9 New Year’s Resolutions for You and Your Pet

It’s that time of the year again … Time to start thinking about positive changes you can make in your day-to-day life to achieve greater health, happiness and fulfillment. While you, like so many others, may tailor your New Year’s resolutions to your own needs year after year, consider doing something a bit different this year and include your pets. Not only will doing so help to improve your pets’ lives but also, it may give you greater motivation to stick to your goals all year long.

Go on Daily Walks

Walking your dog should be something you do regardless of whether he or she has to use the restroom. Walking has outstanding health benefits for both humans and four-legged critters, including but not limited to improved heart health, improved mental health, better weight management and increased bone strength. As a bonus, going on daily walks with your pet gives you more bonding time. Resolve to walk your pet for at least 30 minutes every day. However, if you need to build up to that frequency, start with one 15- to 20-minute walk every other day, and increase the time and frequency every few of weeks.

Play More

It’s not enough to just pet, feed and walk your animals every day. Four-legged friends need physical and mental stimulation just as much as humans do, and they crave the type of interaction that play offers. If you rarely take time out of your day to play tug-of-war or catch with your dog, or to point a laser for your cat to catch, aim to engage in more playtime in 2022. By playing for just 15 to 20 minutes with your pet daily, you can significantly improve both yours and his or her heart health, flexibility, muscle tone and body weight.

Try Something New Together

If you lack the motivation to walk your dog every day, or if playtime feels like work, it may be because your heart isn’t in it. However, that doesn’t mean you should just give up. Try various new activities with your pet until you land on one that you both truly enjoy. You will both have a lot of fun trying out new activities, and you will get plenty of mental and physical stimulation in the process.

Invest in New Tags

Though simple, pet identification tags help thousands of lost pets find their way home each year. If your pet doesn’t currently have tags, or if the information on his or her tag is outdated, set aside time in early January to get new tags and update microchip information, if applicable. If your pet is not currently microchipped, schedule an appointment with the vet to have one implemented.

Get Rid of Old Toys

It’s amazing how quickly pets, like humans, can acquire so much stuff so quickly. When you’re cleaning out your own clutter to make room for the gifts you acquired over the holidays, go through your pet’s toy basket or baskets as well. Toss out any tattered, old or unloved toys to make room for the new toys you likely gifted your dog or cat in the previous month.

While you’re at it, replace old beds or blankets, or throw them in the wash. Deep clean your pet’s bowls, if you don’t make it a habit of doing so regularly, and toss out any expired pet medications or vitamins. Replace them with new stock.

Take Your Pet for Monthly Groomings

Whether you have a cat or a dog, you should be investing in monthly grooming appointments. There are several benefits to pet grooming that go beyond the removal of excess fur. Grooming helps to distribute oils evenly throughout your pet’s fur, which contributes to a shinier, glossier look and healthier fibers. It also helps your pet relax and can soothe any anxiety he or she developed over the previous month.

Create a Safe, Outdoor Space for Your Pet

If you have the space to do so, create an enclosed, outdoor play place for your pet. Make sure the space is free of known and potentially harmful substances and materials and is one in which your furry friend has the freedom to roam around without getting into mischief. An outdoor space can allow your pet to soak up some vitamin D and blow off steam on those days when you do not have time to take him or her for a walk or to the park.

Feed Your Pets Healthier Meals

Sure, the bulk bag of generic food is affordable, but your monetary savings may come at the cost of your pet’s health. This coming year, resolve to spend a little less on your morning lattes and afternoon mochas and a little more on your furry friend’s food. Quality kibble, healthier snack options and homemade meals can drastically improve your pet’s coat health, overall health, energy levels and possibly lifespan.

Take More Family Photos With Your Pets

Pets are family, and while more people are beginning to include them in family photos, there are still several pet owners that fail to do this one simple thing. If your photo album isn’t currently full of your pet’s face, resolve to take more pictures of and with him or her. Go above and beyond and schedule a photo shoot for the whole family, four-legged and winged friends included.

Including your pets in your New Year’s resolutions puts a fun twist on an old tradition. However, it does more than that. It gives you renewed motivation to make your goals happen, and it gives you and your furry or feathered friends more opportunities to bond on a deeper level.