January, or walk your pet month, is a time to not only ring in the new year but to reevaluate the experiences and habits of the past 12 months. Dogs are crucial to any pet owner's sanity, comforting you after a stressful workday, making you laugh at just the right moment, being a loyal companion through everything, and providing you the confidence to keep moving. In light of all a dog does for you, you must do that one thing that will keep it healthy, loving life, and making your days better and worthwhile: exercise your pet.

Quality of Life Trumps Only Living

You understand the importance of relationships and activity to your health, each providing meaning and enthusiasm for existence. You can act independently to achieve connection and purpose from your life, but your pet cannot. A dog is subject only to your whims. If it wants to go outside, play, walk or run, it must wait for your approval, attention, compassion, affection, and permission.

As a pack animal, canines understand a natural order or hierarchy but do not assume your pet sees you as the alpha. You earn your role as the pack leader through provision and care; however, each requires more than the bare minimum effort. Dogs are energetic creatures that love life, and activity or exercise provides meaningful connections to their instinctual and ancestral makeup. Exercising your dog acknowledges the animal it is and encourages a healthy relationship. Aside from the emotional bond that evolves, routine exercise promotes health and long-term mobility, ensuring your pet experiences life and does so with quality and purpose.

Nutrition Is More Than a Noun

Nutrition is an addition to and complement of fitness. Dogs, like humans, have dietary needs, such as vitamins, minerals, protein, etc. The best way to provide a healthy and balanced diet for your pup is through quality dog food. You can speak with a veterinarian if you are not sure which brand of food or dietary focus is appropriate is right for your dog, as breed and age weigh heavily on such decisions.

When providing snacks for your pet, you will also want to limit table scraps, focusing instead on products made for your canine companion. However, most foods people eat are safe for dogs, but make sure the food item is healthy, like grilled chicken, and refrain from feeding your dog from your plate or doing so too often. The chance to eat “people food” should be a reward for obedience or good behavior.

Exercise Is Breed Specific

Any television ad containing exercise equipment or dietary supplements encourages people to seek medical advice before using or consuming the products; the advice is the same for dogs before starting a new exercise routine or diet. Every canine breed has different needs, and aside from breed requirements, age, weight, mobility, and several other factors will weigh into specific exercise needs. Consult your veterinarian before changing your dog's routine too drastically.

January is Walk Your Pet Month, and it is a time to reevaluate your commitment to your canine companion. In light of the new year, commit to a healthy lifestyle for you and your pet. Help your dog live its best life and schedule a visit with the Pet Hospitals of Hawaii.