On Sunday 25 October 2026, the clocks in the UK go back by one hour at 2am. For us, it often means an extra hour in bed. For dogs, it can mean breakfast that seems an hour late, a walk that suddenly happens in the dark and a household routine that no longer quite matches the one they know.

Most dogs adjust within a few days. A little preparation can make the change smoother, particularly for older, anxious or very routine-driven dogs.

Do dogs notice when the clocks go back?

Dogs cannot read a clock, but they are very good at learning patterns. Mealtimes, walks, the sound of an alarm, someone putting on their shoes and the rhythm of a working day all help them predict what happens next.

When the clocks change, the timing of those cues shifts overnight. Your dog’s body may still expect breakfast at the old time, which is now an hour earlier by the clock.

Light also plays a part in regulating the body’s internal clock. After the change, mornings become lighter and evenings become darker, so the afternoon walk that used to happen in daylight may now take place after sunset.

What does the research say?

There is not much research on how dogs respond to the clocks changing, but one study from the University of Toronto looked at exactly this during the autumn time change in Canada.

Researchers used activity monitors on working sled dogs and on pet dogs living with their owners. The sled dogs, whose handlers arrived at a set time every morning, were more active than usual before their handlers arrived on the day of the change, then returned to their previous pattern within a couple of days.

The pet dogs showed no overall change in their morning activity. However, older pet dogs were less active on the first morning after the change. ^[1]

The study was small and focused on huskies and malamutes, so it cannot tell us how every dog will react. What it does suggest is that dogs are strongly tuned to our routines, and that flexible routines and gradual changes can help.

How the change can affect your dog

Every dog is different, and many will barely notice. Others may show some temporary changes for a few days.

Routine and mealtimes

A dog fed at 7am will usually still be hungry at what is now 6am. You may notice earlier waking, waiting by the food bowl or more attention-seeking in the mornings. A sudden jump in feeding times can also be unsettling for some dogs’ digestion.

Toilet breaks

If your dog normally goes out first thing in the morning, their body may still need to go at the old time. Pushing them to wait an extra hour can lead to accidents indoors, particularly for puppies and older dogs.

Walks and darker evenings

For many households, the biggest change is not the hour itself but the darkness that arrives with it. A walk after work may now happen in the dark, and some dogs can be more cautious or easily startled in low light.

Sleep

Your dog may be ready for bed earlier than usual, or restless at times when the house is still busy. Darker evenings can also mean more time indoors and less activity overall.

Older and anxious dogs

Older pets, especially those with cognitive changes or dementia, may find changes in routine harder to cope with than younger, healthy dogs. ^[2] Dogs who already find change stressful may also need more time.

How to help your dog adjust

The aim is not to change everything by an hour overnight. Small steps usually work better.

Shift the routine gradually

PDSA suggests shifting your dog’s morning routine by around 10 minutes every day until you have made up the hour. You can begin a few days or a week before the clocks change, or start on the Sunday itself. ^[2] If you are starting on Wednesday 21 October, moving things about 15 minutes later each day works well and still gets you there by Sunday. If you start later, even small shifts still help, and you can keep adjusting after the clocks change.

Keep the order the same

Even if the timings move slightly, try to keep the sequence familiar: wake up, toilet break, breakfast, walk, rest. Dogs Trust recommends a consistent daily routine covering food, walks, toilet breaks, play, rest and sleep, because predictability helps dogs feel settled. ^[3]

Avoid other big changes

The week of the clock change is not the best time to introduce a new food, move your dog’s bed or make other major changes to their routine. Keeping everything else the same gives them fewer things to adjust to at once.

Be patient with accidents

If your dog has an accident indoors while they adjust, do not tell them off. They do not understand why the clocks have changed. Offer an earlier toilet break for the first few days instead. ^[2]

Use the daylight when you can

If your evening walk now happens in the dark, consider moving a longer walk to lunchtime or the morning, when there is more natural light. Some dogs enjoy the change of scenery as much as the exercise.

Keeping walks safe on darker evenings

Darker evenings make it harder for drivers, cyclists and other walkers to see you and your dog. UK animal charities recommend some simple precautions: ^{[4] [5]}

• Use a reflective or light-up collar, harness or lead for your dog.
• Wear bright or high-visibility clothing yourself.
• Carry a torch or head torch so your hands stay free for the lead.
• Take a fully charged phone with you.
• Stick to well-lit, familiar routes where possible.
• Keep your dog on a short lead near roads and only let them off lead in a secure, enclosed area.
• On country roads without pavements, walk facing oncoming traffic with your dog on the side away from the road.
• Check your dog is microchipped with up-to-date details and wearing an ID tag.

Keeping recall training up to date also helps, in case your dog wanders out of sight in the dark. ^[4]

Make indoor time count

If darker, wetter evenings mean shorter walks, try to make up some of that activity at home. Scent games, food puzzles, gentle play and short training sessions can keep your dog mentally busy and help them settle afterwards.

Giving your dog a cosy, quiet place to rest also matters. A predictable bedtime routine, such as a last toilet break followed by settling in the same spot, can help them wind down as the evenings draw in.

Remember fireworks season is close behind

In the UK, the clock change comes just before Bonfire Night. For some dogs, earlier darkness and the start of fireworks can arrive at almost the same time.

If your dog is sensitive to noise, it is worth planning ahead: walk them before dark where possible, keep doors and gates secure and prepare a safe den in a quiet room. Our guide to preparing your dog for fireworks has more ideas.

When should you speak to your vet?

Most dogs settle into the new timings within a few days. If changes go on for longer, do not assume the clocks are to blame.

Contact your vet if your dog has a reduced appetite for more than a day, vomiting or diarrhoea, repeated toilet accidents, night-time restlessness that does not settle or seems confused or disorientated. These signs can have other causes and deserve to be checked, particularly in older dogs.

The hour matters less than the routine

Your dog does not know the clocks have gone back. What they notice is when you get up, when the food bowl is filled and when the lead comes off the hook.

By moving those moments gradually, keeping walks safe and visible and giving your dog plenty to do indoors, you can help them through the change with very little fuss.