How Seasonal Exercise Changes Should Influence Feeding Your Dog

As the seasons change and the weather fluctuates, dog owners need to ensure their beloved pets receive the right nutrition to maintain their health and meet their exercise needs. Like humans, dogs need food for energy, and depending on the amount of energy they exert in a day, the type of food and portion sizes can vary to meet these demands. The changing seasons and weather conditions can influence how much exercise a dog receives. As a dog owner, it’s important to learn about these changes and how to adapt meal times, so you can feel confident in your ability to keep your pets happy and healthy.

Seasonal Changes and Feeding Your Dog

While the weather is unpredictable, there are general characteristics associated with each season, and these can help explain why dogs may get more or less exercise at different times of year. 

Spring 

With mornings and evenings getting lighter, dog owners have more opportunities in the day to take their pets out, which is especially useful for those who need to fit in walks outside working hours. While it may not be the warmest or driest point of the year, Spring does offer some relief from the bitterness of winter, giving dog owners motivation to get out and dogs a gentle reintroduction to longer, more outdoor-focused exercise. This slight increase in exercise may mean dogs require more food to compensate for the increased energy expenditure. It’s important to make small adjustments so dogs do not become sick or gain too much weight.  

Summer

Longer evenings and a higher likelihood of dry, sunny weather make the summer months ideal for getting out and about on dog walks. While higher temperatures can disrupt or delay daytime walks, the lighter mornings and evenings offer the perfect opportunity for a long walk at a warm yet safer temperature. The opportunity for longer walks and a consistent routine means dogs can enjoy more intense exercise. The summer holidays also provide ample opportunities for camping trips, hikes, and other physical activities that dogs may not get to enjoy at other times of the year.

Exercising more frequently may require a diet that meets the increased energy demand. Complete wet dog food offers the necessary nutrients to keep dogs balanced and healthy, reassuring to dog owners. With all the necessary nutrients in place, portion size can be gradually increased to meet demand, rather than switching to a completely different diet. It’s also essential to provide dogs with the correct amount of water to reduce the risk of dehydration during the hotter months.

Autumn 

While the nights start drawing in more quickly, the temperature tends to remain comfortable. Autumn is the stage where dogs can still enjoy a nice walk but begin transitioning from the high-intensity summer exercise to a more toned-down, quicker outing. The comedown from summer exercise may mean owners need to make portion adjustments again to ensure dogs aren’t overeating while exercising less, heightening the risk of becoming overweight. 

Winter

Once winter comes around again, the likelihood of bad weather and freezing temperatures increases, and with less daylight, shorter walks become more frequent. Indoor exercise can be an important substitute on days when going outside is not recommended. Shorter walks and indoor play provide an outlet for dogs to release a burst of energy, but not to the extent that the prolonged, high-intensity, and more consistent summer exercises achieve. As a result you may need to control portion size to ensure their pets aren’t gaining an unhealthy amount of weight.

Prioritising Activity Levels 

The seasonal exercise levels shown above offer a general guideline, but it’s important to remember that every dog is different. While it’s important to take the weather into account, ultimately, the individual level of activity and exercise should be a priority when deciding whether to increase or decrease dog food portions.  

Different types of exercise will use energy differently. For example, shorter bursts of energy, such as sprinting, zoomies, chasing after balls or other dogs, have a quick release. On the other hand, a longer walk or hike releases the energy more slowly and evenly. Using complete wet dog food provides dogs with the necessary nutrition to compensate for their energy expenditure, whether it’s high- or low-intensity, making it a fantastic, cost-effective, and tasty option. 

It’s essential to assess pets thoroughly when any changes are made to their diet or portion size, to ensure they are not gaining or losing weight too quickly and remain as healthy as possible. 

Managing Treats

Treats are a great way to reward dogs or give them a tasty snack that differs from their normal food; however, it’s very important to maintain the rough dog treat/food ratio; treats should only make up about 10% of a dog’s daily calorie intake. 

Treats may be used more frequently in the winter months, due to the increase in indoor enrichment games. Puzzles, chews, and snuffle toys can mean dogs are receiving more treats than usual, on top of their food, and less exercise, which could lead to weight gain. Summer months can also be a culprit in increased treat-giving; owners may give frozen vegetables such as carrots to help combat the hot weather. 

When giving treats, don’t just consider the amount; consider the value they can offer a dog. Large dog bones and hog trotters offer long-lasting enrichment, high levels of protein, and support coat condition and dental health. 

Changing Behaviours 

The changing seasons and weather can also affect dog behaviour, which in turn can impact feeding habits. 

• During the winter, dog owners may need to assess whether their dog is really hungry or simply restless from a lack of exercise and looking for food to relieve boredom.

 

• Changing daylight hours can affect sleep patterns, leading to confusion about meal and walking times. 

How Can Favour Help? 

By providing a broad range of pet food, which reassures dog owners that they are offering their beloved pets good, nutritious meals. Animal-loving staff and nutritionists make up the Favour team, and with over 40 years of experience, we have grown the business and product range, covering a broad range of breeds and dietary requirements. Ongoing research and development over the years have enabled the business to continue flourishing; get in touch today with any questions you may have and we would be happy to help.