The dog that starts barking just when it's your turn to speak in the meeting. The cat that decides the keyboard is the best spot in the house. Working from home with a pet has some really great moments and others that are far less productive. The key is to give your animal a clear routine, and to stick to it yourself too.
Routine: the best ally for both of you
Animals cope with the day better when they know what's coming. If your schedule is fixed, theirs can be too.
- A long walk before you start work. A dog that has been out, sniffed around and had some exercise in the morning will settle down much more calmly afterwards.
- Fixed mealtimes, which don't depend on when they come over to ask you for food.
- Planned breaks: a short outing mid-morning, a few minutes of play after lunch. They'll do you good too.
- A clear finishing time for the workday, with a walk or some playtime to mark the change.
A spot of their own nearby, but not on top of you
Many dogs and cats like being in the same room as you. Make the most of it, but give them their own space.
- A bed near your desk, in a draft-free spot where you won't have to step over it. If they don't use it, in why your dog doesn't use their bed you'll find the most common reasons.
- For cats, a high spot with a view: a shelf by the window or a hammock. It usually works better than lifting them off the desk twenty times.
- Cables tidied away and nothing within reach that they could chew or knock onto the floor.
What to do during meetings
- Schedule important calls after a walk or a meal, when they're usually calmer.
- Have an entertainment toy ready: a refillable toy stuffed with some of their food, a snuffle mat or a suitable chew. Give it to them just before you log on.
- Close the door if you need to, but without making it something new every time. If they get used to spending time in another room, they won't see it as a punishment.
- Mute your microphone when you're not speaking. The doorbell and the delivery driver are public enemy number one.
Watch out for constant attention
It's very easy to pet the dog every time they rest their head on your leg, or to open the door for the cat every time they meow. If you always respond, the animal learns that persistence pays off, and they'll push harder and harder.
- Give them attention when they're calm, not just when they demand it.
- Calmly ignore insistent demands and redirect them to their bed or a toy.
- If you want them to ask to go out in a specific way, you can teach them to ring a bell by the door. That's better than barking or scratching.
Teach them to be alone, too
A dog that spends all day with you can struggle on the day you go back to the office or have to be out for several hours. Preventing it is easy if you take it step by step:
- Leave the house for a while every day, even if it's just to take out the rubbish or walk around the block without them.
- Let them spend time in another room while you work, with something they enjoy.
- Keep departures and arrivals low-key, with no big goodbyes or celebrations when you get back.
- If a change is already on the way, such as going back to the office, start extending your absences weeks beforehand.
If your dog cries, barks or destroys things every time they're left alone, don't write it off as a quirk. Talk to your vet and to a trainer or ethologist: the sooner you work on it, the better.
Make the most of the perks
Working from home is also an opportunity: midday walks you couldn't do before, short training sessions during breaks, more time to get to know their routines. Five minutes of play or learning a new trick tires them out more than you'd think and does you both good.
For long meetings, in dog toys you'll find refillable, scent and interactive toys that keep them busy while you work.