New Year is a time to take a look back at the last year, but also to look forward to 2018. Part of the process is to take a ‘long hard look’ at yourself and recognise what needs to be improved. But along with the usual New Year’s resolutions of losing weight, quitting smoking, or spending more time with family, surely it’s time to consider your pet’s wellbeing for the coming year too?
According to LiveScience, owning a dog can improve your heart health and we know the pleasure that a pet’s unconditional love can bring. The act of petting your cat releases oxytocin, the bonding hormone or "cuddle chemical," which can make you feel less stressed, says Melanie Greenberg, Ph.D., licensed clinical psychologist and author of The Stress-Proof Brain.
So make 2020 the year to give back to your pet by looking after their health where you can.
January is the time to improve both our physical and mental health, and there are many steps we can take to improve the lives of our cats and dogs in return. And the New Year is the perfect time to get started!
So scroll through our list of pet-friendly New Year’s resolutions. Show your love for your furry friends who deserve the best, and commit to taking on board many of these New Year pet resolutions for 2020!
Which of these resolutions will help your pet? Let us know in the comments below.
Resolution #1: Exercise With Your Dog
Look after your health AND your pet’s health by making exercising together one of your biggest priorities for the New Year. Exercise will deliver huge benefits that will do you both so much good, as well as enjoying time together.
Resolution #2: Measure Their Food
A big priority going into the New Year is your pet’s health. This means paying close attention to how to measure out their food properly.
According to Preventive Vet, using proper measuring cups is important “Because the pet obesity rate in the U.S. (and in many other countries, too) has truly ballooned to epidemic proportions.” Read up on your pet’s food instructions, and stick to it – no-one’s “handful” is the same size!
Resolution #3: Give Them a Brushing
“Regular grooming is extremely important for your canine friend,” according to YourDog.co.uk. “Not only does it keep dogs’ coats clean and manageable, it also enables you to do a quick health check to ensure your pet stays in tip-top condition.” This is the same for any furry friend.
Resolve to brush your dog every day. It’s great for their health, and it gives you both a chance to bond as well which also has great mental health benefits.
Resolution #4: Spend Time Bonding With Your Pet
It has long been recognized by pet owners that their pet is treated as a member of the family. According to Time Magazine, “People who have pets tend to have lower blood pressure, heart rate and heart-disease risk than those who don’t.”
Whilst the health benefits are obvious, “Scientists are now digging up evidence that animals can also help improve mental health, even for people with challenging disorders.” Pets can be an immense stress relief of having a best friend always there to support you, and you can improve this relationship by spending some regular time to bond with your pet.
Play will also provide some much-needed exercise, and will provide you both with some crucial one-on-one time. So set aside certain times in your week that can be devoted entirely to playing with your pet.
Resolution #5: Try a New Activity
To prevent your pets from getting just as bored as you can with the same old routine, a new activity will add a new focus for both you and your pet in the New Year.
A new activity that you can try together could be heelwork, agility, swimming or hiking. This will greatly improve your relationship with your pet!
Resolution #6: Teach a New Trick
Make your pet’s mental health — and overall behavior — a top priority in 2020.
Teaching your pet a new trick can be great for stimulating their brain.
According to Victoria Stilwell, “Trick training is a lot of fun and is a great way to enhance communication between you and your dog.” Enjoy this article where Victoria shares her tricks for teaching your dog to dance and hand targeting.
Resolution #7: Book a Vet Healthcheck
Perhaps the most important resolution for any pet owner is to take your pet for an annual healthcheck.
There can sometimes be things that we can’t see underneath the surface, and as much as we love our pets, we can miss these warning signs that need paying close attention to.
Why wait? If you haven’t been for a while, make an appointment for January NOW!
Resolution #8: Start Saving For Vet Fees
With older pets, their medical fees can become quite expensive.
Just as parents save money for their children to go to college, pet owners can make their lives considerably easier by starting to save in a special account just for their pets.
You’ll be so thankful in the long term!
Resolution #9: Replace Old Toys with New
New Year is a great time for a de-clutter in the home – “out with the old, in with the new” as the saying goes. However, don’t leave your pet’s toys out of this!
So give your pet something new, fun – and clean – to play with, and toss the ragged, smelly and often bacteria-covered toys in the trash.
Resolution #10: Microchip Your Pet
According to WebMD, “Up to 8 million animals end up in shelters every year.”
This can be so easily avoided if pets can be reunited easily with their owners and remove the risk of a family’s heartache when they lose their beloved pet.
Ensuring your pet is microchipped and their ID tags are up to date is a great New Year resolution for your pet.
Our beloved pets deserve the best, so why not make some New Years resolutions that are pet-friendly – they will love us even more!
What will your New Year’s resolution be? Let the team at Pet Sitter Plus know in the comments.
Please SHARE with friends and family who love animals, too!
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