Sharing Office Space with Pets
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."
Pet-proof your office. Pet expert and Petside cat blogger Amy D. Shojai, author of "PETiquette: Solving Behavior Problems in Your Multi-Pet Household" recommends making your office impervious to canine or feline explorations. "My cat, Serendipity, used to walk across my fax machine to make the buttons play music," recalls Shojai. "I placed a box lid over the top to keep her from tap-dancing, and she soon lost interest."
Create diversions. Some animals make their presence known at the worst possible time, such as when you're talking with a client on the phone. If your dog fits that description, "give him something to do," suggests APDT Certified Pet Dog Trainer and Petside dog blogger Victoria ("Madam Biscuit") Schade. "Activity toys that can be stuffed with treats will keep him constructively occupied."
Forestall bad behavior. Dogs and cats will misbehave if that's the only way to get your attention. You can forestall their need to make such efforts by scheduling play breaks during the day. For cats, "get up from the desk and play chase-the-feather with a fishing pole toy for 10 minutes to wear her out," suggests Shojai. For dogs, schedule a quick game of fetch or a walk once or twice during the work day.
Banish for misbehavior. Your cat or dog may stop unwanted attention-seeking behavior if such behavior leads to banishment from your office. For example, if a dog starts digging the carpet, "mark the behavior by saying 'time out' and put him out of your office for a minute or so," recommends Schade, creator of the DVD New Puppy, Now What? "If your timing is good, it should take only a few attempts before your dog makes the connection between his digging and the resulting banishment."
Reward good behavior. A dog or cat will do what works, so if mischief and misbehavior get your attention (even though angry), the animal will keep that behavior in his repertoire. "If your dog repeatedly puts his paw on your lap and you respond by taking him for a walk, he's just learned what it takes to 'break' you!" says Schade. "The secret is to reward what you like and ignore what you don't."
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