For those of us who have been working from home, there have been mixed reactions. Some people love it. Others hate it.
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But the real winners in the working from home situation have been the pets who have been spending all day, every day with their families.
However, it does beg the question, what happens in life after lockdown?
With social distancing restrictions easing around the country, RSPCA ACT says now is the time to think about easing your pets back into a routine. By doing this, it will help prevent negative or unwanted behaviours occurring when people return to work full time.
"It is important to strike a good work-pet balance as we transition back to regular life," RSPCA ACT chief executive Michelle Robertson says.
According to Four Paws, big changes are often a challenge for dogs, especially insecure dogs where even a temporary separation can lead to behavioural problems.
Fear of separation can manifest itself through destructive behaviour like damaging furniture, barking and yelping until the owner returns.
Cats seem to cope more easily with such situations and generally do not show the same behavioural problems as dogs.
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Here are six tips for helping your pet adjust for when you go back to work.
1. Give them a job
Give your pet puzzles to solve, toys to chew and treats to find or stuffed in things like Kongs. This will keep them mentally stimulated, especially if you keep rotating toys.
2. Start slowly
The RSPCA ACT suggests preparing your pet with mini absences and build an adjustment period of separation and gradually extend it to a full day away.
Four Paws suggests leaving the house for a few minutes, extending it to 15 minutes, then half-an-hour, and slowly increasing this time. Gradually your pet will learn to trust that you will return home again.
3. Tire them out at the beginning of the day
When you do go back to work, start the day with a long work, vigorous playtime or other exercises. This will help tire them out which means their day will include plenty of snooze time.
4. Don't be dramatic
If you make a big deal about leaving, your pet is going to pick up on that. Instead of a dramatic goodbye, RSPCA ACT suggests giving your pet a special treat before you head out the door to help associate leaving as a positive. When you return home, reward calm behaviour with attention and treats.
5. Think outside the box
In this instance, the box is the house and the ideas which lay outside of the house include getting a reputable dog walker, joining doggy daycare or organising neighbourhood pet play dates for while you're at work.
6. Add some sound
Try leaving the radio or television on for your pet as some animals can respond well to music and ambient sound, and find human voices comforting when alone.