The start of every year brings a list of resolutions to live better and healthier lives. Here are eight achievable new year resolutions for you and your dogs.

Go on regular walks with your dog. Fitness is important for both dogs and people! Obesity is the number one preventable health issue in dogs today. The exercise recommended most to improve fitness is power walking. Walking is considered a safe activity that can improve muscular strength, circulation and weight loss. Power walking is even better! Always talk to your vet before starting any new physical activity with your dog. Set up a fitness plan (like AKC FIT DOG).

Research what you are feeding your dog. As a vet, I often ask owners what dogs are being fed and most of the time, owners don’t know. Owners may know the brand but not the contents. It’s important to know what protein you are feeding your dog, especially for dogs that may have gastrointestinal or skin issues. Dog food labels are often small and may have a long list of ingredients. Study it and know at least the first four ingredients.

Microchip and register your pup. Each year, thousands of pets get lost. Reuniting pets with their owners is difficult when they’re not properly identified. A study showed that microchipped lost/stray dogs were returned to their owners at more than double the overall rate for all stray dogs.

If a pet is not wearing a collar and tags, or if the collar gets lost or removed, then having an implanted microchip might be the only way the pet's owner can be found. The microchip is implanted in your dog's skin, so you won't lose it. Microchips are inexpensive and require only a simple procedure (much like getting an injection) and are recommended by veterinarians and animal welfare organizations.

Once a dog is microchipped, you need to register them. Microchips are of no use if the owner does not register them afterward or does not update any important information that might have changed, such as phone number or address.

Keep toxic substances away from pets. Nearly 7,000 claims were filed in 2015 by Nationwide pet insurance policyholders for toxic ingestion. Pet owners should keep toxic substances such as household products, medications, food, alcohol and plants away from pets to prevent accidental poisoning.

Wash pet food and water bowls daily. Washing food and water bowls daily can prevent bacteria buildup and reduce illness. This is especially true if feeding frozen or raw foods.

To properly wash a dog food bowl, empty it completely, then wash it with very hot, soapy water using a dedicated sponge or brush and then rinse thoroughly. For the best sanitation, it's recommended to put bowls in the dishwasher on a high heat setting (if dishwasher safe) or soak it in a diluted bleach solution after washing by hand. Always make sure to rinse and dry the bowls completely before refilling. Stainless steel bowls tend to be the least reactive to a dog’s skin and are the easiest to properly clean and disinfect.

Start a pet savings account or enroll in pet insurance. The cost of medicine isn’t what it used to be and the same is true for veterinary medicine. Veterinary medicine has gotten to be very expensive, especially in an emergency. Pet insurance is much more common due to the increased cost of high-quality veterinary diagnostics and care. There are many pet insurance companies that have different plans that meet most needs and budgets.

Get involved in classes or event training. Dogs love having something to do and having a purpose. Being busy makes them happy and can help keep them out of trouble. Whether it is teaching basic dog manners, FASTCAT racing, learning tricks or training for agility, the American Kennel Club holds more than 26,000 events each year. If you choose to participate and then consider competition, you and your dog may meet like-minded dog owners all over the country. Many AKC events are only open to pure bred dogs, but not all.

Spend more quality time with pets. Make a resolution to spend more quality time every day (or night) with your pets, whether to cuddle, play, brush or simply bond on the couch together (after taking them on that long walk). Studies show that that people that spend time with their pets have improvement in their mental and physical health and happiness. And the dogs love the close time, too!

For more information on responsible dog ownership, visit the American Kennel Club at www.akc.org. Have a happy and healthy new year!

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