Many of us have been working from home for a long time now during the last couple of years. As there has been a higher proportion of people working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has also been a higher number of people getting dogs during this time. This has led to a greater need of dog training services, dog minders and doggy daycare to give respite at times for those not used to looking after dogs on a full-time basis. It is important to learn how to train your new dog when working from home, ensuring that they are well behaved to keep them safe and to keep you as productive as possible.
They say to never work with kids or animals when it comes to live television, and we’ve seen recently the difficulties faced with working from home in the example of the weatherman and his dog disrupting a live weather report! This goes to show that it isn’t always possible to look after your pets and work at the same time, but you need to do as best you can to ensure there is the right balance that ensures your dog is well looked after and shown your love but is independent enough to be alone for those busy times of work, even if you are in the house.
There are a few things you can do to help matters:
Stick to a routine – Wherever it is possible, stick to a routine with your dog. When you are working from home it can be really tempting sometimes to sleep in, to take advantage of the lack of commuting to make more time for you. If you have a dog though, you need to stick to a schedule. Get up as you normally would, walk and feed them at the same times that they are used to, as they will behave better in a routine.
Avoid the snacks – It is really hard work sometimes to cut out the snacking when you’re working from home. You’ll find that you make more cups of tea, pick up more biscuits, a packet of crisps, even if you’re eating a healthy snack, you might be picking all day long. This is not a good sign for you or your dog. Why not buy them a new toy to play with, keeping them active and cutting out those extra tasty snacks.
Dog friendly spaces – It is important to have your own space, and this applies to your dog too. The best way to work from home is to have a dedicated work area that allows you to focus. If you set this space up, make sure it is a dog-free zone, so that there are clear boundaries in place. Make the kitchen a dog-friendly zone, so that when you are there, you can pay your dog attention without losing focus on your work. Make sure you have a pet-friendly gate such as these, especially if you’re living in an apartment to prevent your dog from escaping while you’re busy.
A doggy daycare service – Find a doggy daycare service close to you that suits the needs of you and your dog. There could be days where you are manic busy with work and just can’t dedicate the amount of time to your dog that you need to. A dog daycare will take your dog in for the day, walk them, feed them, socialise them with other dogs and keep them entertained for the day whilst you focus on work.
There are a few different ways that you can look at dog training and doggy daycare to help you improve the temperament and behaviour of your dog when you are working from home full time. As more of us are working from home, if you have a dog that you love, it is a struggle to learn how to balance your life with them. You must remain productive with your work life, you want to give your dog the care and attention that they deserve, but teach them effectively to be self-sufficient during those busy times of the day where you need to solely focus on work, such as meetings and busy deadlines, putting in place dog friendly rooms etc. The right dog training service will help you with this process.
