2014 Dog New Year’s Resolutions

It’s time to say goodbye to 2013 and ring in 2014 with good friends, good food and good dogs. New Year’s Resolutions feel like an impossible to-do list, which is why we usually abandon them by mid-January. But would you be more likely to keep them if they involved your dog?

I got the idea when I noticed that Oscar and I seem to favor hanging on the couch a little too often. Granted, it is winter, and neither of us is partial to cold and snow. But that doesn’t mean we should hibernate until the spring (and add a little more junk to both of our trunks). So here are a few doggy-inspired New Year’s Resolutions I plan on keeping in 2014.

• Join a new Doggy and Me class: Oscar is a smart little fella and he doesn’t get the chance to socialize with other dogs that much. He’s not a big fan of dogs (although he loves people and squirrels). That’s why I’m going to sign up for an obedience class. He knows all the basics, but I’d like to take it up a notch. I’d like to teach him a few new tricks and work on some return and listening commands. Plus, I want him to make some doggy friends. I feel like he’s missing out by not having a DBF (Dog Best Friend) and work on some of his fear-based behaviors.
• Give Doga a try: I am not a huge fan of yoga, but if Oscar was part of the mix, I know I’d find it more interesting. I don’t know of any classes in my area, but I’m going to start researching. Oscar is only 10 lbs, so he’ll be easy to lift, if required. And it’ll be fun to spend some extra time with him while exercising.
• Go for more walks: I admit it – at the sign on any kind of inclement weather, I put off the dog walk and turn on the TV. But in 2014, I will adopt a postal-like slogan when it comes to walks. Snow, rain, volcanic eruptions and zombie apocalypses will not deter us from our daily walks. We will don our coats, boots and decapitation devices (for zombie killing purposes only) and take a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood. And we won’t just take our usual route. We’ll hop into the car and explore different parts of the city, making new friends wherever we go.
• Take a hike: My friends over at You Did What With Your Wiener have inspired me to take more hikes. I would love to commune with nature and take long walks over rocky trails. Jessica, who runs the blog, has two adorable miniature Dachshunds named Chester and Gretel, and these dogs don’t let their small size slow them down. I want to take a few long hikes in our area. We’ll start small in the spring and work our way up to an all-day hiking trip in the fall when nature is at her finest.

I don’t want to commit me and Oscar to a load of new activities – I want to make sure I follow through with these ones on a regular basis. I figure that by keeping the list compact, we have a better chance of sticking to it.

Do you have any New Year’s Resolutions for you and your dog? Have I inspired you to make some of your own? Please leave your resolutions in the comment section below. I’ll be sure to update you on the progress I’ve made on this list.