Although there are not yet studies showing that dogs experience seasonal depression, that doesn’t mean our furry best friends don’t occasionally get the winter blues. Shorter days, less sunshine, and less time outdoors can affect our pups, dampening their moods, increasing their melatonin levels, and triggering the need for more sleep. Your dog might respond with changes in mood and behavior. This doesn’t necessarily mean your dog has seasonal depression, but they might be prone to sluggishness and a reluctance to get off the couch and play.
Dogs are also notoriously sensitive to their people’s feelings, which means that if you’re prone to seasonal affective disorder, your pup might be affected by changes in your mood, too, responding with anxiety, clinginess, and even a little emotional unsteadiness during those dreary gray days and long winter nights. Here’s what you need to know to keep your pup happy and healthy all season.
Symptoms of Winter Blues
Symptoms of winter blues can be subtle and easy to miss. Watch for signs that your dog is unhappy. Your pup might be:
- Sleeping more than usual
- Unexplained changes in behavior
- Sleeping more or less than usual
- No longer interested in activities they used to enjoy
- Changes in appetite
Winter blues in dogs aren’t the same as seasonal depression in humans, and the causes are more likely linked to boredom or cabin fever, which means that treatment is likely as simple as enrichment. All dogs benefit from mental and physical stimulation, and when they spend more time cooped up in the winter, they may be more prone to boredom and depression. Indoor dog daycare might be just what the “dogtor” ordered!
Combating Winter Blues with Doggy Daycare
Have you ever heard the saying that “a tired dog is a good dog”? Dogs need to move for physical and mental health. Walks are a good first step, but many breeds need more than that. Catch, Frisbee, scentwork, agility course, and even sledding are great alternatives to incorporate into your daily routine. If spending more time outdoors in the winter cold doesn’t appeal to you, consider doggy daycare. Playful Pack offers a range of activities to keep even the most active breeds busy and stimulated for hours.
Mental exercise is just as important. Your dog’s mind is active and curious and needs to stay busy and engaged. Looking out the same windows all day can get pretty boring. A rotating list of activities, like food puzzles, hide and seek, or training new tricks, can keep your dog interested and busy learning even when the weather is truly frightful. Dog daycare can be a great ally here, too, with a rotating list of activities. At Playful Pack, our pups stay busy with snuffle mats, packuccinos, disco dance parties, bacon-scented bubbles, and more.
How Indoor Dog Daycare Can Counteract the Winter Blues
Winter can be long and dull for active dogs, but Playful Pack dog daycare is available in all weather with expansive indoor play areas where your dog can burn off their energy in spaces designed just for them. We have daycare equipment built for dogs and joint-friendly flooring, and our rooms are cleaned using dog-safe cleaners and disinfectants. Packs are separated according to size and temperament to ensure healthy, positive socialization for all our pups, and your pup will get to run, jump, and play while enjoying a consistent routine with ample physical and mental stimulation to keep them happy and healthy all season long.
At daycare, your dog will be professionally supervised from the moment they arrive until they are back in your care. We know how to handle all breeds and personalities, and we monitor all interactions to ensure safe, appropriate play to promote positive, productive behaviors. Your dog will be loved and cared for like one of our own each time they’re in our care, and you can check in on them at any time via our webcam access. Contact us today for a free temperament check and enjoy a free day of daycare!