Health Update: Want a New Year’s Health Goal That Will Last? Enlist Your Dog – What Experts Say

Whether you’re planning fitness resolutions or just testing out some of that outdoor gear you got over the holidays, the New Year is a great time to establish healthy habits. But you shouldn’t forget about the health of your favorite adventure partner. Runs, hikes, and ski tours are a lot more fun with your dog by your side, and—like your own healthy choices—the smart decisions you make for your dog will help them enjoy those adventures for years to come.

The team at The Farmer’s Dog understands this and is here to help when it comes to nutrition. If you’re eating cleaner, why shouldn’t your dog? By working with vet nutritionists to create fresh food that’s delivered straight to your doorstep, The Farmer’s Dog makes it easier to make your pet’s health as much of a priority as your own. And to start 2026 off right, The Farmer’s Dog is partnering with MapMyFitness to create a dog-centric workout challenge to ring in the new year.

Personalized Meal Plans

There’s a reason you make a plan when you want to start eating healthier—things come off the rails quickly without one. When it comes to your dog’s health, The Farmer’s Dog does the planning for you. By simply answering a few questions about your dog(s), you’ll receive a personalized diet based on their needs. Based on your pet’s profile, each serving of fresh food is pre-made, pre-portioned, and designed for your dog’s specific calorie needs. Deliveries are shipped on a regular schedule depending on your preferences, and the food arrives ready to eat. The Farmer’s Dog meals are made with human-grade meat and vegetables cooked in simple, dog-friendly recipes. In other words, it’s food that looks and tastes like food.

Why does this matter? For many of the same reasons that your own healthy eating matters—these ingredients are nutrient-rich and free from preservatives and extreme processing. Your dog won’t be able to tell you how good they feel, but that’s what science is here for.

Health You Can Prove

One of the most important aspects of your adventure dog’s health is hydration. A recent study comparing fresh food to dry kibble found that dogs fed The Farmer’s Dog’s fresh, human-grade food consumed more total water per day when including both food and drinking water. Those same dogs drank less from their water bowls, suggesting they were already meeting hydration needs through their food. This kind of passive hydration is especially important since dogs are reactive drinkers, only drinking once they’re already mildly dehydrated. So if you want your favorite hiking buddy to feel their best on the trail, hydration starts at home.

Another study, which was conducted in part with Cornell University, followed a group of 22 senior Alaskan sled dogs over 12 months. It found that dogs who were fed fresh, human-grade food had significantly lower levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs)—compounds that build up in the body and are associated with inflammation and age-related decline. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but you can feed them new meals, keeping their stride a little stronger as their whiskers start to gray.

You might be wondering why you can’t just prepare human-grade food at home. (You do it almost every night after all.) As it turns out, you can. The Farmer’s Dog offers DIY recipes and supplements to help you cook your dog’s meals the same way you cook your own. And since studies have shown that 95% of home-prepared dog diets have one or more significant nutrient deficiencies, these vet-approved recipes come with a DIY nutrient mix to make sure you don’t miss anything your dog needs.

Eat Better, Move Better

If only motivation for all of us was as easy as hearing the word W-A-L-K. Unfortunately, humans sometimes need an extra push out the door, especially in the gray days of winter. If you need an incentive to chase your fitness goals or get back to a cherished outdoor hobby, The Farmer’s Dog and the MapMyFitness app are here to help.

When you log at least four activities with your dog on the MapMyFitness app between January 26th and February 28th, you’ll receive 80% off your first box of The Farmer’s Dog. Any hike, walk, or run you log will count toward the challenge (limit one workout per day), as long as it’s at least five minutes in duration.

Your dog gets better health now with regular hikes, bikes, and walks, plus better health later with fresh-made food that supports both immediate and long-term wellness. It’s the ultimate win-win.

With more than 1 billion meals served, The Farmer’s Dog is leading a revolution in pet care by providing personalized fresh meal plans designed to help dogs live longer, healthier lives. Every meal is complete and balanced, made to human-grade safety standards, portion controlled, and delivered directly to customers’ doors. Plans are developed and supported by our team of on-staff Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionists®, PhD nutritionists, and veterinarians. The Farmer’s Dog is dedicated to bringing peace of mind to dog lovers by helping them do their best for their dogs, and setting the highest bar in the pet care industry. Available nationwide, only at www.thefarmersdog.com.