You’ve probably heard this before, but dogs are creatures of routine. Knowing when they’ll be walked, fed and petted is an important part of how they make sense of the world. And if you’ve ever experienced the “isn’t it dinner time?” stare that happens when the clocks change, you’ll know how devoted they are to that routine.
It’s more than just habit. Having predictable patterns around all the important things in their world – meals, rest, play, social interaction – helps a dog feel safe. When they’re in a familiar pattern, their nervous system is regulated, their sleep cycles are stable, and their digestive system works smoothly.
Day-to-day things that can impact a dog’s routine
Various things can disrupt a dog’s daily rhythm and habits. There are big environmental changes including: a house move, a change to your work schedule that means their human is coming and going at different hours or new family members (we’re talking other pets as well as humans) – even having guests over (a new boyfriend on the scene or friend over for dinner can shift things for our four-legged friends!).
You might not mind having dinner half an hour later, or changing your alarm so you get a precious extra half-hour to cuddle with your dog in bed – but they can pick up on those differences.
Even positive, well-intentioned changes, like introducing an ambitious new exercise plan for your pet, or hosting family, can temporarily raise stress levels until your dog adapts.
How those new routines impact your pet
Dog Loyalists (you know who you are, part-personal assistant, part-caretaker and full-time wellness advocate to a VIP - that’s a Very Important Pet!) are attuned to their pet’s every changing emotion, so they’ll quickly notice signs that a dog isn’t feeling quite right.
It might be that they’re having a flare-up of flaky or itchy skin, or they’re being extra picky about food. It could be digestive upset that leads to changes in stool quality, or even altered sleep patterns.
That routine-related stress can also show up in your dog’s behavior, with more restlessness, barking, separation-related anxiety or a general sense of withdrawal.
Making those routine changes a little easier on your dog
Sometimes, life throws curveballs and there’s no getting around that. Dogs are immensely adaptable, but there are a few things that can help them get used to a new rhythm of life.
First of all, wherever possible, maintain existing core anchors such as regular meal times and walks – so even in the midst of other changes, your dog has something predictable to rely on.
If you already know a big (or little!) change is coming up, it can help to start a calming supplement a few days, or even a week, beforehand (and you don’t have to sneak it into a piece of cheese – read our guide to successfully introducing supplements to your dog’s routine).
WellJoy™ Calming+ is a vet-formulated blend that promotes your dog’s ability to feel calm, which can help support them through the routine changes we’ve mentioned.
As well as L-Theanine, Ashwagandha, Melatonin and L-Tryptophan – all chosen for the joy of a peaceful pet household – our supplements contain GutBoost™: a unique biotic blend that supports your dog’s gut microbiome to help your pet maximize those targeted ingredients to promote relaxation and help manage their levels of stress.
Life happens, and it’s likely your dog will experience many big and small routine changes over the years. Having their Dog Loyalist on-hand to help them through it makes all the difference.
We’re proud to say that all of WellJoy’s content is fact-checked and verified by a Pet Loyalist team, including a veterinarian trained in companion animal nutrition and a PhD board-certified companion animal nutritionist.