{"id":103,"date":"2025-12-20T02:52:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T02:52:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dinksanddogs.com\/?p=103"},"modified":"2025-12-26T16:58:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-26T16:58:11","slug":"how-to-fulfill-your-dogs-needs-while-working-full-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dinksanddogs.com\/?p=103","title":{"rendered":"How to Fulfill Your Dog\u2019s Needs While Working Full-Time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.456), 1.125rem);\">Do you ever feel guilty about not spending enough time with your dog? Or maybe you want a dog but worry you won\u2019t have enough time to train them or give them a meaningful life. I\u2019m here to tell you this: <strong>you\u2019re doing just fine<\/strong>. If you love your dog and do the best you can, your dog <em>is<\/em> living their best life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.456), 1.125rem);\">Below is a little backstory on how I made it work as a single dog parent while working full-time in an office\u2014and how you can, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.456), 1.125rem);\">When I got my first dog, Remi, I was living alone in Milwaukee with no friends or family nearby to help. I knew getting a puppy while working a full-time office job would be hard, but I also knew I was capable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.456), 1.125rem);\">To make matters more interesting, I got Remi at the beginning of winter\u2014while living in a second-floor apartment. That meant bundling up and carrying her up and down the stairs every hour for potty breaks. It wasn\u2019t easy, but it was worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.465), 1.13rem);\">Here\u2019s what a normal weekday looked like for me and Remi when she was a puppy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.456), 1.125rem);\"><strong>6:00 a.m.<\/strong> \u2013 Wake up, bathroom break, and playtime. We aimed for at least 30 minutes outside, weather permitting. If it was too cold, we played indoors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.456), 1.125rem);\"><strong>6:30 a.m.<\/strong> \u2013 Feed Remi, then get myself ready for work.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.456), 1.125rem);\"><strong>7:15 a.m.<\/strong> \u2013 Another bathroom break (15\u201320 minutes).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.456), 1.125rem);\"><strong>7:40 a.m.<\/strong> \u2013 Remi goes in her kennel, and I leave for work.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.456), 1.125rem);\"><strong>12:00\u20131:00 p.m.<\/strong> \u2013 Drive home on my lunch break (I lived about 15 minutes away) to let Remi potty and play for about 10 minutes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.456), 1.125rem);\"><strong>5:20 p.m.<\/strong> \u2013 Get home from work and do a walk and play session (45\u201360 minutes).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.456), 1.125rem);\"><strong>6:00 p.m.<\/strong> \u2013 Dinner for Remi, then dinner for me.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.465), 1.13rem);\"><strong>6:15\u201310:00 p.m.<\/strong> \u2013 Dinner, TV, playtime, and bathroom breaks as needed until bedtime.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:clamp(0.89rem, 0.89rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.802), 1.33rem);\">Let&#8217;s talk about kennel time, because it&#8217;s okay.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/dinksanddogs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_1389-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-113\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.7500090145314247;width:215px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dinksanddogs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_1389-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/dinksanddogs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_1389-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/dinksanddogs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_1389-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/dinksanddogs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_1389-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/dinksanddogs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_1389-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.465), 1.13rem);\">You might be thinking Remi spent a lot of time in her kennel\u2014and you\u2019d be right. On workdays, she was kenneled for <strong>7\u20138 hours<\/strong>. But here\u2019s the thing: she slept most of that time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.465), 1.13rem);\">I made sure she got plenty of physical and mental exercise before and after work so she was relaxed rather than anxious or bored. Within two months, Remi was a kennel pro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.465), 1.13rem);\">Was it busy and stressful? Absolutely. But it worked! I was also lucky to have a supervisor who allowed me to work from home 1\u20132 days a week during the first few months to help establish training. On other days, I hired a dog walker once or twice a week so I didn\u2019t have to drive home every lunch break. Whatever the obstacle, you <em>will<\/em> find a way to make it work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How Much Exercise Does a Dog Need When You Work Full-Time?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.465), 1.13rem);\">These are general recommendations based on my experience. Every dog is different, and needs will vary by age, breed, and energy level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:clamp(0.89rem, 0.89rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.802), 1.33rem);\"><strong>Aim for 3\u20134 Walks Per Week<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.465), 1.13rem);\">Walks don\u2019t have to be long. Even 10\u201315 minutes can do wonders\u2014especially if you let your dog sniff as much as they want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.465), 1.13rem);\">In the summer, I walk my dogs way more (about 5\u20137 times per week). In the winter, I do maybe 1\u20132 walks per week, depending on the weather. I\u2019m a warm-weather gal living in a cold climate, so I do what I can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:clamp(0.89rem, 0.89rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.802), 1.33rem);\"><strong>Plan 1\u20132 Longer Activities Per Month<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.465), 1.13rem);\">Try to schedule a 1\u20132 hour adventure twice a month. I choose to do them on the weekends since those are my days off. In the warmer months, I&#8217;ll go to new parks, trails or forest preserves and take long walks. In the colder months, I&#8217;ll visit dog-friendly stores such or Home Depot or the local pet store for indoor walks and sniffs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.465), 1.13rem);\">And yes\u2014these adventures usually start or end with a Starbucks visit for a latte and pup cups. A little treat-yourself for you and the dogs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:clamp(0.89rem, 0.89rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.802), 1.33rem);\"><strong>Add Mental Enrichment 1\u20132 Times Per Week<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.465), 1.13rem);\">Mental stimulation for dogs is just as important as physical exercise\u2014and often easier to fit into a busy schedule. Mental enrichment can include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.456), 1.125rem);\">Training sessions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.456), 1.125rem);\">Treat-filled Kongs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.456), 1.125rem);\">Lick mats and snuffle mats<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.456), 1.125rem);\">Games such as Hide and Seek<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.465), 1.13rem);\">These activities require minimal time and resources but can tire your dog out just as much as a long walk. Check out my enrichment post for more detailed ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Final Reminder for Working Dog Parents<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.465), 1.13rem);\">I promise you this: whatever setup, space, and time you give your dog is better than a day spent in a shelter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.465), 1.13rem);\">After volunteering in a shelter for over a year, I\u2019ve seen dogs with gentle spirits become anxious or reactive simply because of the stressful environment. A quiet kennel in a loving home for eight hours a day is far better than even one day in a shelter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.465), 1.13rem);\">You\u2019re doing your best\u2014and that\u2019s more than enough!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you ever feel guilty about not spending enough time with your dog? Or maybe you want a dog but worry you won\u2019t have enough time to train them or give them a meaningful life. I\u2019m here to tell you this: you\u2019re doing just fine. If you love your dog and do the best you&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":147,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32,34],"tags":[10,8,9,7],"class_list":["post-103","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-enrichment","category-mindfulness","tag-activity","tag-crate-training","tag-enrichment","tag-working-full-time"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dinksanddogs.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dinksanddogs.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dinksanddogs.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dinksanddogs.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dinksanddogs.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=103"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/dinksanddogs.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":152,"href":"https:\/\/dinksanddogs.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103\/revisions\/152"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dinksanddogs.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/147"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dinksanddogs.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=103"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dinksanddogs.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=103"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dinksanddogs.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=103"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}