So you have a new pet — Here's how to keep it happy once you return to work

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Becoming a new pet owner can be incredibly rewarding – you have the benefit of a new furry friend and your little friend gets a new home to call his own. But as much as we'd love to stay home with them and play fetch all day (we know our dogs would), the truth is that I am doing eventually you have to leave the house for long periods of time, for work, travel, what have you.

“Dog adoption has been the trend during the pandemic,” says Melissa Bacelar, founder of Wagmore Pets and owner of The Wagmor, a luxury hotel and pet spa in Los Angeles. “People lined up at 2am to adopt a dog from us!”

But after you adopt your pet and get them used to your place — then start going to work or travel — pet experts say it's important to make sure your dogs and cats get the same attention and care they get when you're around. at home with them.

“I've had dogs for the past 20 years, and as my life changes, I'm learning to adjust things accordingly so my animals are safe and happy,” says Bacelar. “You'll need to expect things like separation anxiety, leash aggression, timid behavior. You just need to come up with a plan that benefits everyone in the household.”

“Dogs are so adjustable and generally want to please,” Bacelar continues. “So as these things come up, we're going to have to work on them and work on education and socialization.”

What are the top pet products?

Whether you want to keep an eye on your pet while you're away, or keep them calm and comfortable when you can't be around them, companies have introduced pet products that help with everything from home monitoring to pet size entertainment .

Of course, all these products might keep your pets busy for a few hours, but they won't completely replace human interaction and the time you spend with them. At the end of the day, Bacelar says, “Pet ownership is for the dog's life, not a week or a year. These little creatures didn't ask to be part of your family. But once they're a part, they should be there to stay.”

The best pet products these days cover (smart) cat litter, sofa-style dog beds, and even pet-safe CBD aimed at keeping them calm and relaxed when you're out and about. Below we've rounded up some picks, including trendy, top-of-the-line pet products and gear that the pet parents on our team swear by.

1. Furbo Dog Camera

One of the most popular pet products is the Furbo Dog Camera. Designed as a security camera and feeder in one, Furbo offers a clear Full HD 1080p camera that lets you see your space live. No need to place it awkwardly somewhere – place it on your floor and get a 360-degree rotating wide-angle view. 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 allows you to store bite-sized treats inside so you can toss Fido or Fritz a treat, either to keep them busy or as a reward for them waiting patiently at home. Setup is as easy as plugging in a power cord and connecting the camera to WiFi.

Don't take our word for it—dog owners consistently rate the Furbo Dog Camera as one of the best pet products online, with an average review of 4.5 stars (out of five) from nearly 38,000 online reviewers.

2. ThunderShirt Dog Anxiety Jacket

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 smaller ones) calm and relaxed when you leave the house. That's where a straitjacket comes in.

ThunderShirt is one of the leading brands of dog jackets, with a comfortable and fitted design that applies gentle, continuous pressure around your dog to “calm stress, fear and excitement”.

The cozy jacket acts a bit like a heavy blanket, using light pressure to help your dog stay calm during fireworks, thunderstorms, vet visits and when he's home alone.

3. Boxie Glo Natural Attractions Clumping Clay Litter

One of our favorite cat pet brands 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 by using UV flashes that only cats can see so they know “this is the place to go”. Especially because cats love to dig, Glo's granules are soft and designed 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 prevent house fouling and can help with aversion or behavior problems with your cat surrounding the litter box. Of course, the Boxie also does a great job as a litter box, instantly trapping odor and also eliminating excess moisture, so you'll never smell your cat's dirty work again.

4. Furhaven Pet Bed

Not all pet beds are created equal. While there's no shortage of brands that make 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, as well as supportive side “bumps” to hold your pet safely and comfortably. Furhaven says its egg-crate foam base helps absorb pressure points, while the slats support the neck, back, hips and joints.

The plush fabric is extremely soft and smooth, yet durable enough to withstand long-term use. A bonus: the cover is fully machine washable.

5. Pawtect Pet Parents Blanket

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 super plush and comfortable, Pet Parents says the “Sherpup” fabric features an impermeable barrier that's waterproof, water and urine resistant.

The Pawtect blanket is great for throwing over your couch or bed when you want to keep your furniture drool and fur free, but it's also great for throwing over your pet's bed (see above) or cage, to keep them warm and comfortable. . The faux fur material is easy to care for and light enough to take with you when traveling or just moving from room to room.

6. Cornbread Hemp CBD for Pets

Much has been written about the effectiveness of CBD in helping you sleep better 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 USDA certified organic products made from full-spectrum hemp. Now, the company has applied the same science behind CBD oils for humans to an excellent CBD oil for pets.

Safe for dogs and cats, Cornbread says its CBD oil can help your pet relax, relieve discomfort or calm down (say, after being hyperactive at the park or if they've had a rough day and need to calm down). Start with a few drops in your pet's food or water bowl — the corn flavor catches their attention immediately and is easy to swallow. Increase the dose as needed or if you have a larger pet. The general rule of thumb for CBD for pets is 2mg per 10kg pet.

6. BarkBox

As your days and weeks get busier — with work, relationships, travel, etc. — sites like BarkBox have become lifesavers for pet owners like us. Think of BarkBox as the Amazon.com for pet toys and treats, without having to scroll through endless pages of stuff you don't really need. BarkBox is a monthly subscription that is fully 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 each month (like this month's “Yee Howl, Nashville!” theme featuring plush boots made for squeaking).

The games 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 cared for while you're away.

7. Petco Pet Grooming

Don't have time to bathe and groom your puppy? Petco now has an easy online booking service that allows you to book an appointment for a range of services from bathing to grooming, nail trimming to dental care. What we love: While there are one-size-fits-all sites, Petco allows you to book by breed so that each experience is tailored to your dog's size, breed and temperament.

8. Rover

One of the best pet care sites on the web continues to be Rover. The site lets you book everything from dog walking to dog daycare to long-term boarding if you can't be around your pup or cat. Making sure your pet gets IRL time with someone during the day can go a long way in boosting their mood and energy levels. Rover lets you choose the type of service you want, duration and location, all from one easy-to-use website and app.