Dog New Year's Resolutions: Lava's Plans for 2026

Hi, I’m Dr. Maja! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my two crossbreed dogs, Lava and Hela.

It’s almost New Year! Most of us spend the final few days of the Old Year thinking of our New Year’s resolutions and all the things we want to change and improve going forward, in between all the preparations and planning for the big night. How about dogs? In all honesty, they don’t care about the whole fuss, and with me living so remotely, they don’t get to experience any fireworks or loud celebrations. For them, it’s just another day. But if they were to think about what they want for themselves for the next year, I have a pretty good idea of Lava’s resolutions.

More Cat Food, or Just Any Food

Lava is one of the most greedy dogs I’ve ever had. Her first and foremost New Year’s resolution would be more food! And ideally make it cat food, if she can choose. It is the best, after all. Nothing gets her heart beating faster than me serving the kittens their wet food, which she observes from a safe distance. If I take my eye off her for even a split second, after hearing an unusual noise of the bowl scraping the floor, it’s clear to me what happened before I see it. The cat is looking confused, standing next to an empty bowl, and Lava has this very innocent expression on her face, pretending she had absolutely nothing to do with it, even trying to blame her doggie sister Hela, by glancing at her. Human food is the next best thing, and Lava will do her best to steal some whenever there’s an opportunity.

Daily Social Visits To the Neighbor

The grass is always greener on the other side. And it must be lush where my one and only neighbor lives, almost a thousand feet away. Lava would spend all her time there if I let her, chasing the neighbor’s dogs, sheep and lambs, and chickens and looking for food leftovers. Although she is harmless and goes only to play and scavenge for food, I discourage it as much as possible. But often it’s impossible. Especially because she is so fast and sneaky in her intentions to run to them, I don’t even have time to react. So Lava’s second New Year’s resolution would be to spend more time at the neighbor’s house, as that’s what real neighbors are for.

More Mischief and Adventures

Then, it’s all about the wild animals that pass the property. Chasing after them, although there is no way she can catch them, as luckily they are too fast, is what gives Lava her daily high. Following their scent and excitedly running around with her nose to the ground makes her feel like she has a purpose. Or at least that’s how she sees it. The truth is quite the opposite. If Lava could choose, she would be running off to the woods every day, looking for deer or wild boar, although she doesn’t understand the dangers that come with it.

Lava would also like to be able to tease and chase the cats more often without me telling her off as it’s so much fun, although the cats strongly disagree. As well as going on more hikes, road trips with lake swimming, sandy beaches, digging even bigger holes with actually finding something in it and not needing to share it with Hela, and much more.

More Room In the Bed

This is a more modest wish Lava has for herself. At night, sharing a bed with a human and one more dog is no easy task. Sometimes there is even a cat there. It’s just too much if you ask Lava. She wants the whole bed for herself. After all, that would be most fair, she is the biggest of them all and it’s just so inconvenient to share. She just wants to stretch across the whole bed and enjoy her well-deserved rest after a busy day of, well, being Lava.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Never enough snow. If Lava could choose, there would be snow all year round. Luckily, she can’t. As much as I love snow, after being trapped in my home for a week due to heavy snowfall and blocked roads, it’s good to see some sunshine and hear the sound of it melting. But Lava couldn't disagree more. She loves running through snow, digging in it, terrifying the cat, and chasing him up the driveaway, as he is much slower in deep snow, and rolling in the snow, making her version of snow angels.

Finally, Lava just wishes to have more freedom to do whatever she pleases, like the rest of us, but in her own unique way. I hope her letter to Santa never arrived, as if any of these wishes and New Year’s resolutions would come true, I would be in a world of trouble, even more than I already am.