Is “Winter Reactivity” a Thing? How the Cold Weather Can Change Your Dog

As the days get colder and shorter, you might be noticing yourself feeling a little different to usual. Maybe you’re more gloomy, lazy or sleepy than you were in the height of summer. You might find yourself engaging in certain activities, like napping or snacking, more often than usual. While we come to expect this in ourselves, what you might not realize is that your dog is going through the same thing. The colder weather and darker days impacts their mood and behavior significantly, and can result in something known as “winter reactivity”. 

Winter reactivity is a term used to refer to the seasonal changes in canine behavior during the colder months. Lorraine Rhoads is an environmental biologist and the Director of Health and Safety at Dogtopia. She says that many dogs experience increased sensitivity, excitability or agitation in winter. This is due to reduced daylight colder temperatures, changes in routine, and decreased outdoor activity. “These environmental shifts affect both physical comfort and emotional regulation, which can lead to more reactive behavior on walks or at home.”

The winter can influence a dog’s mood in several ways, according to Rhoads. “Reduced daylight affects circadian rhythms and hormone regulation, including melatonin and serotonin levels, which can shift energy and emotional balance,” she says. In the winter, many of us reduce our dog’s outdoor time due to our own discomfort with being outside. This means that they get less exercise, which leads to frustration, restlessness and decreased stimulation.

Sian Lawley-Rudd is a dog trainer and the founder of Lavender Garden Animal Services. She says that winter reactivity is more common than people think, and while not a clinical term, it describes a pattern she sees every year. Around this time, her clients become more on edge, more vocal, or more easily triggered. The lack of time outdoors and increased disruption to their routines can affect a dog’s emotional state. “Some dogs get more frustrated or restless because walks are shorter or less enriching,” says Lawley-Rudd, adding that our emotions play into it too. If we’re rushing through a walk, our dogs can feel that tension. Rhoads agrees, reminding us that dogs are highly attuned to our feelings: “If a human in the household is suffering from the winter blues, the dog may pick up on and mirror those lower energy and mood states.” As difficult as it can be, it’s worth trying to slow down and enjoy your walks together.

Even if you are careful to make sure that your dog gets as much stimulation and outdoor exercise in the winter as the rest of the year, there are other changes that affect their mood and behavior. Sensory changes such as strong wind, icy surfaces and altered scents can make some dogs feel more cautious, while others may become more excitable, says Rhoads. In fact, dogs have a heightened sense of smell in colder weather. Moisture and temperature affects the strength of smells, and when the temperature drops, scent molecules become more dense. This makes for scents that are heavy and close to the ground, making it easier for dogs to sense them.

It isn’t all about the temperature, either. Even in climes that are relatively warm, the reduced daylight still impacts your dog’s mood, affecting their circadian rhythms, hormone regulation, melatonin and serotonin levels. This can shift energy and emotional balance in dogs, just like it can for you. All of these factors can worsen several behaviors. Leash reactivity, for example, can increase because dogs have excess energy and may be startled by winter-specific stimuli such as bundled-up people or fast-moving objects appearing suddenly, says Rhoads. “Barking, pulling, and jumping can intensify when dogs are not able to release energy consistently. Territorial or attention seeking behavior may escalate when dogs spend more time indoors,” she adds. It isn’t only about what happens outside, either. Indoor behavior can also worsen. “Your dog may even redirect pent-up energy and the need for mental stimulation into household items, furniture, or inappropriate digging. Some dogs even regress with house training if they are reluctant to go outside in the cold.”

You can’t avoid the winter every year, but there are measures you can take to make the changes easier on your dog and you. Rhoads says that a consistent routine is the most effective way to support them during the colder months. “Short but frequent outdoor trips help prevent pent up energy, and structured exercise such as purposeful walks, training breaks, or controlled play keeps dogs mentally and physically balanced,” she says. “Many dogs benefit from adding daycare to their routine as well because it functions like an indoor dog park where they can socialize, play safely, and accumulate miles of step activity even on the coldest days.” You can also try to create positive associations with winter conditions by offering rewards for calm behavior outside. 

Sometimes, of course, you just have to stay inside. Depending on where you live, the conditions may become dangerous or extreme, particularly for certain breeds of dog. When that happens, you can turn to indoor enrichment. Mental stimulation tools, like puzzle feeders, foraging games, snuffle mats and trick training sessions can keep your dog entertained. Rhoads also suggests hallway fetch, indoor agility setups or controlled tug sessions to ensure they get enough exercise and burn energy. Lawley-Rudd also suggests indoor “sniffaris”, where you bring in scents from the outside world. Scattering pine cones, leaves and other fun-smelling items indoors can help your dog to enjoy the outdoors without actually going outside.

Above all, says Lawley-Rudd, it’s not about giving your dog more adrenaline, but offering them outlets that help them to decompress and soothe their nervous system. That means predictable routines, calm time, and gentle enrichment. Winter is a time to slow down, and by meeting your dog where they are, you can approach this difficult season in a way that supports both of you.