Why 91% of Dog Resolutions Fail by February (And 5 That Won’t)

You’re Not Alone (Science Says So)
A 2025 Texas A&M study found that 99% of dogs show at least one problem behavior. The biggest issue? Read the study

The 20-Minute Sniff Trick
Experts say 20 minutes of dedicated “sniff time” letting your dog smell everything on a walk can tire them out as much as an hour of regular walking. More on mental stimulation

Ditch the Bowl
Dogs are wired to work for food, bowls bore them. Same meal, zero extra cost, way more mental stimulation. DIY enrichment ideas from ASPCA

The Cold Weather Rule
If it’s too cold for you in a winter coat, it’s too cold for your dog. When temps drop below 20°F, limit walks to 15 minutes. Frostbite can hit ears...Winter safety tips from AVMA

Last Thursday, Lisa picked up Cooper her 7-year-old Golden Retriever who’s been boarding with us for five years. She looked exhausted when she admitted something: “Every January, I tell myself this is the year I’ll walk him more. By February, I’ve already quit.”

But here’s what Lisa didn’t know: this year would be different. Not because she’d suddenly find more willpower but because she’d finally learn the approach that actually works. The same one we’ve seen transform hundreds of dogs at our kennel.

Today I’m breaking down exactly why most dog resolutions fail and the five that won’t, if you do them right.

Most dog owners start January with the best intentions. Walk more. Train consistently. Finally fix that one annoying behavior. Sound familiar?

But here’s the reality we see at the kennel: by the second week of January, sometimes called “Quitter’s Day” most of those resolutions are already fading. A Strava study of over 800 million activities found that the second Friday in January is when most people abandon their fitness goals. And dog resolutions follow the same pattern.

The statistics are sobering. Only 9% of people successfully keep their New Year’s resolutions. 23% quit in the first week. 43% expect to fail before February even arrives. And by the end of February, 80% have given up entirely.

Why? Because the traditional approach to resolutions is fundamentally broken. We set goals that are too vague (“walk more”), too ambitious (“one hour every morning”), or completely disconnected from our actual daily routines. We rely on motivation and willpower which researchers have shown depletes like a battery throughout the day.

Meanwhile, our dogs are waiting. And every failed resolution is another year of missed walks, skipped training, and health issues that compound quietly in the background.

After 20+ years of caring for thousands of dogs, we noticed something surprising…the owners who actually stuck with their goals weren’t the most motivated ones. They were the ones who made their new habits ridiculously small and attached them to something they already did every day.

This concept is called “habit stacking” a term popularized by James Clear in Atomic Habits. The idea is simple: instead of creating an entirely new routine that requires willpower to remember and execute, you attach your new behavior to an existing automatic habit.

Here’s why it works: Research shows that 40-43% of our daily actions run on autopilot. We don’t think about brushing our teeth or making coffee, we just do it. When you stack a new habit onto one of these automatic behaviors, you’re working with your brain instead of against it.

Remember Lisa and Cooper? For four years, she tried the “big goal” approach: 45-minute walks every morning. It never lasted past February. But last year, she tried something different. Instead of “walk more,” her resolution became: “After I pour my coffee, I walk Cooper to the end of the driveway and back.” That’s it. Two minutes, maximum.

It felt almost too easy. But here’s what happened: within a week, she was naturally extending the walk. By March, they were doing 20-minute loops around the neighborhood. By May, Cooper had lost 12 pounds, his coat was gleaming, and he was moving like a younger dog. All because Lisa stopped trying to overhaul her life and started stacking tiny habits instead.

The key isn’t willpower. It’s making the right thing so easy that it’s harder to skip than to do.

Here are five resolutions we’ve seen work not because they’re revolutionary, but because they’re built to survive real life.

Resolution #1: Add 10 Minutes to Your Daily Walk

Habit Stack: “After I put on my shoes for our regular walk, I walk one block further than yesterday.”

Don’t overhaul your entire routine. Just extend what you’re already doing. One extra block. One more minute. The gains compound faster than you’d think.

Resolution #2: 5 Minutes of Training or Mental Stimulation Daily

Habit Stack: “Before I put the food bowl down, my dog does a sit and makes eye contact for 3 seconds.”

We saw this transform Duke, a 3-year-old Lab whose owner worked long hours. She couldn’t find 15 minutes for training but she could ask for a sit before every meal. Within a month, Duke’s impulse control had improved dramatically. No extra time found. Just a tiny habit stacked onto feeding.

