It’s been months of being at home with your pets. Naturally, your furry friends may have gotten used to being by your side. Between balancing play, rest, exercise, and pet DIY projects you may have had the chance to bond more with your pets than ever. Because of this, it may be harder to part with your furry friends than you may think. Read on to learn more about how to help prepare your pets for back to work post quarantine and tips for a stress-free transition.
Prepare your pets for a new schedule
after quarantine
The impact of going back to work on
your pets
Change can impact your pets in a variety of ways. In fact, something as simple as a change in a routine like a missed dog walk or moving a piece of furniture may affect your pet’s behavior. Now imagine if all of a sudden your best friend was gone eight hours or more in a day? It may leave your pet feeling confused about what may happen next.
For example, if your pet can be impacted by a small change, the loss of your daily companionship may leave them feeling stressed. Stress and anxiety can affect a pet of any age and they may not always communicate how they’re feeling. For an additional resource on dog behavior, read this list.
The human-pet bond
The connection you have with your pets is different than any other relationship. Fortunately, the unconditional love, support, and patience is something special that may be unique to your furry family member. In fact, the health benefits of having pets may bring wellness to your entire family.
Whether you have a new puppy, adult cat, or a multi-pet household there is always a new way to bond with your pet. While the pandemic may have you at home in quarantine, it also may give you the chance to adopt or welcome home a new best friend.
Tips to help your pets post
quarantine with separation anxiety
So if you find yourself at home with a new pet and you’re headed back to work, what can you do? Check out these tips to help your best friend seamlessly transition to a new schedule with ease.
Take breaks
Consider going for a walk or take a short break from your pets. This may give your best friend the chance to understand what it’s like for you not to be next to them 24/7.
Reward good behavior
Try incorporating
pet enrichment and interactive play into your pet’s day. If these activities
are not currently a part of your best friend’s schedule, try them out. They may
provide hours of fun to your furry friends and keep them distracted while you’re
away.
Training
Every new situation or environment may be an opportunity to train your furry friends. For example, that may mean a new trick, command, or special skill. After all, how many people want to say they learned how to crate-train their new puppy at home? Also, this house may be a cozy pet nook for your puppy to take a nap. For more tips, check out this puppy training guide.
Encourage scheduled bonding and
playtime
After you’ve been gone all day, chances are your new puppy or kitten can’t wait for some playtime, cuddles, or a chance to stretch their legs. Since your new schedule is changing, take the chance to schedule in some quality interaction time. Consider some of your pet’s favorite activities and incorporate them into your day. Further, an afternoon stroll, cuddles on the couch, or a game of fetch may become the favorite part of your entire family’s day.
Talk to your pet’s veterinarian
If your pet seems abnormal, talk to your veterinarian. Consider notating your pet’s behavior or body language in a journal. The guidance of your veterinarian can help determine the next best step for your best friend.
Patience and time
Give
everyone in the family time to adjust to the new schedule. After all, this is
new to the entire family, including your pets. It may take more time for your
pet to adjust and that’s okay. Every pet is different and they may react differently
to change.
Preparing your pets for back to
work post quarantine may take time
Your pets
make great companions. Although you may have to return to work, give them the
chance to adapt to the new schedule. With a little patience, love, and the
support of your veterinarian your best friend will be on their way to happiness
and tail wags at the end of the day in no time at all!
What tips helped your pet after you
went back to work?
To learn more about pet enrichment, read How to Entertain Your Pets While You Work from Home
About The Author
Kelli.Rascoe
is a digital content writer and editor for Trupanion. She spends her workday writing for the Trupanion blog. She loves writing about pets, being inspired by pets, and luckily gets to hang out with her rescue dogs all day long. In her free time, she enjoys exploring and traveling with her family. Her work has been featured on the DOGTV blog, KitNipBox blog, Get Your Pet blog, Fansided, among many others.