New Year’s resolutions for pet owners

by PDSA | 1 January #Justforfun

A new year may mean you’re thinking about ‘new year, new you’ – so why not include your pet in your resolutions?

We all make New Year’s resolutions, so we’ve put some together that pets can be involved in too. If you have difficulty sticking to your promises, doing something for your pets can motivate you to keep going.

Take a look at some of our top pet-related resolutions and let us know if you’ve got any more on our social channels!

1. Move more together

Small dog doing agility

Everyone knows exercise is important for our health and mental wellbeing. Although joining the gym in January sometimes seems like a good idea, some of us never actually go. So, why not make your pet a part of your daily exercise? Scheduling at least two walks a day with your pooch can help both of you! If you’re looking for new ideas, there are also loads of other ways you can exercise together.

If you have a cat, schedule some extra playtime every day. We have some great ways to encourage your cat to play, even if they seem a little lazy after the holidays!

2. Spend more time together

Cat asleep on owner's leg

Over Christmas, we tend to be home a lot more. This is great for our pets because they get to spend more time with us, but it can also be challenging for them when we go back to work or school and aren’t around as much. Some dogs can even suffer from separation anxiety and get really stressed.

There’s not a lot we can do to change our work routine. Remember to make sure someone is there with your pet (a sitter or doggy daycare), so they aren’t alone for too long. When you are at home, make sure you put time aside to spend quality time with your pet so they can have your attention all to themselves. You could play a fun game or even sit and read a book while your cat curls up on your lap!

3. Learn something new together

Dog giving high five to camera

This one’s more for dog owners. One of our most popular New Year’s resolutions is learning something new. Why not include your four-legged friend in this, too? Learning a new trick or even brushing up on their training can help you spend more time with your four-legged friend, and together, you’ll be learning something new!

4. Eat better together

Cat eating from bowl

We’re all a little guilty of over-indulging over Christmas, which can sometimes affect our pets, too (although we always recommend feeding them a balanced diet, no matter what time of year it is). January is a great time to stop snacking and stick to a healthy diet – for both of you!

Chat with your vet to ensure your pet is on the right diet. If you tend to feed your pet table scraps, make a resolution to stop – it’ll really help your pet and help you better balance their food.

You can also take a look at our tips on what to feed your cat and what to feed your dog.

5. Taking care together

Cat being brushed under chin

Christmas always seems busy, so it’s no wonder many people make a resolution to take more time out and take better care of themselves in the New Year. Having a pet has loads of benefits for us as owners – including being good for our mental health. Spending more time with our pets can make us happy. So, what better way to spend time with our pets than caring for them?

Giving their fur a brush is a great way to bond with your pet while taking really good care of them. Don’t forget to read our top tips on grooming your pet.

Just like us, our pets also need space sometimes. If they don’t already have one, make a resolution to create your pet their own personal space somewhere quiet with all their favourite things where they can relax if needed.

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