If Your Dog or Cat Had a Bucket List, What Would Be on It?

by Dr. Jeffrey DeSarbo

Anyone who has lived with an animal long enough begins to notice something quietly profound. Our pets are not simply reacting to the world around them. They are processing, interpreting, and remembering it. Their brains are constantly making decisions about safety, curiosity, pleasure, and connection. In other words, they are living experiential lives, not just biological ones.

When humans talk about bucket lists, we are usually talking about what they mean. About wanting our lives to feel full rather than merely long. Animals may not reflect on legacy, but neuroscience tells us they do seek many of the same foundational ingredients for well-being: stimulation, safety, agency, and connection. When these needs are met, animals thrive emotionally and physically. When they are not, we often see anxiety, withdrawal, irritability, or behavior that looks puzzling until we understand what the brain is missing.

If dogs and cats could write bucket lists, they would not be whimsical or indulgent. They would be practical, honest, and deeply rooted in how their brains evolved to function.

The Dog’s Bucket List

We interviewed over 4,245 dogs to obtain the most requested bucket list items that would be on their lists (ok, not really). However, there are things about them that animal specialists and dog owners have learned about their beloved pets. Dogs evolved as social explorers. Their brains are wired to engage with the environment while staying closely attuned to human companions. A dog’s bucket list reflects this balance between curiosity and connection.

Top 10 Bucket List Items for Dogs

1. To sniff without being rushed

For a dog, sniffing is not a pause in the walk. It is the walk. The canine olfactory system is extraordinarily sophisticated, capable of detecting and differentiating an immense range of chemical signals. Research shows that scent exploration activates reward pathways in the brain while reducing stress-related behaviors (1). When a dog is allowed to sniff freely, it is mentally working, emotionally regulating, and gathering information about its environment. Rushing a dog through this process deprives the brain of one of its primary forms of cognitive enrichment.

2. To go somewhere new with their person

Novel environments stimulate attention, learning, and memory networks in the brain. However, dogs experience novelty most positively when it is paired with emotional safety. Visiting a new trail, park, or town alongside a trusted human allows curiosity to flourish without triggering anxiety. Environmental enrichment research shows that exposure to new settings supports cognitive health and emotional balance, particularly as dogs age (2). These shared adventures become emotionally encoded experiences, strengthening both confidence and attachment.

3. To learn something new, even later in life

Learning is a powerful form of neurological exercise. Teaching a dog a new trick, command, or skill engages executive functioning, attention networks, and reward circuits simultaneously. Studies on enrichment demonstrate that mental challenges improve emotional regulation and reduce anxiety-related behaviors (3). For older dogs, continued learning helps maintain cognitive flexibility and reinforces a sense of competence, reminding the brain that growth is still possible.

4. To run freely in a safe, open space

Unstructured movement allows dogs to engage their bodies in ways that align with their evolutionary design. Short bursts of running release endorphins and support cardiovascular health. When paired with play, these experiences also activate the brain's social bonding and reward systems. Research on animal play highlights its role in emotional regulation, resilience, and social learning (4). These moments are not simply physical exertion. They are emotionally restorative.

5. To work for food through problem-solving

Dogs evolved to earn resources, not simply receive them. Food puzzles and interactive feeding tools engage problem-solving circuits and executive functioning while reducing boredom. Research shows that such enrichment supports cognitive health and decreases frustration-based behaviors, especially in older dogs (5). Solving a puzzle gives the brain a sense of purpose and accomplishment, reinforcing positive emotional states.

6. To explore environments rich in scent

Certain environments offer layered sensory complexity that deeply engages the canine brain. Beaches, forests, and urban streets provide rich olfactory landscapes that activate learning and memory systems. Exposure to varied sensory input supports neural plasticity and satisfies innate exploratory drives (1). To a dog, these places are mentally stimulating worlds filled with information, not just destinations.

7. To live within predictable daily rhythms

While novelty is important, predictability provides emotional safety. Consistent routines signal stability to the nervous system and help regulate baseline stress levels. Research on enrichment emphasizes that structure and routine support emotional balance and overall well-being in dogs (3). A reliable rhythm allows the brain to relax, knowing what to expect.

8. To engage in social play

Playing with humans or other dogs activates social cognition and impulse control systems. Through play, dogs practice reading social cues, regulating excitement, and navigating boundaries. Animal behavior research highlights play as a key mechanism for emotional learning and stress regulation (4). These interactions strengthen social bonds and support behavioral flexibility.

9. To rest deeply after engagement

Rest is when the brain consolidates learning and recalibrates stress systems. Dogs who receive adequate physical and mental stimulation during the day are more likely to achieve restorative sleep. Deep rest supports memory formation, immune function, and emotional balance over time.

10. To be included in daily life

Dogs are profoundly attuned to human presence and emotion. Research on the human-canine bond demonstrates that shared attention and emotional synchrony influence oxytocin release in both species, strengthening attachment and emotional security (6). Inclusion is not indulgence. It is a core neurological need that reinforces safety, belonging, and trust.

