My New Co-Worker

Beorn had a pop-up playpen that we used for travel or hanging out in the kitchen. He didn’t mind it when I put down towels on the bottom or if it was over carpet, but he didn’t like to walk when he could feel a tile floor underneath. We didn’t use it that often.

We needed to get Quentin comfortable with the playpen so he could travel with us. He was terrified during the first attempt (tile floor underneath), so I got him a padded insert. It’s waterproof, so if he pees on the pad, it won’t sink through to a carpet. It folds up tiny and stores with the playpen.

Every morning, after I’m settled at work, I open the playpen next to me, and Quentin goes to work, too. He pushes his ball with his nose and explores for treats and talks to himself as he walks around. I tell him what I’m working on and ask him to help me brainstorm. We share vegetables during lunch. If he gets tired, he has a space to take a nap, grab some hay, or take a sip of water. At the end of the day, he goes back to his cage, and I pack up his portable office and store it away.

Best coworker ever.