Tips for Working from Home with Pets
Whilst most people are certainly noticing a change in their normal lifestyle with the working from home situation, spare a thought for your pets and how this new way of life is affecting them!
You may think your pets (dogs in particular) will LOVE having you around 24/7, and for some animals, this may be the case; however, don’t forget that just like us animals need a break sometimes from the people they are living with!
We have put together a list based upon some guidelines from the Australian Veterinary Behaviour Group of how to minimise disruptions to your pets’ lives so that both they and their human counterparts come out the other side as happy and healthy as possible.
Keep as normal a routine as possible- if your dog normally enjoys a walk at 6am, try to continue in this time-frame (although we know how tempting it is to sleep in now there’s no obligatory morning commute!)
Don’t neglect exercise; walking with your dog is still very safe to do as long as standard social distancing guidelines are followed. On that note- as COVID-19 is transmitted via aerosolised droplets, patting other dogs is very unlikely to be a source of infection (although worth carrying some hand sanitiser if you’d prefer).
If you have kids or lots of people in the household- try and ensure there is time and space for your pets to have a break away from them. Make sure they have a designated area they can chill out and that everyone in the house knows they are to be left alone when in that space. Remember- now we’re the ones invading THEIR personal space!
Although you may think pets need LESS environmental enrichment whilst you’re working from home with them, in fact we'd say the opposite- no doubt they’ll be wanting to play with you while you’ve got work to do and deadlines due, so it's more important than ever to ensure they’ve got appropriate toys and food puzzles to keep them entertained and stimulated! Below are a few options to try:
Kong toys- can be stuffed with healthy snacks
Snuffle mats- can be bought online or you can try making your own with handy youtube tutorials
Ball pits- not just for the playground! Or create a treasure hunt for pets around the house; this can be a great way of getting the kids involved.
Consider signing up to a service like Dog TV- a streaming service for pets that can be left on whilst you’re busy, so they can have some entertainment too! You can even watch it with them if you’ve run out of Netflix shows.
Being at home more means pets are more likely to be hanging around for treats- if you’re a baker, try a recipe like these healthy homemade snacks.
Make sure you keep up with any regular medication they may be on, especially ones like behavioural meds- any change in routine can lead to more behavioural issues and potentially anxiety in pets.
Last but not least- don’t forget that when you’re stressed, your pets will 100% pick up on these vibes and naturally become anxious too. So while we know it’s hard to stay calm and relaxed when there’s so much sadness and uncertainty in the world right now, remember to give your pets a little extra love and attention, and don’t underestimate the power of a furry friend’s antics to bring a moment of levity to a rough day.