Work, Play, Cuddle, Repeat
Are you a blessed pawrent that works from home or are you thinking about getting started to enjoy more time with your furry friend? Then, you arrived at the perfect place! In this blog post we’ll talk about the unbeatable benefits of spending more time with your dog, but also some of the challenges we face as our companions’ guardians and our own dogs and solutions we can implement in our routine and homes to live the life of your dreams.
Benefits
Let’s start with some of the benefits of working from home, both for you and your dog. For humans, the presence of our dogs can reduce stress, lowering cortisol levels (stress hormone) and blood pressure throughout the day (1,2,3,4). Plus, while the simple act of making eye contact with your dog releases oxytocin, the "feel-good" hormone that naturally elevates mood and creates a sense of wellbeing (5,6).
What’s more, our dogs may help us stick to a healthy routine. From waking up in the morning and prepare for the day ahead, to exercise through walks and play and taking breaks to stretch both body and mind, reducing levels of stress and anxiety (6) and thus lowering the chance of burnout. Sounds like a lot, right? And yet, the benefits do not stop at health. Working next to our dogs has improved our productivity. Research shows that 88% of pawrents report their dog's companionship helped them be more productive during the pandemic (7), and we can save some bucks by reducing the need for doggy daycare or dog walkers, plus the possibility to schedule veterinary appointments throughout the day.
For our furry friends, the benefits are equally profound. Constant companionship prevents the stress and anxiety associated with being left alone for extended periods. This arrangement strengthens the bond with our dogs through increased quality time together while providing them with consistent routines for feeding, walking, exercise, training, and attention (8), keeping them mentally and physically fit, plus we can monitor their health more closely. What’s better than that!
Challenges of Working from Home with our Dogs
But let’s face it, working from home with our dogs is not always easy, there are challenges that need attention, especially when we are starting a new routine. Understanding these challenges is key to implement effective solutions and build and maintain a productive happy life with next to our pooches, boosting health and work productivity.
For humans, these challenges can come in the shape of productivity disruptions, keeping a professional posture at work, and blurred boundaries between our needs and our dogs’.
Productivity disruptions are common while working from home. They can stem from constant attention-seeking behaviors from our dogs, when focus is most needed for complex tasks or tight deadlines. Our dogs can also interrupt barking during conversations or when there’s something going on outside looking through the window or alerting us about a new package being delivered (8, 9). These behaviours if unmanaged may may damage our professional relationships and hinder career advancement, responsibilities, meeting deadlines and even elevate stress (10). :O
Another challenge is a messy living and working space. Limited office space may become compromised when dogs encroach on workspace or create clutter with toys, bedding, and accessories. I’ve been there. It can get messy. Cleanliness concerns arise from pet hair, muddy paws, or occasional accidents that can affect the work environment and potentially damage equipment or furniture.
Setting boundaries. Perhaps pose the most complex long-term issues for remote workers with dogs is setting clear boundaries. Establishing clear work-life balance becomes complicated when pets don't understand professional obligations and time constraints. Here’s when one must put on the trainer’s hat. Yet, setting appropriate expectations requires training and consistency that can be exhausting while managing professional responsibilities.
OMG! It seems like an awful lot can go wrong! But fear not, with some diligence, strategies, and practice, I will help you find the sweet spot to achieve that work-life-dog balance we all seek!
My Secret Recipe for Success
Here are the three ingredients for a recipe of success working from home with your dog. The ingredients are:
1. routine,
2. boundaries, and
3. appropriate mental and physical activity.
1. Establishing a consistent routine provides the foundation for success. Create a routine that includes starting the day, morning walk, morning work, lunch break, afternoon work, and end-of-work ritual. Naturally, with plenty of breaks in between and opportunities to bond with your dog. Creating a structured schedule with consistent feeding, walking, and play times that align with natural work breaks will help our dogs understand and anticipate daily rhythms.
In the mornings, I find the morning walk extremely important. Of course, it will be different from person to person and from dog to dog. Some prefer to do the main physical activity of the day around noon or in the evening, but I found that the morning activity works wonders for me and my lovely dog. Beginning each day with vigorous exercise through a substantial walk or play session can work our dogs both mentally and physically, making them more likely to rest during intensive work periods.
A consistent routine helps us establish time boundaries, letting our dogs learn what to expect and what to do at each time of the day, reducing interruptions, misbehaviour, and reducing stress on them. Chances are that you may have to try different routines. After all, our dogs are independent beings with different needs and interests than ours. My dog is a working dog that is always on the lookout for the next adventure! I had to tryout different routines and schedules and tweak here and there until created the routine that works for the two of us. I’m sharing with you my own routine in the sections ahead.
