How to Care for
Your Pets When
You Return to the
Office
Essential Pet Care Advice for Busy Professionals Returning to the Office
Returning to the office?
You're not alone. It's estimated that over 300,000 people in the DC region are doing the same thing.
For dogs who’ve grown used to your constant presence during the pandemic, this sudden change can lead to anxiety, behavioral issues, and even health risks.
How Long Can I Leave My Dog Alone?
Even before RTO, this was a common question. After all, we love our dogs and want to spend as much time with them as possible, but we all have lives too!
Most healthy adult dogs can tolerate being alone for 6–8 hours, provided they have access to the outdoors for bathroom breaks and enough space to move around.
Puppies, senior dogs, and those with health or behavioral issues need much shorter periods—puppies, for example, should only be left for an hour per month of age up to a maximum of 6–8 hours after six months. However, just because dogs can adapt to being left alone for a workday doesn't mean it's ideal.
Dogs are naturally social, pack-oriented animals, and long-term solitary or small-group living can lead to significant mental health impacts. Extended isolation may cause anxiety, depression, destructive behaviors, excessive barking, or even self-harm in some cases.
Over time, dogs deprived of regular social interaction and mental stimulation may become withdrawn, less playful, or develop difficulties interacting with humans and other animals.
Ensuring your dog receives adequate companionship and enrichment is crucial for their long-term well-being.
We get it—between beltway traffic, packed metro schedules, and back-to-back meetings, there’s barely time for a proper lunch, let alone a midday dog walk. Yet our pets still need exercise, bathroom breaks, and mental stimulation throughout the day. Left alone too long, even the best-behaved dog can develop stress-related behaviors like chewing, excessive barking, or accidents.
This is why so many local pet parents are asking: “How long can I leave my dog alone?” or “Who takes care of dogs during the day?” You’re not a bad dog parent for needing help—you’re a responsible one for finding it. In this guide, we’ll walk you through your real-world options and introduce a solution trusted by busy families all over Northern Virginia, Maryland, and the West Virginia Panhandle.
Your Options: Doggy Daycare, Rover, and In-Home Help
When you're gone for 9 to 12+ hours daily, your dog still needs bathroom breaks, movement, and human contact. Fortunately, several types of pet care services can help, but not all are created equal.
Doggy Daycare: These facilities offer supervised play, socialization, and structured care. They’re great for dogs who enjoy being around other pups, but daycare is expensive. It often costs $40–$75 per day and requires you to shuttle your dog to and from the facility, adding 30–60 minutes to your daily routine. Some dogs may also find daycares overstimulating, leading to exhaustion or stress.
Rover & Gig Apps: Platforms like Rover and Wag offer flexible scheduling with local sitters and walkers. While some pet parents love their walkers, others experience issues with no-shows, inconsistent communication, or untrained individuals. Because most providers are independent contractors, accountability and vetting can be limited.
Professional In-Home Pet Visits: A trained, background-checked professional visits your home to walk, feed, or care for your dog. This option keeps your pet comfortable in its own environment, reduces exposure to illness, and avoids stressful transitions. It’s also ideal for multi-dog households and dogs that prefer a quieter routine. It also saves you over 80 hours a year over shuttling your dog into and out of a car twice a day and to and from a daycare. All of this, for less cost than doggy daycare.
While each option has its benefits, only in-home care delivers the perfect balance of comfort, reliability, money, and time-saving convenience—especially when it comes from a trusted local team.
Imagine…
While you're working hard, your dog is getting the care, attention, and exercise they need—right from the comfort of your own home. No stressful trips to a crowded daycare. No wondering if the gig worker from an app actually showed up. Just dependable, loving care from trained local pros.
And when you pull into your driveway at the end of a long day, you’re greeted by a happy, relaxed pup… and a yard that’s clean, poop-free, and ready for family time.
No more stressing about squeezing in walks when you can barely walk.
No more wasting weekends scooping the yard when you have a million other things to do.
No more apologizing to guests who step in a “surprise.”
What if your weekday routine went from:
Get dog(s) into car
Take dog(s) Daycare
Go to work
Stop back at daycare on way home
Get dog(s) back into car
Get home
Relax
To:
Go to work
Come Home
Relax
That’s where Waggin’ Tails Pet Services comes in.
We’re the only local pet care company that offers a full-service solution built for busy pet parents like you.
Daily dog walking/play time from 15-60 minutes
✅ Midday potty breaks prevent accidents and boredom
✅ Physical activity keeps your dog healthy and well-behaved
✅ You get peace of mind knowing someone reliable stops by daily
Dog Walking
Drop-In Visits
Personalized in-home care for comfort and peace of mind
✅ Your dog stays in their familiar environment, reducing stress
✅ Ideal for puppies, seniors, or dogs with medical needs
✅ Tailored routines and 1-on-1 attention build trust and comfort
Poop-Scooping
Weekly poop scooping to keep your yard fresh and guest-ready
✅ No more weekend chores or last-minute backyard sweeps
✅ Eliminates odors and reduces health hazards for kids and pets
✅ Professionally cleaned with pet-safe tools and sanitized equipment
Serving Loudoun, Clarke, Jefferson, and Frederick Counties (VA & MD), we’re proud to support our local community with trusted, professional, and pet-loving care.
Whether you're back in the office full-time or just juggling a busy household, Waggin’ Tails makes it easier to give your dog what they need—without adding stress to your life.
That’s exactly what Waggin’ Tails Pet Services does for local pet parents every week!
We’re not just a company — we’re your neighbors. We live here, walk here, scoop here, and care deeply about the pets and families we serve across Loudoun, Clarke, Jefferson, and Frederick counties.
Our mission is simple: make life easier for busy pet parents while giving dogs the love, exercise, and attention they deserve — all without disrupting your daily routine.
Whether you’re commuting to DC, juggling kids’ activities, or just trying to keep up with life, we’re here to help with:
🐾 Trusted in-home pet care that keeps your dog calm and content
🚶♀️ Reliable dog walking while you’re at work
💩 Yard cleanup that actually frees up your weekends
With trained, background-checked professionals, real-time photo updates, and our Poop-Free Guarantee™, we take pride in delivering consistent, caring, and affordable service you can count on.
If you’ve been searching online for “pet care near me,” “dog walker Loudoun County,” or “who picks up dog poop in my yard,” — you’ve just found your answer.
Let Waggin’ Tails take something off your plate… and out of your yard.
How It Works
Getting started with Waggin’ Tails is fast, flexible, and hassle-free. Here’s what to expect:
📋 Tell Us About Your Pets
Fill out our quick quote form with details like how many dogs you have, your address, and what kind of care you need—walking, drop-ins, poop scooping, or all three.🤝 Meet Your Pet Care Pro
We’ll schedule a free meet-and-greet so you and your pup can get to know your dedicated Waggin’ Tails tech. All team members are background-checked, trained, and pet-loving locals.📸 We Handle the Rest (Literally)
Once service begins, we show up on schedule, care for your pets like they’re our own, and leave your yard cleaner than we found it. You’ll get real-time visit updates with GPS tracking and photos.
Here is what our customers say about us
“Very seldom do I give a review with a score of 10 (excellent service), but the attention that has been given to my fur babies is exceptional and outstanding. I am very pleased with your service and the feedback that you provide after each visit.”
“It’s great to have professionals I can trust”
“Waggin’ Tails is a lifesaver. With two dogs and over an hour commute each way, I don’t know how we’d manage without them.””
