Have you made the switch to working from home recently? You’re not alone. In fact, the United States has been warming up to for decades with a 159% increase from 2005 to 2017. But what if your home office contains a furry, cuddly coworker? Our Okemos, MI, dog trainers have some tips.
Here are 4 ways you can become adjusted to your canine coworker.
1. Mark Your Territory
Admit it — your puppy isn’t 100% to blame for your decrease in productivity. You share some of the responsibility, too. How many times a week do you intentionally seek out your pup to avoid doing work?
It’s hard to resist the temptation to invite your dog into your work life. Don’t beat yourself up over it, though. It’s difficult to achieve a good work-life balance, especially when the line between your office and your home has all but disappeared.
The key to restoring your productivity is to set boundaries not just for your dog, but also for yourself. If you’re disciplined, it helps your puppy to stay disciplined as well. is possible, you’ve just got to put in a little more effort.
The easiest way to start setting boundaries is to mark your territory. Create a space in your home that’s just for work. If you don’t have access to a home office or a second bedroom, decorate a corner of space in your bedroom or dining room and make it your new office.
Whatever you do, don’t give into the temptation to make every day “Take Your Puppy To Work” day. Set up your office somewhere where you can shut the door or put up a gate. If you live in a studio apartment, consider investing in some room dividers to close off your work space.
Give Your Puppy Space, Too
While you set up your new office space, consider creating a cozy nook for your pup to spend the day in. The more comfortable and familiar your dog’s surroundings are, the less likely they will be to bother you.
If at all possible, try to avoid crating your dog for the entire day. It’s one of the reasons why our dog boarding service involves giving every pet their own room. If you had to crate your dog when you worked in an office, now is a great time to experiment with how your dog can stay out of the crate throughout the day without getting into trouble.
2. Schedule Time for Play
Puppies need exercise, just like we do. It helps them to remain healthy, happy, and full of life when also paired with a great diet.
However, with exercise comes much needed breaks. By scheduling regular play time, you can create a routine for both you and your dog that gets you up and moving. It’ll also give you both something to look forward to during the day.
Want to give your dog extra play time with other animals? Ask us about our doggy daycare.
3. Start Training
Working from home gives us time to act on things we may have been putting off when we were too busy at the office. If you’ve been meaning to train your new pup, now is the perfect time. At Dog Gone Fun, our certified dog trainers offer several training options for puppies and dogs.
The window for basic training for puppies is between 8 and 16 weeks of age. However, it’s never too late to teach an old dog new tricks. If you think your furry coworker could benefit from some more intentional training, our trainers are here to help.
4. Splurge on a Puppy Vacation
Do you have an important work project coming up? Is there a deadline looming in the not-so-distant future? Sometimes, we need to do everything we can to concentrate so we can get the job done. If you need a short burst of productivity, it may be time to splurge on a puppy vacation.
Our premier dog boarding bedrooms are available for one night or multiple nights. Let your puppy come play with us for a few days while you get a few things done.
If you need daily peace and quiet, consider enrolling your pup in our dog daycare. We offer full days and half days of play, Monday through Friday.
Make Working from Home Work for You
It can take a while to get used to working from home for both you and your puppy. Our are here to help. To learn more about our dog boarding, dog training, or dog daycare services, call Dog Gone Fun today at (517) 657-4300, or contact us online.
This blog has been updated.