As a working mom, you might struggle to juggle every aspect of your life, including your job, kids, and pets. It can be easy to allow your pet to drop to the bottom of your priority list, but they’re still a family member and as deserving of love and attention as the rest of your loved ones. If you’re struggling to care for your dog and adjust to your new lifestyle as a working mom, here are some tips.
Get a Dog Walker
You might find that you don’t always get time to walk your dog twice a day. This is especially the case if you commute or need to pick your kids up daily. It’s also particularly difficult to walk your dog often during the winter months when it might be dark before you go to work and after you get home from work.
Rather than deprive your dog of the exercise and socialization they need to thrive, consider hiring a dog walker who can take your dog around the block and who might even walk your dog with other pooches in the neighborhood. Many apps can help you to do this. This can give your dog a change of scenery and allow them to let off steam while alleviating any guilt you might feel.
Look at Doggy Daycare
If you work long hours and there’s no one in your home for a large portion of the day, you should consider looking into doggy daycare services. This might be particularly important if your dog suffers from separation anxiety when you’re not around. Doggy day care services will allow you to drop off your pet at a trained professional’s house or workplace and pick them up when you get home. They’ll have the chance to play with other dogs, get the food and medication they require, and use new toys they might not have at home.
However, you should always check the credentials and feedback for any daycare service that you leave your dog with. You might also look into a dog sitter who can come to your house and care for your pooch in their home environment. This can be a better choice for senior or nervous dogs.
Find a Dog Training Group
To further support your dog’s well-being and behavior, consider enrolling them in dog training group classes. These group classes can provide structured training and socialization opportunities that are essential for a well-adjusted pet, especially when you’re managing a busy schedule.
Work From Home
You might want to keep your working life the same to fit your dog. However, working from home can help you to manage your conflicting commitments better and give your home life just as much attention as your working life. The lack of commute can give you more time in your day, and working from home can offer you greater flexibility and choice regarding your schedule and activities. Not only this, but working from home can ensure that your pet isn’t left at home for hours on their own, and you’ll be able to keep them occupied and check that they’re not getting into trouble.
If you can’t work from home, you might consider installing a pet camera, which you can tune into throughout the day and see what your pet is up to, or you might ask whether you can go home in your lunch breaks to check on your pet.
Take Out Pet Insurance
One of the top steps you can take toward looking after your pet as a working mom is to buy pet insurance for your dog. Pet insurance means you’re covered financially for any scrapes they get into or illnesses they develop, and your bank account doesn’t end up getting drained by vet bills. By taking out pet insurance, you can keep your pet healthy by taking them for regular vet appointments without worrying so much about the cost of these. You’ll be able to get a professional to check any symptoms of potentially serious illnesses they’ve developed.
Then, you should look around for dog health insurance policies that you feel will suit you, your pet, your finances, and your lifestyle in 2023 and beyond. You should also compare pet insurance companies often to check that you’re still with the right brand for you.
Get Into a Routine
The most important step you can take toward looking after your pet as a working mom is to get into a routine. By having a routine, you’ll ensure that your pet’s care and needs don’t get forgotten and that you’ll always be able to make time for the animals in your life.
For instance, you might walk them before work and play with them just before you go to bed at night. You could also fit their meals in with your own so that everyone in your family is eating simultaneously. By doing this, you won’t feel as if your pet and their demands are putting much pressure on you as a mom, and you won’t feel as if your pet is a nuisance.
Delegate Responsibilities
However, as a parent, it’s likely that you won’t be living alone in your house and that other family members could share the responsibility of having a pet with you. Rather than trying to complete every task by yourself, you should delegate the tasks that need to be performed for your pet, with even younger children getting involved in simple pet care activities.
For instance, you might show your children how to feed your dog or ask your partner to take your dog for a walk when you’re busy working. By doing this, you won’t be left to do all the pet-related chores yourself while everyone else gets the pleasure of owning a pet. This can also be a great opportunity to teach your kids responsibility and commitment, especially if the pet was bought for them and they want to bring it into your home.
