Why Your Morning Routine Might Be Ruining Your Dog’s Day
Spoiler alert: If your mornings look like a coffee-fueled tornado, your dog definitely notices.
Let’s Talk About Energy (No, Not the Crystal Kind)
Dogs are emotional sponges. They pick up on our energy faster than you can say “Where’s my other shoe?!” If your morning routine is chaos—rushed, loud, panicked—your dog is soaking it in like yesterday’s leftover puddle.
That energy doesn’t just poof away once you leave. It lingers. Your pup sits in it all day like a stew of confusion, anxiety, and “Why is everyone yelling at socks again?”
A Quick Story: The Case of the Frantic Human
One client of ours—we’ll call her Karen (because her dog does)—starts every morning by snoozing her alarm three times, running late, spilling coffee, and shouting “I can’t find my keys!” Her sweet labradoodle, Pepper, spends the rest of the day pacing, whining, and barking at nothing in particular. Shocker: When Karen started getting up ten minutes earlier and moving through the morning like a human, not a cyclone, Pepper calmed down too.
Why It Happens
Dogs crave predictability. They like knowing when the walk is happening, when the food bowl appears, and when they can safely nap without dodging a flying hairdryer. When you’re frantic, they get confused. Confusion breeds stress. Stress leads to behavior issues.
Think of it like this:
You = Mood Leader
Your dog is following your vibe whether you mean for them to or not.
Actionable Tip (That Won’t Ruin Your Morning Coffee)
Start your day with a 5-minute “calm reset” for you and your dog:
- Gentle stretching
- Slow, calm breathing (yes, your dog will mirror this)
- One quiet moment together—scritches, belly rubs, or just sitting side-by-side
This isn’t woo-woo. It’s science. Regulating your nervous system helps regulate theirs.
Final Thought
If mornings feel like a sitcom you didn’t audition for, your dog’s behavior probably reflects it. Calm your chaos, and you might just calm your canine. Plus, you’ll finally find those keys.