10 Ways To Entertain Your Dog While Working From Home

ByCaitlin

Many pet parents have been working from home for the last two weeks due to the corona virus. Now, many states including my home state of Florida are being put on state-wide stay-at-home lock downs to help prevent the spread of the virus. Working from home is great but it can come with some furry challenges. 

Most of our dogs aren’t used to being home with us all day so not only are they excited but they also are wanting to do something with us non-stop. Below are 10 ways that you can entertain your dog while working from home. You’ll be able to get your work done and they will have a wonderful day at home! 

P.S. While you’re home, don’t forget to check out my “10 Stay-At-Home Activity Ideas” Blog Post for more ideas while you’re practicing social distancing! ” 

Sparkles-And-Sunshine-Blog-10-Ways-To-Entertain-Your-Pet-While-Working-From-Home

Please know that some of the ideas below do require supervision. Certain dog toys and dog bones can be harmful if ingested. Please purchase the correct size of any item to avoid any harm to your dog (i.e. do not buy a small bone for a big dog that could choke on it). 

1. Invest In Some Interactive Toys

Interactive dog toys are the best and there are so many different kinds and brands out there. Interactive dog toys are great for dogs because they challenge their minds to solve different puzzles which makes them smarter! Some dog toys, like a Classic KONG may not provide a puzzle but are great for keeping your dog distracted while you are trying to do something. 

Take a look at the list below for brands and toys that you could try with your dog!

2. Invest In Some Dog Bones/Dog Chew Toys

Since Diesel was little, he has always loved to chew on things. We were very lucky that he never chewed on furniture, he just loved chewing on his dog bones that we gave him. 

Some of our favorite bones are below. All of the items below are listed from PetSupermarket. They have always seemed to have the most affordable prices on dog bones compared to other retailers:

3. Take Your Dog On Walks

When I’m at the office, I always use my break time to go on walks with my coworkers. There’s nothing like getting a breath of fresh air and some steps in to break up the monotony of the work day. Now that you’re home, why not add your furry friend into the mix?

Schedule out a few walks throughout the day (during times when it’s not hot). Your pet will have love hanging out with you, will get some exercise, and most importantly, all the smells! 🙂 

4. Play A New Game

Want to step away from your desk for a few minutes and give your dog some play time? Try out a new game with them! Below are a few fun ideas that you can try:

  • Hide And Seek:

This is super fun! Tell your dog to stay, while you go into another room and hide. Then call their name and tell them to come find whatever your name is to them (i.e. Diesel knows I’m mommy). You can repeat this in different parts of the house to see if they can find you. We’ve done this several times with Diesel and he always has fun and finds me. When they find you, get excited and say “you found me!” and they’ll be thrilled!

  • Scavenger Hunts: 

     

Start by getting a treat that your dog LOVES. Maybe only use that treat for this game so your dog always gets extra excited about it. First show them the treat, let them sniff it (don’t let them take it..try not to let them take it ha) and then put it a few feet away and say “Find It!” Once they do reward them with praise and do it a few times over again in similar distance spots. As your dog catches on, make the hiding spots more difficult and your dog will have a blast trying to find them! 

  • Puppy In The Middle: 

A Sparkles and Sunshine Blog Creation – think monkey in the middle but you’re throwing toys back and forth for your dog to try and catch.

5. Try Out DogTV

I’ve been curious to try out DogTV for quite some time now. DogTV was scientifically developed to provide stimulation to your dogs senses of sight and hearing while supporting their natural behavioral patterns while they are home alone. 

Want to see some sample episodes of DogTV? Head over to their YouTube channel for a full playlist of sample episodes plus an informational video on what they share. It’s pretty cool! 

6. Add A Kids Pool Or Turn On The Sprinkler In The Back Yard

I know not everywhere is experiencing warm temperatures like we are in Florida, but even if you’re not, this is a great summer activity idea that your dog will love! Since I was little we have always had one of those plastic kid pools that you can find at Walmart for our dogs. We call it pool time and they absolutely love it. We’ll get a ball and throw it into the pool and they’ll jump in and get the ball out! 

We also used to have my crazy daisy sprinkler (90’s kids where you at!) and the dogs would LOVE it. Now we just get the sprinkler out and wave it back and forth in the air and our dogs love to jump up and try to catch the water!

P.S. of course not all dogs will love this. Diesel HATES water and puts himself in a corner every time he’s included in this activity with his siblings hahaha! 

7. Make Some Frozen Treats

Frozen treats always keep dogs occupied longer because it takes longer for them to fully eat the treat! You can put peanut butter in a KONG Classic or an empty filled bone (mentioned above in #2) and stick it in the freezer. I will usually do this the night before so it has plenty of time to freeze. 

There are also many other frozen treats like doggy ice cream, dog popsicles and more. Below are some quick links to brands and recipes!

8. Play A Game Of Fetch Inside

Have a dog who loves to play fetch but can’t get outside? Pick a safe place in the house like a hallway and throw the ball a few times! You can even throw the ball up some stairs for some added cardio. They’ll get a great workout and have a fun time with you. 

9. Let Your Dog Relax On The Porch

Diesel has always loved hanging out on the porch. We have a dog bed out there for him and as soon as we say the word porch he gets excited and runs to the door. He loves sitting out in the fresh air, observing everything around him. 

10. Teach Your Dog A New Trick

Want to do something different on your lunch break? Grab a special treat for your dog and try teaching them a new trick! 

Chewy has created many videos that share how to do some everyday dog tricks! Below are some great beginner tricks. 

Be sure to check out their YouTube channel Chewtube for more fun and helpful videos! Also, know that this definitely won’t happen within one half hour or hour long lunch break, but if you do it over and over again, the trick will start to set in! 

 

Thanks for taking the time to read today’s post! I hope these tips are super helpful and make your workdays with your pet more productive and of course, fun! 🙂 

Photography: Nikki Golden