As much as we might want to stay home with our dogs all day, most of us have jobs to do outside the house. When your dog is left at home alone, they can become bored, lonely, or even destructive. Fortunately, there’s a solution to this dilemma. Keep reading to learn 18 tips and tricks for how to keep your dog busy while you’re at work.
How to Keep a Dog Busy While at Work (18 Tips and Tricks)
- Leave the Television On Image Credit: Javier Brosch, Shutterstock
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Television, electricity
A simple way to help your dog feel less alone while you’re at work is to leave the television playing for them. Some dogs enjoy watching nature shows or programs featuring other dogs. Even if your dog hasn’t shown interest in interacting with the TV, the sound of human voices can be soothing and keep your pup company. Keep the volume low enough not to disturb your neighbors, especially if you live in an apartment. Remember, your dog can hear much better than you can!
- Offer a Kong Image Credit: Anna Dahlhaus. Pixabay
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Kong, tasty filling, freezer (optional)
Leaving your dog a Kong toy stuffed with something delicious is an easy way to give your dog a rewarding task to pass the time while you’re gone. Sturdy Kongs make excellent chew toys but they can also be filled with treats or food, keeping your dog busy retrieving them. Another option is to fill the Kong with peanut butter or another tasty filling and freeze it. Your dog will be occupied for hours licking and gnawing the frozen treat.
- Make Sure They Can See Outside Image Credit: Pixabay
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Windows, a way to see out (optional)
Giving your dog a front-row seat to all the comings and goings in your neighborhood is another easy way to keep them entertained while you’re at work. Leave the curtains open or the blinds raised on a window or door with a view outside. If your dog is small and can’t see out, either place a handy piece of furniture nearby or create an elevated space in some other way. A word of caution: if your dog is very reactive, barking and growling at people and animals they see outside, this might not be a good option for them.
- Provide Interactive Toys Image Credit: Lenti Hill, Shutterstock
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Puzzle toys
Besides the filled Kong, there are many other interactive, puzzle toys you can buy for your dog. These provide mental stimulation for your dog, as well as giving them a task to pass the time. Some puzzle toys require a bit of training before your dog gets the hang of them. If your dog is a destructive chewer, this may not be the best idea for them, as puzzle toys typically aren’t the sturdiest. You might also be interested in: 10 DIY Dog Toys to Keep Your Pup Busy
- Get Them Some Company Image Credit: Barnabas Davoti, Pexels
Difficulty: Hard
Supplies needed: Another pet
If you have the time, space, and financial ability to add another pet to your family, your dog will certainly feel less lonely with a new friend. Adopting another dog gives your pup a playmate and companion for when you’re at work. If your dog is cat-friendly, you could consider a feline friend as well. Contrary to popular opinion, many dogs and cats get along quite well and can form strong bonds. However, you’ll need to make all introductions slowly and with supervision to make sure the two pets get along before you can feel comfortable leaving them alone together.
- Hide Treats or Toys Around the House Image Credit: Olena Yakobchuk, Shutterstock
Difficulty: Easy-moderate
Supplies needed: toys, treats, imagination
Sure, you can just hand your dog some toys or treats on your way out the door but why not make it more of a challenge? Take a few minutes before you leave for work to hide toys or treats in various locations throughout the house. Your dog will have to use their nose and their brain to find them after you leave. Finding the items will help your dog pass the time and eating or playing will kill off even more of the workday before you come back home.
- Freeze Treats/Toys in Ice Image Credit: Josh Sorenson, Pexels
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Water, containers, treats, toys, freezer
During the hot summer months, keep your dog cool and entertained by creating ice pops with a fun reward inside. You’ll need to plan a little for this trick. Start by placing treats or a favorite toy in a freezer-safe container. Fill the container with water and place it in the freezer. Leave the frozen reward with your dog when you go to work. Licking away the melting ice will keep them busy as they try to reach the treat or toy inside. This task can be messy so you may want to consider confining your dog to an uncarpeted room.
- Get a Dog Camera
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Dog camera
Not only will a dog camera allow you to keep an eye on your home-alone pup remotely, but it can also help you keep them entertained as well. Several pet camera brands allow you to talk to your pup or record a message for them to play regularly. Others have the option to remotely feed your dog treats. Some have a laser toy built-in that you can use to play with your dog on your lunch break. A dog camera isn’t the cheapest way to keep your dog busy while you’re at work, but it can be effective.
