A New Year is upon us! Chances are you’ve already set some personal resolutions that you’re determined to keep throughout the year — start meal prepping every week, listen to more podcasts, get more sleep. Setting goals for ourselves is a great way to start 2021 fresh, but you shouldn’t forget to come up with a few New Year resolutions for your dog, too!
When setting New Year’s resolutions for your dog, you may find your goals aren’t so different after all! At TheUltimateLeash.com, we are hoping that 2021 is a great year for all dog owners and their furry companions. It’s not too late to come up with a few resolutions that both you and your dog can work towards this year. After all, they say achieving your goals is easier when you have a friend working towards the same goal. Here are some resolutions you and your dog can work on together so you can both have your best year yet.
Drink More Water
You know how important it is to drink water. It affects your energy levels and brain function, maximizes physical performance, regulates your body temperature, and prevents overall dehydration, among other benefits. Just as drinking water every day and staying hydrated is important for humans, it is also incredibly important for dogs. If dogs don’t get enough water, they are at risk of dehydration. In fact, they are actually at greater risk than humans because they are unable to release heat from their bodies as fast as humans can.
Make sure that your dog has plenty of fresh, clean water every day. Additionally, make sure that you are drinking enough water l. While you probably have heard that eight cups of water a day is the standard, but how much water you need depends on a lot of things and varies from person to person. For adults, it is recommended that men drink 15.5 cups and women drink 11.5 cups each day.
Get More Exercise
Exercising is essential when it comes to improving your health and maintaining a healthy weight, for both you and your dog. For humans, physical activity and exercise offer both immediate and long-term health benefits. It can also reduce the risk of developing several diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Most importantly, regular exercise can improve your quality of life.
Similarly, exercising keeps dogs healthy and limber while reducing behavioral problems. Additionally, exercising with your dog is a great way to strengthen your bond together. There are many ways to exercise with your dog, but on-leash walking and off-leash walking are perhaps the most popular. On-leash walking allows you to structure the pace and keeps you in control while off-leash allows your dog to go at their own pace and makes exercising more effective and enjoyable. Off-leash walking is recommended only for trained, obedient dogs or in spacious but enclosed spaces.
Make On-Leash Walking Easier
As mentioned above, walking your dog on-leash allows both you and your dog to get some exercise in. However, some dogs do not have the best leash behavior. If your dog constantly pulls when they are on-leash to the point that they are choking themselves or if they try backing out of their collar, you aren’t alone. Many dog owners deal with these types of behavioral issues, making walks with their dogs less-than-enjoyable. Fortunately, you can improve your dog’s leash-walking behavior with some training and the right equipment.
To start improving your dog’s leash-walking behavior, check out these Tips For Leash Training For Your Dog. You’ll also want to make sure that you have the best dog collar and leash to teach your dog not to pull or back out of their collar. At TheUltimateLeash.com, our martingale dog collars are effective at keeping your dog under control on walks. These collars work in a way that, when tension is put on the leash, the collar will tighten around your dog’s neck that lets them know to stop. The collar is designed with a unique limited closure to prevent it from becoming too tight, making it a much safer alternative to choker dog collars. Another great tool to have for dog walking is The Ultimate Leash. This multifunctional leash has 11 different uses and can make leash training your dog easier.
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Get on a Healthier Diet
Eating healthier is a resolution that many people bring into the New Year. Make no mistake, this is a goal that can be challenging to achieve, but with the right choices, you can drastically improve your diet. If getting on a healthier diet is one of your resolutions, you should also consider helping your dog do the same. The New Year is a great time to evaluate your dog’s diet. While some choose to put their dogs on raw diets, most dog owners have their furry friends on kibble diets. There is nothing wrong with kibble diets, you just need to be careful with the type or brand of dog food you choose.
Many of the cost-effective dog foods that you can find at your local supermarket may not be as good as you think. Take this time to do your research or talk to your veterinarian to see if there are better food alternatives for your dog. If you’re going to change your dog’s food, be careful. Switching your dog’s food abruptly can trigger gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, diarrhea, and a decreased appetite. Anytime you choose to change your dog’s food, you should transition to the new diet gradually in order to give your dog’s digestive system time to adjust to the change. Ideally, these transitions should happen over five to seven days. During this transition, gradually incorporate more and more of the new food by mixing it with your dog’s current diet.
Spend More Time Together
Life can get incredibly busy. With all the hustle and bustle taking place this New Year, it is important to remember to not forget about your dog. Dogs are pack animals, so most of them love attention and company. Not giving your dog enough love and attention each day can risk them to develop behavioral issues, a loss of appetite, and even weight gain. If your dog gets enough exercise, structure, love, and stimulation, they will be well behaved, healthy, and easy-going. Simply put, you will have a best friend for life!
In addition to your daily walks, consider playing a fun game with your dog each day or perhaps going for a long hike on the weekend. Most dog breeds truly love being with their humans, no matter what it is they are doing.
Whatever New Year resolutions you come up with for you and your pet to achieve this year, make it something the two of you can enjoy and benefit from together. And at the end of the year, you’ll have more than just the satisfactory feeling of achieving your goal — you’ll have a year’s worth of memories with your furry friend.
Happy New Year from TheUltimateLeash.com
We hope that our suggested resolutions will help you and your dog have an enjoyable New Year! Remember, if you are looking for high-quality dog collars and leashes that will make walking and going on adventures with your dog easier, visit TheUltimateLeash.com to find exactly what you need.
