OUR BLOG - Pet Sitters Ireland
You wait all winter for brighter evenings and dry footpaths… and then spring arrives — along with a version of your dog you barely recognise.
Suddenly they’re pulling more on the lead. Barking at nothing. Zooming around the garden like they’ve had three espressos. The calm winter plod has vanished, replaced with pure chaos.
If your dog seems extra hyper in spring, you’re not imagining it. And no, they haven’t forgotten all their training overnight.
There’s a reason for it.
The World Has Switched Back On
During winter, everything slows down. Fewer smells linger in the cold air. Parks are quieter. Walks are often shorter and squeezed into dark evenings.
Then spring hits.
New scents explode into the environment — fresh grass, flowers, wildlife, other dogs out more often. For a dog, this is like someone turning the volume up on the world.
Their noses are working overtime. Their brains are processing more. That heightened stimulation often comes out as excitement — which can look a lot like hyperactivity.
They’re not being bold. They’re overwhelmed in the best possible way.
More Light Changes Behaviour
Longer days naturally affect energy levels. Just like people feel a lift when evenings stretch out, dogs respond to increased daylight too.
More light can mean:
It’s biological as much as behavioural. Winter is slower. Spring encourages movement.
Less Cabin Fever, More Freedom
Some dogs spend winter slightly under-stimulated. Even with the best intentions, muddy parks, heavy rain, and dark evenings can reduce exercise or social interaction.
When spring allows for longer walks again, that pent-up energy finally gets an outlet.
The problem is, they don’t always release it calmly. It can come out as pulling, bouncing, jumping, or suddenly forgetting how to walk nicely on a lead.
Think of it as an enthusiasm spike, not a regression.
The Social Surge
Spring also means more dogs out and about. That changes the atmosphere of every walk.
Your dog might suddenly see more potential playmates, more movement, more distraction. Even confident dogs can become temporarily overexcited with all that stimulation.
If they’re lunging slightly more or barking when they spot another dog, it’s often excitement rather than aggression.
They just need a bit of help finding their balance again.
Hormones and Seasonal Shifts
For unneutered dogs, spring can bring additional behavioural changes. Warmer weather and longer days can influence hormone levels, making some dogs more restless or reactive.
Even neutered dogs can show subtle seasonal changes simply because their environment has become more stimulating.
Again, it’s not bad behaviour. It’s adjustment.
How to Help Them Channel It
The key isn’t to shut the energy down — it’s to guide it.
Slower walks where sniffing is encouraged can actually tire a dog out more effectively than fast-paced marching. Mental stimulation — short training sessions, scent games, puzzle toys — helps burn off that buzzing energy in a healthy way.
Consistency matters too. If walks suddenly double in length overnight, some dogs become overtired rather than calmer. Gradual increases work better.
And sometimes, what looks like hyperactivity is simply joy. After months of dull weather, your dog might just be delighted to be outside again.
When to Be Concerned
Most spring energy is completely normal. But if your dog’s behaviour changes dramatically — extreme restlessness, aggression, loss of appetite, or difficulty settling at night — it’s worth checking in with your vet.
In most cases, though, it’s seasonal adjustment rather than anything serious.
A Word from Pet Angel Sitters
We see it every year. The minute the light changes, dogs change too. Walks become livelier. Energy levels lift. There’s a spark that wasn’t there in January.
At Pet Angel Sitters, we adjust with them. A bit more patience on the lead. A bit more time for sniffing. A steady routine to keep all that enthusiasm from tipping into chaos.
Spring energy isn’t a problem to fix. It’s something to guide.
And once the novelty settles, most dogs find their rhythm again — just with a little extra bounce in their step.
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