- Hire a Dog Walker Image Credit: Piqsels
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Reliable dog walker
If your dog craves actual human contact while you’re at work, consider hiring a dog walker or asking a friend or relative to visit your dog during the day. Dog walking services are quite common in most locations and prices will vary. Ask other dog owners you know if they have a recommendation. Your vet may also know of trustworthy options. If you have a dog-loving young neighbor that you trust, they may jump at the chance to hang out with your dog while you’re at work.
10. Schedule a Playdate Image Credit: Photo Spirit, Shutterstock
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Other dogs and their owners
If you and your dog are friends with another dog and their human, consider arranging a doggy playdate while you’re at work. The dog friends can enjoy a romp in your backyard or go together to the dog park with the human acquaintance. Make sure dogs and humans are all comfortable with each other before scheduling a get-together. If the playdate takes place at your house, make sure the other human knows where toys, treats, and leashes are kept, as well as how to contact you if needed.
- Rotate Toys Image Credit: Chewy
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Toys
A simple way to keep your dog entertained while you’re at work is to rotate their toy supply regularly. This is a cost-effective solution because it doesn’t require you to buy more toys, simply to limit your dog’s access to the ones you already have. Gather all your dog’s toys and choose a few to leave out at the beginning of the workweek. Every few days, swap those out for some others from your dog’s collection. This trick ensures your dog doesn’t get bored with their toys quickly.
- Create a Calming Environment Image Credit: Best Friends by Sheri Chewy
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: White noise, pheromone diffuser, or spray
If your dog gets anxious while you’re at work, try making their home environment as soothing as possible. Make sure your dog has a soft, cozy, and secure place to sleep at home. Try leaving a white noise machine playing while you’re gone to block out sounds from outside that could bother your pup. Spritz your dog’s bed with a pheromone spray to help keep them calm. You could also buy a pheromone diffuser plug-in for even more calming coverage.
- Make a Lick or Snuffle Mat Image Credit: mattycoulton, Pixabay
Difficulty: Easy-moderate
Supplies needed: Sink mat, rubber mat, fleece cloth, treats, peanut butter
For a simple but effective homemade enrichment activity, make your dog a lick or snuffle mat to play with while you’re at work. A lick mat is the simpler of the two. It merely requires you to smear peanut butter or canned dog food all over a rubber mat and leave it for your dog. Your dog will keep busy licking the tasty smears off the mat. A snuffle mat is made from strips of fleece cloth, poked through the holes in a sink mat and knotted at one end. The forest of fleece fingers serves as a hiding spot for treats or kibble. Your dog will have to use their nose to hunt out the tasty rewards.
14. Make a Busy Bucket Image Credit: Mathew Coulton, Unsplash
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Bucket, treats, toy, towel
A busy bucket is another way to make it more challenging and time-consuming for your dog to get their treats and toys while you’re at work. To create this activity, take a bucket and place treats and a favorite toy at the bottom. Fill the space around them with a towel and place the bucket where your dog can get it. They will have to figure out how to get the treats and toys out on their own.
- Offer Safe Chew Objects Image Credit: Chewy
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Chew toys
Bored dogs who aren’t provided with acceptable chew objects may turn their teeth on whatever they can find, placing your house and your possessions at risk of destruction. To prevent this and to give your dog something to do while you’re at work, provide them with safe alternatives, such as Kongs or other long-lasting chews. Make sure to match the strength of the chew toy to your dog’s chewing style. Light chewers need different options than powerful ones.
16. Tire Your Dog Out Image Credit: Murilo Viviani, Unsplash
Difficulty: Easy-moderate
Supplies needed: Running shoes, fetch toys, willpower
You won’t have to worry about keeping your dog entertained while you’re at work if they’re so tired they just sleep the whole time. If you tire your dog out before you leave, they may not be motivated to leave their bed and cause trouble. Regular exercise keeps your dog physically and mentally fit as well. It may take more sacrifice on your part to follow this tip since it could require getting up early to take your dog for a run or play fetch.
