New Year, New Treats: Starting the Year Right with Your Dog!

New Year, New Treats: Starting the Year Right with Your Dog!

New Year, New Habits!

A new year brings fresh starts, new routines, and plenty of opportunities to give our dogs the very best. After the excitement (and indulgence!) of the festive season, January is the perfect time to reset, refocus, and make mindful choices including what goes into your dog’s treat jar.

Whether your goals are healthier habits, better training, or simply more tail-wagging moments, here’s how to start the new year off right with your pup:

Focus on Healthier Treat Choices

After Christmas goodies, many dogs benefit from lighter, more natural treats. Look for options that are:

High in quality protein

Low in fat

Single-ingredient or limited-ingredients

Free from artificial additives

Natural chews, air-dried meats, fish treats, and functional snacks can support digestion, skin, coat, and joints helping your dog feel their best as the year begins.

Make Training a New Year Habit

January is a great time to refresh training routines or work on new skills. Using small, low fat, high-value treats helps reinforce positive behaviour without overfeeding. Soft, breakable treats are ideal for:

Recall practice

Lead training

Mental enrichment games

Confidence building

Consistency + rewards = happy learning!

Support Wellbeing Through Chewing

Chewing is more than just enjoyable; it’s essential for a dog’s mental and physical wellbeing.

Long-lasting chews help:

Reduce boredom and stress

Support dental health

Encourage calm behaviour

Rotating different textures and proteins keeps things interesting and engaging for your dog.

Try Something New

A new year is the perfect time to introduce novel proteins like boar, camel, ostrich, guinea fowl, or fish-based treats. These are especially helpful for dogs with sensitivities and add exciting variety to treat time.

🎯 Set Treat Goals for the Year Ahead

Just like us, dogs thrive on balance. This year, aim to:

Treat with purpose

Choose quality over quantity

Match treats to activity levels

Use chews for enrichment, not just rewards

Here’s to a Tail-Wagging Year Ahead

As we step into the new year, let’s focus on nourishing, enriching and celebrating our dogs every single day; not just on special occasions. With the right treats, routines, and care, it’s going to be a year full of wagging tails, happy hearts, and healthy pups.

Happy New Year from all of us here at Moochin' Pooch!

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