2. Boundaries
Establishing boundaries with our dogs come in different flavours. We can set time boundaries, activity boundaries, and space boundaries.
Time boundaries are set by our scheduled routines. Easy-peacy, time, we get that, clocks work for us. But our dogs have a different perception of time. 9am? What is that? So, we need to signal our dogs the start or the end of an activity, whether it’s getting ready for the day, going out, play, work, rest, and so on! I use cues such as ‘wakey wakey!’ to indicate that it’s time to get up, ‘get ready!’ when we are about to go outside for a walk, and ‘go to your beddy!’ and ‘settle’ when I need him to stay there at least for a while, setting start and end boundaries of each activity.
Now, space boundaries. Ideally, our dogs would stay in their bed or pen (if you use one) calm and easy while we are sitting at our desks. It’s a no-brainer creating a dog-friendly home-workspace that optimizes the environment for both productivity and your dog’s comfort. Experts recommend designating specific dog areas with comfortable bedding near you, but not directly in your immediate work zone, to keep company without invasion. Easier said than done. My baby Olaf loves to seat under my desk right next to my feet, leaving his comfy bed rather empty X’D. While I don’t mind him staying there, I must be careful not to kick him. It’s work in progress, but I’m teaching him to use his own bed in my home office.
All in all, setting boundaries is important for both us and our dogs. Consistency and respect enhances the connection with our dogs at the same time it reduces stress levels in both species.
3. Mental and physical activity
Now let’s talk about the juicy part. While we are at work, we are engaged mentally, we are busy solving a problem or creating something. What would it be of us if we had to stay put the whole day five days a week? We’d go bananas! The same with our dogs. They need mental and physical stimulation to be fulfilled, calm, and happy.
Physical activity can have different forms. Walks, games like fetch and tug-of-war, and even sniffing games. It is said that 20 minutes of sniffing tires a dog close to the same as a one hour walk. I can’t measure it with exactitude, but in our morning walk, usually to our nearest park, I let Olaf sniff (nearly) as much as he wants, and if we have the chance to meet with other pawrents, I let him play with his dog-friends. Whenever we have the chance, we organise play dates or lunchtime walks with other like-minded pawrents and their dogs, staying socially active. Bringing a toy comes in handy, even when my dog is not playing with me, other dog friends get the chance to play with that toy when they find it interesting and I also get some attention back from my dog!
Once at home, when he has energy to spare, I use a variety of toys to keep him entertained and physically and mentally active. Fancy word: enrichment. For enrichment I use a variety of toys, such as food-puzzle toys, frozen Kong toys, chews, or treat-dispensing devices during important when he has energy to spare or when I have a call and I need Olaf to be occupied and quiet. I store them in a crate with all his toys. Sometimes he would pick one and bring it to me as an invitation to play. I give him some attention at times (Oopsie! Boundaries!), but after a couple of minutes I make it clear that the play has ended and it is time for me to get down to work. This behaviour is more present when I start working, but after the appropriate level of enrichment activities he’s able to relax and I’m able to focus on work. Rotating his toys, weekly, for example, keeps the freshness and newness of his toys. Sometimes, looking into the toy crate I find toys that we haven’t used in a while! These finds are always exciting!
Calmness and rest
I believe calmness and rest in our dogs is the actual effect all the activities combined and not exactly an activity itself. Once our dogs have had sufficient physical and mental activity, they will more easily stay calm and even take a nap. As I am writing this, I can hear my baby Olaf snoring in his sleep right at 11:30 am, effect of all the morning activities including our daily morning walk with plenty of sniffing, a session play of fetch at home, e breakfast and solving puzzle toy with snacks.
One more thing that helps with calmness is music. Most days I put some music on. Something soft like classical music or soft jazz or covers in acoustic guitar of songs I like. I have found that playing music or some sort of white noise makes it easier for Olaf to relax and dose off and it gets me on a pleasant working flow. I have to say it really, really works!
To finalise this post, I want to share with you a list of tips that I’m sure will help you achieve that work routine that is best for you and your dog. And at the very end of this post, I’m sharing my own routine schedule, so you have an idea of how this works for me and my dog.
Tips for Success:
- Be consistent. Maintain regular schedules for feeding, exercise, and rest to provide security and predictability. If you have recently changed your routine, consistency will help your dog get use to it more quickly.
