You may have given yourself a few New Year’s Resolutions, but what about your dog? Here are Fitdog’s top resolutions to make 2013 your dog’s healthiest and happiest year yet!

1. Stop feeding your dog junk food. And by junk food, we don’t mean table scraps. We mean that low-grade kibble you pick up from the grocery store. So many of our customers will spend hundreds of dollars on daycare, grooming and pet supplies, but then cheap out on dog food. We can’t count how many times we’ve seen Beneful or Purina at dinnertime.

These types of dog food have a lot of fillers and very little protein or nutrients. It’s the equivalent of eating McDonald’s every day. Higher end food might be more expensive by the bag, but you will end up feeding your dog less per meal because it’s more nutritious. It will also save you vet bills in the long run. It’s worth switching.

2. Walk your dog. Dogs need to be walked everyday. No exceptions. No excuses. (That means toy breeds too!) In general, dogs need to be walked at least 30 minutes to 1 hour per day. If you have an energetic breed, you’ll want to do even more (think 45 minute jog for your Vizsla).

Walks provide dogs with mental stimulation, social interaction and exercise. Dogs that are shut inside all day and neglected lack good social behavior, exhibit destructive behaviors at home and quite frankly are probably not happy. Our advice, set up a routine and get moving! It’s good for you too.

3. Have fun with your dog. It’s important to take a time-out from your busy schedule to enjoy having a dog. Dogs love new experiences and being incorporated into your daily life. Go to the dog beach, the dog park, on a hike, or just play tug a war when you get home from work. Don’t let your busy life make you forget why you got a dog in the first place! Both of you will benefit from your new found relationship.

4. Listen to your vet. We have a lot of overweight dogs at Fitdog, and there is no good reason for it. The next time you go your vet, and your vet tells you that your dog needs to lose 2 or 5 or 10 lbs, please LISTEN.

Five pounds might not seem like a lot of weight to you, but if your dog weighs 23lbs and should weight 18lbs, your dog needs to loose 22% of his or her weight body weight. To put that in perspective, if you weigh 150 pounds, 22% of your body weight is equal to 33lbs! That’s a lot of weight.

Dogs that are over weight suffer from difficulty breathing (especially for short nose dogs like pugs, bulldogs), decrease in stamina, and severe damage to joints, bones and ligaments. Their lives are short already, they don’t need to be shorter.

5. Listen to your trainer. Sometimes we feed our dogs table scraps, we let them sleep on our bed, we dress them in sweaters (because they are cute not cold), we let them jump up on strangers or bark at the door. I get it. We all do it sometimes. But when your dog has behavioral issues that are negatively impacting your life, it’s time to do the work especially if you’ve already invested in a trainer.

It’s so often that we see owners go through extensive training with their dog, only to let all of the hard work fall by the waist side. All of the pieces of the training have to come together in order to maintain results and reap the benefits from a well-structured and loving lifestyle.

Make a few of these changes, and we know your dog will have the best & healthiest 2013 yet! Happy New Year!

Thanksgiving is a special day where our country unites in honoring our heritage as well as showing thanks. It is also the day where we throw out our Weight Watcher points and indulge on food.

Below is a list of our favorite Thanksgiving dishes that while can’t be enjoyed by our furry friends in their original version, can be eaten in a dog-friendly modified version.

Thanksgiving Turkey:Yes dogs can certainly eat turkey; however Thanksgiving turkey is typically high in fat and is cooked with onions (which are poisonous to dogs). For this reason, we recommend cooking up a separate piece of turkey especially for your dog. You can dress up the turkey with some rosemary, sage and chicken stock.

Green Bean Casserole: A classic dish. But this dish is loaded with not so friendly doggy foods like the fried onion toppings, mushrooms and creamy soup base. That doesn’t mean your dog can’t enjoy some plain steamed green beans with his turkey.

Pumpkin Pie: Pumpkins are great foods for dogs, but butter, sugar and fat are not. We recommend making pumpkin doggy biscuits instead. There a lot of recipes out there, but here is a recipe from Food.com that looks so easy to make that you might start to make it year round.

Mashed Potatoes: Buttery, creamy mashed potatoes & gravy – yum! Potatoes do offer nutritional benefits, but the butter and cream, and sometimes garlic, should not be consumed by your dog. Better than a mashed potato? A baked potato. Remember to only serve your dog a small portion (Think 1/4th or 1/8th of a potato). This is because potatoes are high in carbohydrates, which is not good for your dog’s blood sugar.

Baked Sweet Potatoes: Sweet potatoes are found in a variety of high quality dog foods and offer a lot of nutritional benefits. Although on Thanksgiving, they are usually covered in a bed of marshmallows, which is definitely not a doggy friendly food. If you skip the marshmallows and the sugar, baked sweet potatoes are a great treat for your dog. Here is a recipe from Food.com for homemade sweet potato chews. (Hint: There is only one ingredient)

Foods to Always Avoid: These foods should never be given to your dog – not even in small quantities: grapes, raisins, chocolate, onions, garlic, alcohol, plums, sugary foods, fatty meats and cooked bones of any kind (unless specifically pressurized & made for dogs).

With a little bit of substituting, you can always find a way for your pup to join the party & the feast.

Every summer, the farmer’s market offers a large selection of fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts that not only smell and taste wonderful, but also offer an array of nutritional benefits.

Dogs, like people, are omnivores, and as a result, can enjoy and benefit nutritionally from many of the same foods that we eat making summertime their favorite season for fresh fruits and veggies too!

Here are our top five foods at the farmers’ market for dogs:

1. Melons – On a hot summer day, there is nothing better than biting into a fresh, juicy watermelon. Now your dog can join you! Dogs can eat watermelons, cantaloupe and honeydews. All melons are high in vitamin C offering protection against immune system deficiencies. For a real treat, freeze them for a cool, refreshing snack.
2. Berries – Berries are in season from June to August starting with blueberries. Dogs can eat blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries. Blueberries are considered a superfood as they are a rich source of antioxidants. So the next time you make a mixed berry salad, remember to share some with your dog.
3. Peanuts – Everyone knows that dogs love peanut butter, but most brands are high in sugar and salt. At the farmers’ market, there are fresh, unsalted, whole peanuts that are perfect for a small treat. Peanuts are a good source of vitamin E, which helps to maintain healthy skin by protecting against harmful free radicals. Buy a bag and your dog will love you.
4. Green Beans – You wouldn’t think so, but dogs really dig green beans. In the summer, they are slightly sweet and have a great texture. Fresh green beans are high in vitamin B and even after cooked, can retain up to 90% of their nutritional value. Remember to steam them before serving them to your dog and skip the salt.
5. Carrots – Planted in the spring, this root makes a sweet, crunchy treat for any dog. Carrots are packed with vitamin A, proven to be vital for healthy eyes. However, carrots are also high in sugar, so be sure to limit your dog’s serving to prevent cavities from forming.

Remember that all foods should be eaten in moderation, and any time you feed your dog supplemental foods or treats, to reduce his or her regular food in order to prevent weight gain.