It’s a new year! While you can always strive to make changes for the better and set goals any time, the start of a new year gives you the opportunity to leave the old year behind you, start over fresh, and truly reflect on what you’d like to accomplish. Breaking New Year’s resolutions for your dog down into attainable steps is an excellent way to not just hope to do better, but to give yourself the tools to actually do so.
Here are some of our top ideas for New Year’s resolutions for your dog that you can make, as well as how you can set yourself and your furbaby up for success to achieve them. Ready? Let’s get into it!
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One of the most common New Year’s resolutions people make is to be healthier. This can be one of the New Year’s resolutions for your dog, too! It’s always good to eat better so that we can take better care of our bodies and give them everything they need in order to keep us in good health. The same goes for your puppy! According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, about 56% of dogs in the United States are overweight or obese. Maintaining a healthy diet and weight is key for your pup to live a long and happy life.
This is one of the New Year’s resolutions for your dog that takes a bit of adjustment, but thankfully, it’s easier to help your puppy stick to a healthy diet than it is for us to cut back on tantalizing treats. Consider the food and portion sizes you’re feeding your puppy and consult with your veterinarian to determine the best diet for your dog to keep them in optimal health.
Of course, we all love to give our fur babies treats, but just as for us, they can have them - in moderation. Too much of a good thing isn’t good for anyone! It’s best to opt for healthy dog treats as opposed to ones with added sugar and artificial preservatives.
Another one of the New Year’s resolutions for your dog that aligns with one of the most common resolutions us humans make - move our bodies more. Exercise releases endorphins and endorphins make us happy, as Elle Woods says. Exercising your dog more will provide all the same benefits for them as it does you: mental stimulation, increased metabolism, an outlet to burn off anxiety and excess energy, and healthier joints. It also gives you time to bond and work on obedience training.
You don’t have to go crazy; taking your dog on daily walks is an excellent and easy way to get some exercise in. If you already go on daily walks, you may consider tacking on a few extra minutes. Playing fetch, taking your pup to a dog park, setting up playdates with doggy friends, and taking your dog out around town with you are all fantastic ways to help your dog be more active.
Everyone loves getting love and attention, dogs included. One of the most easily attainable of the New Year’s resolutions for your dog that we have: more time cuddling and snuggling and just being with your little furbaby. Whether it’s as simple as pulling up your current binge watch and having your puppy in your lap or something more involved like finding dog-friendly activities to do together around town, a little more TLC will help you and your pup be happier and feel closer together.
Your dog doesn’t need to be rowdy in order to benefit from training and obedience classes. We all get a bit rusty at skills we don’t utilize as much, and your dog will enjoy the chance to spend more time with you as you both brush up on your skills. Many dog-training experts recommend that you take your furbaby to a refresher course every few years for this exact purpose. It’s always good to ensure that you can rely on your dog to listen to their training.
Training also helps dogs know that they can trust you and whether or not a situation warrants stress. Remember a few blogs back when we talked about helping your dog get used to holiday guests by having someone knock on the door until they paid no heed to the sound? Training refreshers will help your pup keep up to date with their skills and you can always ask for help with any struggles you’re having - such as when you have guests over and you need to help your dog not flip out at every knock on the door.
The last thing we want is for something to happen to our dogs, but in the event that an emergency does happen, it’s always best to be prepared rather than thrown for a loop. You can strive to this one of the New Year’s resolutions for your dog by setting aside money for any potential vet bills and the like, as well as enrolling in pet insurance. These will grant you some peace of mind in the event that worst comes to worst.
Of course, there are many more New Year’s resolutions for your dog that you can make. These are just five that you can consider. Little Teton Doodles is always happy to help you and your furbaby have a happy, healthy life together. If you’d like additional recommendations for New Year’s resolutions for your dog, or if you would like to learn more about our adorable doodles, please don’t hesitate to contact us today!
