As the calendar flips to January and another year stretches out ahead, it presents the perfect moment for reflection on both successes and areas for future growth over the past 12 months. For dog owners and their canine families, thinking about annual resolutions provides an opportunity to cement healthy habits that will enhance quality of life long-term. As scientists devoted to furthering the field of canine nutrition and wellness, we want to offer four paws-itive goals both owners and dogs can feel inspired to work as a team achieving in 2024 and beyond.
Make Daily Exercise a Priority
Aiming for at least two walks per day with your furry friend is an excellent way to start. Vary the routes you take so your pup experiences new sights, smells and terrain – this mental workout is just as important as physical activity. Switch up locations like local trails, beaches if nearby, or just different neighborhood streets. Bring along some yummy training treats too so walking remains a rewarding experience. Don’t forget about rainy days, as indoor games of fetch, finding hidden toys or treats around the house, or interactive food puzzles are great play that uses their mind and body while confined inside. Staying active each day is not only fun for dogs but spending quality time together further strengthens the human-canine bond.
Commit to Consistent Training
Dedicate a short amount of time daily, such as 10-15 minutes, to work on obedience training with your pup. Focus on commands they already know like “sit,” “stay,” and “come,” and also choose one new trick to teach each week. Maintaining a positive association with training is important, so be generous with praise and tasty rewards as they try their best. While it may take multiple sessions for new behaviors to sunk in, sticking to a routine schedule will yield impressive results if done with patience. Before long, you’ll find your dog is a whiz at following instructions. Watching their eager-to-please attitude and technique improve steadily is also a major self-confidence booster for owners.
Refresh Your Nutrition Knowledge
Seize the opportunity that a new year brings to carefully analyze your dog’s diet. Verify their kibble or homemade recipe contains all essential vitamins, minerals, proteins and fats required for their breed, age and activity level. As experts in canine nutrition, we’ve witnessed the profound role diet plays in disease prevention long-term. Consider supplementing with our unique prebiotic formula, Dig-In powder, which supports a balanced digestive system through natural food fibers. Simply sprinkle the easy-to-use powder onto meals. This resolution costs minimal time yet yields tremendous inside-and-out benefits as it feeds good gut bacteria. Getting informed about optimized nutrition will help ensure your furry friend enjoys robust health for years to come.
Make Memories Together
Pledge to create one special memory monthly with your canine companion by stepping outside your usual routine. Whether it’s taking up recreational dog sports, joining new playgroups at your local dog park, trailblazing scenic nature paths together, or even trying pup-friendly activities like doggy daycare or agility classes, purposefully carving out adventurous quality time is important. Capturing photos of the memories you share along the way allows you both to treasure the priceless moments of fun and bonding for years to come. Your furry friend will love having new experiences to look forward to with you each month. The memories made will brighten even your dog’s cloudiest days and warm your heart whenever you revisit the photos and reminisce.
The most important thing when tackling any new year’s resolutions is setting realistic, gradual goals that become lifetime habits rather than temporary fixes. Focus on consistency over perfection as you and your furry friend work step-by-step towards your shared aims. Small, sustainable changes implemented reliably together will reap enormous benefits for both your well-being for years ahead. As long as you maintain that special daily bond filled with play, cuddles, walks and quality time, your dog’s wagging tail and enthusiastic ‘kisses’ will be a constant reminder of why your friendship is truly paws-itively precious. Wishing you all the very best for a happy and healthy 2024!
