Exercise is essential for pets regardless of living space. In apartments, you need to be more creative about providing physical activity, but it's absolutely achievable. Here are practical ways to keep your pet active.
Indoor Exercise for Dogs
Active Games
- Tug-of-war: Great energy burner, minimal space needed
- Indoor fetch: Use soft toys in a cleared space or hallway
- Hide and seek: Hide yourself or treats around the apartment
- Find it: Hide treats and let them sniff them out
- Stair climbing: If you have stairs, supervised stair games
Training as Exercise
Training sessions provide both mental and physical activity:
- Practice commands with increasing complexity
- Teach tricks that involve movement
- Obstacle courses using household items
- Short, frequent sessions throughout the day
Mental Exercise
Mental work is tiring too:
- Puzzle feeders for meals
- Treat-dispensing toys
- Snuffle mats
- New trick learning
Outdoor Exercise for Dogs
Daily Walks
Walks are essential, not optional:
- At minimum, 2-3 walks per day
- Vary routes for mental stimulation
- Allow sniffing—it's mentally enriching
- Adjust duration to your dog's needs
Beyond Walks
- Dog parks: Off-leash play and socialization
- Hiking: Longer adventures on weekends
- Running: If your dog is built for it and enjoys it
- Swimming: If accessible and your dog likes water
- Playdates: With other friendly dogs
Weather Challenges
- Have indoor backup plans for bad weather
- Short walks in extreme weather, longer indoor activities
- Rain gear can extend outdoor time
- Very hot or cold weather requires caution
Indoor Exercise for Cats
Hunting Play
Cats need to express hunting instincts:
- Wand toys: Mimic prey movements, let them "catch" it
- Laser pointers: Chase games (end with a tangible catch)
- Feather toys: Bird-like movement triggers hunting instinct
- Throwing toys: Small mice or balls they can chase and catch
Vertical Exercise
- Cat trees encourage climbing
- Wall-mounted shelves create paths
- Perches at different heights
- Climbing to get to toys or treats
Independent Play
- Balls they can bat around
- Crinkle toys
- Automated toys (use sparingly)
- Cardboard boxes and paper bags
Exercise Schedules
Dogs
- Morning: Walk + brief play
- Midday: Walk (if possible) or puzzle toy
- Evening: Longer walk + play session
- Before bed: Brief walk or calm play
Cats
- Morning: Brief play session
- Evening: Longer play session (cats are more active at dawn/dusk)
- Before bed: Play to tire them out for night
- Throughout day: Puzzle feeders, self-play toys available
Signs of Adequate Exercise
Well-Exercised Pet
- Calm behavior at home
- Sleeps well
- Not destructive
- Maintains healthy weight
- Good energy during play, settles afterward
Needs More Exercise
- Restless, can't settle
- Destructive behavior
- Excessive vocalization
- Weight gain
- Seeking attention constantly
Consistency Matters
Regular, consistent exercise is more effective than occasional intense sessions. A daily routine of moderate activity serves pets better than sporadic long sessions followed by days of inactivity.