Eight seasonal events that have an impact on your dog

More or less everything we as dog owners do has a direct impact on our dog’s lives to some extent, and providing stability and a set routine is important for dogs to keep them happy and feeling secure.

However, even with this in mind, there are several seasonal events and times of year that will also have an impact on your dog, whether you yourself get involved with them directly or not.

This article will outline eight seasonal events that affect dogs to some extent, and explain why this is. Read on to learn more.

New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve is perhaps the most obvious seasonal event that can have an impact on your dog; and one that is conflicting for many dog owners, who enjoy the evening in and of itself but that are acutely aware that some dogs find it unnerving and frightening.

The fireworks and flashes and bangs that go off on New Year’s Eve are the main reason why this time of year affects dogs, but also, New Year’s Eve parties, people drinking, and lots of activity and upheaval all factor in too.

Valentine’s Day (if you celebrate it)

If Valentine’s Day usually passes you by or you don’t celebrate it, it probably won’t have any impact on your dog. However, if chocolate gifts are part of the day for you, this is something that can affect your dog – and cases of chocolate poisoning in dogs actually spike around the date itself. Don’t forget the risk if you post a box of chocolates to someone too, and the dog gets to it first.

Being amorous with your partner can even make your dog act out from jealousy, so bear this in mind too!

Easter

Easter once more means chocolate everywhere, including potentially outside hidden on your dog’s walking route, and this is actually the time of year when the second largest number of chocolate poisoning incidents in dogs are treated by vets.

The fact that much of that chocolate is in the hands of children exacerbates things too; and Easter being a school holiday, the holiday itself can upset your dog’s routine if you have children as well.

Every other school holiday too!

If you have children as well as a dog, every school holiday is apt to mean a change in your dog’s routine, as the children are at home more or following a different routine of their own. Try not to let this impact when your dog is fed, walked and has their needs met, as routine is very important for dogs.

Even if you do not have children, some school holidays (like the long summer holiday in particular) can have an impact on your dog even so. More children around in the streets and parks are the most obvious side of this, but other factors come into play too, like some beaches and places that normally welcome dogs might suspend access or place restrictions on them in holidays.

Halloween

Halloween is perhaps one of the weirdest times of the year for dogs. Once more, lots of chocolate and sweets in general are around and in temptation’s reach, particularly being a problem when kids don’t understand why dogs shouldn’t share them.

You also have to factor in the costumes your family might wear, which can confuse and distress dogs, and even if you do not dress up, people in the streets still do and this in turn can be a problem for some dogs when out walking who will find it unnerving or even threatening.

Trick or treaters calling at your home can put some dogs into territorial overdrive, so think carefully about whether or not you want to decorate your home for Halloween and so, flag your home as welcoming to such approaches.

Guy Fawkes/bonfire night

As is the case with New Year’s Eve, the fireworks and all of the associated stress this causes to dogs is the most obvious reason why Guy Fawkes or bonfire night has an impact on dogs. The fact that these don’t tend to be restricted just to the night itself doesn’t help.

Christmas

There are a whole host of things pertaining to Christmas that mean it has a huge impact on all dogs, even if you don’t celebrate Christmas yourself.

Lots of weird and wonderful food, people with their attention split, bringing in decorations and strange things, adults being drunk and silly, visitors calling, a change in the dog’s routine, and much more make Christmas perhaps the standalone time of year that has the greatest impact on dogs.

Fireworks may be in the offing at Christmas too, and a week later, there’s New Year’s Eve to contend with has well.

The clocks going forwards and backwards

Finally, twice a year when the clocks change so we gain or lose an hour respectively can throw your dog’s whole routine out of whack and have quite a considerable impact on them.

Most of us people find the change a bit jarring even though we know what is going on, but for your dog, suddenly having the time they’re expected to get up, be walked, eat or toilet change by an hour either way will be most unsettling for them.