5 Productivity Tips of Working From Home With Your Dog

people2people, PETstock and Assistance Dogs Australia are proud to celebrate OZTOPDOG. 4 prestigious awards: OZ Top Dog, OZ Top Office Dog, OZ Top Dog with a Job, and OZ Top Dog Friendly Workplace. Learn more and enter now.

Working from home is now a trend that most companies are taking up and thriving at. Working remotely comes with its equal shares of benefits and challenges, especially for pet parents. While having a dog in your workspace is known to increase productivity, drive up morale and reduce stress, pups can also make you distracted and less productive, especially while working at home. This is because they are used to your attention, and they may act up when you stay glued to your computer all day without playing around with them.

Whether you are a pup parent who has just begun working remotely or a new dog owner who has worked from home before, here are five tips on how you can keep your pooch happy while getting work done at the same time.

1)  Walk, Feed, and Play Your Dog Before Starting Work

The best way to get your dog to be disciplined during the day is by meeting their needs first. Feeding, watering, walking, and playing with them will give you enough bonding time to deepen your bond and reduce attention-seeking behaviour like whining and unnecessary barking when working.

2)  Create a Pooch Free Working Space

Giving your furry friend an independent space from your working space helps create a boundary between work and play. The space you set aside should be comfortable enough for them to play, sleep and relax, which will go a long way in helping to tame them. Creating work and play boundaries will also help your dog get into the routine of not nagging you in your working space.

3)  Keep Your Dog Active

Dogs have low concentration spans and might quickly be bored by doing one activity. When they get distracted, they might cause a little havoc by chewing on things, barking unnecessarily, or strolling around the house, which might distract you from your work. The best way to avoid this is by keeping them active. You can create a puzzle box for them and rotate their toys daily to have new options to play with. Or give them a frozen treat to keep them busy.

4)  Set Designated Play Times

As a pet parent, you know how much playtime means to your dog. Thankfully, working at home gives you a small window to create breaks and play with them. You can set aside a few minutes that will not interfere with your calls or work and get your pup's tail wagging. You can create a schedule where you get a 20-minute play after every 3 hours of work. That way, your dog doesn't feel neglected, and you can still meet your work targets.

5)  Don't Give in to Your Dog's Whining Demands.

Furry best friends are adorable, and resisting them is maybe one of the hardest things ever. They might innocently curl at your foot while you are working, whine, bark, or nudge their head into you just to get your attention. To handle your dog while working at home, you need to learn how to say no to their demand. The best way to do this is by ignoring them because if you push them away or scold them, they may act up or nag even more.