Trips with Pets: Top 5 'Pet New Year's Resolutions' for 2016

Submitted by www.tripswithpets.com

The new year is upon us. It's time to take a look back on the past year and determine what we might want to change, do better or accomplish in 2016.

For pet parents, much of this reflection applies to the lives they share with their pets.

TripsWithPets.com surveyed pet parents and asked them what resolutions they've made for 2016 relating to their pets. Here are the top five 2016 "Pet New Year's Resolutions."

1 - Healthier Diet: Feeding their pets better quality food is at the top of pet parents list this year. They've been doing their research and want to do all they can to ensure their little ones live a long, happy and healthy life. Whether it's gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, soy-free, corn-free, raw food, unprocessed food or probiotics - pet parents are coming for you in 2016.

2 - Daily Walks: Whether it's a walk through the park, a stroll around the neighborhood or a jog along hiking trails, 26 percent of pet parents surveyed plan to get outside each day and move with their pets this year. They sited exercise, maintaining their pack leader status, and bonding as their motivation for walking their pooch more often.

3 - More Outings: More car rides, doggie bakery visits, beach outings, and family vacations, are among the activities respondents said they are resolved to doing more of with their four-legged family members. Getting out and spending some quality time with their pets to make that bond even stronger is at the top of many pet parents minds this year!

4 - Socialization: As more pet parents opt to take their pets on more outings, there comes the need to better socialize them. Fifteen percent of pet parents polled are committed to helping their shy, skittish or fearful pet become more comfortable around people, other pets, and in public places.

5 - Training: A close cousin of socialization, training, comes in as the fifth-most popular pet resolution of 2016. We all can't have the perfectly mannered pet, but a good number of pet parents plan to devote time to curb some not-so-favorable behavior. From teaching Rover not to bark at house guests and drag you while on walks to practicing better recall (getting your dog to come when called) and training your cat to stay off kitchen counters, pet parents are ready to put on their "pet whisperer" hat!

About TripsWithPets.com

TripsWithPets.com is a premier pet-friendly travel guide providing online reservations at more than 30,000 pet-friendly hotels and accommodations across the U.S. and Canada. When planning a trip, pet parents go to TripsWithPets.com for detailed, up-to-date information on hotel pet policies and pet amenities. TripsWithPets.com also features airline and car rental pet policies, pet-friendly activities, a user-friendly search-by-route option, as well as pet travel gear.

Author Kim Salerno is the president and founder of TripsWithPets.com. She founded the pet travel site in 2003 and is an expert in the field of pet travel. Her mission is to ensure pets are welcome, happy and safe in their travels.