How to entertain your dog while working from home 

If your pup reverts to those ‘love me’ puppy dog eyes the moment you fire up your laptop and settle at your desk, we wouldn’t blame you for feeling the dreaded pet parent guilt. 

Luckily though, there are heaps of ways you can keep your dog happy, stimulated and settled while you work from home. 

So without any further ado, take a look below to find out how to entertain your dog while you work from home.

How to entertain your dog while working from home

Walkies before and after work

As a loving pet parent, you’ll know all too well the importance of walking your dog daily. And sticking to walkies in the morning and evening (and at lunch if time allows) will boost your pup’s mood and help them settle while you’re working.

How often you should walk your dog (and the length of those walkies) really depends on your dog’s breed, age, size and any health issues they’re suffering from. 

With that said though, there’s no mistaking the multiple benefits of regular exercise for dogs. Not only is it ideal for weight management, walkies is fantastic mental stimulation for our canine companions. With hundreds of scents for your pup to feast their snout upon, it’s well worth giving them the time for a good sniff while out and about. 

Plus, walkies (if you live in a paved area) means fewer trips to the vet for those awkward nail trims your pup dreads!

Stick to a routine

Did you know that our canine companions thrive off routine? As fun as your pup might be, having their daily walk, meal and play at roughly the same time each day will mean they’re all the more settled in those between times while you’re working from home.

Why? Well your dog will know what to expect from each day, removing any worry about when the next ‘fun’ event is coming up. 

Make time for a little one on one time

When working from home, you’ll know better than anyone how important those screen breaks are, and how fab it feels to stretch your limbs every now and then! 

So, why not incorporate those self care moments with some quality time for just the two of you?

Well if you’re wondering how to entertain a dog in the simplest of ways, take just two minutes out for tug of war. It’ll mentally and physically wear your dog out, and it’ll strengthen the bond between the two of you.

Invest in interactive dog games

And for those points in your day where you simply need to concentrate, investing in a few toys to keep your dog busy will certainly settle any qualms or queries on how to entertain your dog while you’re working from home.

Finding the right dog toys provides mental stimulation for dogs, which helps to avoid symptoms of boredom, like destructive behaviors, barking, restlessness and attention seeking.

Chews

It’s no secret that dogs simply love to chew. So, if you’re after how to keep your dog entertained indoors when they’ve had their morning walk but need something to do, invest in a long-lasting dog chew.

Whether it’s a dental care dog chew or a dried animal product, your pup will be kept busy for sure. Plus, they’ll enjoy the taste and benefit from a good dental clean while they’re at it.

Make meal times for more fun

Along with hours of chewing, it’s no surprise to dog lovers that their furry friends are the most motivated when their favorite treats are in the picture. So, how to keep a dog busy with food, when all they want to do is gobble it all up at once?

One way to go is treat dispensing toys - mentally stimulating your pup and rewarding them with a treat every now and then, toys like a Kong stuffed with dog-friendly peanut butter, or interactive feeding toys like this Hide n Slide puzzle, or a simple lick mat will keep your pooch busy and full up before their next meal.

Play a game of ‘find it’

Scent work really tires dogs out - just a few minutes of scent work will mean your pooch is settled for much longer while you’re getting on with work. 

So, how to entertain your dog with scent work at home? Simply command sit, hide a few treats around the house and garden, and command ‘find it’ until they’ve retrieved all the kibble.

Scent activities like these really tap into your pup’s natural instincts to actively use that fantastic sense of smell, so it’s a guaranteed mental booster for your pooch.

Plus, putting effort into finding food enriches your pup’s life - not only does it give them their all-time favorite reward (food!), they’re also able to revel in the satisfaction from having achieved something.

5 minute dog training bursts

Did you know that teaching your dog a new trick is seriously tiring for them? Well it certainly is, and just a few minutes of dog training will not only give you a well-deserved screen break, but they’ll be settled for much longer while you get back to work.

So, how to keep a dog stimulated while at work? Choose from ‘speak’, ‘bow’, ‘dance’ and heaps of other dog tricks and your pup will settle with ease. Plus, the positive reinforcement (dog treats, praise and cuddles) will make your pooch feel hella good.

Rotate dog toys

Just like children, our furry friends are prone to getting bored of their toys. So, go easy on your purse strings and rotate your dog’s toys rather than buying new ones. Yup, if you were wondering how to keep your dog entertained on a budget, dog toy rotation sure is it.

By the time they’ve had enough with one toy, they’ll be ready for the next that’ll be a whole new novelty, all over again. 

So, whether it’s tug of war ropes, balls for fetch or puzzle toys, simply hiding a few away every now and then can help to keep daily life interesting for your furry friend.

Hide and seek breaks

Did you know that dogs love a game of hide and seek, just as much as the next human? Yup, if you want to know how to entertain your dog (and yourself!), set up a simple (canine-friendly) game of hide and seek.

Simply command your pooch to sit, hide somewhere obscure (but start simple at first), and call your dog to find you. The reward of sniffing you out will keep them going for much longer while you’re needed in a meeting, or have to get your head down for a couple of hours.

Puppy play dates

Has your furry friend got a canine buddy they tend to play happily with? Well if you’re wondering how to keep a puppy busy or your dog mentally stimulated, you could consider inviting another pooch round for the afternoon. That way, your doggo will have another canine companion who loves tug of water and zoomies around the garden, just as much as they do.

Looking for boredom busting dog toys?

You’re in the right place - toys are a great way to fill the space between walkies and play while you’re busy in meetings. Take a look at these toys to entertain puppies and older pups to keep canine brains stimulated while you’re busy.