The Cat’s Bucket List

Our interview attempts with cats were more difficult than with dogs, as they seemed more disinterested in our research and would often refuse to participate from the start (again, not really). Still, we know that cats evolved as solitary hunters with highly refined sensory systems. Their brains prioritize autonomy, control, and mastery of the environment. A cat’s bucket list reflects these values.

Top 10 Bucket List Items for Dogs

1. To observe the world from elevated spaces

Height offers both safety and perspective. High vantage points allow cats to monitor their environment without feeling vulnerable. This sense of control reduces stress and allows the nervous system to remain calm and alert simultaneously. Elevated observation supports emotional regulation by minimizing perceived threats.

2. To engage in hunting-style play

Predatory play is not optional for cats. It activates dopamine-based reward circuits and satisfies instinctive hunting drives. Research shows that interactive play reduces anxiety and supports emotional health in cats (7). Toys that allow stalking, chasing, and capturing help maintain neurological balance and prevent frustration.

3. To discover enclosed, protective spaces

Boxes and enclosed spaces provide cats with a sense of safety and retreat. Studies have demonstrated that access to hiding spaces lowers stress levels and improves coping in cats (7). These environments allow cats to regulate exposure to stimulation and regain emotional equilibrium.

4. To choose when and how affection occurs

Cats value agency in social interactions. When a cat initiates contact, bonding hormones are released, strengthening trust. Forced interaction, by contrast, activates stress pathways. Respecting a cat’s choice supports long-term emotional security and deeper social bonds.

5. To visually track movement

Watching birds, insects, or fish engages attention and visual processing networks while satisfying instinctive drives. This form of passive enrichment supports cognitive engagement without overstimulation and helps prevent boredom-related stress (7).

6. To explore new spaces gradually

Novelty is enriching only when paired with control. Allowing cats to explore new environments at their own pace prevents fear responses and supports curiosity. Feline behavior research emphasizes autonomy as a cornerstone of emotional well-being (8).

7. To scratch with resistance

Scratching serves multiple neurological functions. It releases tension, supports physical maintenance, and reinforces territorial security. Scratching behaviors help regulate emotional arousal and provide sensory feedback that supports calm states.

8. To rest in warmth and sunlight

Cats naturally seek warmth for metabolic efficiency and comfort. Warm resting places support relaxation and restorative sleep. These moments of stillness are neurologically restorative and support overall well-being.

9. To live within predictable routines

Consistent feeding times and quiet periods reduce vigilance and support circadian regulation. Predictability allows the feline nervous system to remain balanced and reduces stress-related behaviors (8).

10. To have boundaries respected

Cats require periods of solitude. Respecting these boundaries builds emotional security and trust. Over time, cats whose autonomy is honored are more likely to initiate social interaction on their own terms.

How Owners Learn What Belongs on Their Pet’s Bucket List

Animals communicate through behavior. Enjoyment appears as voluntary engagement, relaxed posture, and a willingness to return to an activity. Stress appears as avoidance, tension, or irritability.

Dogs often show enjoyment through soft eyes, relaxed movement, and calm behavior afterward. Cats communicate satisfaction through slow blinking, a relaxed posture, and a choice to re-engage. The clearest signal is choice. When an animal chooses an experience again, the brain has recorded it as positive.

Over time, patterns emerge. Some dogs are explorers. Others are thinkers. Some cats are climbers. Others are burrowers. These patterns reflect individual neural wiring and offer clues about what future experiences may belong on that animal’s bucket list.

References

1.  Fountain J. The value of sniffing: A scoping review of scent activities for dogs. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2024;267:105984. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159124003332

2.  Ocean Animal Hospital. The importance of pet enrichment for mental and physical health. 2025. Available from: https://www.oceananimalhospital.com/blog/september-the-importance-of-pet-enrichment-for-mental-and-physical-health

3.  HP Animal Hospital. Healthy minds, happy pets: The benefits of pet enrichment. 2024. Available from: https://www.hpanimalhospital.com/services/blog/healthy-minds-happy-pets-benefits-pet-enrichment

4.  Burghardt GM. The genesis of animal play. Cambridge (MA): MIT Press; 2005.

5.  Dantas LMS, Delgado MM, Johnson I, Buffington CAT. Food puzzles for cats: Feeding for physical and emotional wellbeing. J Feline Med Surg. 2016;18(9):723–732. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11148901/

6.  Nagasawa M, Mitsui S, En S, et al. Oxytocin gaze positive loop and the coevolution of human dog bonds. Science. 2015;348(6232):333–336.

7.  Ellis SLH, Rodan I, Carney H, et al. AAFP and ISFM guidelines on feline environmental needs. J Feline Med Surg. 2013;15(3):219–230.

8.  Amaya V, Paterson MB, Phillips CJC. Effects of olfactory and auditory enrichment on the behavior of shelter dogs. Animals. 2020;10(4):581. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7222336/