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Creatures great and small have become the shining light for those cooped up at home as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns happening across the world.

More and more people are turning to their pets – dogs, cats, mice and even fish – to fight off those feelings of loneliness and isolation as a result of being made to work from home or only being allowed out of the house to get the bare essentials.

Spending more time with man’s (and woman’s) best friend isn’t just beneficial to the owner, but to the pets themselves. Gone are the days where dogs and cats would wait by the door, pacing around the yard, at the window or stretched out in front of the fireplace as working from home becomes the norm. 

But while we have leant on our pets for much-needed socialisation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, working from home can be harder with pets vying for their own piece of attention. When you’re busy working to a strict deadline from home or trying to make a call to a client, it can be hard to restrain your joyous pooch or cat from jumping up onto your lap, or your laptop in the cat’s case, to get pats and cuddles and keep nice and warm. 

How to Work from Home – with Your Dog or Cat

It can be surprisingly easy to help your pet to get used to a life where you’re home more due to working from home. With more and more businesses offering their employees the chance or giving them no choice but to work from home, there is no time like the present to help your beloved pet get used to the fact you’ll be at home a lot more. You just need to be creative and very, very patient.

Paws, Claws and Tails has come up with a list of foolproof ways you can make the most of your pet’s love and attention during these trying times, while successfully working from the comfort of your own home and making sure your pets are on their best behaviour. 

Help Them Feel at Home – this one may sound silly as technically your pets already are at home. But you can help them to feel more comfortable while you are working from home. Firstly, make sure you have an office space somewhere in your home where you can work with no interruptions. Then you can make your pet their very own bed in your office right next to (or under!) your desk or in the corner. 

Keep Them Entertained – Like people, dogs and cats can get bored easily. So, make sure you have plenty of toys for them to play with while you work. A great idea is to fill a ball with treats for your dog or catnip for your cat. This will keep them occupied for hours and can work wonders for your very energetic dog or cat in addition to proper exercise and training.

Treat Them – What pet doesn’t love a tasty treat when they’re on their best behaviour. Make sure you keep some treats on you, so they have something nice to snack on while they’re bored – you can also give your dog a bone or food chew to chew on. 

Take Your Lunch with Your Dog – Just because you’re not in the office with your colleagues doesn’t mean you can’t have a lunch break. If your dog or puppy is a little restless while you’re working to a deadline, take ten and take them for a quick walk around the block or do some training to keep them mentally stimulated. Don’t forget to grab a bite to eat and a cup of tea for yourself!

A Window with a View – Dogs and cats are curious creatures, so make sure to uncover the windows so they can peek outside to watch the world go by.  

Make Sure They Have Food and Water – Make sure your pets have plenty of food and water accessible to them. A water fountain is a great way to peak a dog or cat’s interest for a few minutes and lickmats or snuffle mats are a great way to keep them amused.

Animal Behaviourist on Speed Dial – Sometimes no matter what you do, your dog or cat is too excited about the prospect of you being home 24/7 that all good behaviour goes straight out the window. Charlotte Bryan says that the best thing to do is call your local animal behaviourist for some handy  techniques for calming down your pet at home.

It is possible to have a job working remotely from home and adhering to those deadlines set by your employer, boss or manager or making sure your client has everything they need. You just have to be patient with your dog or cat, just like they were patient with us whenever we needed them the most and leaned on them for comfort, love, affection and socialisation.