New Year's Resolutions For Your Dog Pet Store | Goodness For Pets

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR YOUR DOG

The New Year is upon us and it is time once again to make some New Year’s resolutions for the year ahead. There is no question that the bond between humans and animals is powerful and amazing. They teach us so many things about life. To pay it forward to them, try something new and make New Year’s resolutions for your dog! Getting on track with your dogs daily exercise routine, nutritional needs and mental stimulation can help your dog have a happier and more healthy 2019. Perhaps by accomplishing your dog’s New Year’s resolutions you will be inspired to keep yours as well!

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR YOUR DOG – THE TOP FIVE

 

1.) DRINK MORE WATER

 

Did you know that the daily water intake recommendations are the same for humans and dogs alike? The rule of thumb for you and your dog are .5 to 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight, per day. When you see your pup take a sip, help it remind you to take a sip too! You can conquer two New Year’s resolutions in one shot. Be sure to always give your pets a fresh bowl of  water at least once a day. We recommend filtered, spring water, reverse osmosis or distilled. It is also a good idea to disinfect the water once a week by either running through the dishwasher or hand washing in warm soapy water and rinsing thoroughly. Water is fundamentally important to your dogs nutrition. For further information on the link between water and nutrition please refer to “The Importance of Water for a Dog’s Nutrition”. 

 

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2.) CHEW!

 

Another great New Year’s resolution for your dog is “chew the right thing!” Dogs naturally have a need to chew and it will help keep their teeth clean too. Try a natural and fully digestible chew rather than something synthetic overly processed. There are many chews that are just one ingredient and there are many options to choose from. It is highly recommended that you supervise your dog while chewing. It will also help you be mindful of how much of the chew your dog will consume. Example: For a dog 15-20 pounds, let them eat an inch or two of a bully stick (depending on thickness). This will allow you to control how much and how many portions you get out of each chew while your dog has fun with it.  Your dog will be happy and feel satisfied to chew and another New Year’s resolution will be checked off the list!

 

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3.) EXPLORE NEW PLACES

 

It’s easier than ever to incorporate this New Year’s resolution into your daily routine with your dog. Simply going a different way on a walk in your neighborhood is a good start! When you change the regular routine of your walks, you provide you and your dog with exercise and a source of mental stimulation. The same walk, day after day, gets rather boring and predictable. Try taking a different path every week so your dog gets some new sights and smells. It can be as simple as turning right at the end of your street instead of left. You can even hop in the car and drive to a new park or neighborhood for a change of pace.

Other ideas for exploring new places are: dog beach, hiking, different neighborhood or go to a local park. Many of the parks have paved or wooden pathways, doggie pick up stations with bags and waste cans. Please always be responsible and clean up after your pet. If you are going to go on a longer exploration of a new place with your dog, be sure to have the appropriate portable gear such as water dish, treat bag and waste pick up bags.

Some dog-friendly places we enjoy here in Naples, Florida:

Gordon River Greenway Park

North Collier Regional Park

Veterans Community Park

 

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4.) EXERCISE MORE

 

Play more, stress less! Play can take many forms – training, tug, fetch, food dispensing toys, nose-work games and exercise. Exercise does not have to be boring…just get creative. What a great way to accomplish a New Year’s resolution for your dog, while bonding with your dog through exercise and playtime! Get a new toy to play fetch with, play a hide-and-seek game or with an interactive toy. Puzzle feeders, which encourage a pet to think through a task in order to be rewarded with a treat, are also an excellent way to get a dog’s mind exercised and engaged. Keep them fit and mentally stimulated while conquering another New Year’s resolution for your dog. We can all benefit from exercising more!

 

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5.) EAT RIGHT

 
A great New Year’s resolution is to commit to feeding your dog only the best. Healthier dog food brands can truly make a difference in your dog’s life. Try to find foods and treats that have real ingredients instead of words you can’t pronounce, the more natural the better. Be mindful of what kind of food you are feeding including ingredient panel, portion and protein source. Other important factors to consider are age, breed and activity level of your dog. Over 50% of pets in the United States are classified as overweight.

Your dog can benefit from a re-evaluation of their nutritional intake and needs. A simple way to stay on track with this New Year’s resolution is to measure your dog’s food. This can help your dog get on a consistent eating schedule, reduce weight gain and ensure their nutritional needs are being met. An example of a change in nutritional needs is giving a natural glucosamine and chondroitin supplement to a mature dog to help promote joint health. At Goodness For Pets we have over 30+ combined years of pet nutrition experience. Come in and talk with us about your pet’s nutrition, we would be happy to help you and your dog.

 

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By making New Year’s resolutions for your dog, you will strengthen your bond with them. It allows you to spend more time together and can help your dog have a healthy life. Four of the five resolutions for your dog can also apply for you this year: drink more water, explore new places, exercise more and eat right (left out Chew!)  Consider accomplishing the four New Year’s resolutions that you can do together with your dog. Dogs do so much for their humans emotionally and physically and their love is unconditionally. Get inspired and accomplish New Year’s resolutions for your dog and for yourself!