Since COVID-19 marketing and advertising has mostly been occurring from the homes of brilliant minds instead of inside offices. What does working from home do to productivity? Does Fido or Fifi help or drag you down?
Normally I work from home or coffee shop. Scout my German Shorthair Pointer is by my side at both of these places. He doesn't meet with clients but he does appreciate me bringing home the bones. Does looking at him, breaking for walks and holding one sided convos with him inspire me?
Embarkvet.com lists the five main benefits of working from home with a dog in this article, "How to Work at Home with Dogs." Even TIME.com has jumped into the pop culture crush of featuring your pet on video calls to the office in their article, "How Pets Are Taking Their Thrones as the Stars of the Work-From-Home Paradigm Right Now."
Obvious to say there are pitfalls to the humans such as distraction increase, possible productiveness issues, even leading up to giving your dog separation anxiety because they spend too much time with you! But science overwhelmingly says the mental health benefits for humans and quality of life for the dog, are normally beneficial!
Here are some pointers I have collected to help maintain a healthy relationship between you and your new co-worker. These are drawn from my personal success and granted I am not a vet of any sorts, but I am an avid dog owner. Now...if you were like, WOW! Great time to buy a puppy and you did and now you are overwhelmed...maybe this advice is not for you - but please invest the time to get some professional advice on how to multi-tasks with pups aka a dog trainer! ; )
Exercise your dog (and you) before work. Run, walk, play fetch for over 15 minutes.
Create a space for your dog that is theirs and where they can be alone (but safe).
Create a space near you where they can lay and nap.
Set a timer for their lunchtime walk.
Give them access to water and feed them on a schedule.
Obedience: need to stretch? Work on a new trick or obedience for a minute.
Tell them "Good Boy" or "Good Girl"...dogs love that stuff!
Don't expect them to just sit there 9-5! Give that dog a safe healthy bone already!
This time can be used to get Fido caught up on all of the behaviors you want them to have and also get all of that energy out of their system so they CAN be a good dog all day.
Working Like a Dog has never looked so good and been so beneficial!
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