- Buy a Doggy Water Fountain Image Credit: Elisa Barrantes, Unsplash
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Water fountain, water
Investing in a doggy water fountain can serve dual purposes. You won’t have to worry about your dog running out of water while you’re at work for one thing. But a dog water fountain can also serve as a source of entertainment as your dog splashes and plays in the water. Choose a fountain that’s easy to keep clean and sturdy enough to withstand your dog’s antics. Change the water regularly.
18. Enroll In Doggy Daycare Image Credit: Anna Dudkova, Unsplash
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: reliable doggy daycare, enough money to pay for it
If your dog is still struggling to stay out of trouble no matter how many lick mats you make them or treats you hide, it might be time to consider doggy daycare. This is not an inexpensive option and it also requires you to do some research and leg work to find a reliable pet care location. However, doggy daycare can be excellent for your dog’s socialization skills, as well as ensuring you won’t have to worry about your pup being bored while you’re at work. Conclusion Even with working from home becoming more common over the past couple of years, there are still many circumstances where you’ll need to keep your dog busy in another room, away from your Zoom meeting. These 18 tips and tricks are useful whether your commute is an hour in heavy traffic or 10 steps from the bedroom to the dining room. Remember, if your dog continues to exhibit separation anxiety or destructive behavior despite your best efforts, don’t hesitate to ask your veterinarian for help. Professional training or even medication may be required for your pup. You might also like:
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost? Is There Pet Insurance for Snakes? What You Need To Know!
Featured Image Credit: Daxiao Productions, Shutterstock
As much as we might want to stay home with our dogs all day, most of us have jobs to do outside the house. When your dog is left at home alone, they can become bored, lonely, or even destructive.
Fortunately, there’s a solution to this dilemma. Keep reading to learn 18 tips and tricks for how to keep your dog busy while you’re at work.
How to Keep a Dog Busy While at Work (18 Tips and Tricks)
1. Leave the Television On
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Television, electricity
A simple way to help your dog feel less alone while you’re at work is to leave the television playing for them. Some dogs enjoy watching nature shows or programs featuring other dogs. Even if your dog hasn’t shown interest in interacting with the TV, the sound of human voices can be soothing and keep your pup company. Keep the volume low enough not to disturb your neighbors, especially if you live in an apartment. Remember, your dog can hear much better than you can!
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Television, electricity
- Difficulty: Easy
- Supplies needed: Television, electricity
2. Offer a Kong
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Kong, tasty filling, freezer (optional)
Leaving your dog a Kong toy stuffed with something delicious is an easy way to give your dog a rewarding task to pass the time while you’re gone. Sturdy Kongs make excellent chew toys but they can also be filled with treats or food, keeping your dog busy retrieving them. Another option is to fill the Kong with peanut butter or another tasty filling and freeze it. Your dog will be occupied for hours licking and gnawing the frozen treat.
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Kong, tasty filling, freezer (optional)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Supplies needed: Kong, tasty filling, freezer (optional)
3. Make Sure They Can See Outside
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Windows, a way to see out (optional)
Giving your dog a front-row seat to all the comings and goings in your neighborhood is another easy way to keep them entertained while you’re at work. Leave the curtains open or the blinds raised on a window or door with a view outside. If your dog is small and can’t see out, either place a handy piece of furniture nearby or create an elevated space in some other way. A word of caution: if your dog is very reactive, barking and growling at people and animals they see outside, this might not be a good option for them.
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Windows, a way to see out (optional)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Supplies needed: Windows, a way to see out (optional)
4. Provide Interactive Toys
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Puzzle toys
Besides the filled Kong, there are many other interactive, puzzle toys you can buy for your dog. These provide mental stimulation for your dog, as well as giving them a task to pass the time. Some puzzle toys require a bit of training before your dog gets the hang of them. If your dog is a destructive chewer, this may not be the best idea for them, as puzzle toys typically aren’t the sturdiest.
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Puzzle toys
- Difficulty: Easy
- Supplies needed: Puzzle toys
You might also be interested in: 10 DIY Dog Toys to Keep Your Pup Busy
5. Get Them Some Company
Difficulty: Hard
Supplies needed: Another pet
If you have the time, space, and financial ability to add another pet to your family, your dog will certainly feel less lonely with a new friend. Adopting another dog gives your pup a playmate and companion for when you’re at work. If your dog is cat-friendly, you could consider a feline friend as well. Contrary to popular opinion, many dogs and cats get along quite well and can form strong bonds. However, you’ll need to make all introductions slowly and with supervision to make sure the two pets get along before you can feel comfortable leaving them alone together.
