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Do Dogs Get the Winter Blues? How Shorter Days Affect Their Mood and Health

Snuggle Season is Officially Here! Enjoy all things cozy this Fall in Dog-Friendly Minnesota!

Author

Jared McKinney
September 19, 2025

  •  đŸ’© The Scoop Do Dogs Get the Winter Blues? How Shorter Days Affect Their Mood and Health

  • 📈 Events Meet at Mia: Summer Series + Sever’s Fall Festival + Mill City Farmer’s Market + Ukranian Festival + PryesFest 2025

  • đŸ€Ł Headlines What Senior Dog Does From 8:30 to 9:30 P.M. Leaves Internet in Stitches + How These 2-Legged Dogs Inspire Humans Learning to Live With Amputations + Dog Mom Shares Hilarious Throwback Video Of Her Pup Screaming Into a Pillow

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Do Dogs Get the Winter Blues? How Shorter Days Affect Their Mood and Health

Winter is around the corner, and with it comes shorter days, reduced sunlight, and colder weather. When that happens, it’s not just people who feel the impact of the changing weather. The “winter blues” affects the entire family, including your furry family members.

However, just like with people, there are ways to help your dog through the seasonal changes. Here’s what causes your pup’s winter blues, and how you can help fix it.

Submit local dog-friendly events here

  • PryesFest 2025 – Sept 19th–Oct 5th (5 – 9pm)
    Brewery season is awakening! Bring your pooch along to the Pryes Brewing patio as you toast to a summer with ice-cold stouts, chillin’ pilsners, and refreshing IPAs. Drink responsibly and enjoy an afternoon of good-time Minneapolis fun with Pryes’ best craft beers, a staple of the Mill City.

  • Meet at Mia: Summer Series – Sept 18th (10am - 1:30 pm)

    Enjoy the golden pre-autumn vibes at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and share the joy with your fluffy art enthusiast! Meet at Mia is a summer series that creates a space for Twin Citians to meet and enjoy the outdoors with unique activities made to awaken the artist within.

  • Mill City Farmer’s Market - Sept 20th (8am – 1pm)

    Love fresh, local, and organic produce? This weekend you can take your pup to Mill City Farmers Market, where you’ll get a chance to meet Minnesota’s finest organic vendors, along with activities such as live music, chef demos, and yoga.

  • Sever’s Fall Festival 2025 - Sept 13th-Oct 26th (10am - 7pm)
    This unique festival originated as a corn maze attraction, the second of its kind in the US. It has since evolved into one of St. Paul’s most wholesome rural attractions. Other activities include corn pit, jumping pillows, wildlife shows, and live music from the Blue Ox Jazz Babies!

  • Ukrainian Festival – Sept 19th (6pm – 9pm) & Sept 20th (12pm – 9pm)

    Here, Ukrainian and Ukrainian American organizations get together to share their music, traditional dance demonstrations, and delicious homemade Ukrainian food.

    *All locations are dog-friendly, but not all events allow dogs inside. Check event details prior to attending.

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