For me, fall daylight saving time is always at least one week of feeling “off.” It’s light already and it’s weird. Now it’s dark early, and I’m tired and hungry at all the wrong hours. I can explain it to myself with the term “daylight saving,” but our pets aren’t that lucky.
They just wander around in a daze, trying to figure out why breakfast and bedtime suddenly feel wrong. Meals are early. Naps are off. Nothing lines up until everyone’s body finally resets.
Well, these two Golden Retriever sisters are at the very beginning of that cycle. Trapped somewhere between confusion and betrayal, they stand on the stairs baffled that breakfast arrived entirely too soon. They’re not protesting that breakfast was late, even though their stomachs have a different opinion on the matter. They’re protesting because time–and their schedules–stopped making sense overnight.
Many viewers are going through the same drama with their fur babies. “Our little Beagle is following us around and stomping her little feet for dinner” said one commenter, while another noticed, “No wonder my dogs were up at 6am on the dot ready for their fruit bowl when they usually ask for it at 7am sharp. LOL, I forgot.”
So many people in the comments are tripped up by the clock changes and what it means to their fur babies, so let’s go over it. It is eternally confusing.
Why Pets Are Feeling Off This Week
Shutterstock/Nils Jacobi
After fall daylight saving time, clocks fall back. So feeding at the same time is actually one hour late for your pet’s body. If you feed your pet at 7:00 a.m., your pet’s internal body clock is screaming “It’s 8:00 a.m.! You’re late!” Their circadian rhythm (which is set by daylight and reinforced by their routine) hasn’t had the chance to catch up yet. So, they’re extra restless, extra mad and throwing you glares because, even if the clock says it’s early, their bodies haven’t adjusted, and it’s an hour past mealtime. In other words, our poor babies.
Related: Golden Retriever Is Adorably Confused When Dad Pretends to Pet Him
In a week or two, all will be back to normal. In the interim, there might be some drama around your house. For now, maybe try a few extra treats and even more love and support.
This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on Nov 4, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.