October has properly arrived. This week's Met Office outlook for Scotland is cooler and changeable – sunny spells, heavy showers, and the odd patchy frost on clear nights. Classic autumn, in other words, and a good moment to think about autumn dog care in Scotland, whether your dog spends the day working a hill in Perthshire or supervising the sofa in Stirlingshire.
The pheasant season opened on 1 October, the clocks go back on 25 October, and the fields are getting wetter by the day. Here's what we'd keep an eye on this week – and how to keep your dog fuelled, clean and happy as the nights draw in.
What Your Dog Needs This Week
Paws first. Wet ground softens pads, mud packs in between the toes, and stubble, flints and bramble can nick skin that's already waterlogged. After a muddy walk, rinse paws in lukewarm water, dry properly between the toes and have a quick look for cuts, thorns or swelling. On long-coated breeds, trimming the hair between the pads stops those painful mud balls forming.
Dry them off properly. A soaked dog in a cold car or kennel chills quicker than you'd think – especially older dogs and thin-coated breeds like whippets and pointers. Give them a good towel down, keep bedding dry, and lift kennel dogs off cold concrete with a raised bed.
Help the winter coat come through. Many dogs are dropping their summer undercoat now. Regular brushing clears the dead hair so the new coat can do its job of insulating. Our dog grooming range has brushes and rakes for every coat type – and if your spaniel has found something unspeakable to roll in, Animology Fox Poo Shampoo is a kennel favourite.
Autumn hazards. Conkers, acorns, windfall fruit and wild mushrooms are all out in force and can make dogs seriously ill, so discourage scavenging on walks. Ticks are still active in mild spells too. Our AMTRA-qualified SQPs (Suitably Qualified Persons) are happy to talk you through parasite control – just ask in store.
Darker evenings. With the light going earlier, make sure your dog is visible near roads. For garden games after dark, the Chuckit! Medium Air Glow Fetch Ball keeps fetch going long after sunset, while the Chuckit! 2 Pack Medium Air Fetch Ball is light, bouncy and easy on the mouth for daytime runs across wet fields.
Feeding Right for the Season
Here's the bit that matters most for working dogs. A gundog on a shoot day, or a collie gathering ewes on the hill, uses far more energy than on a rest day – and cold, wet weather adds to it, because the body burns extra fuel just keeping warm. If ribs and hips start to show, or your dog is flagging by mid-afternoon, it's a sign they need more.
Increase rations gradually over a week or so as the workload rises, split food into two meals, and give the main meal after work rather than before. Deep-chested breeds in particular should rest for an hour either side of a big feed. And always, always fresh water.
Our own McCaskie Meaty Mix is built for exactly this. It's a complete, all-natural dog food with real meaty chunks, added vitamins and minerals, and oil added for taste and texture – in a good-value 15kg bag. It suits working dogs and family dogs alike: simply feed to your dog's condition and workload. If you're looking for natural dog food in Scotland that doesn't cost the earth, start here.
Family pets usually need the opposite adjustment. When wet weather shortens walks, many dogs quietly put on weight through the winter, so trim portions slightly and keep an eye on their waistline.
For dogs with sensitive stomachs or itchy skin, Gilbertson & Page Dr. John Lamb & Rice Hypoallergenic is a wheat-free recipe with 26% lamb, made with working dogs in mind. Some dogs react to particular proteins or to wheat, and a simple, single-protein diet can be a sensible first step – though it's always worth chatting to your vet if symptoms persist. Whichever food you choose, switch gradually over 7–10 days.
Prefer a specialist working dog food? We also stock the Skinner's Field & Trial range and the wider Gilbertson & Page range – browse our full dog food collection to compare.
Find Your Dog's Favourites at McCaskie
We've been looking after Scotland's farmers, shooters and pet owners since 1957, and our four country stores are stocked for the season: Ayr, Kinross, Lanark and Stirling. Whether you're after dog food in Ayr, pet supplies in Stirling or a bag of Meaty Mix on the way home from a shoot in Kinross-shire, there's a country store in Scotland near you – find your nearest McCaskie here.
Not sure which food suits your dog, or need advice on worming and flea treatments? Our AMTRA-qualified SQPs are on hand in store to help. And if you'd rather shop from the kitchen table, our full dog range is online at mccaskie.store.
Autumn is a cracking time to be out with a dog in Scotland – a bit of mud is all part of it. Pop into your nearest McCaskie Country Store in Ayr, Kinross, Lanark or Stirling – our team are dog lovers too and always happy to help. Or browse our full dog range at mccaskie.store.