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Writer's pictureMichelle Rizzi

It's About Time





I’m sure most everyone is aware of dogs’ highly developed sense of smell, as well as their keen sense of hearing.  But what do we really know about how they perceive time?


Dogs live in the moment, so no regrets about the past and no worries about the future.   No wonder they’re so happy!  Dogs can't understand time in the abstract sense of hours and minutes, as we do, yet they do have an awareness of time  intervals.  A dog’s concept of time revolves around routine, daily patterns, and associative learning.


They track recurring events, like meals or walks, without measuring minutes and hours the way we do.  They operate on a a biological level, adjusting to things like hormone cycles, and environment cues, rather than consciously counting time. This is why dogs appear to anticipate their daily routines so accurately.  Their sense of time might be deeply linked to their experience of regular events, helping them predict what happens next.


Dogs can even sense the changes in daylight and standard time.  These changes though subtle, can confuse both dogs and humans alike.  (And WE ACTUALLY KNOW what’s going on!)


Every dog should have daily routines they can depend on. The way dogs use routines to feel secure is important to note.  Dogs thrive when they can predict their world and it’s those familiar patterns, walks, mealtimes, visits, returning home from work, etc. that give them a sense of stability.  It’s incredible how well our dogs can learn to adapt to changes, but it’s also necessary for them to have some familiar patterns in their daily lives to feel comfortable.  Knowing what comes next, offers us all a sense of security.









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