The Health Benefits of Having Pets in Your Home Office
Credit: Lifeonwhite on Photodune
Those of us with a cat or dog know that our pets are like a member of the family. And, like the important members of your family, you just feel better with them around.
My chihuahua is never far from me when I’m on my laptop. As I’m writing this post, he laying on my outstretched legs. In the U.S., three out of every five homes have a pet. And these pets are more than just camaraderie—pets have been shown to have health benefits for humans.
Pets are Great Stress Reducers
A study by the University of Minnesota found that when people talked to other people, their blood pressure rose, but when they talked to animals, their blood pressure actually went down. Another study by the State University of New York at Buffalo showed that owning a pet has calming effects on a person who is reacting to psychological stress.
They gave 48 stockbrokers suffering from hypertension who hadn’t owned a pet in the past five years a antihypertensive drug. Half of the group was sent home with the drug, the other half with the drug and a dog or cat. Guess which group had a noticeably lower response to mental stress? You betcha’—the animal people.
Unlike people, pets don’t criticize your writing.
The life of a freelancer might not be exactly like working on Wall Street, but it’s still stressful. It’s also solitary. That’s why having a pet as a freelancer is so beneficial.
Unlike people, pets don’t criticize your writing. They don’t yell at you for working in your pajamas or nag you to do household chores because that’s where you work. In fact, aside from a purr, meow, or woof, they don’t make much noise at all—and it’s practically intelligible.
Pets Create a Positive Work Environment
You’ve probably heard that dogs create a playful work environment, that they help with the creative process, and help banish a negative mindset. The same can work for freelancers who work alone.
I work both in an office environment and in my home office. I don’t always bring Miles into the office with me, but when I do, it’s a good day. I keep a bed for Miles under my desk at work and that’s where he usually hangs out. When I need a break, either at work or at home, we head outside. When you stare at a computer screen for hours upon hours, there’s nothing like a wagging tail and a couple of big eyes to make you take a much needed break.
Need to come up with a genius idea? Play around with Fido and give your mind a break.
Have writers block? Take doggie out for a walk. Need to come up with a genius idea? Play around with Fido and give your mind a break. Feeling bad about a rejection letter? Dogs are ridiculously easy to make happy.
Giving your pet some TLC can make you feel better and boost your self confidence. Plus, they urge you to get out of your chair and exercise, which in turn boosts your serotonin levels.
Cats can be therapeutic, too. It’s easy to get lonely as a freelancer. You need quiet to write and you don’t have office mates to gossip with. In fact, nursing home residents have reported feeling less lonely when visited by a dog or a cat than when visited by people!
Tests have shown that a cats purr is at a frequency that lowers chemicals in the brain, which can be raised during stressful situations. And there’s something about the repetitiveness of petting a cat that is totally soothing.
Getting the Right Pet for You
A pet asks relatively little of you. and if you shop right, you can find the right breed of dog and temperament of cat to suit your freelancing lifestyle. A puppy requires more work initially on your part. A border collie requires a lot of exercise. Think about your daily routine, your living arrangement (a Saint Bernard isn’t going to be happy in a 500 square foot apartment in Manhattan), and your family’s wants and needs before getting a pet.
Miles not only keeps me company during the day, he makes me laugh and helps keep me grounded. When I get upset and frustrated over the little things, all I have to do is look down at him curled up in his dog bed, looking up at me with his big chihuahua eyes, to remind me that I work to live, not the other way around.
I’d love to hear about your pets in the comments below. Or any concerns you have if you’re considering getting one.
Photo credit: Some rights reserved by Lifeonwhite.
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Some great points. Would definitely recommend getting a pet to those that work from home alone.
Unfortunately my landlord doesn’t allow me to have dogs or cats, so I’ve got myself a pair of Roborovski hamsters. They don’t provide the same sort of company as bigger pets, but it’s at least nice to know there’s someone there depending on me at the end of the day.
Taking your pet for a walk is a great stress reducer as well. I do have clients come in to talk to me occasionally so it’s a great ice breaker – most to the time. I work at home and so have at least one in my lap at all times.
Of course, there can be problems – her getting tangled up in my phone headset wiring or the occasional barking when I’m talking on the phone.
Interestingly enough, when that happens, whoever is on the other end of the line is saying, “Oh, what kind of dogs do you have?” and “Geez, that sounds like my dogs!”
I agree 100%. I have a cat and two dogs, and talking to them about my stress does help, no matter how silly it sounds. They can sense when you’re upset, happy, angry, etc.
Also, while I’m freelancing and staring at the computer all day, they help me take a break by getting up and either taking them for a walk or letting them run around outside. They chill with me while I’m on the computer, so I feel bad when they’ve been laying around for hours just waiting for me to do something with them.
