Dog owners sent warning to look out for sign their pets may have January blues

Guide Dogs is urging owners to wage other attraction to their dog's behaviour (Image: Guide Dogs)

Dogs whitethorn beryllium struck by the January blues arsenic our empathetic four-legged friends reflector quality emotions, experts person warned.

They are known to person an bonzer quality to announcement infinitesimal changes successful their owner’s behaviour, temper and wellness utilizing their heightened senses.

A survey of 2,000 canine owners by Guide Dogs recovered 94% agreed their pets could consciousness quality emotions and 59% had noticed a alteration successful their pooch’s behaviour since January.

Common differences included restlessness (15%), lethargy (27%), anxiety (15%) and boredom (13%).

Almost fractional of owners admitted that their temper and vigor levels influenced however they cared for their dogs, with 23% admitting to cutting walks shorter oregon skipping them each unneurotic and a 5th rushing done them.

15% of owners noticed their dogs had been much restless successful January (Image: Guide Dogs)

Others noted that acheronian mornings caused delays successful leaving the house, disrupting their dog’s routine. Some dogs (13%) are besides spending much clip unsocial compared to the festive play arsenic their owners instrumentality to work.

Tim Stafford, manager of canine affairs astatine Guide Dogs, said: “Dogs are incredibly attuned to their owners’ feelings, and erstwhile routines are disrupted oregon we consciousness low, it’s nary astonishment that they mightiness bespeak those changes. 

"However, whilst dogs are receptive to our feelings, we mightiness not beryllium arsenic bully astatine recognising theirs. 83% of owners mistakenly judge that their dog's wagging process means it's blessed erstwhile successful information this behaviour tin signify a assortment of emotions.”

When questioned astir their ain feelings, owners said dark days and cold weather (57%), having to get backmost into a regular (39%) and feelings of demotivation (30%) were immoderate of the astir challenging aspects of January.

Others included fiscal worries (35%) and disrupted routines (39%).

However, 88% said their intelligence well-being was boosted by taking their canine for a locomotion and 45% had made New Year’s resolutions to beryllium much active, utilizing canine walks arsenic an accidental to amended their fittingness whilst besides bonding with their pet.

Mr Stafford urged canine owners to “pay other attraction to your dog's behaviour astatine the moment”.

He added: “We cognize that dogs thrive connected routine and consistency, truthful whilst January tin beryllium tough, by focusing connected re-establishing operation and pursuing our tips connected workout and stimulation, we tin easy assistance our dogs (and ourselves) consciousness better.”