A new study from the University of Toronto analyzed the effects of Daylight Saving Time (DST) on dogs. While DST disrupts human sleep patterns and can cause accidents, its impact on dogs had been largely overlooked. Researchers monitored the activity of 25 sled dogs and 29 pet dogs using motion-sensitive watches. Surprisingly, companion dogs showed no significant adjustment to DST changes, while working sled dogs required a brief period to adapt. This highlights a difference in how various dog types respond to time shifts, providing insights for future canine care.
‘Anecdotally, everyone you talk to will mention, ‘Oh, my cat was up at 6 waiting for her breakfast, or my dog was scratching at the door, even though we were allowed to sleep in an extra hour,’ said researcher Ming Fei Li. Hence, Li said, she was surprised at some of the study results - which found that companion dogs did not seem to show ‘any patterns of daylight saving time adjustment,’ although the working sled dogs needed a day to adjust.”
Understanding the varied impact of changes like daylight saving time on dogs is crucial. Working dogs like sled dogs showed adjustment symptoms while companion dogs seemed unaffected.
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