It’s the year 2020!  New Year! New decade! Wow!  What new beginnings do you want for your life?  Better self-care, which includes more exercise, healthier eating and reduced stress? These things are possible and you have a four legged friend that can help keep you inline!

Let’s Talk About Weight

If you need to shed a few pounds, there’s a good chance that your dog does too, so start walking. Your dog will really enjoy the outdoors and the bonding time with you. Sometimes, it’s not too exciting to just walk around in your neighbourhood, so change it up. There are many places in Durham where you can go to enjoy nature: Top 10 Places to Enjoy Nature in Durham.

If you have cats that need to lose weight, they can be trained to walk on a leash, but I’d rather try something a bit easier. Indoor enrichment games can be fun and stimulating for your cats. My cats love to play fetch and they love to chase the red dot from the laser pointer. These are a couple of ideas that can keep both you and your cat entertained for a while, but here are a few more: Environmental Enrichment for Indoor Cats.

We all know that extra pounds on people can, be hard on our joints and cause serious health issues. Our pets are no different, so it is extremely important that we take an active role in helping our pets to maintain a healthy weight so that they can live a long and happy life.

How’s Your Diet?

Eating right starts at the grocery store. So, while you’re cruising the (outside) aisles of the grocery store selecting healthy options to support your active lifestyle remember to put some thought into what you are feeding your pets. What brand of kibble or wet food do you feed your pets? Not all pet food is created equally.  There is a noticeable difference in quality between the food that you grab off the shelf at the grocery store and the food that you can buy from specialty pet stores or your vet’s office. You may even consider a raw food diet, but definitely do your research and consult your vet before changing your pet’s diet.

Cat Activity Feeder

Also, to help your dog or cat maintain a healthy weight, always measure the amount of food you give them.  If you have a pet that is food motivated, it’s not a good idea to free feed them.  They will just eat way too much and too fast. My cat Oscar is extremely food motivated and loves to inhale his food. Really, I don’t think he evens chews it!  My solution to this problem has been an activity feeder. This has been great! Activity feeders, which are available for both dogs and cats, are a great way to not only help them slow down and digest their food, but they are also a great way to stimulate their brain by making them think about how to get each piece of kibble.  The activity feeder pictured here, I bought off of Amazon for Oscar.  Well worth it!

Wind Down with Your Pets

After a long day at work, isn’t it nice to come home to our furry friends? They can really make a bad day seem, not so bad. They can help to reduce stress and anxiety. They can even help to put a smile on our face or make us laugh endlessly with their goofy little ways.  Make your pets a part of your winding down routine for the evening. Activities such as grooming, pet massage and music can be relaxing and therapeutic for both you and your pets, and they will absolutely enjoy the bonding time with you.

Include your pets in your goal setting this year. They’ll help you to stay on track and they’ll help to improve your health and wellbeing.

Move Your Doggie offers dog walking and pet sitting in Ajax, Whitby, and Oshawa in Durham Region. Our Services also include feeding, lots of exercise and extra TLC.

Feel free to Contact Us for your complimentary meet and greet, or post a comment below.