How To Refresh Your Dog's Routine for The New Year

As we step into a new year many of us take time to reflect, reset, and set goals for the months ahead. But what about our dogs? Just like us, dogs benefit from a daily routine refresh, a chance to shake off old schedules, introduce new ones and improve their overall well-being.

Do Routines Matter for Dogs?

Dogs are creatures of habit, and a predictable daily routine helps them feel safe, secure and confident in their environment. It helps them to know what to expect, from mealtimes to walks and play, to when it’s time to settle for bed.

When dogs know their daily routine, they’re less likely to experience stress or feel anxious. Dogs with consistent schedules tend to be in the right frame of mind to follow rules and respond to training. Predictability reduces uncertainty and emotional instability, and regular feeding and exercise times helps to regulate their internal clock.

New Year, New Routine

That said, just like humans, overly repetitive routines can become stale for dogs, and the new year is a great time to mix things up. A routine refresh can reignite dogs’ curiosity, boost their mood, and help to strengthen the human-dog bond.

Here are a few signs your dog may exhibit if they need a routine refresh:

• Pacing, whining or destructive behaviour can signal a lack of stimulation.
• Changes in sleep patterns can indicate discomfort or anxiety.
• A dog who seems disengaged may need new challenges in their daily routine.

Just remember, refreshing your dog’s routine doesn’t necessarily mean a complete overhaul. Small, thoughtful changes can have a big impact.

When adjusting your dog’s routine, sometimes, it’s the structure itself that needs tweaking. If needed, shift elements, like their walks or mealtimes, gradually. At the same time, add structured downtime to allow them to have a proper rest and good quality sleep overnight.

What Should Be Considered in Your Dog’s New Routine?

Mental and Physical Stimulation

When refreshing your dog’s routine, it’s important to recognize that mental exercise is just as important as physical activity for dogs. Incorporating both into your dog’s schedule, helps to prevent boredom whilst building their confidence.

Here are a few ideas to keep your dog’s brain and body active:

• Puzzle toys or snuffle mats can challenge your dog’s ability to think and problem-solve.
• Scent games, such as hiding treats around the house or garden for a fun sniffing adventure.
• Set up play dates and social opportunities for your dog to interact with other friendly dogs.
• Training sessions when you can teach new exercises or reinforce old ones in short bursts of learning.

We always advise adjusting activity levels to suit your dog’s age, breed and health, especially when refreshing their routines as they mature.

Training Sessions

Like us, dogs continue to learn throughout their life. Training isn’t just about teaching your dog to do what you want them to, but also an opportunity to grow your bond and build your communication with them. That’s why the new year is a great time to teach your dog even more.

When training, always use positive reinforcement tactics, like treats, praise, or play to encourage learning and repetition of what they have learnt. You can even build in healthcare learning, such as grooming, teeth brushing, and looking in their ears and mouth.

For support, contact a local accredited dog trainer to help with elements you would like to improve, such as jumping up at guests or walking on a loose lead.

New Walks

Simple adjustments to dogs’ routines, like trying out new walking routes can enrich their daily experiences, allowing them to experience different sights and smells. We understand that time is often limited but adding variety to your walks and allowing your dog time to sniff and explore can be very beneficial to their well-being.

Spending quality time together on walks also reinforces your relationship, the more enjoyment dogs get from their walk, the more they may trust you. Always remember to pay attention to your dog’s cues, if they seem tired or uncomfortable adjust the length, pace or location of the walk as needed.

The Importance of Sleep

Just like us humans, having enough good quality sleep is essential for your dog’s well-being, as it allows them time to recover from activities and regulate their mood.

To help them get enough sleep, create a bedtime routine for your dog with calming cues like a final walk, toilet break, a chew or gentle music. Consistency is key, but some flexibility helps adaptation, which may be needed at times.

Incorporate Quality Time

Quality time between you and your dog is essential. Dedicate time in your daily routines where you are fully present and interacting with your dog. Here are a few ideas:

• Interactive play or games like tug-of-war, fetch, or hide-and-seek.
• Agility sports for dogs like flyball.
• Scent work or other classes (these can be a great way for you and your dog to enjoy time together and meet like-minded dog parents).

Top Tips for Introducing New Routines

Set Realistic Goals

Small changes are much easier to stick to and more sustainable in the long term. Go slow and introduce one change at a time and remember to track your dog’s progress, as it can be difficult to note small changes! A simple daily log can help you spot patterns or improvements in your dog’s routine.

Celebrate Your Successes

Motivation is a key element in your dog’s new year routine refresh! Use rewards and encouragement to build confidence and keep your dog’s routine changes on track.

Watch for Stress Signals

Keep a close eye on your dog and watch out for stress signals like panting, pacing, increased vigilance, yawning, avoidance or lip licking. These may mean that too much has been changed too quickly.

Involve the Whole Family

Get everyone in the family involved so that they understand the changes to the routine and how to help your dog to stick to them. While a lot of dogs will make it known if their mealtime is late, make sure that the family knows who is responsible for each part of the dog’s routine so nothing is missed!

This may involve being flexible with their routine too. Life happens and it may be that the person ‘in charge’ of certain tasks changes. Keeping the elements of the routine the same, for example when your dog is fed or is taken for a walk, will help your dog to feel more comfortable with their new routine.

Create a Safe Space for Your Pooch

Create a safe place for your dog in your home where they can retreat to whenever they wish to rest or get away from activities going on in the home. Avoid disturbing your dog when they are in this spot to keep them as relaxed as possible.

This space can include their bed, blankets and their favourite toys. Plug in an ADAPTIL Calm diffuser in the room, as the comforting dog appeasing pheromone messages will help reassure your dog during any changes to their routine.

Schedule a Wellness Check at the Vets

Regular wellness checks at the vet give you an opportunity to discuss your dog’s daily routine and any changes in behaviour you have noticed as well as check for any health issues. The team at your vet clinic will be able to discuss your dog’s current needs and the best routine for them.

For more tips and tricks for supporting your pup when routines change, keep exploring the ADAPTIL blog online. And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to remain in the loop with all our latest updates!