Fido’s 2024 Resolutions

Happy New Year! Many of our canine patients are no doubt bounding into 2024 with tails wagging, happy grins, and that charming doggy enthusiasm we all love so much. Of course, if you try to explain your New Year’s Resolutions to Fido, he’ll probably just tilt his head and give you that adorable confused expression we all know so well. However, even if your pooch doesn’t understand what you want to achieve this year, he’ll be right there beside you, cheering you on with happy dances and play bows as you strive to meet your goals. Of course, your pet may also have a few things on his own agenda. A local Lowell, MI vet lists some of them in this article.

Learn New Tricks

Did you know that many of our canine pals actually enjoy learning new things? You’ll want to start with Fido’s basic petucation first. The five most important commands are Sit, Stay, Come, Heel, and Lay Down. Down and Leave It are also recommended. Drop it is another good one. 

That said, there’s no reason to end your pet’s education once he has these mastered. You can move on to advanced commands, or show him something fun. Classic tricks, like Shake, Beg, or Roll Over, will never stop being adorable, but there are also lots of fun lesser-known ones

Keeping up with your furry friend’s training will definitely help him be a Very Good Boy. It’s also great for bonding and stimulation. Plus, this is a great way to boost Fido’s confidence. (If you pay attention, you may notice that your pet looks adorably proud of himself when he is getting praised for picking up something new.)

Be A Good Boy

One thing that is really remarkable about our canine friends is their unwavering devotion. Fido will push himself to exhaustion, or even risk his life, for his human buddies. That dedication is truly extraordinary. 

Man’s Best Friend doesn’t ask for much in return: just basic TLC and, of course, love and affection.

Make sure that your furry pal feels loved and safe, and reward him for behaving properly. Even something little, like petting Fido’s forehead as you walk past, can keep that cute tail going.

Score More Bacon

If we know one thing about our canine companions, it’s that they really, really, really love food. (We can’t blame you, buddy: we love treats, too.)  

Snacks are actually beneficial. They’re  wonderful for bonding, particularly with timid pups, and they also make great training aids. (That old saying about the way to a man’s heart being through the stomach definitely applies for dogs.) 

Just stick with healthy options, such as plain, cooked meat, fish, or chicken, without the skin, bones, or fat. As a rule of thumb, treats should only make up about 5 percent of your furry buddy’s daily caloric intake. Ask your Lowell, MI veterinarian for more information.

Remember to always have your pooch do a trick for his treat! This is actually great for Fido’s confidence. 

Smell All The Roses

As you probably know, Fido’s sense of smell is much keener than ours is. Dogs’ noses contain about 300 million olfactory receptors. Ours, in comparison, only have about six million. Man’s Best Friend also has something called neophilia, which means that he is obsessed with new odors. (This of course isn’t going to be much of a shock to anyone who has a canine buddy of their own.) 

It’s important for people with pups to realize this, because it really sheds light on how stimulation our furry friends get from smelling things. Fido can be a great inspiration when it comes to making time for stopping and smelling the roses. (And the sidewalk. And the grass.) 

Carve time out for taking your pet to new places this year. There are plenty of great one-tank trips within easy driving distance.

Spend More Time With The Human

If Man’s Best Buddy had one goal, this would be it. All Fido really wants is to spend time with his favorite humans! 

Carve out some quality time for your canine pal every day. The time we have with our furry companions is truly precious, and often passes much too quickly. It’s also important for you to enjoy some downtime this year. 

Play With A New Toy

It’s always super cute seeing a frisky pooch playing with brand new toys. It’s actually very important for Fido to have lots of playthings. Toys serve several purposes for our canine pals. They keep Fido enriched and entertained, occupy him, soothe him, and give him a healthy way to burn off any excess doggy angst or energy he has. They’re also great for bonding, and can go a long way towards curbing undesired behavior, such as digging and chewing. Our canine companions all have their own tastes here, so offer your pet a variety of playthings. It’s also good to change Fido’s toys out regularly, so he can always have something fresh and new. (Note: pupscription boxes are great for this.) 

Go For Lots Of Car Rides

Our four-legged friends can be great travel buddies! It’s so cute how happy Fido always is to accompany his humans places. There’s no reason you can’t take your furry pal out and about with you. Just be sure to put your pet’s safety first. 

First and foremost: always travel with your pup crated. Fido may enjoy sticking his nose out the window, but this just isn’t safe for him. He could get bugs, pollen, dust, or pebbles in his eye, or  even get hit by a lit cigarette. Plus, he’ll be very vulnerable in case of an accident.

Another note on safety? Never leave your four-legged friend  in the car unattended, especially when it’s hot out.

Get Great Marks From My Vet

We know, most of our patients would rather go to the park or drive through than visit us. However, Fido will be much healthier—and therefore more comfortable—with proper veterinary care.

We recommend that all pets be spayed or neutered, microchipped, and kept current on vaccines and parasite control. It’s also important for your furry friend to get examined regularly. If your four-legged buddy is overdue, schedule that appointment with your Lowell, MI veterinarian today.

Get My Bed Back From The Cat

Sorry, buddy: we can’t help you with this one! Our feline overlords are very opportunistic nappers, and usually aren’t too shy about claiming comfy spots for themselves. All of us here atArrow Veterinary Clinic, your Lowell, MI animal hospital, wish you and your families a wonderful new year. We are looking forward to providing top notch care in 2024 and for many years to come.