Keeping a dog entertained while you work
The problem isn't boredom in general — it's boredom at 10:00 when you're on a call. The fix is scheduling stimulation around your day rather than reacting to nudges at your elbow.
Front-load the morning
A sniffing walk before you start beats a fast walk. Let your dog choose the pace and sniff freely for twenty minutes; they'll settle far better than after a brisk lap.
Feed on your schedule, not theirs
Hold back breakfast and serve it in a snuffle mat when your first meeting starts. Freeze a lick mat the night before for the afternoon slump. You now have two twenty-minute quiet windows placed exactly where you need them.
Build a settle spot
Put a bed within sight of your desk and deliver every puzzle there. Within a week the bed itself becomes the cue to switch off.
Don't reward the nudge
Handing over a chew the moment your dog whines teaches whining. Deliver enrichment during calm, ideally a minute or two before your dog would normally start asking.
Frequently asked questions
- What if my dog barks during calls?
- Give the puzzle before the call starts, not during. Enrichment prevents barking well; it can't compete with barking already in progress.
- Is a frozen lick mat safe to leave unsupervised?
- For most non-destructive dogs, yes, on a wipeable floor. Chewers should be supervised.
