Get

In Your Inbox

Dogster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

Do Dogs Have a Sense of Time? Vet-Verified Facts & FAQ

dachshund dog waiting to be walked beside an alarm clock

If you have been a dog owner for a while, you’ve likely noticed your pet waiting for you when you get home from work, getting excited about their mealtime before you even stand up to fill their bowl, and even preparing to bark at the mail carrier just before they arrive each day. This can cause many people to wonder if dogs have a sense of time. The short answer is technically yes, but canines perceive time much differently than we humans do.

Here, we discuss dog memory in-depth, discuss ways that you can help them manage their time better, and answer common questions on this topic.

divider dog faces oct 2024

Can Dogs Tell Time?

Dogs do have a sense of time, but it is much different from ours, and they don’t follow minutes or hours. Instead, they rely on their circadian rhythm, several kinds of memory, and routine to know when something should happen.

dog looking at the table with a clock
Image Credit: PongMoji, Shutterstock

Circadian Rhythm

The circadian rhythm is your dog’s internal biological clock, which affects their sleep-wake cycles, hormone production, and overall behavior. The day and night or, more accurately, light and dark influence the dog’s body, mind, and behavior. This will help them know when they are supposed to go to sleep, wake up, eat breakfast, etc.

Episodic Memory

Episodic memory is a key tool for dogs, and they can use it to predict the future accurately. For instance, when your alarm clock goes off in the morning, your dog knows that a whole sequence of events will follow. This type of memory also helps them remember the tone of your voice, the sound of your car, keys rattling, and other noises that clue them into what is about to happen.

Senses

Dogs can make use of their senses to help them know what time it is. For example, their keen sense of smell can be familiar with morning smells, such as coffee brewing, so perhaps they can also detect how a scent deteriorates over time, enabling them to have an idea of how long it’s been since you left the house. They may also be able to tell how much your smell dissipates each day before you return, which can help them accurately predict when you will be home. Or they associate smells that happen at a certain time with routine events that normally happen around the same time.

Routine

Another powerful tool that your dog uses to know when something is going to happen is routine. Dogs depend on routines at every stage of their life to feel comfortable and secure. Establishing a solid schedule takes away any uncertainty and anxiety that your pet might have about when they are going to eat next or when you will return home. Routine is also how your dog knows when it is time for bed and when it’s time to wake up. In fact, many of the things that your dog predicts are things that you do regularly.

Faithful Brown Dog Waits For Return Of Owners Back Home Standing At Front Entrance Door
Image Credit: marialevkina, Shutterstock

divider dog faces oct 2024

Tips for Aiding Your Dog’s Sense of Time

  • A regular schedule for meals, walks, and playtime can help your dog establish a routine that helps them feel secure and manage their expectations about what happens next.
  • Help your dog understand time better by using specific signals for different activities. For example, picking up a leash can signal that it’s time for a walk, while a certain sound or command can indicate playtime.
  • Puzzle toys can help pass the time by keeping your dog mentally stimulated while you’re away.

divider single dog paw oct 2024

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is It True That Dogs Have a Better Sense of Time in the Morning and Evening?

Mornings and evenings are usually high-activity times of the day, as it’s when you wake up or get ready for bed. Likewise, for most dogs, this is when feeding time happens, making them some very important and much-appreciated moments of the day. This makes your dog more focused and tuned in to the minute-by-minute activities that are occurring, making them seem like they have a better sense of time.

Do Dogs Perceive Time Differently When They’re Alone?

The amount of activity that occurs during a time can affect your dog’s perception of it, and it is likely that when you are away from home, and nothing is occurring to keep your dog’s interest, time can seem to slow down and stretch on for your pet.

dog by the window
Image Credit: studio Family, Shutterstock

How Does Aging Affect a Dog’s Perception of Time?

Aging can impact a dog’s health and cognitive functions, altering their routine and sense of time. As they participate in fewer activities, their perception of time might also start to slow.

divider dog faces oct 2024

Summary

Dogs do have a sense of time and can tell the difference between morning and night. They can also tell when it’s time for you to get home from work and when it’s time for dinner, among many other things, due to several different mechanisms that include a circadian rhythm, episodic memory, senses like sight and smell, and routine. However, they don’t really pay attention to time in minutes or hours and use their sense of time more to know when something will happen.


