When you toss a ball for your dog or dangle a toy for your cat, you can see the excitement on their faces as they experience the joy of play. Particularly, when that play is with you. But have you ever stopped to think about what else is happening in those moments? Play is more than fun (though of course that’s great too!) — it’s a powerhouse of mental, emotional and physical benefits for both your pets and you as their pet parent. For your dog chasing after a frisbee or your cat pouncing on a crinkle ball, their brain is firing on all cylinders. According to Pet Valu Animal Care Expert, Jesse Larone, play can actually help reduce stress, curb anxiety and prevent behavioural issues, especially for pets with high energy levels. The benefits extend to their long-term cognitive health, too. Just like people who stay mentally active as they age, dogs that experience regular enrichment in their early years tend to retain cognitive sharpness later in life. And it’s not just pets who benefit — play has a profound impact on pet parents as well. As Seghara Philippe from Pet Valu in North Vancouver points out, sometimes we don’t even realize how much pets shape our own mental well-being or encourage our own physical activity. Whether it’s taking your dog outside for a game of fetch or engaging in an interactive laser play session for your cat, those moments of connection help release endorphins, lower stress and strengthen the bond between pets and their people, she says. A survey of veterinary professionals found that 99% of vets believe enrichment at home directly contributes to a pet’s physical and mental well-being. Yet, nearly half of vets also believe that many pet owners could do more to integrate play into their pet’s daily routine. So, what does that look like in real life? From a simple game of tug or a puzzle toy that makes treats more engaging to an outdoor adventure that gets you and your pet moving, interactive play is a game-changer for emotional health and mental stimulation — as well as the physical benefits, of course. Here are the top tips from our Animal Care Experts on how to make the most of playtime with your furry bestie.
Play is essential for your pet’s physical health, mental sharpness and overall happiness — and it helps a lot with yours too. The physical benefits are clear. Zach Hynick, another Pet Valu Animal Care Expert, shares how hikes, walks and dog park play are a great way to get your dog’s muscles and joints moving, keeping them and yourself physically active. “Anything that involves being outside, running around, whether it's fetch, whether it's tug of war, whether you have one of those balls that you'll tie to a tree, kind of like a tetherball, to swing around for them — anything that gets them moving,” he says. But play also naturally engages a pet’s prey drive, says Hynick, which keeps them both entertained and mentally engaged. “When they are catching a ball, or biting down on a squeaker, or for cats, pouncing down on one of the wand toys,” he explains, “it really relaxes and activates their prey drive.” This kind of instinct-driven play provides an important outlet for both physical movement and problem-solving — and can take place both indoors and outside. “Dogs that have more enrichment in their younger years are typically better cognitively later on in life,” Larone notes. Much like people who engage in lifelong learning, dogs that experience interactive and mentally engaging play in their early years retain better cognitive function as they age. Cats also benefit from play that taps into their instincts. Since most indoor cats rely on their pet parents for enrichment, providing them with opportunities to engage in nose work and hunting-style games is crucial. Larone recommends toys that encourage stalking, pouncing, and problem-solving — like wand toys, crinkle balls, lasers and scent-based activities — to keep your cat mentally sharp and physically active. Beyond just benefiting pets, play has a positive impact on owners as well. Philippe highlights how play gets both pets and their humans moving, improving mental health and releasing endorphins. “Going outside, playing in the snow, the rain, or on a beautiful day — it’s something that stimulates you as a human being,” she says. And since pets don’t experience the same daily mental challenges that people do through work and social interaction, they rely on enrichment activities and one-on-one social play time to keep their brains engaged. “Any opportunity you can give them to exercise that muscle is going to, of course, keep that brain really nice and healthy,” Philippe adds.