I’d love to have a dog or cat, but sadly I’m allergic to both. Shame there’s no mention of pets for those without allergies in the article. I’m considering getting a small aquarium, or maybe a hamster. They may not be as interactive as a dog or cat, but still can be relaxing to watch and have some form of company.
Hi Elise,
There are a few breeds of dog that are “allergy friendly”, most notably the Poodle and Bedlington Terrier. They do not shed their fur and because of this poodles in particular have been bred with a number of other dog breeds to produce non-allergy pets. The most popular of these cross-breeds in the UK are the labradoodle (labrador/poodle) and cockerpoo (cocker-spaniel/poodle)…both are beautiful looking dogs, incredibly loyal and friendly and make ideal family pets.
I believe most terriers are also hypoallergenic, and we’ve been considering getting a Wheaten because of my husband’s allergies. Mixed breeds that combine a hypoallergenic breed with another can have a lot of variation in their effects on people, depending on the proportion of which breed’s genetic tendencies they received, so be aware of that if you consider a mix.
Also, the reason they’re “hypoallergenic” (a small percentage of people do still have issues with them) is that not only do they not shed like most dogs, but they actually have hair like we do rather than fur, which means you don’t have the dander associated with pets that is generally the root cause of allergic reactions.
I believe that allergy friendly dogs have hair and not fur…hence no dander. Sure they have to be groomed (or else their hair covers their eyes) but if you really want a pet they are so worth it.
Thanks Melanie for sharing your thoughts and little things about Miles.
I had a cat, though I lost her around seven months back, your article reminds me what a precious relationship each human being can have with their pets. It’s pure unconditional love and care. And it’s one of the greatest learning experience in life that can not be described in words.
Yes, a great stress buster when we are at work from our home offices.
When my job in finish,ı get out of office,ı am goingto my dog dirrect.Because when ı was play with my dog, my mind get clearly,ı am forgeting everything and ı get relax.So if you don’t have dog,you get now.My dog breed is Rottweiler…
I can’t wait until I’m able to get a pet. For those who are ready for the responsibilty of caring for dog or pet, they add so much to life! There are still too many pets out there waiting to be adopted who would love to find a good home.
Small question: at the end, did you mean “live to work” or “work to live”?
Oops! Yes, Liz! Even though I love my job, I don’t live to work….good catch! I have asked the editor to change it
Good catch, that’s fixed now.
I’ve never been a cat person, but after we bought our first house my wife convinced me to get two kittens. I have to say they’ve really grown on me. I could have the worst, most stressful day, but when you come home to have two little cats that simply want to be around you for no reason other than the fact that they like you makes everything better.
I agree, I have 2 cats who always come and sit on or below my desk and it is relaxing having them there as a quick diversion.
I have two dogs and a cat and everything you say here is true, but also please keep in mind that sometimes pets can be demanding at times when it is least convenient.
If you are often pressed for time, struggling to meet deadlines etc. remember that pets do also require lots of time to take care of! Don’t rush out and buy one without thinking it through please.
Great post! My cat Benny is always in my office; he’s very attached to me. Of course, he expects me to stop typing/writing and pet him. He’ll sit on my desk or a window seat. Sometimes, he’ll jump on my lap and purr away. I usually take a break at that time.
I don’t own a pet but I did watch one for a couple days while working from home. The dog I watched was great but maybe too spoiled every couple mins it kept whining like it wanted to go for a walk so I would take him out come back in and couple mins again it just kept whimpering again non stop.
I usually have some foster kittens along with my own big yellow dog and fat cat hanging out with me while I work.
The article mentions “if you shop right….” As a shelter volunteer, foster mom, animal rescuer and transporter, I beg of you: don’t shop for animal companions. The problem of cat/dog overpopulation is staggering, resulting in millions of healthy, adoptable animals being euthanized each year — including those adorable puppies and kittens. Shopping supports puppy mills and backyard breeders. Adopt from a shelter or rescue group instead.
I prefer mixed breeds because they tend to be healthier, but if you want a purebred, don’t worry. There are plenty in shelters, and there are rescue groups for nearly every breed. If you can’t find local rescue groups, check petfinder.com.
Also, many shelters and rescue groups are begging for foster parents so they can save more animals. It’s a great opportunity to save a life, and if you decide your foster is perfect for your household, you can become a “foster failure” like me!
Adopt, don’t shop. And please spay and neuter.
I would argue that “shopping” for a pet does include shelters. The term shopping around just means gathering information on a “product” (yes, I believe animals are much more than some object to buy, but I’m going to use this term for arguments’ sake here), and doesn’t refer exclusively to an established chain where you actually obtain said product. It’s important to be informed to all of your options beyond even just where to obtain a companion, including what types/breeds would be appropriate in your environment. I believe all of these factors work into the process of “shopping.”
