It’s that time of year again! I was curious about the new year’s resolutions being made by friends around the world for themselves and, of course, for their beloved pets. So I asked and they responded. In some cases, even the pets chimed in, with translations from their humans!
The resolutions included hopes for continued comfort, contentment, and growth in the new year.
Lori Leah Monet DVM (Colorado) My pets will remain safe, warm, and happy. They will continue to run the household as they have before because . . . hey, it works. Butterscotch caramel swirl (Scotch), Zorra the Rox Fox (Rox), and Goldschlager (Goldie)—feline fantastics.
Jackie Pritchard (Canada) My dogs stay safe and happy, warm, and cozy. They get tons of yummy treats, some new toys, and of course tons of lovin’. Guests are instructed not to feed the dogs without my approval. Kids are supervised with the dogs—always. Bronx (northern husky mix) and Lenny (German Shepherd). Both dogs are rescues and both have some behavioral challenges and some health issues.
George Guba (New York) Fenced yard for the Hounds of Hieland: Sonja, My Precious, Sky, Dora, and Misty—whippets.
Jennifer Bates (Washington) Dog training. She so doesn’t listen to me. And I gotta teach her not to knock down whoever comes through the front door! ESPECIALLY ME!!
Olwen Turns (United Kingdom) A week off and loads of fresh-air walkies, maybe looking for somewhere new to adventure. Four border collies plus my nephew’s one living with us for now. Mum, three of her kids, and her grandkid! Four girls and one boy, Faie and Tatty and Storm.
Danielle Davis (Illinois) Beat cancer!! My eight-year-old (going on nine) border collie was diagnosed with a fairly aggressive B cell lymphoma. She got her first round of chemo (CHOP) on 11/22. She is tolerating it fairly well and we have started supportive and adjunctive therapy with Chinese herbs. She’s spunky and in good spirits, but we have a long way to go! More chemo yesterday . . . having a good day today!
Photo by Danielle Davis
Amy Suggars (Ohio) I have a resolution to train my dog (KD, a flat-coated retriever) for at least 10 minutes every day. Hopefully that will help us reach the goal of getting a CD [Companion Dog degree from AKC] in 2022. I’ve put CDs on two other dogs, but it has been over a decade since I’ve been in the obedience ring! I am not up to date on the rule changes so I’ll need to learn them. We do have fun matches in my area so that’s good. If I keep to my resolution, I hope to enter obedience at our national specialty in June!
Jaxon Riley (Washington) Pickle needs to lose weight and I need to brush more teeth. (Please note: Pickle categorically disagrees with the idea of a diet.)
Donna-Leigh Rowley (Ontario) I suffer from depression, amongst other things, I have trouble keeping Shiloah entertained through puzzles, Kongs, and so on. I am going to try to up my game to make him happier and improve his cognitive abilities before he gets too old.
Alisha Ardiana (California) We will be doing our first “working dog spot” at a day-long dog training seminar in February at the Marin Humane Society. A positive reinforcement trainer will teach rattlesnake avoidance. We need to work on crate training in public—a new skill for us!
Mark Cuilla (Washington)
MY MEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION IS TO EAT TREATS EVERY DAY!
LOVE, FRANNY
Photo by Mark Cuilla
Kathleen Huggins (Washington) Dog’s resolution is, “Train mom to give me treats on my command.” Woof!
Tracy Vedder (Idaho) Resolution: spend more time training and riding our six Appaloosa horses; Brazen, Galena, Bear, Cozmo, BooBoo, and Nellie Bean. All except the youngest two (Boo and Nellie) are under saddle, but each needs more time individually. Injuries (human ones) have kept us from putting as much time in as we’d like, but this is the year where we really get them all trained up. That’s their best insurance for healthy, happy, long lives.
Mary Tichenor (Wisconsin) Snuggle more.
Kelly Mose Cuilla (Washington) Parker wants to learn more tricks!
Kathy Smith (North Carolina) Loki’s resolution is to get to work on his Championship! He will be six months old in January and it’s time to hit the show ring circuit! Indy, though, is a retired man. He just gets to enjoy life with us and continue raising “his” puppy.
Photo by Kathy Smith
Glenda Lee (Maine) Dixie is a Great Pyrenees. She’s seven and darned near perfect. She is functionally but not profoundly deaf. The only thing I have for her is to let me brush her hindquarters without a fuss so she doesn’t get mats that need to be cut out. She loves being brushed . . . until I get to her tail area.
Daisy is a two-year-old lab/pit/pyr mix. My resolution is for her to not be such a nervous Nelly.
Farrah is a 7.5-month-old calico kitty. The list is long!
▪ Walk on the floor. It is not dangerous. The counters and dressers and everything else I haven’t already covered with foil could be . . . especially if I catch you!
▪ The glass of ice water on my nightstand is MINE! Keep your nose and paws out of it.
▪ Morning is absolutely not the time for wildness.
▪ My plant shelves are not a jungle gym for you.
▪ You will get your wet food in the evening when the dogs get theirs. Sitting on the forbidden counter in front of the microwave is not going to speed your feeding.
▪ Oh, and while you are welcome in the bed along with everyone else, walking on my face is not appreciated. At all.
Cats are so much harder to train than dogs.
Do you have new year’s resolutions for your pets?
Write a list, share it with family and friends and discuss it with your pet’s “support team,” like your veterinarian, groomer, trainer, and the other pet professionals in your life. As you reach your goals, share your successes—you need congratulations and encouragement, too, not unlike your pets.
Our new year’s resolution is to stay on the “support team,” both for you and for your pets!
We’ll be here weekly with tips and tricks for you and for your beloved animal companions.
Do you have questions about meeting your goals?
Ask us!
We wish all of you and yours a very happy new year!
