What Time is it? Ask Your Dog!

What time is it to your dog. . .

It’s time to eat, nap, play, receive affection, bounce, chew, destroy(?), hunt, fetch, eat, nap, annoy, bark, nap. . .

I think you get the point. While dogs live in the moment, they define the moment. They definitely seem to know when it is the time of day for a meal. They instinctively have the most energy at specific times during the day. I believe this goes back to a time when they would hunt for their food. Early in the morning and at dusk when the wildlife used to be searching for food, dogs were preying on them. (Believe it or not, they weren’t hunting kibble!)

They may be removed from this instinct as they don’t use the energy to hunt but will express it by being destructive – digging, barking, overtly rambunctious. This may be the best time to take them out for a long walk, run, or play. Exercise is important and you may find the evening or early morning hours the best time for your dog. We don’t always have success when we work against their timing as that may be based more on instinct than desire or schedule.

Timing is everything – just ask your dog!