Difficulty: Hard
Supplies needed: Another pet
- Difficulty: Hard
- Supplies needed: Another pet
6. Hide Treats or Toys Around the House
Difficulty: Easy-moderate
Supplies needed: toys, treats, imagination
Sure, you can just hand your dog some toys or treats on your way out the door but why not make it more of a challenge? Take a few minutes before you leave for work to hide toys or treats in various locations throughout the house. Your dog will have to use their nose and their brain to find them after you leave. Finding the items will help your dog pass the time and eating or playing will kill off even more of the workday before you come back home.
Difficulty: Easy-moderate
Supplies needed: toys, treats, imagination
- Difficulty: Easy-moderate
- Supplies needed: toys, treats, imagination
7. Freeze Treats/Toys in Ice
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Water, containers, treats, toys, freezer
During the hot summer months, keep your dog cool and entertained by creating ice pops with a fun reward inside. You’ll need to plan a little for this trick. Start by placing treats or a favorite toy in a freezer-safe container. Fill the container with water and place it in the freezer. Leave the frozen reward with your dog when you go to work. Licking away the melting ice will keep them busy as they try to reach the treat or toy inside. This task can be messy so you may want to consider confining your dog to an uncarpeted room.
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Water, containers, treats, toys, freezer
- Difficulty: Easy
- Supplies needed: Water, containers, treats, toys, freezer
8. Get a Dog Camera
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Dog camera
Not only will a dog camera allow you to keep an eye on your home-alone pup remotely, but it can also help you keep them entertained as well. Several pet camera brands allow you to talk to your pup or record a message for them to play regularly. Others have the option to remotely feed your dog treats. Some have a laser toy built-in that you can use to play with your dog on your lunch break. A dog camera isn’t the cheapest way to keep your dog busy while you’re at work, but it can be effective.
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Dog camera
- Difficulty: Easy
- Supplies needed: Dog camera
9. Hire a Dog Walker
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Reliable dog walker
If your dog craves actual human contact while you’re at work, consider hiring a dog walker or asking a friend or relative to visit your dog during the day. Dog walking services are quite common in most locations and prices will vary. Ask other dog owners you know if they have a recommendation. Your vet may also know of trustworthy options. If you have a dog-loving young neighbor that you trust, they may jump at the chance to hang out with your dog while you’re at work.
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Reliable dog walker
- Difficulty: Easy
- Supplies needed: Reliable dog walker
10. Schedule a Playdate
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Other dogs and their owners
If you and your dog are friends with another dog and their human, consider arranging a doggy playdate while you’re at work. The dog friends can enjoy a romp in your backyard or go together to the dog park with the human acquaintance. Make sure dogs and humans are all comfortable with each other before scheduling a get-together. If the playdate takes place at your house, make sure the other human knows where toys, treats, and leashes are kept, as well as how to contact you if needed.
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Other dogs and their owners
- Difficulty: Easy
- Supplies needed: Other dogs and their owners
11. Rotate Toys
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Toys
A simple way to keep your dog entertained while you’re at work is to rotate their toy supply regularly. This is a cost-effective solution because it doesn’t require you to buy more toys, simply to limit your dog’s access to the ones you already have. Gather all your dog’s toys and choose a few to leave out at the beginning of the workweek. Every few days, swap those out for some others from your dog’s collection. This trick ensures your dog doesn’t get bored with their toys quickly.
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Toys
- Difficulty: Easy
- Supplies needed: Toys
12. Create a Calming Environment
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: White noise, pheromone diffuser, or spray
If your dog gets anxious while you’re at work, try making their home environment as soothing as possible. Make sure your dog has a soft, cozy, and secure place to sleep at home. Try leaving a white noise machine playing while you’re gone to block out sounds from outside that could bother your pup. Spritz your dog’s bed with a pheromone spray to help keep them calm. You could also buy a pheromone diffuser plug-in for even more calming coverage.
