Many Americans have discovered that working from home can have more advantages than working somewhere else.  And if their dogs and cats could talk, they’d probably approve of their people working from home. “Dogs and cats are social animals and they love to spend time with their people, even if they are sleeping during that time,” explains certified applied animal behaviorist Pamela Reid, Ph.D., vice president of the ASPCA Animal Behavior Center. “So any opportunity they have to just hang with their guardians is great.”

However, some dogs and cats don’t understand that having their people at home with them doesn’t lead to unlimited attention from those people. Canine and feline attention-seeking can clash with human needs to get some work done. Such clashes might cause a person to wonder whether pets and working from home can mix.  Here are some ideas for making this work style likable for all concerned.  

Play before working.   Attention-seeking dogs or cats may change that behavior if they get some play time with their people before the work day begins. “A dog should get out for a good 30 to 60 minutes, preferably with aerobic exercise, before you settle into the office for the day,” says Reid. “Cats are more likely to be satisfied with a game of chase, breakfast and a snuggle before you start your workday.”

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