Spot's New Year's Resolutions

Jul 27
5 min read

Originally published in LEO on January 5, 2000 • Updated with modern guidance in 2026

From The Pet Guy Archives

The start of a new year is the perfect time to think about fresh beginnings—not just for ourselves, but for our pets as well. In this lighthearted 2000 column, Jeff Seidenfaden imagines a list of New Year's resolutions written from a dog's perspective, reminding us that many of the habits that help our pets live longer, healthier lives are really responsibilities we share as owners.

Filled with humor and practical advice, this column is as relevant today as it was at the dawn of a new century.

Editor's Note

This article is presented as originally published in January 2000. Recommendations regarding nutrition, exercise, preventive veterinary medicine, and spaying and neutering have continued to evolve over the years. While specific veterinary recommendations may change, the importance of regular veterinary care, exercise, proper grooming, and responsible pet ownership remains timeless.

Original 2000 Column

The following article is transcribed from the original publication with only minor formatting changes for online readability.

Original 2000 Like Cats and Dogs newspaper column titled "Spot's New Year's Resolutions" by Jeff Seidenfaden featuring a humorous list of New Year's resolutions from a dog's perspective while promoting exercise, grooming, spaying and neutering, and responsible pet ownership.

This is the time of year when we all start making our resolutions. After you resolve to lose 10 pounds, find a better job and stop smoking, make a list of resolutions for your pet. The fun part is helping your pet accomplish these things. Here is a sample of a dog's New Year's resolution list:

I resolve to take my owners for more walks. I know how much my owners like to walk and get out of the house they've been cooped up in all day. I will take them for at least three walks a week and try for even more. I know that it will help to keep them active, help them to lose a little of that extra weight gained during the holidays and be a great bonding experience between us.

I resolve to stop begging for table food. I know that people food is not good for me. Even though it smells great, I know that a dog should have a consistent diet and by eating all that rich people food, I will get another upset stomach and maybe even get diarrhea—Yuck! I know that it annoys my owners when I sit and beg all the time, but hey, if they hadn't started feeding me table scraps, I would not have learned to beg!

I resolve to stop roaming the neighborhood looking for easy female dogs. Yes, it is tempting to go roaming around the area looking for the company of a pretty female dog, but I know how much it scares my owners when I run off. Of course, they should put up a fence to keep me in, but I will try hard to resist the urge to wander.

I resolve to try to find a way to get neutered. I can't drive myself to the vet but will try to encourage my owners to get me neutered. I know I will have a much lower chance of getting cancer once I'm neutered, and I know my owners want me around as long as possible. I read LEO and know that the overpopulation of pets is really growing and will try not to father any more litters this year.

I resolve to let my owners brush me every few days. Even though I squirm and wiggle when they try to brush me, I will try to be a little more tolerant of it. I know that without regular brushing, my hair will become matted and irritate my skin. I will also let my owners trim my nails and keep me properly groomed.

Again, this is just a sample New Year's resolution for your dog. Working on one or more of these areas will help ensure a longer, healthier life. Regular visits to your veterinarian will also add years to your pet's life. In this new year and new century, let's make it our resolution to work harder on decreasing the killing of adoptable cats and dogs in our area by having them spayed and neutered.

Happy new century!

Spot's New Year's Resolutions: The Pet Guy Perspective Today

I still smile when I read this column because it reminds us that responsible pet ownership doesn't have to be delivered as a lecture. Sometimes the best lessons come with a little humor.

Nearly everything on Spot's resolution list still reflects good pet care. Regular exercise helps prevent obesity and improves both physical and mental health. Avoiding table scraps can reduce digestive problems and reinforce healthy eating habits. Routine grooming not only keeps pets looking their best but also helps owners spot skin problems, lumps, parasites, or other health concerns before they become serious.

One area where veterinary medicine has continued to evolve is spaying and neutering. While responsible population control remains critically important, today's veterinarians often recommend tailoring the timing of these procedures to a dog's breed, size, health, and lifestyle. That's a conversation every pet owner should have with their veterinarian.

If Spot were writing his resolutions today, he might add a few more: wear my seatbelt in the car, keep my microchip information updated, visit the veterinarian every year, and spend a little less time staring at squirrels through the window. But the heart of this article remains unchanged—our pets depend on us to help them live their healthiest, happiest lives.

About The Pet Guy Archives

The Pet Guy Archives preserve the original newspaper columns written by Jeff Seidenfaden, nationally recognized pet expert, television host, newspaper columnist, and animal advocate. Originally published beginning in the 1990s, these articles have been carefully restored to make them accessible to today's pet lovers while preserving the original voice and perspective of each column.

About the Author

Jeff Seidenfaden is an entrepreneur, former television host, newspaper columnist, and lifelong animal advocate best known as The Pet Guy. For more than three decades, he has educated pet owners through television, newspapers, radio, public appearances, and community outreach, helping families build happier, healthier relationships with their pets.