New Year New Dog

For most, the new year ushers in a moment for reflection and growth. As you order a salad for lunch and pick up a new box of floss, remember that this is also a good time to help your pet establish good habits. How to improve on perfect, you ask? Well even man’s best friend can benefit from some New Year’s Resolutions.

1. Portion Control

Repeat after us: “Food ≠ Love.” Dogs are opportunistic and designed to take advantage of meals as they come. If you are feeding your dog to the point where he’s saying “no, no I couldn’t possibly take another bite,” you are most likely overfeeding him. Try to bear in mind that high quality foods will be higher in calories and require smaller portion sizes. Make sure to consult the feeding guidelines on the back of the bag for calculating daily portions.  Keep in mind that these are just guidelines and may need to be adjusted depending on your dog’s characteristics.

2. Exercise

Exercise is good for the body and soul. Daily exercise is such a vital part of your dog’s health, not just physically, but mentally as well. This year try extending your walks or increasing the frequency. Add an extra Frisbee session. It’s good for you too.

Photo Credit: @thehilaryann, @cashmoneyvizsla

3. Healthy Treats

Everyone wants to give their “good dog” a treat but many commercially available dog treats are carbohydrate heavy and contain artificial colors or preservatives. Make sure to choose a healthier option that includes a higher percentage of protein from meat.

4. Annual Check-ups

It can be difficult to get your dog into the vet when you know it’s their least favorite place in the world. But putting it off until there’s an emergency may only make it worse.  Annual checkups will help catch problems early when they are easier to treat.  Remember, dogs will often try to hide pain so it can be difficult to tell when something is off.

5. Old Dog New Tricks

Everyone knows that puppies benefit from training classes, but more mature dogs often enjoy the challenge of learning something new. This year look into signing up for agility, rally or a nose work class. You might be surprised to see what your dog can do!

Photo Credit: @thehilaryann, @cashmoneyvizsla