The last 18 months have featured more “work from home” situations than ever before in our society, and many of us are still operating partially or fully from a home office for our jobs. This often means a number of online meetings via tools like Zoom or Skype, but those with fun-loving dogs may have found an obstacle here: A furry friend who keeps interrupting your work meetings looking for attention.
At Innovative K9 Academy, we’re proud to offer numerous dog training programs in Orem and other parts of Utah, from puppy training classes to advanced dog obedience and several other areas. We’ve helped many clients with issues like these of several varieties, where your dog simply won’t leave you alone during important tasks you’re doing around the home, including vital day job responsibilities. This two-part blog series will go over some basic tactics we can recommend on how to soothe their need for attention and limit this behavior in healthy ways.
Quality Exercise
Perhaps the single most common reason why your dog bothers you in this manner during the day, from interrupting Zoom meetings to barking throughout your work day, is that they’re not getting enough exercise. Dogs are naturally active animals and will seek out ways to expend energy when they’re cooped up inside all day. This often takes the form of bothering their humans for attention or trying to get into whatever mischief they can.
The best way to combat this behavior is to give your dog a walk or playtime outside before you start your work day. This way their energy is spent and they’ll be more likely to snooze for several hours. If you can’t afford the time but find yourself needing your dog calm at certain points of the day, consider investing in a pet treadmill so they have a safe and healthy outlet for their energy.
Finding Other Hobbies
In other cases, your dog might simply need a couple new “hobbies” that can help get them through the day when you’re home, but not paying active attention to them for several hours at once. For instance, puzzle toys like the Kong Extreme can keep dogs entertained for extended periods of time as they try to figure out how to get the treats out. There are also many kinds of chew toys that provide a similar distraction, such as Nylabone’s Dura Chew Textured Rings which are designed for aggressive chewers.
If you’re at home, but not able to give your dogs attention for several hours at a time, consider teaching them how to use these toys on their own. Even simple fetch or “find it” games can keep dogs busy and out of trouble when they’re alone during the day.
For more on how to keep your dog from interrupting your work meetings and causing related issues while you work from home, or to learn about any of our dog training courses or other services in Orem, speak to the experts at Innovative K9 Academy today.