The reality of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic is that a lot of us are now working from home. Obviously, this is to help prevent the spread and to help keep everyone safe, but it also means a whole new routine for you and your pet which, for some of us, may not be so easy to adjust to.
I’ll be the first to admit that working from home has been a bit of a shock to the system. For example, who knew my dog barked at the wind? But apparently that’s a thing. We’re slowly learning to get used to each other’s quirks.
So in this time of adjustment, I’m taking a look at how to adjust to home working without driving each other insane. This advice is just for pets, but could possibly be applied to other members of the household.
Stick to your usual routine as much as possible
It can be really tempting to have an extra lie-in in the morning because you don’t have to commute, but will this push back your pet’s usual schedule? If the answer is ‘yes’ then, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you really should carry on getting up at the same time. It’s important that your pet is fed at the same time they normally would be and (if you have a dog) walked at their usual time, too.
Our pets love routine, so upsetting this could cause them stress which in itself could lead to some unwelcome behaviour (think scratching furniture, weeing on the carpet, etc.). It really is best to keep to their usual routine as much as you can. If you do decide to change up your routine, you should do this gradually to give them time to get used to it.
Try to avoid snacking
We’re all probably guilty of the occasional (read: constant) sweet treat at work, but don’t inflict this on your pet. They’ll quickly pile on the pounds if you treat them every time you treat yourself. It can be tempting to give them a treat while you’re on a call or if they seem bored, but try not to give them any more than they’d normally have.
Instead of a treat, you could get your pet a new toy to play with (we have loads in our online pet store). Alternatively you could play with them and both burn a few calories! If you really need to keep them occupied and only food will do the trick, put some of their next meal portion in a food dispensing toy, such as a Kong, to give them something to do when you need to concentrate.
Give each other space
Working from home can be lonely and our pets are great company, but even they need some ‘me’ time. Make sure your pet has somewhere to go that is ‘theirs’ where they can just be alone if they want to. You could make them a den, or just try to avoid wherever it is they like to curl up for a nap.
If you have to work in the room your pet normally likes to take their down time in, try to set yourself up at the opposite end to them if you can and disturb them as little as possible. You can also give them an alternative option in another room so they can choose to go there if they’d prefer.
Make sure you’re getting enough exercise
If you normally have a dog walker or pop your dog into day care, using those services won’t be possible for the moment. Any pet will still need plenty of exercise to stay healthy and you’ll need to take breaks from staring at a computer screen. Schedule in regular breaks to take your dog for a potter in the garden or to take five minutes to play. It’ll do wonders for the both of you. This said, if your pet is used to spending most of the day relaxing on their own, let them! Only play if they seem ready and willing and remember under current advice you’re limited to one walk a day so you may need to play more in the garden or in the house.
If you have a cat, yes they nap a lot but do make sure to play with them regularly. They’ll enjoy spending time with you and it’ll give them chance to use up any excess energy.
Keep boredom at bay
With you being home, your pet might naturally gravitate to wherever you are. It’s cute at first, but when you’re on a call and your not-lap-sized dog is trying to chill on your lap? Makes things tricky. A fun puzzle toy could be the answer to both your problems – it’ll give your pet something to keep them occupied and keep their mind busy while your attention needs to be elsewhere.
Looking for more advice on Coronavirus?
We’re all trying to keep up with what’s best to help flatten the curve and stop the spread of the virus while looking after our pets. Our vets have been answering your questions in their latest Q&A blog.