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: White noise, pheromone diffuser, or spray
- Difficulty: Easy
- Supplies needed: White noise, pheromone diffuser, or spray
13. Make a Lick or Snuffle Mat
Difficulty: Easy-moderate
Supplies needed: Sink mat, rubber mat, fleece cloth, treats, peanut butter
For a simple but effective homemade enrichment activity, make your dog a lick or snuffle mat to play with while you’re at work. A lick mat is the simpler of the two. It merely requires you to smear peanut butter or canned dog food all over a rubber mat and leave it for your dog. Your dog will keep busy licking the tasty smears off the mat.
Difficulty: Easy-moderate
Supplies needed: Sink mat, rubber mat, fleece cloth, treats, peanut butter
- Difficulty: Easy-moderate
- Supplies needed: Sink mat, rubber mat, fleece cloth, treats, peanut butter
A snuffle mat is made from strips of fleece cloth, poked through the holes in a sink mat and knotted at one end. The forest of fleece fingers serves as a hiding spot for treats or kibble. Your dog will have to use their nose to hunt out the tasty rewards.
14. Make a Busy Bucket
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Bucket, treats, toy, towel
A busy bucket is another way to make it more challenging and time-consuming for your dog to get their treats and toys while you’re at work. To create this activity, take a bucket and place treats and a favorite toy at the bottom. Fill the space around them with a towel and place the bucket where your dog can get it. They will have to figure out how to get the treats and toys out on their own.
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Bucket, treats, toy, towel
- Difficulty: Easy
- Supplies needed: Bucket, treats, toy, towel
15. Offer Safe Chew Objects
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Chew toys
Bored dogs who aren’t provided with acceptable chew objects may turn their teeth on whatever they can find, placing your house and your possessions at risk of destruction. To prevent this and to give your dog something to do while you’re at work, provide them with safe alternatives, such as Kongs or other long-lasting chews. Make sure to match the strength of the chew toy to your dog’s chewing style. Light chewers need different options than powerful ones.
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Chew toys
- Difficulty: Easy
- Supplies needed: Chew toys
16. Tire Your Dog Out
Difficulty: Easy-moderate
Supplies needed: Running shoes, fetch toys, willpower
You won’t have to worry about keeping your dog entertained while you’re at work if they’re so tired they just sleep the whole time. If you tire your dog out before you leave, they may not be motivated to leave their bed and cause trouble. Regular exercise keeps your dog physically and mentally fit as well. It may take more sacrifice on your part to follow this tip since it could require getting up early to take your dog for a run or play fetch.
Difficulty: Easy-moderate
Supplies needed: Running shoes, fetch toys, willpower
- Difficulty: Easy-moderate
- Supplies needed: Running shoes, fetch toys, willpower
17. Buy a Doggy Water Fountain
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Water fountain, water
Investing in a doggy water fountain can serve dual purposes. You won’t have to worry about your dog running out of water while you’re at work for one thing. But a dog water fountain can also serve as a source of entertainment as your dog splashes and plays in the water. Choose a fountain that’s easy to keep clean and sturdy enough to withstand your dog’s antics. Change the water regularly.
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: Water fountain, water
- Difficulty: Easy
- Supplies needed: Water fountain, water
18. Enroll In Doggy Daycare
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: reliable doggy daycare, enough money to pay for it
If your dog is still struggling to stay out of trouble no matter how many lick mats you make them or treats you hide, it might be time to consider doggy daycare. This is not an inexpensive option and it also requires you to do some research and leg work to find a reliable pet care location. However, doggy daycare can be excellent for your dog’s socialization skills, as well as ensuring you won’t have to worry about your pup being bored while you’re at work.
Difficulty: Easy
Supplies needed: reliable doggy daycare, enough money to pay for it
- Difficulty: Easy
- Supplies needed: reliable doggy daycare, enough money to pay for it
Conclusion
Even with working from home becoming more common over the past couple of years, there are still many circumstances where you’ll need to keep your dog busy in another room, away from your Zoom meeting. These 18 tips and tricks are useful whether your commute is an hour in heavy traffic or 10 steps from the bedroom to the dining room. Remember, if your dog continues to exhibit separation anxiety or destructive behavior despite your best efforts, don’t hesitate to ask your veterinarian for help. Professional training or even medication may be required for your pup.
You might also like:
- How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?
- Is There Pet Insurance for Snakes? What You Need To Know!
Featured Image Credit: Daxiao Productions, Shutterstock
