Does dog behavior change with the moon phases?
Overview
Every night for about a month, I am watching my dog and writing his behavior onto a graph to see the impact of the moon phases.
Problem
Challenges I may face are . . . Because I'm moving there are plenty of boxes and changes to his lifestyle. Resulting in maybe being more scared or excited than normal.
Method
1. I made a chart with the date and moon phases. 2. I made a rating scale to test his behaviors\, including: Responsiveness\, Sleepiness\, Playfulness\, 3. I observed his behavior everyday at the same time for a month 4. I tracked his behavior and rating in a table 5. I compared his behavior to the moon phases 6. I analysed data and made a conclusion
Research
Some people believe that animal behavior is influenced by the moon cycles, and the amount of moon light. My experiment is testing to see if this is true.
Data
Data and moon phase Playfulness Sleepiness Responsiveness
Nov 18
WaningCrescent
Nov 19
New moon
Nov 20
WaxingCrescent
Nov 21
WaxingCrescent
Nov 22
WaxingCrescent
Nov 23
WaxingCrescent
Nov 24
WaxingCrescent
Nov 25
WaxingCrescent
Nov 26
WaxingCrescent
Nov 27
First Quarter
Nov 28
Waxing Gibbous
Nov 29
Waxing Gibbous
Nov 30
Waxing Gibbous
Dec 1
Waxing Gibbous
Dec 2
Waxing Gibbous
Dec 3
Waxing Gibbous
Dec 4
Full Moon
Dec 5
Waning Gibbous
Dec 6
Waning Gibbous
Dec 7
Waning Gibbous
Dec 8
Waning Gibbous
Dec 9
Waning Gibbous
Dec 10
Waning Gibbous
| Dec 11
Third Quarter | 1 | 1 | 3 | | --------------------- | --- | --- | --- | | Dec 12
WaningCrescent | m |
|
| | Dec 13
WaningCrescent | m |
|
| |
|
|
|
| | Dec 14
WaningCrescent | m |
|
| | Dec 15
WaningCrescent | 1 | 1 | 3 | | Dec 16
WaningCrescent | m |
|
| | Dec 17
WaningCrescent | m |
|
| | Dec 18
WaningCrescent | 1 | 1 | 2 | | Dec 19
New Moon | m |
|
| | Dec 20
Waxing crescent | 1 | 1 | 3 | | Dec 21
Waxing crescent | 1 | 2 | 3 | | Dec 22
Waxing crescent | 1 | 1 | 2 | | Dec 23
Waxing crescent | 1 | 2 | 3 | | Dec 24
Waxing crescent | m |
|
| | Dec 25
Waxing crescent | 1 | 2 | 2 | | Dec 26
Waxing crescent | 1 | 2 | 2 | | |
Conclusion
Conclusion: My conclusion is that, no, dogs behavior does not change with the moon phases. I have looked at the biggest moon phases and the behavior was the exact same for both. If you also go deeper into the other moon phases, there is no significant difference in the behavior. This finding may be different with different breeds or activities (by that I mean, my dogs a border collie, he just lays around all day. But other border collies may be herding sheep and running around a farm yard). But a regular sleep, energetic house dog’s behavior does not change with the moon phases
Citations
https://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=oIzuEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT6&dq=how+are+dogs+brains+connected+to+their+activities,&ots=UHZJoCrfnq&sig=wCsZLAQGWsQni4UVbHtQtrBRrLA#v=onepage&q=how%20are%20dogs%20brains%20connected%20to%20their%20activities%2C&f=false
https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/phases/
https://biohackersunited.com/blogs/news/the-moon-s-impact-the-human-body https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13420-011-0041-7
Acknowledgement
Ms. Phillips - science fair teacher at CGCS, thanks for overlooking my project Ms. Godau - science fair teacher at CGCS, thanks for helping me with my question Mr. Gallant - science fair teacher, thanks for helping me with my hypothesis My mom - helping me with my writing and overlooking my project Charile - my dog - thanks for being my project
Awards (1)
- HONOURABLE MENTION
Competition history
- CYSF 2026
Resources
- https://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=oIzuEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT6&dq=how+are+dogs+brains+connected+to+their+activities,&ots=UHZJoCrfnq&sig=wCsZLAQGWsQni4UVbHtQtrBRrLA#v=onepage&q=how%20are%20dogs%20brains%20connected%20to%20their%20activities%2C&f=false
- https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/phases/
- View Log Book (may download a file)
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Source: Calgary Youth Science Fair