TAKE REGULAR, CONSISTENT DOGGY BREAKS
Working from home successfully requires a schedule and good time management to maintain productivity. Not only does your employer expect you to be at “work” on-time, but a consistent schedule will also ensure you are not spending more time “on the clock” than you would if you commuted to your workplace. After all, just because you are working at home doesn’t mean you are at work 24 hours a day.
Luckily, at home, your work breaks can include spending quality time with your furry “co-worker,” and not just getting a snack from the office vending machine. During designated doggy breaks, go for a walk, play fetch or simply cuddle to temporarily escape from work or reduce stress. These breaks can be scheduled throughout the workday, just like a typical coffee break, and will certainly be much more fun than gossiping at the water cooler. If the weather isn’t cooperating, be sure to checkout these indoor dog exercises.
JO: Dogs are very social and most have been taught that when we are around, we will pet them and take them for walks. We need to teach them we are working, and when we are finished working is the time to interact with us. Making sure they understand that they have a place to be while you’re working, like on a nearby dog bed or other targeted location, is a good place to start. Also, take breaks and interact with your dog. Small training times of seven to 10 minutes a couple of times a day will help them get tuckered out.
Many pet owners feel they need to be constantly petting their dogs, giving them attention or taking them on walks while they’re working from home. What can they do to get the pets to calm down and, frankly, leave them alone for a bit?
BD: Affection is more for the owner than it is the dog. Many times, humans try to humanize their dog rather than understanding things from a dog’s perspective. Dogs really don’t require a ton of affection. What owners should do is create one area, whether it be a crate or a dog bed, and have their dogs lay down there while they work. Their dog can only become what they practice, so if their dog is practicing excited behavior and the owner gives affection to that, it will create a dog that has no limitations and constantly is looking for attention, which is unhealthy. If their dog is laying down in one area then they are practicing calmness, which is exactly what their dog needs to do to be happy and healthy.
Updated January 26, 2022. Working next to your dog or cat sounds like a dream come true, and it’s one that most workers with pets are experiencing as the Omicron outbreak continues and working from home in some capacity becomes part of the new normal.
SM: Dogs like structure and routine. Owners should be aware of changes in their dog’s behaviors. The best way to minimize these changes is to keep their dogs engaged with things that dogs like to do. Increase their mental activities; 10 minutes of training or other mental stimulation is equal to a half-hour walk. Keep the walk, but add in lots of brain games and added training.
Take Ownership Of Your Space
You consider your dog a member of the family. Like the humans in the household, your dog typically is free to go where they choose. In most cases, this is perfectly fine, but if you need personal space during work, it can be a challenge.
Your dog might not understand your work schedule, but you can train it to learn that your office is off-limits. The key is to be consistent and not let the dog in, even during evenings or weekends.
Puppies may not understand such boundaries. However, you can take steps to puppy-proof your house. A gate, for example, can keep the young dog from entering your office (or any other room) in the home that you want to keep off-limits.
You can designate a workspace for yourself, but you can also give your dog a special place. The Humane Society suggests finding a quiet space, one without carpeting, away from foot traffic, and direct sunlight. The temperature should always be consistent (and the area should be within the climate-controlled part of the house).
You can use positive reinforcement (with treats) to teach the dog to go to their place and remain there. You want it to feel safe and not associate the place with being punished, which is why a positive approach works better. You can use cues such as “bed” or “place” to send them to their spot. Words like “free” or “release” can tell the dog they can move around the house again.
A routine is helpful for both you and your dog. Even if you are not on a strict schedule, giving structure to the day can keep the dog from getting stressed, missing a meal, or becoming bored from inactivity.
Puppies need to eat three or four times per day, and older dogs eat twice, eight to 10 hours apart. They generally need to go outside to relieve themselves 15 or so minutes after eating. You can build the rest of the day’s routine around these two essential times.
You can get your dog to conform to your work schedule. For example, you could walk them during a coffee break or lunch break. Dogs need a total of 30 to 120 minutes of physical activity per day, depending on the breed and age. Dividing this time into several shorter sessions during your regular work break times can help keep the dog active and engaged so they do not get bored and interrupt you.
Routines are not always possible; an unexpected Zoom call could cause you to miss the daily afternoon walk, or an important project could have you working later than usual. When these events happen, it’s best to have a backup plan for keeping the dog occupied while you work.
Such alternatives could include reserving a new toy so that the dog has something novel to play with while you take care of your work duties. Instead of purchasing new toys, you can rotate existing toys and reintroduce them during missed activity periods.
If possible, rely on other household members to handle the walking duties when you are unavailable.
The National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) encourages regular breaks and movement-based activities for work-from-home professionals. These steps promote mental health when working at home in an otherwise isolated environment and are also beneficial in an office setting. Dogs need up to two hours of exercise per day, so walks can benefit both you and your pet simultaneously.
If a longer walk is not possible because of your work schedule, break the day up with multiple shorter outings. You can also have alternative indoor activities — such as tug-of-war, fetch, or another active game — for those days when the weather does not allow you to venture outdoors.
16 Ways to Entertain Your Dog While Working From Home
More and more people are working from home full time. A study by Stanford University found that 42% of professionals were working from home in 2020. This figure may have been high due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the percentage of people working from home was trending upward before the outbreak. In 2017, 8 million Americans were already working from home full time.
Working from home requires a computer, a reliable internet connection, and any other tools of the trade that you might need. Peace and quiet are also essential for remote workers. If you have a dog, this may not be easy to achieve.
You may be frustrated when your dog barks during an important call or begs for a walk when you are in the middle of essential calculations, and you wouldn’t be alone. Nearly 39% of all households in the U.S. have at least one dog, adding up to more than 48 million homes with a canine.