PET PARENTING
So You Got a New Pet — Here’s How to Keep Them Happy When You’re Away
Whether you're working in-office or just a frequent jet-setter, here's how to make sure your new dogs and cats get the same attention and care they get while you're at home
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Becoming a new pet owner can be incredibly fulfilling — you get the benefit of a new furry friend, and your little buddy gets a new home to call their own. But as much as we would love to stay home with them and play fetch all day (we know our dogs would), the truth is we do eventually have to leave the house for long stretches of time, for work, travel, what have you.
“Dog Adoption was what was trending during the pandemic,” says Melissa Bacelar, founder of Wagmor Pets and owner of The Wagmor, a luxury pet hotel and spa in Los Angeles. “People were lining up at 2am to adopt a dog from us!”
But after you adopt your pet and get them used to your space — then start heading out for work or traveling — pet experts say it’s important to make sure your dogs and cats receive the same attention and care that they are getting when you’re at home with them.
“I have had dogs for the last 20 years and as my life changes I learn to adjust things accordingly so my animals are safe and happy,” Bacelar says. “You will need to expect things like separation anxiety, leash aggression, timid behavior. You just need to come up with a plan that benefits all members of the household.”
“Dogs are so adjustable and generally want to please,” Bacelar continues. “So as these things come up, we will need to work on them and work on training and socializing.”
What Are the Top Pet Products?
Whether you’re looking to keep an eye on your pet while you’re gone, or keep them calm and comfortable when you can’t be by their side, companies have introduced pet products that help with everything from home monitoring to pet-sized entertainment.
Of course, all of these products may keep your pets occupied for a few hours, but they won’t completely replace human interaction and time spent with them. At the end of the day, Bacelar says, “Pet ownership is for the life of the dog, not a week or a year. These little beings did not ask to become part of your family. But once they are made a part they should be there to stay.”
The best pet products these days span (smart) cat litter, sofa-style doggy beds and even pet-safe CBD that aims to keep them calm and chill when you’re out of the house. Below we’ve rounded up some picks, including trending, top-rated pet products and gear the pet parents on our team swear by.
1. Furbo Dog Camera
$210.00
One of the most popular pet products is the Furbo Dog Camera. Designed as a security cam and feeder in one, the Furbo delivers a crisp 1080p full HD camera that lets you get a live look at your space. There’s no need to awkwardly position it somewhere either — place it on your floor and get a 360-degree, rotating wide-angle view. The Furbo even comes with night vision to let you see your four-legged friends when the lights are off.
The best part? The Furbo unit lets you store bite-sized treats inside, so you can toss Fido or Fritz a treat, either to keep them occupied or as a reward for waiting patiently at home for you. Set-up is as easy as plugging in a power cord and connecting the camera to WiFi.
Don’t just take our word for it — dog owners consistently rate the Furbo Dog Camera as one of the best pet products online, with an average 4.5-star review (out of five) from almost 38,000 reviewers online.
2. ThunderShirt Dog Anxiety Jacket
$29.99 $44.95 33% off
One of the most pressing issues for your pets, Bacelar explains, is “separation anxiety.” Pets can’t always have their humans by their side 24/7, but it’s important to keep your pets (especially younger ones) calm and relaxed when you leave the house. That’s where an anxiety jacket comes in.
ThunderShirt is one of the top-rated brands for dog anxiety jackets, with a cozy and fitted design that applies gentle, constant pressure around your dog to help “calm anxiety, fear and over excitement.”
The comfy jacket works a bit like a weighted blanket, using light pressure to help your dog stay calm during fireworks, thunderstorms, vet visits and when they’re at home alone.
3. Boxie Glo Natural Attractions Clumping Clay Litter
$22.99+
One of our favorite pet brands for cats right now is Boxie, which offers trendy litter that literally glows. Unlike regular cat litter, Glo Natural Attractions helps cats find their way to the litter box using UV sparkles that only cats can see, so they’ll know that “this is the place to go.” Especially because cats love to dig, Glo’s granules are soft and engineered to mimic the North African desert (where house cats originated), and feature a mild scent that smells like the outdoors for cats.