Featured Image Credit: Masarik, Shutterstock

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Dogster for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Join the conversation

Leave a Reply

You’re very welcome to leave a comment or question. Please know that all comments must meet our community guidelines, and your email address will NOT be published. Let’s have a positive and constructive conversation.

Talk With A Vet Online

Peace of mind,
anywhere, anytime

Affordable vet advice

Can Dogs Learn From Their Mistakes? Vet-Verified Behavior Explained

Potty messes, chewed shoes, annoyingly begging at the table—these are a few scenarios every dog owner understands, but, do dogs understand mistakes? After...

Top 14 Most Popular Dogs in Italy in 2025 (With Pictures)

Man’s best friend comes in all shapes and sizes and from all different countries! Italy hosts a vast range of dog breeds, some...

19 Pet Ownership Statistics In Ohio (Updated In 2025)

Note: This article’s statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website. Ohio has a population of just...

Saint Pyrenees (Saint Bernard & Great Pyrenees Mix): Info, Pictures & Care

The Saint Pyrenees is a mixed breed with Saint Bernard and Great Pyrenees parentage. With ancestors like that, it’s no wonder that Saint...

More related

9 DIY Indestructible Dog Toys for Dogs That Chew (With Instructions & Pictures)

Dogs that are compulsive chewers love toys that they can munch on until their little heart’s content. However, did you know that you...

How Much Does It Cost to Own a Bergamasco? 2025 Price Guide

The Bergamasco Sheepdog—or Bergamasco, as they’re more commonly known—is a herding dog originating from the Mediterranean. They’re recognized by their long, shaggy, dreadlocked...

Can Dogs Eat Cherry Tomatoes? Vet Approved Nutrition Facts & Advice

Cherry tomatoes are just about the perfect human snack. The small bright red treats are just the right size to pop in your...

204 Popular & Unique Anatolian Shepherd Dog Names

The Anatolian Shepherd is a large working dog breed that hails from Turkey. Historically, the breed would have guarded livestock while also serving...

Keep reading

Can Dogs Have Peppermint? Vet-Verified Safety Facts & FAQ

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) makes an appearance in so many things we eat and drink, particularly around the holidays! But many also use peppermint for its homeopathic uses, of which there are a number of potential benefits to humans. But can...

peppermint plants

9 Best Inexpensive Dog Foods for Large Breeds in 2025 – Reviews & Top Picks

If there’s one thing that everyone can agree on, it’s the desire to feed our dogs the healthiest food there is. But this isn’t always possible, as high-quality dog food is less than budget-friendly. When it comes to large breeds,...

labrador-retriever-dog-eating

What Happened to Mighty Dog Dog Food? Does It Still Exist in 2025? (Answered)

Many little dog owners are familiar with the Mighty Dog title. Carnation (the milk company) created this food line in 1973. But soon after that, in 1985, Purina bought the company. Ever since then, Purina has proudly displayed the title...

dog eating dog food

Can Dogs Eat Boba? Vet-Verified Facts & FAQ

Cool and refreshing with fun pops of tapioca starch, bubble tea originated in Taiwan in the 1980s. The tea beverage was introduced to America in Taiwanese shops on the California coast, but now has traveled all across the country where...

Can Dogs Eat Boba

Relievet CBD Dog Treats Review 2025: Our Expert’s Opinion

What Are Relievet CBD Dog Treats? How Do They Work? Hemp, or the marijuana plant, has been used since before recorded human history began for many purposes. These purposes include religious use, recreational use, pain control, mood stability, and other...

Relievet CBD Dog Treats

Can Dogs Have Snow Cones? Vet-Approved Health & Nutrition Facts

Few treats are better for cooling us down on a hot summer day than a crisp, flavorful snow cone. As the furriest members of the family, our dogs can often use the relief from the heat more than anyone. There...

Snow Cone in a bowl

Can Dogs Drink Human Breast Milk? Nutrition & Health Facts

Many pet owners consider their dog to be their baby, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, there are some things that we shouldn’t be sharing with our pets, and breast milk is one of them. In addition to being...

Can Dogs Drink Human Breast Milk

Instinct Dog Food Review 2025: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Review Summary Instinct Dog Food is made by Nature’s Variety, a brand that’s been in operation since 2002, specializing in holistic pet food. None of its formulas contains wheat, corn, by-product meals, or artificial colors or flavors. The Instinct Raw...

Dogster_Instinct Dog Food Review