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How to Keep Your Pet Busy While Working from Home

By Stacy Painter
April 16, 2020 • 2 min. read
dog chewing toy

Now that many of us are working from home full time instead of going into the office, we no longer have to put up with the smelly communal microwave (unless it’s our own food, of course). However, being home with a pet all day means a different type of distraction throughout the day, and some pets aren’t quite getting the memo that their humans need to focus during business hours. Fortunately, there are many different solutions you can try to keep your bored pet busy so you can maintain a regular working schedule.

Pet subscription boxes

Give your dog or cat something fun to look forward to each month by signing up for a subscription box service. Each month, your pet will receive new treats to sample and new toys to play with. There are several options to choose from, for both dogs and cats.

Dog subscription boxes

  • BarkBox – toys and treats catered to your dog’s size
  • PupBox – specifically for puppies, including training guides and grooming products in addition to toys and treats
  • Bullymake – toys and treats meant for tough chewers
  • Plus several other options

Cat subscription boxes

Long-lasting toys and treats

Occupy your pet with a time-consuming toy or treat so they don’t distract you during that crucial meeting.

  • KONG toy – fill it with peanut butter, treats, wet dog food, or another creative recipe to keep your dog busy
  • Puzzle toys – there are lots of different types of puzzle toys on the market for both dogs and cats; fill the toy with your pet’s favorite treats and watch them toss the toy around to release their reward
  • Bully sticks – pet chews like bully sticks can keep your dog occupied for much longer than a crunchy treat
  • Toilet paper tube toy – DIY a puzzle toy for your dog or cat with just an empty cardboard toilet paper tube

Homemade treat recipes

Host an imaginary home cooking show with your pet as the taste tester. You can make many pet treat recipes using ingredients you likely already have at home.

Hire a dog walker

Services like Rover continue to operate, which means you can have someone take your dog off your hands for a while on days when meetings pack your schedule. Rover provides safety tips and suggestions for contactless hand-offs.

Screen time for pets

You may feel the need to resort to plopping your pet in front of the TV if it keeps them distracted long enough for you to get through that video conference. You can access DogTV via your favorite streaming service (currently offering 30 days free) or CatTV for free via Amazon Prime. If your pet is particular about what they enjoy on TV, you can also try Planet Earth on Netflix, or a quick YouTube search will reveal a plethora of videos created specifically for our four-legged companions’ viewing pleasure.

Stacy Painter profile
By Stacy Painter

Stacy has always been an animal lover and has worked in the pet industry and pet insurance specifically for over a decade. As a writer since early childhood, content writing for Healthy Paws pet insurance was a natural career path to combine her two passions. She currently lives in Florida with her boyfriend and Taiwanese rescue dog, Kaya.

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