If your dog could sit you down and make a few requests, what do you think they'd ask for?
More treats would probably make the list. Your spot on the couch might officially become theirs. And "please stop pretending you don't see me when I'm waiting for a walk" would almost certainly get a mention.
But the things that make a dog's life better are often much simpler than we realise. Dogs need opportunities to sniff, explore, play, learn, rest and spend meaningful time with the people they trust.
So, if your dog could write their own wish list, here are seven things they'd probably love you to do a little more often.
1. "Please Let Me Sniff!"
You've got somewhere to be. Your dog has been investigating the same patch of grass for what feels like five minutes.
Sound familiar?
It can be tempting to hurry them along, but sniffing is one of the most enriching parts of a walk for your dog. Their incredible sense of smell allows them to gather information about their environment, including which animals have passed through and what's changed since their last visit.
Rather than measuring every walk by kilometres or minutes, occasionally let your dog take the lead. Give them time to investigate safe smells, wander at a comfortable pace and decide which direction interests them.
A 20-minute sniff-filled wander can provide a completely different kind of stimulation to a brisk 20-minute walk around the block.
2. "Play With Me, Not Just My Toys"
Your dog might have an entire basket of toys, but leaving a ball on the floor isn't quite the same as playing together.
Interactive play provides physical activity, mental stimulation and, importantly, your attention.
What that looks like depends entirely on your dog. You could try:
- A game of fetch with their favourite ball
- A gentle game of tug
- Hide-and-seek around the house
- Searching for a hidden favourite toy
- Chasing bubbles made specifically for pets
You don't need to dedicate an entire afternoon to it either. Ten minutes of genuinely engaged play can add something exciting to an otherwise ordinary day.
Let your dog's preferences guide you. Some dogs could retrieve a ball all day, while others would much rather tug, chase, sniff or solve a puzzle.
3. "Can We Go Somewhere Different?"
Imagine going for a walk every day but being taken along exactly the same streets, in exactly the same direction, at exactly the same time.
Your dog probably appreciates their familiar route, but occasionally changing things up gives them an entirely new collection of smells, sights and sounds to investigate.
And a new adventure doesn't have to mean packing the car for a weekend away.
- Walk the usual neighbourhood route backwards
- Explore a street you've never walked down together
- Visit a different dog-friendly park
- Head to the beach for a sniff along the sand
- Explore a quiet bushwalking trail
Choose somewhere appropriate for your individual dog. A confident, social dog may love exploring a busy new environment, while a nervous, reactive or senior dog might get much more enjoyment from a quiet trail with plenty of space.
4. "Give Me Something to Figure Out"
Dogs need to exercise their brains as well as their bodies.
Without enough mental stimulation, some dogs may find their own ways to entertain themselves. Unfortunately, their idea of entertainment might involve digging up the garden, chewing something they shouldn't or barking at absolutely everything that passes the window.
Enrichment gives your dog an appropriate outlet for natural behaviours such as sniffing, licking, chewing and problem-solving.
Try putting part of their usual meal into a puzzle feeder, stuffing an appropriate enrichment toy, scattering kibble through the grass or hiding treats around a room and encouraging them to find them.
You can also rotate toys rather than leaving everything available all the time. Put a few away for a week or two and suddenly an old favourite can become exciting again.
Always choose enrichment products appropriate for your dog's size and chewing style, and supervise them with new toys.
5. "Teach Me Something New"
Training isn't only about teaching your dog how to behave. Done positively, it can be another form of enrichment.
Even dogs that already know sit, stay and come can benefit from learning something new.
Try teaching your dog to:
- Touch your palm with their nose
- Find a particular toy by name
- Put their toys back into a basket
- Spin in a circle
- Walk around an object
- Wait politely before going through a doorway
Keep sessions short and enjoyable. Five minutes while you're waiting for dinner to cook can be enough.
And yes, senior dogs can learn new things too. Just choose activities that suit their mobility, hearing, vision and overall health.
6. "Sometimes I Just Want to Rest"
This might seem like an odd request on a list of things your dog wants you to do more often, but giving them uninterrupted downtime matters too.
Dogs need plenty of sleep, and puppies and senior dogs can need even more.
If your dog has finally found the perfect position on their bed, they don't necessarily want to be picked up, cuddled or encouraged to play. Sometimes they'd simply like everyone to leave them alone for a while.
Make sure your dog has access to a comfortable, quiet sleeping area where they can retreat when they want to rest. Children should also be taught not to disturb a sleeping dog.
Pay attention to what your dog is communicating. Moving away, turning their head, repeatedly getting up after being approached or choosing to sleep somewhere isolated may be their way of asking for some space.
7. "Put Your Phone Down and Spend Time With Me"
This might be the biggest one of all.
Think about how much of your dog's day involves waiting.
Waiting for you to wake up. Waiting while you work. Waiting while you make dinner. Waiting for their walk. Waiting while you scroll through your phone on the couch.
Your dog doesn't need your undivided attention every minute of the day, but making small pockets of time specifically for them can make their routine much more rewarding.
Put your phone away and play for ten minutes. Sit outside while they sniff around the backyard. Give them a slow brush if they enjoy being groomed. Practise a few tricks. Take them for a short evening walk with no destination in mind.
Or simply sit together.
Because while we might think our dogs are waiting for the next exciting activity, sometimes the thing they really want is us.
How Can You Tell What Your Dog Wants More Of?
There's no universal dog wish list.
Age, breed, personality, health and past experiences all influence what an individual dog enjoys. One dog might lose their mind when you reach for a tennis ball, while another couldn't care less but will sprint to the door at the mention of a walk.
Watch your dog's body language and notice what they actively choose to engage with.
A relaxed body, enthusiastic participation, returning for more and voluntarily approaching an activity can all suggest they're enjoying themselves. On the other hand, repeatedly moving away, becoming tense or refusing to participate may mean they'd rather do something else.
The goal isn't to fill every waking moment with entertainment. It's to give your dog opportunities to make choices, use natural behaviours and enjoy activities that genuinely suit them.
Try One Thing Today
You don't need to completely overhaul your dog's routine or spend a fortune making their life more interesting.
Tomorrow's walk could simply have five extra minutes for sniffing. Tonight you could hide some of their dinner around the house. This weekend you could explore somewhere neither of you has been before.
Small changes can turn everyday routines into something your dog genuinely looks forward to.
So pick one thing from the list and give it a try. Your dog can't exactly tell you whether you've chosen correctly, but we're pretty sure the tail wag will give you a clue.
Summary
If your dog could make a wish list, more opportunities to sniff, play, explore, learn and spend quality time with you would probably be near the top. Every dog is different, so pay attention to the activities your dog genuinely enjoys and make room for a little more of them. Giving your dog a fulfilling life doesn't have to be complicated. Often, the things they value most are the simplest.
