Credits: Social Media
5 tips for keeping your dog occupied while working from home
Working from home with a dog can be more trouble than its worth, but using these five tips youre pretty much guaranteed to meet your targets and keep your pooch happy.
While working from home omits you from petty office dramas and the need to wear form-fitting trousers for most of the day, it does come with its own set of issues. When you add a volatile ball of fur and teeth to the mix, those issues can multiply tenfold.
Fill their bellies
Just like their owners, dogs love to eat! While it is important to give dogs a stable meal plan, that doesnt mean you cant treat them throughout the day.
Just bear in mind that speciality dog treats can be as expensive as they are delicious. Leftover vegetables in your fridge can be just as yummy, but be sure to check whether they are dog-safe first.
Using food to hold their attention can also be a good way of training your dog and working at the same time.
Nap time
As reported on Petplan, adult dogs are supposed to get between 12 and 14 hours of sleep a day. Obviously, you want them to sleep at the same time as you, but that still leaves a good chunk of nap time throughout the day.
Setting up a cosy little nap area near your desk can be a huge benefit to both your concentration and your pups rest.
Enrichment activities
Dog enrichment toys and activities can be used alongside traditional feeding techniques, or to replace them. Classic Kong toys are by far the most popular and entail stuffing them full of treats to keep your dog focused and out of your face.
A study from Hubrecht found that puppies engaged 64% of their time with enrichment toys and activities if given the choice! They dont even need to be expensive and can be as simple as wrapping treats up in fabric and tying them off.
Playtime
It might sound like common sense, but providing your dogs with lots of varied toys can be a great management technique. Typically speaking, a rope toy, a stuffed toy and something of a rubber variety will work.
Time management
If you know youre going to be sitting at your desk for eight hours, then make sure to manage your time so your dog gets enough attention. Long walks in the morning or on your break can mean your dog is less likely to kick off during your work-from-home shift.
