If you're an animal lover who's looking to start 2025 as the best version of yourself, allow us to introduce you to a range of achievable New Year's resolutions for pet owners to make.
Being a pet owner comes with many joys. But if you're hoping to spark some positive change in your pet's life, and give some joy back, that's where New Year's resolutions for pet owners can step up to the plate.
Any good pet parent will already be ticking off the basics of great pet care. Like treating your animal with the love and respect they deserve. While others will already be showering them with the best boredom busters like the best dog toys or the best cat toys, which can keep them mentally and physically stimulated.
But have you ever thought about going one step further and enriching their lives (and yours) in other ways? To help, we've rounded up all the best New Year's resolutions for pet owners to make in 2025. From exercising together more to finding new hobbies, keep scrolling to start the year off with a bang.
5 New Year's resolutions for pet owners
1. Exercise together more often
It’s no secret that movement is medicine. And movement is just as magic for your pet. So if you’ve got an energetic four-legged friend, like a dog, who's keen to get outdoors more, why not make 2025 the year you exercise together more often?
It would be the understatement of the century to say that most dogs love going on a walk. But walking is a wonderful way for both of you to keep fit. Getting out into the great outdoors can also help you sleep more soundly, keep blood pressure and cholesterol low, and keep both of your minds sharp!
So take on the challenge of making 2025 the year you walk more often together. To help you keep your dog walks fun, you could try exploring different routes, meet other like-minded dog owners for a walking puppy play date or try some off-leash fun.
2. Learn something new together
It’s never too old to teach your pet a new hobby (or trick). For example, if you have a dog breed that’s made for running, like an aerodynamic sighthound or an energetic springer spaniel, the new year could be the time to take up running together.
Or maybe you have an outgoing cat, like an Abyssinian, Siamese, or ragdoll kitty who would love performing and competing at a cat show? As long as you have some of the best cat treats to hand and a sprinkling of patience, there are a number of tricks you can teach your cat, like how to high-five, jump through a hoop, and rollover.
Either way, learning new things and spending time together is always fun. And doing so can help strengthen your bond.
3. Make sure they eat a wide and varied diet
Just like humans, nutrition is important for our friends in the animal kingdom. Helping them grow and develop properly, the right diet can help our pets stay healthy. And as any pet parent will know, a happy pet is a happy us.
So, one great resolution to make for 2025 and beyond? Promising to make your pet feel their best self by having their nutrition on point.
Of course, the nutritional needs of your pet will differ depending on what type of animal and breed you choose to share your home with. But, for example, it’s worth doing your own research and figuring out which dog food is best for your pooch, what cat food is best for keeping your kitty healthy, or, if you have an aquarium, the best fish food to feed your under-water baby.
Once you've nailed what works for them, you could then research all of the surprising things dogs can eat, surprising foods cats can eat and all of the things you should avoid feeding your pet.
4. Take a vacation together
We’re big believers in spending as much time with our pets as is humanly possible. It’s the best way to really get to know each other and form an unbreakable bond. However, when there’s the hustle and bustle of the 9-5 to contend with and the stressors and strains of daily life, carving out some quality time together can be easier said than done. But that’s with a vacation can help out.
There are many great reasons to take your pet on vacation. From lowering stress levels and giving them new sights (and smells) to take in, to giving your fur friend an improved quality of life and removing separation anxiety—why not make 2025 the year you travel the world with your cute companion in tow and reap the many benefits it brings?
Of course, not every pet will be up for traveling. But for the four-legged jet-setters among us, it's worth considering. To help, we've compiled a list of the best travel destinations for dogs and written a guide on tips for traveling with pets, which uncovers all the need-to-know dos before booking an extra ticket.
5. Improve your knowledge of pet first aid
It goes without saying: every pet owner hopes they will never experience a pet emergency. But if your pet develops an illness or injury, you will need to quickly make some decisions. Knowledge is power. So why not give yours an extra boost in 2025 by improving your understanding of pet first aid?
Maybe you’ve already got a ready-made pet first-aid kit that includes all the essentials, like a tick remover, saline, and pet wrap. Or perhaps you’ve already got the best pet insurance policy in place to cover any emergency vet bills—if you don't what are you waiting for?
But seeing that timely first aid can limit the extent of the injury and prevent infections from occurring, bolstering your knowledge in this field is a worthy cause.
Learning how to identify a pet emergency is the first step. You might also want to read up on what to do if a dog is choking, what to do if your cat is limping and the signs that your dog is in pain.
Feeling hopeful for 2025? Here are five life lessons we’ve learnt from cats this year and just for fun we’ve got pet horoscopes for 2025, too!
