1 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:09,639 Speaker 1: Good morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the New Corner Office, 2 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:13,280 Speaker 1: the podcast with strategies for succeeding in the new world 3 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 1: of work, where location and ours are more flexible than 4 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:20,599 Speaker 1: in the past. Today's tip is about how to work 5 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 1: more effectively when your dogs are accompanying you to work. 6 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:27,320 Speaker 1: While a few organizations allow people to bring dogs to 7 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 1: the office, it's been a fairly rare perk. But with 8 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:32,880 Speaker 1: millions of folks suddenly working from home for the first 9 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 1: time in this era of social distancing, lots of people 10 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 1: are now sharing office space with pets who care about 11 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: as much as toddlers do that you're making an important presentation. 12 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 1: I don't have dogs myself, but my friend Lowell, who 13 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: does sound production for both this podcast and Before Breakfast, 14 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 1: has two dogs and has some great tips to share. 15 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 1: As he notes, your dog is going to be thrilled 16 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 1: that you are working from home. Your dog likely believes 17 00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:00,920 Speaker 1: that this will translate to extra attention. Your job is 18 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:05,480 Speaker 1: to satisfy this need while maintaining space to focus. Lowell 19 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 1: says that the old adage goes that a tired dog 20 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:10,120 Speaker 1: is a good dog. So here are a few tips 21 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:14,040 Speaker 1: for keeping your dog tired and happy. First, the morning 22 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 1: walk will do wonders to expend some of your dogs 23 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 1: physical and mental energy. It will benefit you as well 24 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:22,960 Speaker 1: by getting you out of the house for some exercise 25 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 1: and outdoor time. On days when it's raining or you 26 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 1: don't have time for walks, you can stimulate your dog's 27 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:33,839 Speaker 1: mental energy. Food is a great motivator. Instead of serving 28 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 1: up their breakfast into a bowl like normal, use a 29 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:39,200 Speaker 1: food puzzle toy so your pet has to work to 30 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 1: access their food. You can also do this with treats 31 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 1: throughout the day, Lowell says. Stuff a cong toy with 32 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 1: peanut butter and freeze it, or purchase a snuffle mat 33 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:50,880 Speaker 1: that you can drop treats in, which will force your 34 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 1: dog to work to access them. There are many interactive 35 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 1: toys sold online, but you can also make use of 36 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 1: things you have at home. Take a muffin tin and 37 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 1: place high value treats in them, like cheese, and then 38 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 1: put tennis balls or other objects on top of the treats. 39 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 1: Your dog will have to work to remove the objects 40 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 1: to get the treats. Of course, even with all this 41 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 1: extra stimulation, your dog will still want your attention from 42 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:19,639 Speaker 1: time to time. Lowell suggests you view this as an opportunity. 43 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 1: Every so often. It's a good idea to step away 44 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 1: from the computer for a few minutes for your own 45 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 1: mental health as well. He says, use this time to 46 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: practice a new trick with your dog. If you have 47 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 1: an outdoor space, fetch is a great exercise. It can 48 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:35,240 Speaker 1: be tough on your joints to bend over in a 49 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 1: bit slobbery to pick up the ball with your bare 50 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: hands every time a chuck. It is an inexpensive tool 51 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 1: that lets you pick up the ball off the ground 52 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:45,520 Speaker 1: and launch it further without having to bend over and 53 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 1: touch the ball. Tennis balls are cheap and fit into 54 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 1: it perfectly. Another thing your dog may find fun just bubbles. 55 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 1: There are inexpensive bubble machines that will keep dogs and 56 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 1: kids occupied. Lowell reports that they even have some bacon 57 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:04,799 Speaker 1: scented ones. And finally, Lowell suggests keeping dogs busy by 58 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 1: rotating out their toys each day. Any given chew toy 59 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 1: might lose its appeal after a while, but a new 60 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:15,240 Speaker 1: one presented right before that important presentation just might keep 61 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 1: your dog happy long enough for you to land that 62 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:21,679 Speaker 1: new contract. If you've got tips for keeping pets happy 63 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: while you're working at home. I'd love to hear them. 64 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:27,959 Speaker 1: Feel free to email me at Laura at Laura Vanderkamp 65 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 1: dot com. In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening, 66 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 1: and here's the succeeding in the New Corner Office. The 67 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 1: New Corner Office is a production of I Heart Radio. 68 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 1: For more podcasts, visit the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 69 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 1: or wherever you get your favorite shows.