- Maintain Flexibility: Be prepared to adapt strategies as both you and your dog adjust to new routines and changing work demands. Fine tune a routine that works the best for you and your dog. Observe yours and your dog’s energy level and interests. If you have a baby puppy, be flexible to adjust your routine as your pup grows into adulthood. We got you! You’ll get there!
- Use cues to signal your dog when it is time to change activity, whether it is work, play, walk, rest, eating, etc.
- Rituals. Invent start- and end-of-the-day rituals that signal the transition from work mode to personal time.
- Set Clear Boundaries: Establish specific work hours and spaces that dogs learn to respect through consistent training
- Designate a resting place for your dog while you work. Make it safe and fun!
- Make a variety of toys easily available. Snack feeding puzzles, plushies, chewing toys. The more the merrier!
- Exercise: Ensure your dog gets enough and adequate physical activity daily through walks, play sessions, or outdoor activities.
- Mental Challenges: Provide daily brain stimulation through training sessions, puzzle toys, or interactive games.
- Play music or white noise. Play calming music or implement white noise through fans or streaming playlists. These have calming effects on our dogs and to some people, they help getting onto a good work flow.
- Maintain social contact: Maintain regular interaction with other dogs and people to prevent isolation and maintain social skills. Schedule walks or playtime with friends.
- Plan for Important Days: Develop backup care or management strategies for crucial work events, client calls, or deadline-intensive periods. Think of dog-sitter arrangements, separate room options, or alternative timing that coincides with your dog’s natural rest periods.
- Schedule important meetings during times when your furry friend is most likely to be calm and resting, typically after cooling off after exercise or meal times.
- Etiquette during calls. During calls, communicate to your colleagues that you have your personal assistant (paws icons) close to you. Consider apologising in advance for any potential disruptions. Mute your microphone when you’re not talking.
- Independence Training: Practice being alone for short periods to maintain self-sufficiency and prevent over-dependence
- Monitor Health and Stress Levels: Watch for signs that the work-from-home arrangement is causing stress for either party and adjust accordingly
- Implement daily training sessions, hide-and-seek games, and puzzle-solving activities that challenge your dog's cognitive abilities. Vary exercise routines by mixing walks with fetch, swimming, or hiking to provide comprehensive physical activity that prevents boredom and maintains fitness.
Here is my Home Office Routine with my Dog
6am wakey wakey! Ok, I am kind of an early bird most days.
I start the day saying ‘wakey wakey!’ followed by a morning ritual hug and I admit it, a cookie. I let my dog out to our fenced garden (I know, I got lucky) while I take a shower, coffee (sometimes), get dressed and I get his stuff for going out: leash, harness or collar, poopie bags, treats, water bottle, and a toy!
6:30 am we are ready to go out and about
The first thing I have in mind is exercise. We go for a brisk walk in the neighborhood, heading to a green area. If it is your dogs’ thing, go to a safe space to play fetch with your dog or another activity you both enjoy. Keep in mind the personality, fitness, and interests of your dog. Mine loves sniffing and read the ‘pee-mail’, and he doesn’t want to miss a chance to greet his friends in the neighborhood. When appropriate, we practice obedience. For example, ‘stop’ before crossing a street, ‘sit’, ‘come’, and when we get lucky we find other friends, so he has the chance to play with his dog friends, greet people, and I catch up with other pawrents. I am not made for running nor is my corgi dog, but if you and your dog are athletic enough, like some friends and their dogs, go for it! The morning is a great time to do any kind of exercise and bond with your dog! It’s a win-win! If your dog likes to fetch, don’t forget to bring with you his favourite fetch toy 😊
7:30 AM – Back home (Yep, one hour goes by very quickly)
Once we finished our morning walk, there is a transition time. We cool down at the porch for a few minutes, and we get the chance to greet some of our neighbors. They’re always happy to say hi. Cool off time works for both of us. Olaf processes all the smells and activities and I cool down the sweat of the walk too.
Once indoors, after ‘come in’ cue, I clean him up with wipes (he like to walk on mud if he has the chance). Then, I open the door of the back when the weather allows (OMG, the weather...). Either he chooses to cool down in the garden or sometimes he waits patiently near the dining area while I prepare our breakfasts.
9:00 AM – Getting down to Work
Tiem ago, when the clock hit 9 o’clock, I knew it was time of the hard part. Not anymore! After days and weeks keeping the routine, we now know what it is to be done and what is expected. My dog is a working-dog and he likes to do something all the time and demand my attention (typical male corgi behaviour). When we’re up for it, we play a short session of fetch in the hallway . ‘Go get it! Good job!’.
