You know the stare. You're on a call, and your dog is sitting right next to your chair. Not barking, not whining, just staring. Then comes the sigh, then a paw on your leg, then a squeaky toy dropped on your foot mid-sentence.
Working from home seems ideal for a dog, since you're right there all day. But being home isn't the same as being busy. Here's a routine that helps.
The short version
- Keep feeding and walk times consistent, and make changes gradually.
- Plan short play breaks instead of handing out extra treats for quiet.
- Give your dog a cozy, low-traffic spot to rest during work hours.
- Practice alone time while you're home, so a change in schedule isn't a shock.
A simple work-from-home day
Every dog is different, but a structure like this is a good starting point:
- Before your first call: a proper walk or some vigorous play. The AKC suggests a walk or about 15 minutes of energetic play before you need your dog to settle.
- Mid-morning: a food puzzle or frozen stuffed toy made with part of breakfast. The PDSA recommends using part of the next meal rather than adding extra treats.
- Between meetings: a 5-minute play break. Don't force play on a dog who's happily napping, though (PDSA).
- Lunch: a walk, ideally one where your dog gets to sniff.
- Afternoon: rest time on their bed, in a quiet spot away from your desk traffic (PDSA, ASPCA).
- After work: the big play session of the day.
Keep the routine steady
Dogs like predictability. The PDSA advises keeping feeding and walk times the same as before you worked from home, and making any changes gradually. A predictable day helps a dog know when it's time to play and when it's time to rest.
Enrichment that buys you quiet time
Blue Cross recommends rotating enrichment and matching the difficulty to your dog, since a puzzle that's too hard just frustrates them. Good options include:
- snuffle mats and scatter feeding
- frozen stuffed chew toys
- sniffing walks
- short training sessions
Teach your dog to settle, and to be alone
This part is easy to skip. If your dog is with you every minute of every day, being alone later can be hard. The AKC suggests practicing while you're still home. Reward your dog for settling calmly on a bed or in a crate while you work on something else. Then start leaving the room for a few minutes at a time and build up gradually.
Blue Cross suggests using a baby gate early on, so your dog can still see and hear you. Work up to about 30 minutes with you elsewhere in the house, then add short trips out. It also helps to get your dog used to "leaving" cues like picking up your keys or putting on a coat, without actually leaving. Keep hellos and goodbyes low-key.
Blue Cross says following you from room to room and getting anxious as you prepare to leave can be early signs of separation anxiety. If you see these, start the alone-time practice now. Our article on destructive chewing covers how to tell boredom from anxiety.
How long can a dog be left alone?
Sources differ. The AKC suggests no more than about 6–8 hours without a bathroom break, plus at least a couple of hours of social time a day. UK charities like the PDSA and Blue Cross are stricter, recommending no more than about 4 hours at a time on a regular basis. Puppies, seniors and dogs with health conditions often need shorter stretches.
Play breaks that don't derail your day
A 5-minute burst of play between meetings can take the edge off a restless dog. Try tug, a quick round of "find it," or a chase game.
Our Chase Ball is handy for exactly this. Tap it, and it rolls off on its own and changes direction when it bumps into furniture, so your dog can chase while you answer a few emails nearby. Keep an eye on play and put it away afterward. It's a chase toy, not a chew toy. See the Chase Ball →
This article is general information, not veterinary advice. If you're worried about your pet's health or behavior, talk to your vet.
Sources
- PDSA: Working from home with a pet
- AKC: How separation anxiety might impact your dog when you return to work
- ASPCA: At-home tips for keeping your pets busy and engaged
- Blue Cross: Enrichment for dogs
- Blue Cross: Home alone, separation anxiety in dogs
- AKC: Alone time for dogs, how much is too much?
- PDSA: Home alone, preventing separation anxiety