It’s an easy way to get ahead of house-soiling, and can help with aversions or behavioral issues with your cat surrounding the litter box. Of course, Boxie does a great job as litter too, trapping odor instantly and also eliminating excess moisture, so you’ll never smell your cat’s dirty business again.
4. Furhaven Pet Bed
$50.99 $59.99 15% off
Not all pet beds are created equal. While there are no shortage of brands making decent beds and crates for your pet, we like Furhaven’s orthopedic pet beds, which provide a more ergonomic place for your dog or cat to rest.
Designed to mimic a couch or daybed, the sofa-style design provides a thick, plush surface to sleep on, plus supportive “bolsters” at the side to keep your pet snuggled in securely and comfortably. Furhaven says its egg crate foam base helps to cushion pressure points, while the railings help support the neck, back, hips, and joints.
The velvet fabric is super soft and gentle, yet durable enough to withstand long-term use. A bonus: the cover is completely machine-washable.
5. Pet Parents Pawtect Blanket
$14.99
Our cat loves the sherpa-like feel of this pet blanket, which is 100% waterproof and fully machine-washable for easy care. Designed to be ultra plush and cozy, Pet Parents says its “Sherpup” fabric features an impermeable barrier that is slobber, water and urine-proof.
The “Pawtect” blanket is great to throw over your couch or bed when you want to keep your furniture drool and fur-free, but it’s also great to toss into your pet’s bed (see above) or crate, to keep them warm and cozy. The faux fur material is easy to care for, and lightweight enough to take with you when traveling, or just moving from room to room.
6. Cornbread Hemp CBD for Pets
$39.99 $49.99 20% off
Much has been written about CBD’s effectiveness in helping you get better sleep, or be less anxious, and now the same benefits of CBD can be applied to your pets. Cornbread Hemp is one of our favorite CBD brands, for their certified USDA organic products made from full-spectrum hemp. Now, the company has applied the same science behind their CBD oils for humans, to a great CBD oil for pets.
Safe for dogs and cats, Cornbread says its CBD oil can help your pet relax, relieve discomfort or mellow out (say, after they’ve been overactive at the park or if they’ve had a rough day and need to calm down). Start with a few drops into your pet’s food or water bowl — the corn dog flavor instantly gets their attention and is easy to chow down. Up the dosage as necessary, or if you have a larger pet. The general rule for CBD for pets is 2mg pet 10 pounds of body weight.
6. BarkBox
$22+/month
As your days and weeks get busier — on the account of work, relationships, travel, etc. — sites like BarkBox have become lifesavers for pet owners like us. BarkBox delivers pet toys and treats, without having to scroll through endless pages of stuff online you don’t really need. As a monthly subscription, it’s totally customizable to your dog’s unique needs and personality, with treats and chews that can even be tailored to allergies and picky palates. The site’s pet accessories are inspired by a different theme every month (such as this month’s “Yee Howl, Nashville!” theme with plushie boots that were made for squeakin’).
The toys and treat recipes are all designed in-house, so you won’t find them anywhere else — bottom line? BarkBox has everything you need to keep your pets well-fed, entertained and well-taken care of while you’re gone.
7. Petco Pet Grooming
Don’t have time to bathe and groom your pup? Petco now has an easy online booking service that lets you set up an appointment for a range of services, from baths to haircuts to nail clipping to dental care. What we like: unless some one-size-fits-all sites, Petco lets you book by breed, so that each experience is customized to your dog’s size, breed and temperament.
8. Rover
One of the best sites for pet care online continues to be Rover. The site lets you book everything from dog walking to doggy day care to long-term boarding, if you can’t be near your pup or cat. Making sure your pet gets some IRL time with someone during the day can go a long way towards boosting their mood and energy levels. Rover lets you choose the type of service you want, duration and location, all from an easy-to-use site and app.