How to include your pet in your New Year’s resolutions

Making resolutions with a friend can liven up the task and help you stick to your plan. So why not let your pet be your resolution buddy this year? Here are ways you can turn seven common New Year’s resolutions into fun—and doable!—alternatives you and your pet can enjoy together.

1. Turn getting more exercise into getting more play. Exercise doesn’t have to be a lonesome chore. Fetch, hide and seek, Frisbee—all of these joint activities get you and your pet energized and exercised.

2. Turn eating healthy into treating healthy. Ditch the store-bought cookies of both the pet and human variety. Research healthy snack alternatives for you and check out these ideas for your pet. Now you both can snack guilt free.

3. Turn reducing stress into increasing cuddles. Research has shown that petting can reduce stress for both us and our pets. So make snuggling a priority—as if you needed an excuse!

4. Turn learning a new skill into trying a new pet hobby. You and your dog can both pick up new skills with activities like agility, lure chasing and dock diving. Or get some serious cat whisperer street cred by teaching your cat new tricks.

5. Turn spending more time with family into making pet care a family affair. Walking or playtime isn’t just for pets. Get the whole family to join in on your pet’s outdoor outings or indoor bonding.

6. Turn living life to the fullest into making a pet bucket list. What things have you always wanted to try with your pet but never found the time to do? Check out our ideas for your pet bucket list and see how many you two can do this year!

7. Turn getting organized into downloading the myVCA app. Make bulky files, multiple calendars and repeated phone calls a thing of the past. With the myVCA app, you can access your pet’s important documents, schedule appointments and refill medications all from one spot. 

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