How to Keep Your Dog Busy While You Work From Home

June 1, 2025

How to keep dogs busy while you work from home

Working from home sounds great until your dog decides your video call is the perfect time to bark, whine, or demand attention. Keeping your dog entertained and calm during work hours is a real challenge — but natural chews are one of the most effective solutions available.

Why Dogs Get Bored During Work Hours

Dogs are social animals. When their owner is physically present but mentally unavailable, they can experience frustration and anxiety. This often manifests as barking, destructive chewing, pawing, or constant interruptions. The key is giving them a satisfying activity that holds their attention independently.

Natural Chews as a Focus Tool

Natural chews like bully sticks and gullet sticks trigger a dog's natural "working" behavior — the sustained focus required to chew a tough, long-lasting treat engages both body and mind. During a good chew session, dogs enter a calm, focused state that can last 30-90 minutes.

Best Chews for Work-From-Home Sessions

Bully Sticks (6" or 12")

A 12" jumbo bully stick can keep a medium-to-large dog occupied for an entire meeting. The length ensures they stay engaged, and the difficulty of chewing through it keeps their mind busy.

Collagen Sticks

Denser than bully sticks, collagen sticks last even longer. Perfect for extended focus periods like deep work sessions or important calls.

Beef Gullet Sticks

Great for dogs who prefer a softer chew. The hollow structure provides a satisfying texture that keeps dogs engaged without requiring aggressive chewing.

Tips for Maximum Effectiveness

Give the chew 10 minutes before your important call or meeting
Create a designated "chew spot" — a bed or mat where your dog goes to chew
Rotate chew types to prevent boredom with one flavor
Save the best chews for the most important work sessions
Establish a routine — dogs learn quickly when to expect their chew

SuperCan offers bully sticks, gullet sticks, and collagen sticks in bulk packs — so you can stock up and always have a chew ready when the next important call rolls around.

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My rescue dog trusts these — and that says everything

Duke came from a shelter with food aggression and a sensitive stomach from years of poor diet. Getting him on any treat was a process. These gullet sticks were the first thing he accepted without hesitation probably because they smell like real meat with nothing artificial. His stomach handles them perfectly, no loose stools, no vomiting. After 6 weeks on them his coat went from dull and patchy to genuinely shiny. The vet said his overall condition had improved significantly. For rescue owners dealing with sensitive dogs, this single-ingredient chew is the safest starting point I've found.

Three dogs, three sizes — all obsessed

I have a Chihuahua, a Beagle, and a Husky. Finding one treat that works for all three has always been impossible. These gullet sticks are the exception. Penny (the Chihuahua) takes almost 45 minutes to finish one. Biscuit (the Beagle) is done in about 20. Thor (the Husky) gets two per session and finishes both in under 30 minutes combined. All three have noticeably better breath and calmer energy after chewing. The 25-pack runs out in about 2 weeks in our house so we subscribe for the discount. Ordering consistency is just as good as the product itself. 10/10 for a multi-dog household.

Post-surgery recovery — these helped more than I expected

My 6-year-old Aussie had ACL surgery in January. Her orthopedic vet recommended natural glucosamine sources as part of the rehab protocol, so we added gullet sticks to her daily routine. She was non-weight-bearing for 6 weeks and during that time the mental stimulation from chewing was a lifesaver — kept her calm and in her crate without the stress. Now 4 months post-op she's walking normally and her follow-up imaging showed excellent joint tissue regeneration. I credit the combination of PT, supplements, and these sticks. The vet asked for the brand name to recommend to other patients.

My dog lost weight and kept his chew win-win!

Zeus is a 5-year-old Rottweiler who was about 12 lbs overweight. Our vet put him on a strict diet and I had to cut most of his treats. Gullet sticks made the approved list because they're naturally low in fat and high in protein — so he gets his chew session without derailing the diet. He's lost 9 lbs over 4 months and his energy is way up. I give him 2 sticks every other day as his treat allowance. He absolutely attacks them. The joint support is a bonus since Rotties are prone to hip issues as they age. Finally a treat the vet didn't make me feel guilty about.

Switched from bully sticks never going back!

We were buying bully sticks for our Vizsla for two years. They worked fine but the smell was unbearable and Remy would finish one in under 10 minutes. A neighbor suggested gullet sticks and I figured why not. First difference: almost no smell. Second difference: he takes 35–40 minutes on each one instead of inhaling it. Third difference: his joints — Remy is 5 and very active, and after 6 weeks on gullet sticks his post-run stiffness noticeably decreased. I think the natural glucosamine and chondroitin is actually doing something. Same price point, longer lasting, no smell, better benefits. Done with bully sticks.

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How to Keep Your Dog Busy While You Work From Home

Why Dogs Get Bored During Work Hours

Natural Chews as a Focus Tool