Skip to main content

7 ways your dog can help you stick to your New Year’s resolutions in 2024

How your pup can help you master your New Year's resolutions

A person in a black T-shirt and jeans walks a small white and brown dog on a path lined with tall plants with yellow flowers
Delphine Beausoleil / Unsplash

As we turn the calendar from December to January, we start thinking about our goals and the changes we’d like to make in the year to come (also known as New Year's resolutions). Mental and physical health repeatedly top the list. You, too, may want to be more active, eat more nutritiously, or nix the doom-scrolling habit you developed in April 2020 and never broke.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

20 minutes

The goals are good ones, if not a bit lofty. Not to be the bearers of bad news, but even the best-laid plans don’t always pan out. Studies show that up to 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail. However, you may have a leg up if you have a pup (on goals, not fire hydrants). There’s a body of research out there suggesting that having a dog can help people be more active and engage in other healthy habits.

Here’s how your pup can help you actually keep your New Year’s resolutions.

A person in a black T-shirt and jeans walks a small white and brown dog on a path lined with tall plants with yellow flowers
Delphine Beausoleil / Unsplash

Move more

If you want to get out and move more often this year, consider your dog your secret weapon. One study looked at more than 41,000 people. Some had dogs, others had cats, and some were petless. Researchers found that pup parents walked more for leisure than people with cats or without any pets.

You may think walking your dog “isn’t really exercise,” but don’t discount it. You don’t have to run marathons to get a good amount of physical activity. A 2011 Michigan State University study found that dog walkers were 34% more likely to get the recommended amount of exercise. According to the CDC, that benchmark is 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week.

Step 1: Grab a dog leash.

Step 2: Lace up your sneakers.

Step 3: Go for a walk.

Someone in the background feeds a dog table scraps from the table
kerkezz / Adobe Stock

Stay home instead of going out to eat

Going out to eat with human friends is healthy now and then, but doing it too much can do a number on your budget. The food in restaurants isn’t always as nutritious as what you can make at home. If you have a dog waiting for you, you may be less inclined to accept every invite and instead have a healthy balance between meals out and home-cooked ones. As a result, you may notice you maintain a healthier weight and have a thicker wallet.

Step 1: Decline an invite and blame your dog.

Step 2: Find a favorite recipe.

Step 3: Make the meal.

Step 4: Eat (keep in mind which foods you should avoid"accidentally" dropping on the floor.)

Person reading with a dog on the couch
Pavel Danilyuk / Pexels

Less screen time

Over the last two years, we’ve used screens to keep in touch with family and friends. That’s not necessarily bad. One study found that adults who use social media were less likely to report psychosocial distress. However, other studies have shown too much screen time can lead to depression and disrupted sleep.

Step 1: Use your furry friend as an excuse to put down your phone and turn off the TV.

Step 2: Enjoy what's right in front of you (your dog).

Step 3: Engage your pup in a rousing game of fetch or tug-of-war

Step 4: Chill on the couch together with Netflix.

Someone pets a dog's head while the dog opens their mouth
K.K.T Madhusanka / Shutterstock

Stress less

It’s hard not to stress with everything going on these days. Your pup can’t solve all the world’s problems, but they may be able to reduce stress. Studies suggest that petting your pup can lower the stress hormone cortisol and raise levels of the happiness-inducing hormone called oxycontin. That’s probably why dogs make such great emotional support animals.

Step 1: Resolve to stress less.

Step 2: Engage in daily snuggle sessions with your dog.

Step 3: Enjoy the win-win. They’ll love it, and so will your body and mind.

Three small dogs at a dog park
BluIz60 / Shutterstock

Make new friends

Studies and surveys show that dogs help people feel less lonely. It’s nice to have a built-in best friend who loves you unconditionally.  There may be another reason, though: man’s best friend may actually help all humans, regardless of gender, connect with new people. A 2015 study found that dog parents make friends more easily.

Step 1: Head to the dog park.

Step 2: Walk your dog around the black.

Step 3: Meet people organically.

