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In a perfect world, you and your dog would have all day and night to play together. But in the real world, most of us have to work.
Whether you work from home or in an office, juggling a full-time job and full-time dog parenting can feel overwhelming. But planning ahead and scheduling your dog’s day-to-day can help ensure everyone’s needs are met.
A dog schedule for working owners should be consistent, says certified animal trainer and pet lifestyle expert Nicole Ellis. “A consistent routine helps dogs understand when to expect meals, walks, playtime, and rest,” she notes. “This predictability can reduce stress and make dogs feel more secure in their environment.”
Read on for tips on how working dog owners can make the ultimate schedule for their pups, keeping them safe and content while they’re home on workdays—the ultimate job well done.
Dog Schedule for Working Owners
“Adult dogs typically need a balance of physical exercise, mental enrichment, rest, and social interaction,” says Ellis. “A typical routine might include a morning walk, enrichment toys or puzzles during the day, and another walk or play session in the evening.”
To put these needs into a daily routine, here’s a sample schedule for a healthy adult dog when working a full-time job.
- 7am: Potty break and morning walk
- 7:30am: Breakfast
- 8am-12pm: Rest
- 12pm: Potty break, midday walk, or play session
- 1pm-5pm: Rest and playtime with enrichment toys
- 5:30pm: Potty break and evening walk
- 6pm: Dinner
- 7pm: Hangout together
- 9pm: Final potty break
- 9:30pm: Bedtime
Tempura via iStock
How To Adjust for Individual Needs
The above schedule is a good general approach, but different dogs will have different needs. Here are some adjustments to consider if your dog is high-energy, older, or has anxiety.
Working and high-energy breeds
“These dogs often require more physical exercise and mental stimulation,” says Ellis. Extra activity could look like:
- taking longer walks
- prioritizing off-leash time
- engaging in scent work or other mentally enriching activities
- playing training games—either after work or with a dog sitter
Ellis adds that teaching high-energy and working breeds to have an off-switch is also extremely helpful. Part of that training should include teaching the dog to settle and relax, she specifies.
Senior and low-energy dogs
“Senior dogs may need gentler exercise, more frequent potty breaks, and additional rest periods,” says Ellis.
She adds that for older and more low-energy dogs, their noses are still powerful. So while they may not be able to go for long, energetic jaunts, they’ll likely still love a slow sniffy walk or a snuffle toy that will work their brains and prevent boredom.
Dogs with separation anxiety
When it comes to dogs with separation anxiety, Ellis advises enlisting the help of a professional trainer to help teach them that being alone is safe.
If your dog’s separation distress is more intense, you may need to limit the time outside of your home. If that’s not possible, consider hiring a pet sitter or taking your pup to doggy daycare as part of your daily work routine.
What To Do With a Puppy While at Work
Puppies, unlike adult dogs, have greater needs and require more care throughout the day. Here are a few things you can do with your puppy to ensure they’re happy, safe, and comfortable while you’re at work.
- Designate a confinement area. Create a cozy, confined space for your puppy where they can rest and stay out of mischief while you work, such as a puppy-proofed area or room in your home, a crate, or inside a playpen.
- Pop in throughout the day. If you work from home or your office is nearby, schedule your breaks throughout the day to align with your pup’s potty breaks, mealtimes, and other activities.
- Get help. If you don’t have much flexibility with your schedule, hire an experienced puppy sitter to drop in. Or take your pup to doggy daycare once they’re old enough to safely socialize. A bonus? Some daycares include training programs so your pup can still work on their foundational skills while you’re away.
Sample puppy schedule
“Puppies need more frequent potty breaks, shorter activity sessions, and plenty of naps,” says Ellis, emphasizing that naps should not be missed or shortened during this crucial development stage. “Their schedules often include multiple meals, structured play, short training sessions—five minutes is great—and naps throughout the day.”
Establishing consistency with these activities early on helps both with healthy development and house training.
While your puppy’s routine will vary and change depending on their age, here’s a sample schedule to help you get started.
- 7am: Wake up and potty break
- 7:30am: Breakfast
- 7:45pm: Quick post-meal potty
- 8am-12pm: Nap and rest time
- 12pm: Midday potty break, walk, play, or training
- 12:30pm: Lunch
- 12:45pm: Quick after-lunch potty
- 1pm-5pm: Nap and rest time
- 5pm: Early evening potty break, walk, play, or training
- 5:30pm: Dinner
- 5:45pm: After-dinner potty break
- 6pm: Playtime, training, or enrichment
- 6:30-8pm: Hangout/rest
- 8pm: Final potty break
- 8:30pm: Bedtime
TatyanaGl via iStock
Tips for Dog Owners Who Work 9-5
Regardless of whether you work from home or in an office, here are some general tips to ensure your dog has everything they need throughout the day.
- Ensure your dog’s needs have been met. Before you head out the door or sit down at your desk, schedule enough time in the mornings for feeding, exercise, and potty.
- Stick to the same mealtimes each day. A steady routine for meals will help you plan your day according to your dog’s bathroom schedule. Staying regimented is especially important for puppies, as they’re still learning to go potty outside.
- Use a pet camera. After creating a schedule, use a pet camera to check in on your pup and ensure they’re comfortable with the alone time you’ve allotted for them while you’re working.
Working from home
If you work from home, you may have more flexibility with your schedule. However, having your dog as your co-worker can also cause distractions. Here are some tips to help you stay focused.
- Be strategic with your workspace. Just like you need your desk for your daily tasks, your dog needs a space to do their highly important work for the day—aka snoozing. Set up your dog’s bed or crate where they can get some rest, and you can focus on your tasks at hand. If you need total separation, use baby gates or work in a different room.
- Plan enrichment before your meetings. If your dog likes to steal the attention in meetings, prep ahead to ensure they’re occupied before you hop on a call. Five minutes before the meeting starts, give them long-lasting enrichment, like a chew bone or frozen puzzle toy, so they’re already engaged before the call starts.
- Use management to curb barking. Working from home can be difficult with a vocal dog. To block out triggers, use visual barriers like frosted window film or close your curtains to stop your dog from barking at people or other animals passing by. Calming music and a white noise machine can also drown out outside noises.
Working in-person
Working away from home may require a bit more planning to ensure your dog is cared for throughout the day. Here are some tips.
- Front-load enrichment. Use the mornings for slow sniffy walks or a jaunt through the park. Ditch the bowl and use mealtime for training, or give your pup their food in a slow feeder or puzzle toy. Starting your dog’s day with physical or mental stimulation can help them settle when you have to commute for work.
- Create a “leaving” protocol. To help desensitize your dog to your departure, try to follow the same routine each day before you commute to work. For instance, pair walking out the door with giving your dog a stuffed KONG or tasty treat beforehand.
- Give your dog the after-work attention they deserve. Your dog has been waiting all day to see you. Take some time after you arrive home to give them some one-on-one time to show you’ve missed them, too!
