The ultimate guide to working from home with dogs and cats

Updated 26 Sept 2024

It’s fair to say that more people than ever are working from home. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, companies across the globe have taken to a fully remote or hybrid set up, and pet ownership has skyrocketed alongside it.

So to help you stay productive and keep your pets happy, explore our ultimate guide to working from home with dogs and cats.

Tips for working from home with dogs

1. Create a routine 
2. Physical stimulation
3. Spend quality time
4. Create boundaries
5. Keep them busy
6. Provide treats
7. Prevent barking
8. Make your work environment dog-friendly
9. Train your dog
10. Be prepared for virtual meetings
11. Head to a dog-friendly cafe
12. Remember to take a vacation!

Create a routine 

The first thing you’ll need to consider about working from home with dogs is your daily routine. Having a routine in place helps dogs to feel settled, safe, and secure. It also prevents behavioral issues and helps build a confident dog - a view that the American Kennel Club supports.

Consider when is the best time for you to take them for a walk and potty break, feed, play, train, and add mental stimulation throughout your day, and working from home with your dog will be a whole lot simpler.

Physical stimulation

Working from home with dogs means pet parents have the responsibility of making sure their pets stay physically stimulated. This could look like a game of fetch at home or a dog walk. 

Not only will this provide exercise, your dog will be stimulated by the sights, smells and sounds of the outdoors, and will have the chance to meet other pets and people.

Without exercise and their much-needed fresh air, you could have unwanted behaviors like excessive barking and destruction of furniture on your hands.

Spend quality time

You might be working, but it’s important to factor in a few minutes here and there to make a fuss of your dog. It’ll help to curb boredom, provide a break from the screen, and act as a short reward before you’re back to work.

Create boundaries

When working from home with dogs, it’s important to create physical boundaries if you’re easily distracted. Get your dog used to relaxing in a separate room by creating a cozy space kitted out with their bed and favorite toys. 

Keep them busy

If you’re working from home with dogs, you’ll need to keep your dog busy and entertained between walks and feeding time, while you’re trying to get on with your work. 

Invest in puzzle toys, enrichment feeders, snuffle mats and frozen treats - these will mentally stimulate your dog, tire them out and keep them quiet while you’re working from home. 

Just one thing to remember - make sure the enrichment activities you choose are distraction-free for you, i.e. nothing that makes an annoying noise!

Provide treats

If you’re wondering how to have a dog with a full time job, it’s possible with a few small changes to your daily routine. One of these is as simple as toys and treats. Have a few high-value rewards ready for when you need your pooch to keep quiet during your working day.

Prevent barking

Barking is never ideal, but as a pet parent, you’ll need to understand why your dog is making so much noise. Consider whether they’re bored, distressed, hungry or ill. If you’re unsure, speak to your vet or a dog behaviorist.

Make your work environment dog-friendly

Working from home with dogs means making sure your home office is free from anything harmful to your canine companion. Ensure any electrical cords, batteries, headphones and laptops are out of the way, and use a baby gate to keep your dog safe if necessary.

Train your dog

If you’re wondering how to have a dog and a full time job, one key thing you’ll need to do is train your dog. This means sticking to your routine, and ensuring your dog responds to basic commands like sit, settle and stay. 

Creating independence in your dog is one of the most important parts of dog training, along with obedience. This is because a dog that can feel settled by themselves is a happy one, free of canine anxiety. 

Below, find a few tips on how to train your dog to be independent from Rob Kuty - certified master dog trainer, President of San Diego Pet Training and Director of Animal Training at Helen Woodward Animal Center:

• “When you walk into your office to send an email, close the door behind you.”
• “If you go upstairs, use a gate to keep your dog downstairs.”
• “If you have a yard, put your dog outside and close the door to give them time on their own even though they can still see or hear you.” 

Be prepared for virtual meetings

Working from home with dogs can sometimes mean virtual meetings going slightly pear-shaped. To avoid any incidents, try to tire your dog out before any important meetings with a game of fetch, a walk or a game of ‘find it’.

Head to a dog-friendly cafe

If you’re wondering - how can you have a dog and work full time - well along with routine, physical stimulation and lots of toys and treats, it can be an enjoyable lifestyle choice. Head to a dog-friendly cafe for a change of scenery, enjoy the walk with your pooch and give them the chance to meet other dogs. 

Remember to take a vacation!

And naturally, working from home can get tiring - especially if you’re working from home with dogs to look after. So when the time comes to book a vacation, it’s important to note that vets agree pets are happier at home, rather than being transported on vacation, or left in kennels where it’s unfamiliar, noisy and impersonal. 

So to keep your pup happy and give yourself a break from the remote work routine, you could choose to welcome a pet sitter. Take a look below to find out how it works.

