A New Leash on Life: New Year's Resolutions for You and Your Fuzzy Friends

The new year is upon us, which means it’s time to set some goals for 2026. But this year, why not include your furry friends in the fun? Here’s some New Year’s inspiration for you and your pet.  

More Meaningful Bonding  

This one feels broad, but just because there are so many opportunities for you to bond more intentionally with your pet.  

You could start by including your pet in your existing hobbies and interests. Like to read? Curl up with your cat on the couch while you dig into that new series. Take your dog on your favorite hikes. Spending more meaningful time with your pet can be as simple as including them in the time you already spend doing things you love.  

Another way you can bond more intentionally with your pet is to set aside designated playtime with them every day. Ensuring that you spend even a little time with your pet engaged in enriching play each day keeps them happy, healthy, and stimulated, and it strengthens your bond even more. 

Focus on Dental Health  

Pet dental health is an extremely important, yet often overlooked, aspect of pet health. If you’ve noticed that your pet’s breath has been a little extra stinky lately, this could be the resolution for you.  

Try introducing dental treats or water additives, or start brushing your pet’s teeth every day. While we cannot promise the most magical bonding experience for you or your pet, at least at first, they will all but thank you when they have clean, healthy teeth and an oral microbiome that supports their overall health and well-being, rather than fueling periodontal disease and other systemic health issues. Even though it’s a bit of a hassle, untreated dental issues in pets can lead to difficulty eating, pain, and even kidney, liver, or heart disease, so it’s definitely worth the extra time every day to give your pet’s teeth a quick cleaning.  

Obesity  

Obesity is another issue facing our pets. Over half of the population of dogs and cats is overweight, and it can be tricky for pet owners to notice and identify when their own pets are just extra fluffy or carrying around extra weight that could lead to poor health outcomes down the road, from mobility issues to diabetes and even heart disease.  

If you aren’t sure where your pet falls on the Body Condition Score (BCS) chart, the new year is the perfect time to find out and commit to getting your pet to (or keeping them at) a healthy weight. We want our pets to live long, happy lives, and helping them maintain an ideal weight is one of the best ways to do so.  

Listen to the Barking Mad Podcast 

Perhaps one of the easiest resolutions to follow through on is to listen to our podcast, Barking Mad. We cover a wide range of topics, from pet food to wellness to the latest industry trends. If you want to be a more informed pet parent this year, the Barking Mad podcast is the perfect way to do it! 

Make 2026 the year of the pet by focusing some of your resolutions on your own fuzzy companions. Pets are a bigger part of our lives than ever, so why not include your four-legged best friend in your New Year’s traditions? Make sure to tune in to Barking Mad this year, too, for all the insights you need to be the best pet parent you can be in 2026. We’ll be sharing episodes about pet enrichment, dental health, obesity, and much more in the months to come, so stay tuned!  

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About the Author

Cady Wolf is an Analyst at BSM Partners. She graduated magna cum laude with a degree in English from Brigham Young University-Idaho, and she currently lives in Rexburg, Idaho with her husband, their two cats, and pet tortoise. She loves animals and learning about how to help pet brands and pet parents alike.