Worried about leaving your pet when you go back to work? Experts have some advice
Pets probably won’t be too happy to learn work from home doesn’t last forever.
The coronavirus pandemic has kept people home more than usual as states across the country have urged residents to stay home as much as possible and many companies have their employees working remotely instead of coming into the office.
Although humans may be eager for things to get back to normal, pets — at least some of them — are loving the extra attention.
Your pets may be refusing to leave your side and making working from home difficult, or they may be confused about why you’re intruding on what’s normally their alone time.
But either way, when you finally do go back to work, it can be hard for your pets to adjust. Here are some tips from experts to make the transition smoother:
Start preparing them now
Easing pets into spending less time with you now can help them when you go back to work and a normal life.
Janelle Metiva, certified professional dog trainer and dog behavior specialist at Best Friends Animal Society, told TODAY that separation anxiety can become an issue for pets when people start going back to work or school.
“If the dog is used to that constant attention and suddenly it goes away, that huge, abrupt change could definitely cause them some big initial panic,” she said, according to TODAY. “We have to do prep work now so that it’s not such an extreme transition.”
It’s important to start reminding pets now what it’s like to be alone for parts of the day.
Regularly leaving pets alone for 30 minutes to an hour at a time can get help “desensitize” them to absences, according to the pet sitting and dog walking company Rover.com. Then the amount of time away can be gradually increased as they adjust.
Having a set schedule now can also help pets adjust when you go back to work.
Try getting up at a regular time, feeding and exercising pets at the same time, and providing them “a time to rest independently,” Kim Van Hemert, a dog trainer in Pennsylvania, told WNEP.
“Independent activities,” such as a food puzzle or playing with a chew toy, can be helpful in encouraging alone time for pets, Metiva told TODAY. Hiding treats around the house can also be fun for them.
Additionally, it’s important to make the process of leaving the house relaxing for pets.
Don’t make a habit of saying goodbye to them, and ignore them when coming home, Hemert recommends, according to WNEP. This can decrease anxiety when you leave.
If pets seem “agitated” when you do things like putting on your shoes, try putting them on when you don’t actually plan to leave to get them used to it, experts tell TODAY.
Keeping them happy when alone
There are also things you can do to make your absence easier on your pets when you do go back to work.
Giving them a puzzle toy or something to distract them when you first leave can be helpful, as can using a pheromone collar or diffuser or playing relaxing music for them, according to Rover.com
“There have been studies that have shown dogs really like reggae,” Metiva told TODAY. “Classical music is fine, too, or easy listening, jazz.”
Some dogs may also like audio books, Metiva tells TODAY.
Making sure they get exercise before you leave for work, whether it be a walk or playing with them in the backyard, can wear them out and make them ready for a nap by the time you leave, Pamela Leland, a dog trainer, told KOAA.
Dropping by during a break can also be helpful, Leland said, according to KOAA. For those who don’t have time, hiring a dog walker or pet sitter can be a good option.
In severe cases of separation anxiety, Metiva told TODAY she recommends seeking vet care for your pet.
This story was originally published May 12, 2020 at 1:41 PM with the headline "Worried about leaving your pet when you go back to work? Experts have some advice."
