Do I need to feed my dog more in winter in NZ?

The idea that dogs need more food in winter comes from a world where dogs lived outdoors. Most New Zealand dogs sleep on a bed inside with the heat pump going, so they're not burning much extra energy keeping warm.

What usually happens instead is the opposite. From June through August, when it's dark at 5pm and it's been raining sideways for three days, walks get shorter and less frequent. The dog is doing less, eating the same, and by September the harness is a notch looser. If anything, plenty of dogs need slightly less food over a wet winter, not more.

There are real exceptions. Working dogs on Southland and Canterbury farms who are out in the weather all day genuinely do burn more, and short-coated or very lean dogs living somewhere properly cold may need a bit extra. Older dogs feel the cold more too, though a coat and a warmer bed sorts that better than a bigger dinner does.

The practical approach is to stop guessing by season and check by hand. Do the rib and waist check every few weeks through winter, weigh your dog monthly at the vet clinic, and adjust by around 10% when the trend is going the wrong way. Then when daylight saving comes back and the walks get longer again, you'll probably need to nudge the food back up.