The dog that starts barking just when it's your turn to speak in the meeting. The cat that decides the keyboard is the best place in the house. Working from home with a pet has its good moments and its much less productive ones. The key is to give the animal a clear routine, and to make sure you respect it too.
Routine: the best ally for both of you
Animals handle the day better when they know what's going to happen. If your schedule is fixed, theirs can be too.
- A long walk before starting work. A dog that has gone out, sniffed around, and exercised in the morning will lie down much more calmly afterwards.
- Fixed feeding times, that don't depend on when they come near you asking for food.
- Planned breaks: a short outing mid-morning, a few minutes of play after lunch. They're good for you too.
- A clear end-of-day time, with a walk or some playtime to mark the change.
A place of their own nearby, but not on top of you
Many dogs and cats like to be in the same room as you. Take advantage of it, but give them their own space.
- A bed near your desk, in a draft-free spot where you don't have to step over it. If they don't use it, in why your dog doesn't use their bed you'll find the most common reasons.
- For cats, a high spot with a view: a shelf by the window or a hammock. It usually works better than taking them off the desk twenty times.
- Cables tidied away and nothing that can be bitten or pulled to the floor within their reach.
What to do during meetings
- Plan important calls after the walk or lunch, when they are usually calmer.
- Have an entertainment toy ready: a refillable toy with some of their food, a snuffle mat, or a suitable chew toy. Give it to them just before you log on.
- Close the door if necessary, but without making it a new thing every time. If they get used to spending time in another room, they won't see it as a punishment.
- Mute the microphone when you're not speaking. The doorbell and the delivery person are the number one enemy.
Be careful with constant attention
It's very easy to pet the dog every time they rest their head on your leg or open the door for the cat every time they meow. If you always respond, the animal learns that persistence works, and they'll keep doing it more and more.
- Give them attention when they are calm, not just when they ask for it.
- Calmly ignore persistent demands and redirect them to their bed or a toy.
- If you want them to ask to go out in a specific way, you can teach them to ring a bell by the door. That's better than barking or scratching.
Teach them to be alone too
A dog that spends all day with you may have difficulties the day you go back to the office or have to go out for several hours. Preventing it is simple if you do it gradually:
- Leave the house for a while every day, even if it's just to take out the trash or walk around the block without them.
- Let them spend time in another room while you work, with something they like.
- Make departures and arrivals drama-free, without big goodbyes or parties when you return.
- If there is already a change on the way, such as going back to the office, start gradually increasing the time you are away weeks in advance.
If your dog cries, barks, or destroys things every time they are left alone, don't take it as a quirk. Consult your vet and a trainer or ethologist: the sooner it's addressed, the better.
Take advantage of the benefits
Working from home is also an opportunity: midday walks you couldn't take before, short training sessions during breaks, more time to learn their routines. Five minutes of play or learning a new trick tires them out more than it seems and is good for both of you.
For long meetings, in dog toys you'll find refillable, scent-based, and interactive toys that keep them occupied while you work.
If you prefer to get everything at once, in the Play and Enrichment Pack you can choose between toys and feeders that keep their minds busy.