By Mary Nee
Our lives have certainly been rearranged in recent days, and for many of us, that means working remotely for the foreseeable future. You’re following the guidelines for working from home – showering, getting dressed, having a dedicated work space, avoiding temptations like a Netflix binge-a-thon – but what about your pets?
Our furry friends are attuned to our human habits, and once they get over the confusion of you not walking out the door in the morning, they can see it as an opportunity to spend more time with you – thus another distraction!
Here are some tips to keep you productive and ensure your pets are engaged while your home.
For Dogs
It’s important to maintain your dog’s routine as much as possible. Keep feeding time the same, and if your dog spends time in a crate while you’re not home, don’t be tempted to forgo that routine either.
If you do crate your animal while at home, a tempting bone or treat will keep them occupied while you get your work done.
Try not to give in to the scratches at the door to go outside every time, and try your best not to give in to a lot of attention-seeking behaviors (whining, barking, pawing, among others) that may be happening simply out of confusion and wonder as to why you are around for so long.
Enrichment
Providing enrichment for your dog while working from home is critically important! There are a number of things to keep your dog active, engaged and occupied, including:
Stuffed treat (like a Kong) – Makes them know they’re loved and working on the treat can keep a dog occupied and engaged for quite awhile.
Divide attention – Try to avoid becoming over-consumed with your dog during the workday.
A special bone at various times throughout the day is a great way to keep them engaged, but the key is to put them away when their time with the bones is over.
Allow them to relax and have quiet time by themselves.
Extra walks – Add a walk or two if weather and your schedule permits (it could be good for both of you!).
Constructive playtime – A couple of constructive play sessions (not snuggle sessions) where you play and really get your dog’s brain working and let them have fun.
For Cats
Many cats, of course, like their alone time, but when they realize you’re home more often than usual, it’s typical for a cat to become a little clingier.
We’ve all seen the cute pictures online – a cat sprawled across a keyboard, walking all over a desk or table, or curled up in a person’s lap.
These images are cute, but they don’t necessarily correlate to you being productive.
Let’s run down some things to consider to keep your cat engaged.
Feeding Time
You can keep your cat’s regular feeding schedule, but you can also make mealtime a little more fun as well by:
Food puzzles are a great way to keep your cat occupied.
You can purchase food puzzles or recycle toilet paper rolls or egg cartons to make them into food puzzles.
Try scattering dry food throughout a room and make them find or chase it!
Entertainment
Cats, like dogs, can get bored with their normal toys after a while, so you can experiment some easy (and inexpensive) ways to get your cat playing which include:
Fill a large paper bag with a sprinkle of catnip – cats love the crinkling and will be sure to have fun with it!
Cats, of course, love boxes, so make a fort/obstacle course with some cardboard boxes.
Take away a few toys from their regular stash then reintroduce them later – they’ll seem like new!
Cat TV – put on a video to stimulate their prey drive (birds etc..) then get them playing with wand toys. They’ll be stimulated by the “hunt” and will tire out quickly!
Finally, you can do something simple like move their cat tree to another location. You give your cat a new view to focus on and a new sunny spot to nap!
Have Questions? ARL Has Answers – ARL is committed to being a reliable resource for behavioral and health-related questions about your pet, and our goal is to help owners provide the best care for their animals. Whether you’ve had your pet for 10 days or 10 years, ARL can help.
ARL’s Pet Behavior Helpline is a free service, and can answer basic behavioral questions about your pet, such as excessive barking, crate training, house soiling, or if you are looking for ways to stave off your pet’s boredom.
If you have questions, please call the Pet Behavior Helpline at 617-226-5666 or via email behaviorhelpline@arlboston.org and an ARL representative will get back to you within 48 hours.
Mary Nee, a Dorchester resident, is president of the Animal Rescue League of Boston.
