Your dog doesn't know the clocks are changing

The clocks go back on 25 October in most of Europe. For us it is one extra hour in bed. For a dog it means breakfast and the evening walk both come an hour late, and nobody told them why.

Some dogs don't care at all. Others start waking you up at 5 in the morning, sit by the door whining or get restless long before dinner. That is not bad behaviour. Their body clock is still right. Ours just moved.

What helps is to start about a week before, not on the Sunday itself.

Move meals and walks around 10 minutes later every day. By the weekend you are already on the new time and the change feels like nothing.

One more thing. Evenings get dark much earlier after the change. If your walk was in daylight last week, it might not be next week. A small light on the collar or a reflective lead helps drivers and cyclists see you both.

Ten minutes a day. No surprise for your dog.