With more people than ever working from home, what do our canine companions think of the transition? Working from home with a dog could be a challenge initially as they adjust to your presence a lot more throughout the day. Many women thrive as a working from home mum and being a dog mum should be no different.

I have some tips to help you while you’re at home working as there are plenty of ways to make your life easier. Not everyone finds it financially possible to send their dog to doggy daycare or to have a dog walker help. So, these tips will allow you to keep your pet amused and occupied while you get some work done.

Working From Home With A Dog

Create a routine with your dog

Dogs are good at judging situations and when something feels irregular. They will quickly change their behaviour to show they observe something is different. Keeping to the daily routine will help ensure your day starts and runs smoothly. The same for when you prepare to go back to the office without your dog, them learning the routine will help them settle.

Create your working day around their walk times, toilet breaks and meal times. This will help them get used to your timetable and they will know when they can expect interaction.

Train your dog

Training any dog is important and helps you have a well behaved dog at home and around other people. Basic training from a puppy is going to ensure your dog grows up knowing how you want them to act.

A trained dog will also follow instructions and give you space when you need it. Knowing simple commands like ‘away’ or ‘stop’ will ensure you are not interrupted when having work related calls or video chats. Some dogs are easier to train than others, however. For example, many types of spaniels are known for their ability to pick up new commands very quickly, thanks to their breeding as hunting dogs. You can click here to learn more about cocker spaniels – one of the most intelligent spaniel types. Many terriers, meanwhile, are harder to train due to their stubbornness, so keep this in mind if you want to work from home with a dog of this type.

Safe sleep space

Making sure your dog has a safe space to sleep and relax is very important. Where or how you do this depends on the bond you have with your dog.

Some dogs would appreciate being close to you and having their dog crate or elective dog bed in the room with you. Other dogs like their space and would prefer to be in a room where there is silence and very little going on. This is purely dependent on your dog’s personality and how needy they are generally.

Ensuring their sleep space is always accessible will ensure your dog can get the rest they need.

It is best not to fully shut yourself away from them as this will likely leave them curious and sitting outside your door. Leave your door ajar so they can come and see you are still there if they want to.

Prevent boredom

Younger dogs especially, will have moments in the day when they want some extra stimulation.

There are many dog toys and boredom buster puzzles for dogs you can buy. Giving them a toy box or an enrichment area will see that they take themselves off of that area when they need some stimulation. Just make sure you know the noise levels of these toys before you get them, if it is going to cause you interference while working.

Nutrition

Meal times will likely be one of your dog’s favourite times of the day. Ensuring that your dog is being fed the appropriate nutrient dense food and portion size will have a bearing on their behaviour.

A well fed dog is typically a happy dog, but let’s not get that confused with being over fed. Treats are a great way to reward the behaviour you want them to demonstrate and you should add a few into your daily routine.

You can pin this image to refer to this post again later