Ah, January. The month of “new year, new me,” and gym specials we’ll definitely use. But while you’re reinventing your life for the 17th January in a row, have you considered your pet’s upgrades?

They are counting on you for their glow up. If you haven’t, don’t worry. We’ve put together the ultimate guide to stepping into the new year as the best pet parent version of yourself.

This year, let’s put being a better pet parent on the list of priorities, with resolutions that genuinely matter. Ones that will keep our furry family healthy, safe, and thriving; starting with pet insurance.

Pet Goals: Because Your Pet Deserves a Vision Board Too

Not every resolution or pet-specific goal needs to be dramatic. Some of the best changes are the small, consistent, and intentional ones.

Here are some pet-friendly goals to consider:

  • More outdoor walks or playtime

  • Monthly adventures or socialisation trips

  • Learning one new trick per month

  • Upgrading their bedding

  • Switching to healthier treats

  • Scheduling routine vet checks

  • More time outside

  • Weekly enrichment activities

  • Regular play sessions

  • Setting reminders for tick/flea treatments.

Get Pet Insurance: The Smartest Resolution of the Year

You have medical aid for yourself. Insurance for your car. Cover for your house. But your pet?

Don’t let 2026 be the year you learn the hard way that vet bills can hit harder than a triple petrol increase right before payday. Vet bills don’t care that it’s Janu-worry. They don’t care that you had a birthday month in October.

Dogs swallow things they shouldn’t. Cats injure themselves in ways you didn’t know were scientifically possible. And when emergencies strike, you want to be ready. When accidents happen, and they do, insurance turns panic into: 

  • Peace of mind

  • Financial protection

  • Better treatment options

  • Faster decisions in emergencies

  • Coverage for accidents, illness, chronic care, and more.

Why this is your biggest, wisest adulting move:

  • It covers accidents

  • It covers illnesses

  • It helps manage chronic care

  • It saves you thousands in unexpected costs

  • It protects your pet’s wellbeing and your bank account.

Update Your Pet’s Microchip

Before you start updating your vision board, start by updating something even more important: your pet’s microchip details. If your fur kid has ever bolted out the gate the second you opened it “just a crack,” or if your cat has ever done that disappearing act where you start bargaining with the universe (“Please, I’ll stop eating takeaways if my pet returns”), then you know why this is important.

Why it matters:

  • If your pet goes missing, vets and shelters can scan the chip.

  • It helps reunite lost pets faster than a community WhatsApp group.

  • Updating your details once a year ensures the chip actually leads back to you, not your old address in Polokwane.

Outdated microchip info is one of the biggest reasons lost pets aren’t reunited with their families. Microchips only work if the info linked to them is correct. Double-check your contact details. Add a backup contact. Make sure everything is current. It’s quick, painless, and could save your pet’s life. If Mr Whiskers takes himself on an unapproved adventure, someone can actually call you, and you don’t want it to be your ex from two years ago.

Pet Grooming at Home: Start the Year Fresh

You’re booking facials and trying expensive skincare, collagen powders, and random serums TikTok convinced you to buy for your “new me” era. Your pet also deserves that level of attention. Home grooming is a great way to accomplish that. A well-groomed pet is more comfortable, healthier, and smells less like “I rolled in that suspicious patch behind the garage.”

Home grooming helps:

  • Keep skin and coat healthy

  • Prevent matting

  • Reduce shedding

  • Detect issues early

  • Strengthen your bond

  • Keep the house cleaner (your white couch will thank you).

A solid at-home grooming routine includes:

  • Regular brushing

  • Gentle cleaning of ears

  • Nail trimming

  • Bathing with species-appropriate shampoo

  • Checking paws for thorns, grass seeds, or mini mysteries.

Agility Classes for Dogs (and Cats): Your Pet’s Version of Joining the Gym

New Year, New Zoomies. Agility classes aren’t only for working dogs; they're great for exercise, mental stimulation, bonding, confidence-building, and burning off the holiday treats (even when it comes to cats).

Benefits:

  • Keeps your pet fit

  • Builds trust

  • Reduces boredom-related behaviour

  • Helps with anxiety

  • Fun physical activity

  • Mental stimulation

  • A boost in confidence

  • Improved obedience

  • A stronger bond with you.

Plus, you might discover your fur-baby is low-key the Caster Semenya of the dog park.

Dog Sports: New Year, New Adventures

Every year, we try new hobbies. Pottery. Pilates. Budgeting. Your dog deserves the same chance to explore their potential. Dog sports are a joyful way to let them shine.

Whether your dog is a sprinter, a swimmer, a sniffer, or a show-off, there’s a sport for them. Try sports like:

  • Flyball

  • Canicross

  • Dock diving

  • Scent work

  • Herding trials

  • Obedience competitions

  • Trick dog titles.

Find your dog’s “thing,” and watch them thrive.

Pet Dental Health: Because Bad Breath Isn’t a Personality Trait

Dental care is one of the most overlooked aspects of pet health. Ignoring it can lead to pain, tooth loss, gum disease, and costly vet bills.

This year, make dental care a priority:

  • Brush your pet’s teeth (yes, it’s a thing)

  • Use vet-approved dental chews

  • Schedule annual dental checks

  • Look out for red flags: drooling, pawing at the mouth, or refusing food.

Why it matters:

  • Prevents gum disease

  • Reduces infection risk

  • Extends lifespan

  • Improves comfort

  • Saves you money long-term

  • Eliminates bad breath.

A New Year With More Love, More Health, More Tail Wags

Your pet’s health deserves the same “new year, new me” energy you’re giving yourself with green smoothies and morning jogs.

Here’s what you should stay on top of:

Regular Vet Checkups

Even if they look fine, a routine checkup can catch small issues before they become big ones. Make this the year your pet levels up their health glow up. Book their annual vet checkup and back it up with pet insurance that keeps every wag, purr, chirp or slither protected.

Vaccinations

Ready to make your pet’s vaccination record as impressive as your vision board? Give us a shout and let’s get you the cover that keeps your bestie protected, all year round.

Healthy Food

If you’re cutting out junk, maybe don’t give your dog that leftover kota, neh?

Hydration

Fresh water daily. Multiple bowls.

Your pet doesn’t care about New Year hype. They just want you, consistent, loving, attentive you. Because your pet doesn’t need a new version of you, they just need the best, most intentional version of you… and wholehearted pet insurance from dotsure.co.za.