Man snuggles corgi
Vitalii Matokha / Shutterstock

Find healthier ways to cope

Some people report having a dog helped them recover from substance abuse disorders, build trust with humans, and have healthier relationships. If these are some of your goals for the year ahead, your dog may be a great part of your support system. Remember, though, that dogs aren’t cure-alls or a replacement for therapy. If you’re struggling with addiction or depression, reach out to a therapist for help.

Step 1: Work with a mental health provider who specializes in addiction treatment or depression.

Step 2: Consider ways having a dog can help you cope.

dog new years resolutions looking at mans shoes
Zen Chung / Pexels

Practice patience

Dogs — we love them, but pets can try our patience. Yes, pets can help with mental health, but sometimes, they can do something that actually causes us to feel a bit stressed. From coming home to chewed shoes to training a new puppy, pet parenthood isn't completely sunshine and rainbows. The silver lining? These sticky moments are an opportunity to practice patience.

Step 1: Notice your dog doing something that stresses you out.

Step 2: Take three deep breaths and count to 10.

Step 3: Redirect your dog, and clean up anything (if applicable).

Step 4: Strategize ways to prevent the dirty deed from happening in the future, such as revisiting commands to "leave it" for table scraps that fall on the ground or securing your shoes.

Step 5: Consult a professional dog trainer if you need more assistance.

New year, new goal, same dog? You may be well on your way to maintaining your New Year’s resolutions for once. Numerous studies show that dogs help people exercise more and stress less. They’re way cuter than the latest headlines (which often aren’t cute at all), so they may also help you cut down on screen time. You may also want to stay home more to hang out with them, so you’ll save money and eat more nutritiously by having more home-cooked meals.

People with dogs may also expand their social circles by going to dog parks or simply walking their pups around the neighborhood. The best part of having a dog, though? They’ll love you whether you keep your resolution or not.

Topics
BethAnn Mayer
Beth Ann's work has appeared on healthline.com and parents.com. In her spare time, you can find her running (either marathons…
This is where dogs like to be pet: The spots they can’t resist
These are the top places to pet your dog (and the ones to avoid)
A woman pets her dog in a field

One of the best parts of owning a dog is providing pats, scritches, and belly rubs. Our buds seem to love this as much as we do, and research says that petting a pooch gives a mood boost to both humans and animals. Even though we know that pups love pats, we should still respect their boundaries and only touch them in the areas they like. While every fur baby has personal preferences, we'll cover the common areas where dogs like to be pet.
Why dogs like to be pet

About 20,000 years ago, dogs decided they preferred hanging out with humans for nourishment rather than hunting their own food. Along the way, we became more than just a meal ticket to them, and now most dogs are solely companions (of course, many still work demanding jobs as service animals or alongside police officers).

Read more
Adopting a dog? 6 things no one tells you
How to help your newly adopted dog adjust smoothly
A woman in a brown sweater holding a sleeping black and white French bulldog puppy

It's no secret that adopting a dog can change your life for the better. You'll spend more time outdoors taking your dog for walks, so you'll get plenty of exercise. Having a constant companion helps combat feelings of isolation and sadness, and taking on the responsibility of caring for another living being builds character.

More importantly, adopting a new dog from a shelter saves a sweet, innocent animal from euthanasia and helps fight puppy mills. But having a dog isn't always a walk in the park. From unexpected expenses to puppy proofing your home, here are some things to know before adopting a dog. 
1. You're going to spend a lot of time outside — no matter the weather

Read more
7 health problems boxer owners should look out for
Why do boxers have so many health problems? Here are some answers
Boxer dog lying on the sofa looking to the side

When considering different dog breeds to add to your family, it's important to weigh the pros, the cons, and everything in between. You need to consider the breed's size, demeanor, and exercise needs, but one of the most essential topics to research is a dog breed's health.
So what about boxers? These energetic mastiff relatives are famous for their goofy personalities and squished faces, but there's so much more to them than that. Let's dive into common boxer dog breed health issues so prospective dog owners can know what to look out for. With a little research and a trusted veterinarian on your side, you'll be well prepared to care for your new boxer BFF.

Do boxers have many health problems?

Read more