Tips for working from home with a puppy

If you’re wondering how to raise a puppy while working - rest assured, it’s possible with the right preparation, patience and commitment. Take a look below for a few tips on how to work from home with a puppy.

• Training. Start your dog’s training journey as early as possible, using a positive reinforcement-based approach. A trained dog is a happy one, and will respond to commands while you’re working. Crate training your dog is also a great way to create a safe, quiet environment for your pup.
• Socialization. Take your pup to your local dog park before work or at lunch time - the socialization with other dogs will be mentally stimulating and tire them out.
• Time alone. It’s vital you don’t fuss your puppy all day, otherwise that’s what they’ll come to expect. Instead, get your dog used to settling themselves and being content in a separate room.
• 1:1 time. Be sure to check in with your puppy regularly - time alone is important, but so is play and bonding time.
• Routine. Dogs thrive off routine, so create positive habits (like walking, play, training and feeding) each day - having this structure will help them feel settled and secure.
• Keep them busy. Keep your puppy entertained with puzzle toys and treat dispensers.

Dog schedule for working owners

Having a dog and working 9-5 is sometimes a challenge, so explore our suggested schedule below, which you can mold to fit into your working routine and commitments.

• Feeding schedule (how often does your dog need to eat?)
• Daily short walks (morning, lunch, and/or after work)
• Daily longer walks (before or after work)
• Daily training and mental stimulation
• Daily playtime
• Mental stimulation time (games like ‘find it’ are great for this, or teach your dog a new trick)
• 1:1 cuddle time (after work)
• Wind-down time before bed

Benefits of working from home with dogs

Looking after a dog while working from home can take a little work to get right - but once the routine of walks, play and down time is achieved, the benefits of having a dog at home is almost endless. Take a look below at some of the benefits of working from home with pets.

• Reduces stress and anxiety. As reported by Esther Sternberg - researcher at the  University of Arizona - on Psychology Today, interacting with a pet for just 15 minutes can reduce stress and anxiety, which is ideal if you have a high-pressure job, and your dog needs some attention.
• Encourages fresh air and exercise. Having a dog means you’re obliged to leave the house, get some fresh air and walk in nature every day - whatever the weather.
• Company. Working from home can be isolating, but having a dog in the next room always ready for cuddles and play reduces feelings of loneliness. This study exploring the relationship between pet ownership and loneliness - published by the National Institute of Health - found that owning a pet is associated with reduced social isolation.
• Convenience. Working from home means it’s often easier for pet parents to make appointments for the vets and groomers’, with flexible working hours.

Tips for working from home with cats

Cats are generally seen as lower-maintenance pets than dogs - there is no need to walk a cat throughout the day, for starters. But if you work from home with cats, you’ll know that felines demand attention at times, so explore our tips below on working at home with cats, for happy felines and a productive working day.

• Have an agenda. Cats thrive off routine just as much as dogs, so stick to a feeding, play and outdoor routine with your feline - this will avoid stress and anxiety.
• Have a designated work area. It’s a cat’s natural instinct to roam, so they might not understand your office is out of bounds. Set them up with a cozy spot where they can be near to you without causing distraction.
• Set them up for the day. Stop cats interrupting work from home time by making sure they’re fed, their litter tray is clean and their water bowl is full.
• Stop for play time. Alongside a scratching post and cat tree to keep your cat entertained, give yourself a break from the screen with a short burst of playtime with your feline. Cats love feather, laser jingle and chew toys.
• Pheromone diffusers. Emitting synthetic cat pheromones, these diffusers help to reduce anxiety in cats, so are great for keeping cats calm while you’re working fromhome with your pets.

Considerations for pet sitters: working from home with dogs

Working from home can get a little repetitive, so many professionals with flexible working arrangements have taken to pet sitting for a change of scenery. If the idea of furry company and a new place to stay while working from home appeals to you, explore how to find a house sit below.

Tips and advice from pet owners and sitters

Working from home with dogs and cats is more than common these days - with countless professionals working flexibly from home, or hybrid. 

Based on their personal experiences with dogs and cats of their own, take a look at what real-life pet parents have to say about reducing anxiety in their pets - which is super useful if you work from home and you’re thinking about adopting a dog or cat of your own.

• “Leaving your pet with an item of clothing that smells like you can help with separation anxiety” - @Maggie8K
• “Most cats like somewhere high up to go as high places are usually where a cat goes for safety” - @richten1
• “We have a treat jar by the door that he only gets when we are going to work” - @Helen74
• And for good measure, check out these cute pictures of pet parents working from home with their adorable furry friends.

Useful resources

• 5 of the best dog toys for separation anxiety
• Why do dogs get so excited when you come home?
• Top tier digital dog training apps for every pooch