Once I’m at my desk -you know now- he follows me and sits under it. But I’m happy he uses his designated bed near me more frequently.
To keep him busy I give him a toy in a different room or in the garden so that he practices independence. One funny thing that he does is that he brings me his toy and drops it next to me when he can’t take the snacks out -sometimes I stuff them too tight- and I give him a hand and once the treats are finished I tell him ‘ya no hay’, to let him know that the time to play with the snack dispenser is over and now there is something different to do, like resting, for example. Cueing, always cueing.
Between 9 and 12, I take several breaks. Coffee, snack, toilet, you name it, and yepp, a short tug of ware or fetch session included!
12:00 PM - Lunch Break
This is the time for a good break and recover from all that mental activity from work. Stretch your legs and reach the kitchen to make yourself some healthy lunch. With good weather, we lunch in the garden and play some tug of war, or do some agility work. Then we go out for a short walk in the neighborhood, when he relieves himself and we both enjoy changing the scenery.
At least once a week, I take a longer lunch break when I meet with my neighbors and their dog on an organised lunch walk. We walk to a near park altogether and have a great time. When the play time is ending and we are on our way home, we stop by at a local shop to get a sandwich which each of us take home.
1 PM Afternoon Work
This block is very similar to the 9am to the 12pm block, yet perhaps it is more peaceful as your dog will likely doze off after all the morning activities. Make sure your dog has a comfy and quiet place to rest and water available at all times. My dog usually takes a nap from 1 to 3, waking up slowly close to 4pm.
5:30 PM – Finishing work
Yippee! I love my job, but it feels great to finish your working day right on time. After work we are all free to do anything else: exercise, hobbies, cleaning, seeing friends, groceries, cooking, learn something new, or continue with family and household responsibilities. To me, this is where it gets sometimes tricky, because there’s always so many options!
I have a simple ritual when I finish work. Call me a couch potato, but I go to the couch and turn the TV on. After a few minutes my dog joins me on the sofa when he does all kinds of funny stuff. Plus, he knows that I often carry his favourite cookies in one of my pockets.
And that’s it!
Yippee! The rest of the evening is up to you. I often spend the evenings for cooking, doing exercise, seeing friends, running errands, or walking to the park once more. Observe your own and your dog’s energy levels. While routine and consistency are golden, our pups may not always be in the mood to do ‘an extra’ activity. It’s been a whole day already!
We hope you have found this post useful and we wish you the best in creating the best life for you and your dog!
I you’d like to check out the products we have selected especially for you working from home with your dog, just click on the section ‘Working-From-Home’ and our recommended products below.
References
- American Heart Association. (2024). 5 Ways Pets Help With Stress and Mental Health. Retrieved from https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-bond-for-life-pets/pets-as-coworkers/pets-and-mental-health
- HABRI. (2025). Workplace Wellness | Mental Health | Research. Retrieved from https://habri.org/research/mental-health/workplace-wellness/
- HelpGuide.org. (2024). The Health and Mood-Boosting Benefits of Pets. Retrieved from https://www.helpguide.org/wellness/pets/mood-boosting-power-of-dogs
- Mayo Clinic Health System. (2023). Dogs are good for your health. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/dogs-are-good-for-your-health
- Chicago Tribune. (2020). Commentary: The benefits of working from home with your very good dog. Retrieved from https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-coronavirus-dogs-work-from-home-20200430-xyeu3chnwjgtln6adrloggvkqi-story.html N/A region
- CQUniversity. Mental health benefits of dogs in the workplace. Retrieved from https://www.cqu.edu.au/news/974971/mental-health-benefits-of-dogs-in-the-workplace
- FlexJobs. (2023). 6 Benefits of Working From Home as a Pet Owner. Retrieved from https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/benefits-working-from-home-pet-owner
- WorkLife. (2022). Who let the stress out? Why pets-at-work trend is a pressure reliever, productivity booster. Retrieved from https://www.worklife.news/culture/who-let-the-stress-out-why-pets-at-work-trend-is-a-pressure-reliever-productivity-booster/
- Upwork. (2024). How To Work From Home With a Dog: Tips From Professionals. Retrieved from https://www.upwork.com/resources/working-from-home-with-dogs
- National Center for Biotechnology Information (n/a). Dogs at the Workplace: A Multiple Case Study. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7824880/