Dog Owners Urged to Get Outdoors This Winter as Cases of Doggy Depression Rise

Dog owners are being urged to ensure their dogs get outdoors during daylight hours this winter, in a drive to maintain positive mental health.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) – a form of depression encountered by one in 20 Brits isn’t, it appears, unique to just humans, with experts at Bruce’s Doggy Day Care revealing that our canine friends are prone to a form of the winter blues too.

With an estimated 13.5m pet dogs in the UK, equating to 36% of households*, cases of dog depression have increased dramatically following the pandemic, resulting from changes to their routine and increased periods of owner absence. Now, as the nights draw in and the opportunity to enjoy access to natural sunlight is significantly reduced, cases are set to soar further.

Symptoms triggered by the seasonal changes and which owners are encouraged to look out for, include lethargy, increased sleep, a loss of appetite or changes in eating habits, social withdrawal, and a decreased interest in activities they usually enjoy, such as playing or going for walks.

Other signs can include excessive paw licking or grooming, being restless or agitated, and changes in behaviour such as hiding more, becoming more needy, or having accidents indoors.

“Dogs don’t just like the sun, they need it to support their mental and physical wellbeing,” said Dog Behaviourist at Bruce’s Doggy Day Care, Jason Marriner.

“Just like humans, sunlight affects a dog’s mental health by influencing the production of ‘feel-good’ chemicals serotonin and dopamine and reducing levels of stress hormone, cortisol. These are essential to regulating a dog’s mood and can improve emotional stability and reduce anxiety.

“Natural light also helps to maintain a healthy circadian rhythm, the internal body clock that controls sleep-wake cycles and energy levels and can help regulate the production of the sleep hormone melatonin, leading to better sleep. Together, these factors can significantly impact a dog’s mood.”

With the day getting shorter and the UK set to enjoy just 7.5 to 8 hours of daily natural light over the coming months, pet parents are encouraged to shape their daily schedules to suit their pups, in order to ensure they get good exposure to natural sunlight. These should preferably be during the important periods of the day – at sunrise or during the early morning, midday, and the afternoon.

For pet parents fortunate to work from home and enjoy flexible working hours this can be managed. For those who are office-based or don’t have such freedom, however, that can present a greater challenge.

Marriner offers these tips to help reduce the risk of your dog developing the winter blues:

● Ensure they get sufficient physical exercise and mental stimulation through walks, games, and enrichment activities such as puzzle feeders, lick mats and Kongs.
● Maintain a consistent routine and provide ample social interaction with people and other dogs – enrichment and socialisation is key.
● Let them get muddy! While pet parents may not appreciate the clean-up, mud can provide a soothing sensory experience, with playing in it considered a natural behaviour. It helps them explore their environment and relieve boredom, which contributes to their positive mental and physical wellbeing; not to mention the mood boosting microbiomes that mud contains!
● As always, provide them with plenty of love and attention.
● Monitor them for any changes in their usual routine and maintain regular veterinary check-ups.
● Consider enrolling your canine companion with a local dog walker or, for optimum benefits, a reputable and licensed doggy day care such as Bruce’s, where dogs can enjoy safe and structured outdoor play and the vital daylight they need to thrive.

“For dogs enrolled in daycare, outdoor play not only provides the opportunity to get regular exposure to natural daylight, but to enjoy quality socialisation time with other dogs,” said Marriner. “This is a powerful form of mental enrichment as it helps them release oxytocin, a bonding hormone which enhances feelings of comfort and security.

“Coupled with the benefits of exposure to natural daylight this can positively transform a dog’s mood and behaviour making them calmer, more balanced, and better able to settle at home after a day of play. This is particularly important during winter when daylight is limited and it is crucial to make the most of opportunities to get outside, to avoid the risk of your dog experiencing the winter blues.”

For pet parents looking for further information on how natural daylight can benefit their dog visit brucesdoggydaycare.co.uk/advice/why-winter-daylight-is-essential-for-dogs