Over the past 18 months, most of us have had the pleasure of promoting our family pets to colleagues and they’ve been living their best lives.
From mid-meeting belly rubs, extra ‘who’s a good boy’ and more walks than they count on their paws! Not to mention guest appearances on zoom calls, taking pride in being the ‘official work chair warmer’ and let’s not forget the extra kisses.
With the UK reopening office doors and lockdown no longer being the buzzword of the year, we’re expecting to see more and more employees spending their working hours in the office.
You’ll soon find yourself spending more time outside of your home (outside of working hours) and your ‘home employee of the year’ may start to experience separation anxiety.
But don’t fear, we’re here to help support you in easing your four legged colleagues back to getting to grips on what life was like when they were home alone.
this seems familiar.
Pets love and thrive off having a routine. They know when they should be fed, when they should be sleeping… you get the jist. Reintroducing a new but old routine is the way forward and will help manage your pets expectations. While you’re still working at home, start feeding them at times that you’d leave for work in the morning and when you’d typically return. You'll hate this one but put your pet away in their cage/hutch or in a separate room for a few hours so that they can get used to you not being around you. A fake commute worked for you, and it’ll work for your pet too.
get outdoors before you head out.
Set your alarm early and give yourself enough time before you need to leave to take your dog for a walk. The exercise will help burn excess energy they have and this will result in a happy, calm and relaxed pet throughout the day.
interactive toys.
Puzzle toys and chew toys can help keep your pet entertained throughout the day whilst also distracting them from ‘door’ watch and anything that may cause their anxious behaviour to resurface. The great thing about this is that you can build these activities before you head out the door.
you’re on camera!
Most people wonder ‘what is my pet doing when I leave?’. Is it really like the The Secret Life of Pets film? Without knowing what your pet gets up to, it’s hard to know how they are adjusting to being left alone. Nowadays, most smartphones have an app that allows you to watch and speak to your pet through your phone. This can help you, help them, get back into being alone.
Easing your pet back into old routines will help them manage their separation anxiety when you return to life outside the home.
If you’re lucky enough to have an employer who is open to bringing your dog into the office, it’s great fun, but there are some proven mental health benefits of having your four-legged bestie at your workplace. Learn more here.