Normally when we go into the office from 9am to 6pm, we leave our dogs to fend for themselves at home. Most dogs are totally fine being home alone and can get used to it. Whilst we as humans only require about 7 to 9 hours of sleep, our dogs actually sleep an average of about 12 to 14 hours a day. And our dogs tend to adjust to our schedule, spending most of the time we’re away, sleeping in their beds, to maximize the time they have with us when we’re home. 

With many of us now working from home, what does this mean for our pets? They hit the jackpot, you’re going to be with them 24/7. Yaaaas! And there are plenty of benefits of working from home when you’re a pawrent (a dog parent - learn dog lingo):
1. Increased Happiness: For your dog, sometimes, just knowing you’re home is good enough for them to be happy (we learnt this about Kuro through our Animal Communication session). For you, it brings about calmness and happiness for you, your best friend is with you all day long.

2. Reduces Stress Levels whilst Increasing Productivity: Even if your dog doesn’t have separation anxiety, it doesn’t mean they don’t miss you or get stressed when you’re not in the house. And the benefit for you is, you no longer worry about what they are up to at home alone, that they are lonely, or late because you’re stuck in traffic or if you forgot their sumptuous breakfast in the morning, you’re right where the action happens.

3. Timely Appointments: Commuting time saved can go into so many things like their grooming appointment or vet appointments. It gives you the ability to schedule them better under your terms, or even have mobile services come to you to save even more time. Don’t neglect their appointments! 

4. Save Money: Unless your dog prevents you from working from home, you can save some money whilst working from home. If you normally send your dog for daycare or boarding, or if you have a dog walker come walk your dog while you’re at work, you can save all that and do it yourself since you’re at home. And your dog really won’t mind more time with you being around.

While there are many benefits to working from home that also means that your dog is going to have to adjust to you again, and that may mean that they can develop a bit of separation anxiety if we’re not careful. Here are some important pointers to help get into the swing of things with your dog.

ROUTINE
Just like when you go into the office to work, you have your usual programming. It’s best to stick to that as much as possible. While you do save time on the commute, ensure that you carry on as per normal, be it taking your shower, having your breakfast and coffee, taking your dog for a walk before leaving the house - business as usual! Keep mealtimes the same as when you go into the office, so they don’t get used to different mealtimes. Same with playtime, you will likely see them through the day, but resist the urge to play with them during office hours as best you can. Keep all this consistent, just so when you have to go back to work again, the routine stays pretty much on track. And as always, make sure they have their food and water, using an auto dog feeder can leave you to focus on your work. Weekends are perfectly fine, because your dog is likely attuned to how your work days are and how your off days are.

WALKS
You might want to consider taking longer walks in the morning instead of what you’re used to, this way you help them release their energy so you know they will keep you free once you start your work day. The start of the day is then great for you to schedule your meetings, so that you won’t be disturbed. You can also intensify your playtime like fetch in the morning as well.

SPACE
To alleviate potential for separation anxiety, create a divide between your dog and yourself where possible. If you have a spare room, office or study room, work there. In Singapore where the weather is hot and your air conditioning is on, even better. That really creates separation for your dog and you. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. You may already have a webcam or security camera that you used to use when you’re in the office to check on your dog, rely on that when you want to sneak a peek, because chances are you’ll see them in person when you’re taking your breaks, whether it’s meal times, snacks, drinks or just to go to the toilet. If this is not possible, then make sure your dog has an extra bed/mat near where you’re working.

RESIST
It is extremely difficult to stay productive at home and takes a lot of discipline. Resist the urge to give in to their barking and whining (we know they love their Kuro Snacks). Your dog is smart, they’ll know you’re at home and you’re accessible. But don’t let that become a habit, otherwise they will definitely move from a guest appearance to a permanent fixture in your online meetings, and whilst some jobs will embrace it, it can be distracting or even unprofessional when having video calls and you’re playing with your dog. 

TOILET
Toilet training your dog is great whether or not you’re working from home. That way your dog doesn’t have to hold their pee/poo until you’re free or when you’re home. In Kuro’s case, she goes to the toilet shower area to pee when she needs to and we are unable to bring her for a walk. She will tell us if she’s done it so we can clean up after her (OCD much?). She really prefers to take her business outside. When it comes to poo, she absolutely hates to do it at home. So when she tells us she needs to go, we try our best to bring her quickly.

TOYS
Try to strategically place their toys around the house to keep them occupied or even get highly interactive ones that require them to think. Knowing that their toys are around and they have free reign and access to play, will help prevent them from bothering you while you’re rushing your deadlines. Leave them outside your workspace, just so when they think they want to look for you, they can get distracted with their favorite toys.

SNACKS
Whilst dogs may sleep 50% or more of the day, they don’t always do it at long stretches. They are likely to be up once in a while, bark at the delivery guy leaving parcels at your door, hide some Kuro Snacks around the house to train their nosework, ease their boredom and give them some of that extra nutrition they need. It can also come in handy especially when you have a conference call, Teams or Zoom meeting.

Do you have any tips of your own you would like to share about working from home with your dog? Share with us in the comments below, or send us a note, we’ll be delighted to hear from you.