Not all dog owners (and dogs) are lucky enough to work from home. Some of us have to be away from home for the day and our dogs can get bored. I should point out that if you know you’re going to be away for long days, every day, and you’ve no-one frequently at home, you should consider if getting a dog is the best idea. I’m not judging in any way; most of us have to work and I can’t imagine a life without a dog! Remember also that some dog breeds don’t cope as well being alone for very long periods of time.
If you’re going to be out at work and have a dog at home, here are some tips:
Puppies. Wean them if you’re able so that the long day starts off as a short day and gradually gets longer. I know this cannot always be done, but if your job (or family situation) offers some flexibility, then great.
Companion. If you’ve got two dogs, versus one, then at least they have a friend and companion to hang out with and there is a pack member around all the time. An older dog may actually be quite happy to be alone for many hours, as they sleep so much, but younger and livelier dogs will appreciate a playmate.
Home for Lunch. If you happen to work fairly close to home or have a job or business where you’re on the road, you might be able to slip home for lunch and not only have a healthy meal at home, but also spend some quality time with your pooch. A little bit of play, ball throwing and roughhousing will tide him over for the afternoon.
Turn on the TV. You see so many clips on social media of dogs checking out the TV. I even saw one where the owner caught their dogs (on a security camera) actually turn on the TV by accident and then were mesmerized by the TV. And guess what - there is even dog TV now available!
Hire a Dog Sitter or Walker. You may find that if you’re doing big days (and potentially you’re exhausted when you get home at the end of the day and just can’t drag yourself up to go for a nice long walk), then a dog walker might just be the ticket for you. There are some great activities out there, from standard walking to canine adventures where the walker is actually taking them for a run in the bush or a romp at the beach.
Organise a Family Drop In. A local family member might be happy to drop in and say hello during the day and have a play. I’ve done that myself with Theo at times where I know his Dad has a big day and he’ll be home alone for a while; especially when he was younger.
Family Daycare. Ok, I’m not talking about kids' daycare where you take your child to a daycare mum; but you might have a family member who lives close by, doesn’t work (or works from home) and is quite happy to have a visitor for the day. In fact, elderly people who don’t have a dog, but love the companionship of a pooch might be the perfect solution. Not only does your dog have daytime companionship but an elderly person will absolutely love the visit and friendship of your buddy. Naturally, it needs to be the right dog for the right person; you don’t want anyone to get hurt or knocked over.
Doggy Daycare. Again, if you’re doing big days and if you don’t have a family member handy, then consider doggy daycare. Remember that dogs are pack animals and especially a younger or high-energy dog loves the companionship of others – people and dogs – so maybe consider this, if it’s in your budget.
Water Sprinkler. Unless there are water restrictions, maybe you could set up a sprinkler to go on during the day (especially when it’s hot), set on a timer, so that your pooch has the fun of a sprinkler and some water play.
Chewing. Dogs love to chew, so ensure they’ve got something suitable. Also, ensure you’ve lots of toys around; when a dog gets bored, they then will revert to shoes, furniture or your plants. Instead, have enough things around which will entertain them. Remember sometimes simple things work a treat. A friend used to hang a teddy bear from the clothes line … almost out of reach. Go onto social media for some cool ideas and just ensure things are safe.
Set Them Up For a Sleep. If it’s possible, try an early morning walk (or even a run) with your pooch to get them worn out and exercised, so that then, when you go to work, they are ready for a snooze. The exercise will be great for them, and excellent for you too!
Set Up Audio. It doesn’t have to be the TV all the time, even set up music to play whilst you’re out so there is sound, or talkback radio. But don’t have it so loud that they can’t escape for a peaceful little nap or two.
Teach Him to Play by Himself. Whilst your dog loves to play with you, often they have toys which will entertain them alone. I’ve found particularly toys that make sounds, especially a squeaky toy which encourages a ‘death shake’ is often good fun for your dog.
Rotate the Toys. I have a doggy toy basket in my lounge room and all dogs in my household know where it is. Try having just half in it for a week or two, and keep the other half someplace else, like the laundry, and then rotate them around. It’s like getting new toys every few weeks, without actually having to always buy.
Remove Dangers or Temptations. And finally, don’t leave things around which your dog may find entertaining, but which are not good for them, or will not make you happy. Some plants are dangerous for dogs, or leaving your laptop power cord draping from the desk, or perhaps your favourite (and potentially very expensive shoes) … if you don’t want it chewed, then don’t leave it around and essentially set them up for failure. If they get bored, they will look for things to do, so give them the things which are good, and remove the things which are not good. We talk about ‘baby proofing’ a house as little ones begin crawling and walking … well, you need to do the same for your dog. Get down on your knees, at their height and consider what looks tempting.
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