Resolution #3: Use a Measuring Cup for Food (Every Time)

Habit Stack: “When I open the food bin, the measuring cup is the first thing I grab.”

This one’s embarrassingly simple, but it matters. 56% of dogs in the U.S. are overweight or obese. Eyeballing portions typically leads to 20% or more overfeeding. Put the measuring cup inside the food bin so it’s impossible to skip. Zero extra time. Massive health impact.

Resolution #4: Schedule the Vet Visit Now

Habit Stack: “When I schedule my own annual checkup, I schedule theirs too.”

More than 80% of dogs over three years old have some form of dental disease. Most owners don’t catch it until it’s expensive and painful. Schedule it now while you’re thinking about it and you eliminate the “I’ll do it later” trap entirely.

Resolution #5: 15 Minutes of Uninterrupted Time Together

Habit Stack: “After dinner, my phone goes on the charger and I spend 15 minutes just being with my dog.”

No screens. No multitasking. Just you and your dog. A 2024 study published in PLOS ONE found that specific interactions with dogs like playing and walking increase brainwaves associated with both relaxation and concentration. This isn’t just good for your dog. It’s good for you.

The secret to keeping your dog resolutions isn’t motivation, willpower, or a complete lifestyle overhaul. It’s making the new behavior so small and so connected to your existing routine that skipping it feels harder than doing it.

We’ve seen this work for hundreds of dogs at our kennel from young pups building good habits to senior dogs whose owners finally found an approach that stuck. If it works in our chaotic boarding environment, it’ll work in the consistency of your home.

What’s the one resolution you’re committing to this week? Hit reply and tell me I read every response.

Every December, we set up our holiday photo booth at Camp Cypress. Red truck backdrop, twinkle lights, plaid blanket, the works.

This year, over 200 campers got their moment in front of the camera. Some sat perfectly still like they’d been waiting all year for this. Others needed a few treats (okay, a lot of treats) and some creative bribery.

Benny and Joon here? Total pros. Benny rocked the candy cane scarf, Joon brought the elf energy, and somehow we got them both looking at the camera at the same time. That’s rarer than you’d think.

It’s one of our favorite parts of the season seeing these goofy, lovable dogs all dressed up, their owners grinning at the photos later. It reminds us why we do this.

Want to share your dog’s photo with our community? Hit reply and send it over. We’d love to feature your pup in a future issue.

Q: “How do I know if my dog is overweight? My vet says he needs to lose a few pounds, but he doesn’t look fat to me.”

  Sarah P.

A: You’re not alone 40% of dog owners don’t realize their dog is overweight. We’ve gotten so used to seeing chunky dogs that “normal” looks too thin.

Here’s a quick at-home test: Run your hands along your dog’s sides. You should be able to feel the ribs without pressing hard, but not see them. If you have to dig to find them, your dog is carrying extra weight.

Also look from above there should be a visible waist behind the ribs. From the side, the belly should tuck up, not hang level or sag.

The hard truth: 56% of dogs in the U.S. are overweight or obese. Even a few extra pounds can shorten your dog’s life by up to two years and increase risk of joint problems, diabetes, and heart disease.

The fix? Start with a measuring cup (see this week’s Featured Article). Most overweight dogs aren’t overfed on purpose they’re overfed by eyeballing portions. A measuring cup costs $2 and can add years to your dog’s life.

If you’re unsure, ask your vet for your dog’s ideal weight and work backward from there.

The 10-Minute Training Session That Actually Works

Here’s what most people get wrong about training: they wing it. A little “sit” here, some “stay” there, maybe a frustrated “come on, pay attention!”

Sound familiar?

Next week, I’m sharing the simple structure we use at Camp Cypress to make every training session count even if you only have 10 minutes. You’ll learn exactly what to work on, in what order, and how to end so your dog actually remembers it.

If you committed to Resolution #2 this week, you’re going to want this.

For the dogs we love like family,

Jim Banks

The Majestic Mutt

P.S. Good training starts with good treats. Buddy Bites Freeze-Dried Liver Training Treats [link] are what we use at the kennel small, healthy, all-natural, and dogs go absolutely crazy for them. Perfect for those 5-minute training sessions we talked about.

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Real wisdom for dogs we love like family

2415 Butler Hill Rd., Benton, LA 71006

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