Exercising Your Pet as Daylight Shrinks in Somerset
October 12, 2026
October marks a significant shift for pets and owners alike across Somerset – with the clocks going back, we’ll quickly feel the impact of darker mornings and evenings as our window to enjoy the daylight rapidly shrinks. At Nurture, we know that exercising your pet outside during this time can become a challenge – those early morning dog walks don’t seem so appealing anymore, and we may feel wary about our cat’s safety in the dark.
But don’t panic – our teams in Wells and Weston are sharing some tips below, helping you to manage a safe and consistent exercise routine for your pet throughout autumn. If you have any concerns, our teams are happy to help – book an appointment for tailored advice.
Adjusting routines
Dogs and cats normally thrive on consistent routines, which may feel like bad news for us when we really don’t want to leave the warmth of our home in the early mornings, or have safety concerns about our cat wandering at night. If you’re thinking of adjusting their routine, our teams at Nurture explain that it works best as a gradual process.
For some pets, a one-hour difference will feel fine, but for others it may be distressing or confusing. That’s why we recommend slowly changing the time they go out by no more than 10–15 minutes per day in the lead-up to the clock change, until you reach your desired new schedule.
The same advice goes for feeding times. Our vets in Wells and Weston also suggest monitoring your pet’s activity levels during this transitional period. If you find your pet is getting less exercise than before, we recommend making some reasonable tweaks to their calorie intake to prevent any significant weight gain, which we commonly see at Nurture during the colder months.
Safety rituals
It’s normal to feel apprehensive about safety during darker mornings and evenings in Somerset. To help you exercise your pet with confidence, here are Nurture’s top autumn safety tips:
- Reflective pet and human clothing: Wear bright clothing and gear up your pet with a quick-release reflective collar for cats, and a reflective collar, lead and jacket for dogs
- A torch: We advise bringing a spare source of light, in case you’re unable to rely on your phone
- Adjust dog walking routes: Keep dog walks in well-lit areas, and try to avoid isolated or wilderness routes where possible
- Keep leads on: Even if your dog is well trained, it’s best to keep them securely on a lead in the dark, as you may be unable to see them if they stray far
- Make the most of the daylight hours: Try to let outdoor cats out earlier in the day when visibility is better, and use feeding time in the evening to naturally encourage them back inside before dark
- Keep an indoor litter tray: If your cat usually toilets outdoors, we recommend providing an indoor option – giving them one less reason to go outside
With these small adjustments, it should be easier to enjoy the new season to the fullest. At Nurture, we wish you and your pet a happy and healthy autumn!
Want to talk further? Book an appointment today with our friendly teams in Wells or Weston.
