How To Keep Your Pets Active and Engaged

People usually land here with the same practical question: how much activity does my pet really need, and what does “enrichment” look like on an ordinary weeknight?

Get it wrong and the results tend to show up quietly at first—restlessness, weight gain, rough play, or a dog that can’t settle. Get it right and you often see steadier bodies, calmer behaviour, and a home that feels easier to live in. The aim is simple: match movement and mental work to the animal in front of you, then build a routine that’s safe, repeatable, and kind.

What “active and engaged” actually means

For most pets, activity is only half the story. Engagement is the other half: opportunities to sniff, search, climb, chew, solve small problems, and practise everyday species behaviours in a safe way.

In dogs and cats, environmental enrichment is widely used to reduce unwanted behaviours while increasing normal, desired behaviours (for example, swapping pacing or nuisance behaviour for a food toy or targeted play).⁸

Start with your pet’s needs (age, health, body shape, temperament)

Two animals can live in the same house and need very different plans. Breed and body shape matter, but so do age, medical history, and how your pet copes with change.

• Puppies and growing dogs: build exercise slowly and avoid “forced” endurance work (long runs, bike pace, relentless ball throwing) that can overdo developing joints.^{3, 4}
• Flat-faced (brachycephalic) dogs and dogs with joint disease: may overheat or tire quickly; ask your vet what’s appropriate and keep sessions short and cool.³
• Shy or reactive pets: often do better with predictable, low-pressure activity (sniff walks, gentle training, food puzzles) than busy, social settings.

Safe physical activity options for common household pets

For dogs, simple options—walking, supervised swimming, and games like fetch—are commonly recommended as practical ways to build fitness and provide stimulation, as long as you adjust intensity to the individual dog.¹

Dogs: steady movement beats occasional big sessions

• Walks with time to sniff: a normal walking pace with “sniff breaks” is real work for a dog’s brain and body.
• Off-lead free running (when safe): in a secure area, many dogs regulate their own intensity more sensibly than when we push the pace.²
• Swimming: useful low-impact exercise for some dogs, but always under direct supervision.¹

Cats: short, frequent bursts and a climbable home

Cats tend to exercise in quick spells. Indoor cats often need you to “build the landscape”: vertical perches, hiding spots, scratching surfaces, and daily interactive play that mimics prey movement.^{7, 9}

How to increase exercise without overdoing it

A simple rule: add time or intensity in small steps, then watch what your pet tells you. Puppies and young dogs, in particular, should be introduced to exercise gradually, with rests when they tire.^{1, 4}

• Start shorter than you think. Finish while your pet is still comfortable.
• Avoid exercise right before or after meals in dogs, especially deep-chested breeds, because it can increase risk of bloat (GDV).^{1, 4}
• Heat matters. In warm weather, exercise early or late and watch for overheating signs (heavy panting, drooling, confusion). Seek urgent veterinary help if heatstroke is suspected.²

Mental stimulation that actually changes behaviour

Mental work is often what turns “tired” into “settled”. Food puzzles, scent games, short training sessions, and toy rotation give pets something to do with their instincts—without adding a lot of physical strain.

Easy enrichment ideas (dogs and cats)

• Food puzzles and slow feeders: swap one meal for a puzzle toy or scatter feed in safe spaces.^{8, 9}
• Short training sessions: a few minutes of cues, targeting, or trick training can calm a busy brain, especially for adolescent dogs.
• Scent-based games (dogs): hide treats around one room and let your dog search.
• Hunt-style play (cats): wand-toy play that stalks, flees, pauses, and “dies” is closer to what cats are built to do.⁹

Play and socialisation: useful, but not one-size-fits-all

Some pets light up around other animals; others cope best with distance. Socialisation isn’t “meet everyone”. It’s learning that everyday life is safe.

For puppies, the most effective socialisation happens during a sensitive window of roughly 3 to 14 weeks, using gentle, positive experiences that don’t overwhelm the pup.⁵

Safer ways to introduce new experiences

1. Keep it brief: leave while your pet is still coping well.
2. Protect health first: follow your vet’s advice on vaccination timing and higher-risk areas such as dog parks.²
3. Reward calm observation: treat for looking, sniffing, and choosing to disengage.
4. Watch body language: tucked tail, lip licking, freezing, repeated turning away, or hiding are signs to increase distance or stop.

Diet and weight: the quiet limiter of activity

Extra weight makes exercise harder on joints and lungs, and it often sneaks up when treats and chews aren’t counted. If you’re unsure, ask your vet to score body condition and track it over time.

WSAVA provides body condition scoring tools used by veterinary teams to assess body fat stores and support practical nutrition plans.⁶

When to seek professional help

Get veterinary advice if your pet suddenly exercises less, seems painful, coughs, collapses, pants excessively, or shows abrupt changes in appetite, sleep, or temperament. Behaviour that looks like “naughtiness” can be discomfort, fear, or illness.

If problem behaviours persist (destructive behaviour, aggression, panic when alone), your vet can rule out medical issues and help you find a qualified trainer or veterinary behaviourist. Enrichment can help, but some animals need a broader behaviour plan.⁸

References

1. RSPCA Pet Insurance (Australia) — Tips for exercising your dog
2. RSPCA Pet Insurance (Australia) — How to safely exercise your dog or puppy
3. RSPCA Knowledgebase — How should I exercise my puppy?
4. RSPCA Australia — How to exercise your puppy
5. Purdue University (Canine Welfare Science) — Socialisation & early exposure
6. World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) — Global Nutrition Guidelines (BCS tools)
7. The Anti-Cruelty Society — Feline enrichment
8. American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) — 2015 Canine and Feline Behavior Management Guidelines
9. AAHA Trends Magazine — Feline enrichment