Working from home with dogs: How to keep them chill while you work

by Judy Szablak 11/27/2022

While working from home with your pets, it’s often a good idea to give them some room of their own to help minimize your distractions. However, creating a relaxing environment for them can be a little tricky, especially if you happen to have a very involved dog.

Here are a few quick ways to build a dog house that your pup will love relaxing in while you hammer away at your daily tasks:

Build for your dog’s size

Most dog houses can fit your average-sized dog. However, for those with large and giant breed dogs, your average dog house may not be enough to comfortably seat your dog’s body and give them space to run around. Enter custom-builds.

There are several, step-by-step instructions and customized dog house options for large dogs available online and at local pet stores, craft stores and home improvement stores with pet supplies. You want to ensure your pup has enough room to get up, move around, lie down and stretch.

Consider the temperature on the floor

Typically, dogs enjoy lying on a cold ground during the warmer months or in climates where warmer months are all year round. However, for those living in colder climates where the ground isn’t cold but frigid, you may want to add a little insulation to help keep them warm.

When creating your dog’s break room, try adding a cooling mat if you live in an area with a lot of heat. For those who live with a lot of cold or fluctuating temperatures, it may be a good idea to incorporate a few different bedding options, such as thermal blankets or cotton padding.

Keeping your dog at a comfortable temperature can also help them relax instead of pacing around to find that perfect warmth or coolness.

Keep your dog house close

It’s no secret that dogs enjoy being close to their owners. With that in mind, you may be a little too busy to give your pooch the attention they want at the time. By keeping your dog’s relaxation area close to you, you can help keep them calm when they want to know where you are and what you’re doing.

Likewise, it’s also a great opportunity to help them learn how to stay calm. Try incorporating a few treats when your dog finds their perfect place and calms themselves down. Once calm, offer your pooch the treat and a soft pat on the head or their favorite spot behind the ear.

This will not only help your dog relax by being in proximity to you, but can also help ease your mind if your pup is particularly nosey.

When creating your dog’s house, just basic building skills and crafting skills will do. Try using these tips when you start building your dog’s relaxation corner. You’ll both be glad you did.

About the Author
Author

Judy Szablak

With over 30 years in the industry, Realtor Judy Szablak has been on national television for her real estate expertise on the HGTV Network, featured on Martha Stewart Living Radio "Morning Living” , NPR radio as an expert real estate panelist, It’s Relevant News channel, and quoted in the Wall Street Journal for her in depth knowledge of Fairfield County Connecticut real estate.

She was also on the local NPR radio station (WSHU) as a Fairfield County CT real estate expert. Judy has provided multiple online respected news sources with her real estate expertise including The Daily Easton, The Daily Weston, The Daily Fairfield, The Daily Stamford and The Daily Greenwich, as well as in print in the New York Post. She is a weekly Real Estate Columnist for WestportNow.com, another real estate column "Real Estate With Judy” is syndicated through Hearst CT Media Online and seen in The Connecticut Post, The Danbury News-Times, The Stamford Advocate, The Greenwich Time, The Hour, Fairfield Citizen, Westport News, Darien News, New Canaan News and the Wilton Villager.

 Judy is also the author of the book, The Art of Buying or Selling a Home, available at all major book retailers. Additionally, Judy has been nationally recognized in a number of national real estate trade magazines, some with distribution to over 1 million members. She was featured in Real Estate Today as early as 1994 for her commitment to, and implementation of technology in real estate. Judy appeared in the Certified Residential Specialist Magazine, as she provided advice on marketing strategies and ethics in the article titled "Marketing Makeovers.”

 Judy was also featured in REALTOR® Magazine, regarding image enhancement for Realtors. She was again featured in REALTOR® Magazine, in an article on "Achieving Flow” and operating at optimal peak performance. In another article in the same publication, Judy offered guidance to fellow real estate professionals as she explored the topic of implementing and maintaining personal websites. She has appeared in The Council of Residential Specialists Magazine, which featured her ideas regarding technology. Additionally, Judy authored an article on marketing and technology for the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Online Magazine. On two occasions, in 2015 and 2017, she appeared as a featured agent in Top Agent Magazine. I have a few other websites- www.TheCtrealtyBlog.com www.CtHomesAndRealEstate.com www.BestWestportHomes.com www.ThePetitePowerhouse.com www,SzablakConsulting.com