Tips for Working From Home With a Pet

Schedule Out Your Day

You may or may not be confined to your traditional work hours, but while working from home with a dog or cat, you can reinvent your approach to work. Sure, you'll have some mandatory meetings and you may get interrupted by an unexpected phone call, but you won't have a coworker reliving last night's episode of their favorite television show. There's also no chance of a customer suddenly stopping by for a visit.

Working from home with a dog or cat can be fun if you schedule your day properly. Your furry friend requires a lot of attention. Shower them with love in the mornings before you start your day. Schedule your breaks for a quick game of fetch or to share a healthy treat. Use your lunch break to take your dog for a long walk around the block, which will re-energise you to finish your workday strong. If you have a cat, this is a great time to play their favourite games, whether it be hide-and-seek or chasing a toy on a string.

Logistically, you'll also want to plan your pet's meals around any important meetings and calls as well. You don't want loud meowing in the background because your cat wants dinner. Same goes for bathroom breaks. If you need to jump on a video call, take your dog outside beforehand.

Keep Your Pet Busy

One of the barriers to getting work done will simply be your pets desire to play with you. And it's okay to play during your workday! Keep a few cat toys near your desk to dangle for them to chase and swat, or better yet, make some new toys from items you have hanging around your home. Teach your dog to fetch, and then toss them a ball on and off throughout your workday. You can also repurpose some of your children's old toys into new playthings for your pet.

Need to entertain your dog or cat, but feeling a bit too busy? Buy some toys that hide treats and require a little effort to get those tasty snacks out. Treat dispensers will keep your pet entertained while you're working on separate tasks.

Be Patient

Your pet is likely going to show a lot of interest in you — and your work activities. This is all new for them, and their insistence to be involved may feel overwhelming at first. Some animals will want to crawl into your lap for a cuddle and others will want to inspect your keyboard by sitting on it, licking it or slapping it with their tail. Your pet may also whine at your feet to play or bark to beg for food. Investing in some headphones for conference calls or just to help you concentrate might be a worthy purchase if you have a particularly vocal pet.

Working from home with a dog or cat is a lot different from working with other humans. If you feel yourself getting frustrated with them, take a deep breath and remember that this is all new to them, too. Give them a chance to inspect and adjust. It isn't just your lifestyle that's changed, it's theirs, too.

Eventually, the novelty of working from home with a cat or dog will wear off. By keeping your pet occupied and setting good boundaries, you'll create a happy and productive environment for you both!