ensure that your dog remains healthy both physically and psychologically.
Psychologically, dogs are complex mammals and a certified behaviourist will be able to help you to understand your own dog’s individual needs so that they are able to live a healthy and fulfilled life, free of stress.