In addition to burning energy and mental stimulation benefits, interactive play is a key way for pets and their human parents to build trust, strengthen their bond and develop a deeper connection. When you engage in interactive play with your pet, you’re reinforcing their sense of security and creating positive associations with your presence. According to Philippe, interactive activities help pets build confidence and trust in their owners. For example, activities like guiding them through a snuffle mat to find hidden kibble engage your pet’s brain in ways that a simple food bowl doesn’t. “At the end of the day, that’s all that they’re really craving,” Philippe explains. And giving pets the chance to work through challenges with their pet parent’s guidance and support helps strengthen their cognitive skills, while reinforcing your vital bond. Larone highlights how options like puzzle toys require direct involvement from the owner, making playtime a shared experience rather than a solo activity. “It’s something that you’re providing to your pet. It’s not something that they can do by themselves,” he explains. This interactive element reinforces your relationship, because your pet learns that you’re the one setting up fun challenges and offering rewards. Other examples of play that reinforces your emotional bond with dogs, includes games like fetch and tug-of-war. As Hynick points out, they provide both mental and physical stimulation while keeping the pet parent actively involved. Fetch, for example, often becomes a structured interaction — dogs learn to return the ball, sit, or perform a trick before it’s thrown again, encouraging focus and rewarding their engagement with you. For cats, wand toys and lasers offer a similar interactive experience, helping them tap into their natural hunting instincts while associating playtime with their owner, he says. Even technology can help maintain a sense of connection. Larone shares how a treat-throwing camera allowed him to interact with his pets even when he wasn’t home. “We would call the cats to the camera and get them both to come sit where we could see them… and then we’d throw the treats through the camera,” he explains. Even though the interaction was remote, his cats still recognized his voice and associated the experience with a positive reward from him.
A bored pet can become… a mischievous pet. When dogs chew on furniture or cats turn countertops into playgrounds, they’re usually trying to entertain themselves. The good news? Redirecting that energy into interactive play can work wonders in reducing their anxiety and preventing destructive behaviours by keeping them mentally and physically engaged. Providing pets with structured, stimulating activities isn’t just about keeping them busy — it can actively shape their behaviour. For instance, Hynick emphasizes the importance of play that encourages decision-making. “It's one thing to play mindlessly with your pet, but to have them actively engaged, thinking, and having decision-making abilities — that will reinforce that positive behaviour,” he explains. Games like fetch and scent detection require pets to focus, problem-solve and channel their energy into productive activities, preventing them from looking for other (perhaps less desirable) sources of entertainment. For instance, Larone recommends using puzzles as a form of redirection — if your cat is jumping onto the counter, offering a puzzle feeder on the floor can shift their focus and satisfy their curiosity in a more appropriate way. For dogs, indoor activities like snuffle mats and treat-dispensing toys offer both mental stimulation and a constructive way to manage energy levels. That said, outdoor play is one of the best ways to reduce a dog's stress-related behaviours, says Larone. “Outside play in particular really calms them down and gets rid of a lot of those undesirable behaviours that are associated with boredom and stress and even anxiety,” Larone explains. Not only does regular play prevent boredom-related issues, but it also helps dogs develop better social skills and adapt to new situations. Finally, interactive feeding is another great tool for reducing anxiety and promoting better behaviour. Philippe suggests turning mealtime into a game. For example: “Rolling kibble up in a towel and walking them through how to problem-solve.” Not only does this method slow down fast eaters and aid digestion, but it also provides much-needed mental stimulation that can help calm anxious pets.
At the heart of every game of fetch, every puzzle solved and every shared moment of play is something much deeper — a bond built on trust, healthy mental and physical stimulation, as well as pet and pet parent connection. As Philippe puts it: “Creating memorable moments every single day will make sure that your dog and you maintain that really strong bond.” Whether it’s engaging their problem-solving skills, exploring new enrichment activities or simply playing their favourite game, every interaction reinforces your connection to each other. At the end of the day, our pets rely on us not just for food and shelter, but for enrichment, security and love. “Making sure that you make time for meaningful moments every single day with your pet will ensure that you have a solid foundation for the rest of their life,” Philippe says
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