Working From Home With Your Pets

Working From Home

Working from home, some of us can find ourselves suddenly needing to work from home, and for those pet parents amongst us, it’s not always so straight forward.

While having furry co-workers sounds fantastic, believe it or not, it can sometimes be stressful – for all parties. 

Most pets expect that when you’re at home, your attention should be readily available for them, however, belly rubs can be problematic when you’re on a conference call with your boss.

Cats like sitting on your keyboard/laptop

The reason that cats like sitting on your keyboard/laptop is because they are near you and when they do, they immediately become the centre of attention. 

Rather than keeping them away from your work area, you could instead create somewhere comfy next to you, where you can give them affection and attention while you’re working. A spare keyboard on your desk that you can switch to is not a bad idea.

Be careful with the treats

Distracting your pets with some tasty treats may be a tempting idea, but you must be cautious that they don’t take in too many calories.

If you do decide to treat, use something like a slow feeding toy or a Kong which will keep them entertained for longer and make them work a bit harder for it. It’s essential that you feed them a bit less at mealtime to allow for the treats they had – otherwise an overweight/obese pet is inevitable.

Pop their playlist on

If you’re struggling, open up YouTube or Spotify and search for “calming dog music”. There are entire soundtracks created especially for pets that will calm and soothe them. 

Set boundaries and stick to them 

It can be confusing for your pet for you to now be at home so much, but your attention isn’t as readily available as normal.

It can’t be playtime all the time – work needs to be done (this is for you, as much as it’s for your pet). You should create strong and clear boundaries for your pets as this will help everybody. Hopefully, help give you some focus when working from home.

Introduce your pets to your co-workers

Why not introduce your pets to your co-workers? It may not just brighten up their day, but it will make them aware that you’re sharing a space with your pets.

It can be exhausting

You are almost definitely their favourite thing, other than treats, and they want to make the most of the extra time they have with you. They’re just so happy to spend time with you, and that may mean that they’re lavishing their attention on you. This means that they may become exhausted with the break-in their routine.

Remember, there are many positives from working with your pets. The bursts of playtime and attention are temporary distractions giving you a break, which is good for your mental wellbeing and stops you from becoming overworked and stressed.

If you need any further advice, pop into one of our stores or contact us via our social channels – we’re always here to help!