My partner and i both wfh and our dog wants 24/7 attention – how to share duties fairly?

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My partner and I both work from home full-time, and our (admittedly spoiled) dog has decided this means 24/7 access to attention, walks, and playtime, often interrupting important calls for both of us. How can we establish a fair system for sharing pet duties during work hours without it leading to resentment or one person shouldering most of the load?

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Anonymous 19 May 2025
We have 'dog zones'. If I'm on a crucial call, the dog goes into my partner's office (or a designated comfy spot) with a chew toy or puzzle feeder. And vice-versa. It means one person can focus completely while the other is 'passively' supervising or actively engaging during their own less critical work periods. Requires separate workspaces ideally.
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Rachel Hanson 21 May 2025
Invest in good quality puzzle toys, snuffle mats, and long-lasting chews. These can keep your dog occupied independently for decent stretches. We have a 'special' toy that only comes out when we both need to be on important calls. Doggo learns that toy means quiet time.
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Avery Hall 22 May 2025
Scheduled exercise before the workday starts is key. A tired dog is a good dog. A long morning walk or a vigorous play session can make a huge difference in how much attention they demand during the day. Then maybe a shorter lunchtime walk/play session, also scheduled and assigned.
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A.L. 24 May 2025
It might also be about training your dog to settle independently. Work on 'place' commands or rewarding calm behavior. If the dog only gets attention when they're demanding it, they'll keep demanding it. It's a gradual process but worth it.
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Joanna Bober 24 May 2025
Communicate your important meeting schedules daily. A quick 'Hey, I've got a no-interruption call from 10-11' allows the other person to plan to be the primary dog wrangler during that time. We use a shared digital calendar for this so it's visible to both.
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Accepted Answer · 2025-05-19T10:30:00+00:00

Create a shared doggy duty schedule! Seriously, put it on a calendar. Assign specific walk times, feeding times, and short 'play break' slots to each person. If one person has an important meeting block, the other is 'on duty'. This makes expectations clear and avoids the 'who's turn is it?' debate during a busy workday.

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