Coronavirus: Dogs are essential to working from home setups

Working from home is throwing up some challenges for those lucky enough to be doing it, but there is one thing that can make it easier.

Working from home during self isolation can be intense. Picture: Supplied

The coronavirus pandemic is forcing an unprecedented number of people to work from home as only essential workers like health care staff, supermarket workers and delivery drivers continue going to work to support the rest of us.

The shift in work arrangements is an interesting template for a potential work from home revolution for those who usually work in an office.

RELATED: Follow the latest coronavirus updates

Lines stretching outside Centrelink offices this week showed the devastating impact of the pandemic as potentially millions of Australians are suddenly without a job.

For those lucky enough to still be working, it’s now largely from home.

And the dogs of Australia are rejoicing that their owners are now home 24/7 — able to only leave to take them for a walk.

Cats are presumably confused as to what this new serf is doing in their kingdom but spend most of the day sleeping anyway.

At news.com.au we have largely transitioned to working from home to continue bringing you all the latest updates on the coronavirus.

Some of us also have new colleagues to thank for keeping morale high in these challenging times.

If you’re working from home with your pet too, let us know! Share your home office set up and your new interns and apprentices at this link.

Mayo may be named after a former NBA player but it’s very hard to dunk without opposable thumbs.

Sports reporter James McKern’s dog Mayo is cheering him up at a time when both the AFL and NBA are cancelled. Fittingly the nine-year-old English bulldog is named after basketballer O.J. Mayo.

We can all hope to be as excited as Miles is one day, presumably when the pub reopens.

Journalist Phoebe Loomes is the proud owner of the excitable (and therefore blurry) rescue dog Miles.

Find yourself someone who looks at you the way James’ dog looks at him.

Finance reporter James Hall with the regal cocker spaniel Floyd, seen here asking for attention.

Real-life dogs are cute but they come with their own problems.

National affairs reporter Benedict Brook’s french bulldog may be stuffed but those button eyes are sewn on, making them less likely to fall off when compared to a living french bulldog, if you can call what they do living.

Dog purists told Pancho his jaw was too long but we think it’s cute.

Social media producer Rachel Lang with her dog Pancho. The purebred long-haired chihuahua was destined to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a show dog, but an overly long jaw put an end to his Westminster ambitions. Luckily, like many aspiring models whose dreams have been dashed, Pancho has an Instagram career to fall back on.

Of course, we’re not the only ones releasing the hounds to chase away the despair of isolation.

US Army recruiter Ben Anthony shared this photo of his new secretary on Instagram.

While earlier this week she was the subject of much spilt tea on the internet about what a big meanie she allegedly is, here’s Ellen DeGeneres in isolation with three of her dogs.

The heart truly weeps for the multi-millionaire as she is forced to remain in her huge mansion.

Thank god she has the dogs nearby and her Australian wife Portia between 1 and 1.5 metres away for support.