I have always had shelter pets, and when I say “shop” I literally mean the act of picking out the right animal. Some people have allergies and do need to shop for a specific breed…but my family has had such luck with wonderful shelter animals that I wouldn’t “shop” any other way.
If you have a home office, some dog expenses can often be deducted as a security system. That’s because statistically burglars avoid houses with dogs. Check with your tax preparer of course.
Great article! I think if it weren’t for our dog, I’d have gone mad working from home! Just starting up after being in a 9-5 corporate environment for years and it’s nice to have “someone” to at least talk at… and on the bright side, he never asks for last minute deliverable when it’s closing time.
I have two parrots! One of them talks. It’s quiet here, then a little voice says “Helllooooo?” “Who’s a good parrot?” “pretty pretty pretty!”
I think you did get it the other way around! is it not you “work to live”, not you “live to work”?
Great to read a topic about pets since we only think in work, work and work; is good to have a pet in your home, office, etc, it depends of, for exampke, the breed of the dog, my dog is annoying sometimes but usually Peggy sleeps near of my desk and I don´t feel alone,
here is a photo of her (this was when she was 3 months old), haha!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dianah86/?saved=1
Diana
This is so very true. Both of my cats are with me all day, the oldest a constant companion and the youngest a reminder that I have to take a break from time to time. She will meow at me if I have been sitting here too long, and wakes me up each morning at the same time. It is like having a personal coach and a zen master around, complete with fly-killing chopsticks.
I think this is a great article. I have four pets at home–a dog, two cats, and a small parrot, and they keep me great company. I would get very lonely/bored if they weren’t around during the day.
This is one of the many perks of having a dog in our office:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29345962@N02/6010294556/in/photostream
But it’s worth it…
Hahahah! OMG I laughed so hard when I saw that photo. The good thing about little dogs (like yours and mine) is that their poop is so small! Not that pooping inside is ever a good thing…but accidents DO happen. Thanks for sharing!
Having 3 cats at home, I can only confirm all of this.
Not only the stress relief of our Cleo (the cutest cat alive, if somewhat dumb) purring peacefully, but also the inspiration of watching them play, interact with items, people and each other is priceless.
Of course, if you are deducting a portion of your mortgage/rent/etc. from your U.S. taxes for your home office, that pet could eliminate your ability to do so. You can only deduct for the portion of your home you use solely for work and the pet’s belongings may have the ability to negate that claim. The various pages that mention this tidbit all tend to link around to themselves, so it could be a complete rumor. That said, the rumor is the IRS denied someone’s deduction for their home office because they saw a dog bowl under their desk in a photo. http://dogs.thefuntimesguide.com/2007/03/dog_tax_deductions.php (at the bottom)
Pikoy, our parrot, is always on my back whenever I’m beating article deadlines. A true stress-reliever, he keeps on whistling witwew and saying “Ugly!”
One of the best pet I’ve ever had was a Rock!
You can teach them tricks like playing dead, stay, roll over. I have even taught my pet rock to attack…. Just throw them in the direction of the attacker and hope they hit their mark. You never need to feed & water them – no mess, no smell, just a great pet. I once even had one rap around my finger and it even changed colors with the mood I was in! It ran away one day and never came back 8(
Best of all pet rocks are free – Just go outside and pick one up!
I’m a bit of a dreamer when it comes to pets. I’d love a puppy that would remain as a puppy, and a puppy that would toilet-train itself (like the one in the movie Bruce Almighty. One of the first things Bruce did after getting God’s powers was to make sure his girlfriend’s dog knew how to use the toilet, complete with toilet papers and flushing). All the cuteness without the troubles…(As I said, dreamer:))…
But yeah, writing does get lonely in fact it would be cool to have a pet. Unfortunately, I’m not ready for the responsibility…
Agreed on the companionship, but my dog-like cat can be a pain in the tuckus at times. She follows me around all day, gets in my lap, walks over the keyboard. all of this I find endearing . . . normally she’ll sleep on a side of my desk where I’ve made her a bed in front of the window . . . UNTIL the MOMENT I get on the phone, she hears my voice and wakes up and comes over and meows (with a Siamese-level meow so REALLY Loud) repeatedly. ugh. 90% of the time it’s not a big deal, people know where I am and I kick her off a few times til she sulks on the floor for a bit. every now and then though it’s bad for client professional calls . . . sigh.
Hiya, I just happened across your sight and this article really guaged my attention. I’m a fulltime pet mum (to four cats and a Labrador) and freelance writer, but I find it’s only the dog that tends to behave whenever I try and concentrate. It’s as if the cats know my mind needs to be elsewhere and all hell breaks loose! If they’re not needing to be let out, they’re causing a commotion to be let back in (and man they aren’t quiet). I think you may well have inspired a post on my own blog soloscribe.blogspot.com about the type of pets not to consider if you’re starting out as a freelance writer. I certainly could do with a petsitter while I work!