Learn Your Pet's Patterns

Quick Win

Tuning in to your pet’s daily rhythms can strengthen your bond — and help support your brain too.

Tuning in to your pet’s daily rhythms can strengthen your bond — and help support your brain too.

Try This Today

• Keep a log. For a few weeks, keep a calendar and pen handy so you can track your pet.
• Observe behaviors. Note when your pet wakes up, where they sleep, when and what they eat, their exercise and play habits, and how often they do their business.
• Identify patterns. Review your notes to look for any behavioral patterns. Do they nap at the same time every day? Are there certain times of day when they are looking for attention from you?

Why

Paying closer attention is, of course, good for your pet. Knowing your pet’s daily rhythms is the best way to pick up on any issues that could require a vet’s care. But being more in sync with your pet is also good for you. A study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience in 2022 reviewed data from 95 adults ages 20 to 74 and concluded that having a pet is associated with better brain health and “can reduce one’s brain age by up to 15 years.”