One person who had recently started working from home shared a common problem many pet owners will relate to, sparking advice and support from online users
Working from home might seem like a blessing for many people, but anyone sharing their space with four-legged companions knows they don’t always grasp when we need to knuckle down and focus on our jobs. Dogs, cats, and other household pets typically can’t distinguish between when we’re available for cuddles and playtime versus when we’re buried in important tasks.
One Reddit user who mentioned they’d just begun remote working reached out for advice, explaining their dogs wouldn’t stop pestering them for attention while they were trying to work. The Reddit user captioned their post: “How do you keep your dog entertained when you’re working from home?”
They explained: “I’ve recently started working from home and thought it would be perfect having my dog around all day. Turns out they don’t agree with my meeting schedule.
“As soon as I sit down to work, they’re bored, following me around, dropping toys at my feet, or getting into things they normally wouldn’t.
“I feel bad because they’re used to more attention and stimulation, but I also need to actually get work done. I’m curious how other dog people handle this and keep their dogs entertained during the workday without losing their sanity.”
Fellow users offered various suggestions, with one explaining that barring their pets from their workspace had proved effective for them, reports the Daily Record. “Both my partner and I work from home, and we keep them out of the offices like we’ve ‘gone to work’ and habitualised that work hours are nap time in the living room and we aren’t available to them,” they said.
“Close the door, or baby gates if that’s no an option. Once they get into the routine, it’s easier to let them nap in the office with you occasionally. There will be a learning curve though!”
Many agreed establishing a fresh routine was crucial, whilst others said a long stroll before beginning work was key. Another user remarked: “Your dog responds to your boundaries and, until recently, when you were home, you were free. That’s what they know.”
They continued: “I raised my dog while working from home, he’s chill when I’m alone at home. But he ‘knows’ when it’s not a work day and he’s more needy.”
Another detailed how seamlessly their pooch had adjusted to their fresh schedule. They shared: “[My dog] goes out when I get up, and she goes back to bed and I go to work. She gets fed on my morning break. On my lunch, she gets some play time.
“She pretty much snoozes the rest of the day or looks out her window. She pretty much leaves me alone unless she really needs something. She knows when I’m almost off work and will come and stare at me for the last 20 minutes or so. After work, she gets her walk. It took some time to settle into our routine and I have had to change it up throughout the years and that took some time too.”
Someone else revealed how their pooch had adapted to their work schedule. “She learned the notification sounds of the calendar, teams, and slack and just avoids me,” they explained. “The first few months I had her she stayed at my foot and asked for play, but eventually she learned I was boring and left me alone.”
A different contributor suggested the crucial point was recognising that ‘entertaining’ your pet during work hours isn’t the solution. “Your dog should not be entertained while you are working, it should be resting,” they pointed out.
“You don’t need to figure out how to lean into this behaviour, but teach the dog to relax. If the dog is physically and mentally stimulated enough, it should be no problem for it to relax all day when working.”
