How to Help Your Dog Adjust to the Clocks Going Back

October 20, 2026|By the Velia Select team

Dog waiting beside its food bowl: help your dog adjust to the clocks going back

The clocks go back at 2am on Sunday 25 October in both Ireland and the UK. We get an extra hour in bed; our dogs don't know that. Their body clock runs on routine and daylight, so on Monday morning plenty of owners are woken an hour early by a dog who is certain it's breakfast time. The good news is that you can help your dog adjust to the clocks going back with a few small changes this week.

What changes for your dog when the clocks go back

From Sunday, everything you do by the clock happens an hour later as far as your dog's body is concerned. If breakfast is at 7am, it now feels like 8am to them; if dinner is at 6pm, it feels like 7pm. That's why the first few days often bring:

Early wake-ups: your dog wakes at their usual body time, which is now an hour before your alarm.
A restless wait for meals: pacing, whining or staring at the cupboard where the food lives.
Toilet trips at odd times: especially in puppies and older dogs, who can't hold on as long.
Dark evening walks: the after-work walk that used to be in daylight now falls after sunset.

How to help your dog adjust to the clocks going back, step by step

The trick is to move your dog's routine an hour later in small steps, so that by Sunday their "usual" time and the new clock time match.

Start four or five days before. If you're reading this later in the week, start anyway: even two or three days of gradual change helps.
Shift meals 10 to 15 minutes later each day. If breakfast is usually at 7am, serve it at 7.15am on day one, 7.30am on day two, and so on. By Saturday you'll be feeding at around 8am, which becomes 7am when the clocks go back.
Move walks along with meals. Many dogs need to go out shortly after eating, so keep the whole routine moving together.
Push the last trip outside later too. A slightly later bedtime makes it more likely your dog will sleep a little longer in the morning.
Don't reward the early wake-up call. If your dog wakes you at 6am, keep things calm and boring: a quick toilet break if they need one, then back to bed. Serving breakfast on the spot teaches them that waking you up works.

Missed the run-up? Work the other way round: from Sunday, serve meals half an hour earlier than usual by the new clock for a couple of days, then move them back to the normal time.

Dog waking up early? Keep the feeding schedule steady

A steady dog feeding schedule is your best tool here. Dogs anticipate meals, so the more consistent you are once you're on the new clock, the faster they settle; most dogs adapt within a week or so. A couple of extra tips:

In the evening, give your dog a slightly longer walk or a sniffing game so they're ready for a proper night's sleep.
If your dog gets overexcited after the wait and gulps their dinner, a slow feeder bowl turns mealtime into a small puzzle and is designed to help them take their time.

Darker evening walks

Once the clocks go back, it gets dark at around 5pm across Ireland and the UK, and earlier still as November goes on, so most after-work walks happen in the dark. Wear something reflective, put a light on your dog's collar, stick to well-lit routes you know and keep your dog on the lead near roads. If your working day allows, a lunchtime walk gives them some exercise in daylight. There's more advice in our guide to walking your dog in the dark.

Puppies, older dogs and dogs on medication

Puppies are still being toilet trained, so keep toilet breaks frequent while their routine shifts, and expect the odd accident.
Older dogs may need a late-night and an early-morning trip outside for a few days. That's normal, not bad behaviour.
Dogs on medication at set times, such as insulin, shouldn't have their doses moved without advice. Ask your vet how to handle the clock change before Sunday.

What about cats?

Cats are just as quick to notice a late breakfast, and some will make their point loudly at dawn. The same approach works: shift their meals 10 to 15 minutes a day, and don't leap out of bed to feed them the moment the meowing starts. Staying calm and consistent helps them reset faster. There's more on cats in our guide to the clocks going back and pets.