After that crazy 2020, we are excited to welcome 2021. Do you have any New Year’s resolutions planned? It turns out only about 45% of adults pledge to change something in the new year and only about 30% of those people stick to their resolutions past the first week. What if there was a way to increase those odds? Well, we have an idea that might do the trick. Make your New Year’s resolutions for you and your pet! Check out this list of ways to have a great year together.
Move More
Studies show that people stick to a workout routine when they do it with a buddy. Well, now your buddy is 4-legged. If you haven’t been walking regularly, then now is a great time to start. If you have been routinely walking with your dog, consider adding some extra time and distance. Depending on your dog’s breed, they may actually need the additional exercise!
When committing to moving more, something that can be motivating is the bounce from a new pair of shoes for you and a new leash for your dog.
Eat Better
Whether you’ve decided to try the newest diet craze, or you just hope to add more fresh vegetables to your day, dogs (and cats too) can also benefit from eating better food. For your pet, that may mean checking out other pet food brands within your budget or simply fewer table scraps and late-night couch treats from your snack bowl.
Another thing to keep in mind is the stage that your pet may be in. Typically formulas are specific to the pet’s needs. Senior pets won’t have the same nutritional needs as kittens do, so make sure your pet is eating the correct food.
Play More
This resolution is probably one of the easiest ones to keep. Make time to play one-on-one with your pet. Even just a few minutes a day to play catch, rope tug or laser light can increase the bond between you and your pet. It’s also stimulating for your pet and taps into instinctual behavior that they might not often show.
Better Dental Hygiene
With people staying home more right now and visits to the dentist postponed, it is even more important to keep up with regular teeth brushing and flossing. Keeping both your pet’s teeth clean and yours will help prevent issues down the road. Poor dental health can even lead to premature death in pets.
Dogs and cats may not don’t like brushing time, especially if they are older and it’s a new routine. You may need to try different styles of toothbrushes, some have handles, some sit on your fingertip. There are also different flavors of toothpaste to try out until you find one they seem to like. Just like for humans, dogs and cats usually have the most build-up on molar teeth, so try to at least reach those.
Get Out And Socialize Safely
Staying socially distant, consider trips to the local dog park or seek out dog meet-up groups on social media. These groups can be breed-specific, which makes it fun when you see a group of dogs like yours running around. The dogs get to socialize and you can meet people with a similar interest – dogs!
The last resolution on the list is the easiest of all.
Pet Your Pet And Look Them In The Eye
Since many New Year’s resolutions deal with improving health, here is one of the easiest ways to bond with your pet and improve each other’s health all at once.
According to Petspruce.com, a study was conducted between dogs and humans in which they observed that dogs interacted more with the people who petted them while they showed no interest in the people who just stood and showered them with words of praise. Plus, Brian Hare, of Duke University also proved that when dogs and their owners stare into each other’s eyes, both of them experienced an increase in Oxytocin levels, a massive one.
The dog, both male and female experienced a 130% increase in Oxytocin levels while in humans, both male and female as well experienced a 300% increase in their Oxytocin levels.
Wow. Seriously though, who doesn’t need a boost right now?
Hopefully, with these resolutions in mind, we and our pets can all carry on into 2021 with a renewed sense of commitment to the things that help us be healthy and happy.
