June 24th is a bone-afide holiday for some pet parents!
Bringing your dog into the work office might seem like an absolute dream to some puppy guardians! Between boosting morale and building a sense of community within the workplace, dogs at work have a real scientific basis for being good for humans too. A recent survey showed almost 70% of employees wish they could bring their dog to work, and nearly 60% said they’d pick an employer who is dog-friendly over one who’s not.
This has even inspired a full holiday in June for bringing your dog to work, that’s right – National Take Your Dog to Work Day is nearly upon us, and if your job is one of the locations celebrating such a day there are some things you can do to prepare before packing up your pooch for a nine to five!
How to Prepare
First and foremost, it’s important to get permission to bring your pet to work. Even on a day like National Take Your Dog to Work Day there are plenty of workplaces that will likely not be allowing pups into their doors, because of this it is important to check beforehand if your place of work will be partaking in the fun this year!
If your place of work is very much celebrating this June 24th, the next thing to consider is your individual dog’s personality. Make sure your pet enjoys meeting new people, and the other pets that are likely to be at your workplace. Are they going to have a good time? Ask yourself: “is my dog a good candidate for coming into the office?” Think about what your dog would most prefer to do with their day, if they are going to spend the entire day anxious at work with you it might be better to leave them at home for the day.
To protect your coworkers and their pets, it is also important to make certain your pet’s vaccinations are up to date. If you aren’t sure, contact your veterinarian ahead of time and get any needed shots or flea/tick preventative before bringing them into work. Also, make sure your pet is clean and hasn’t recently been exposed to sand, mud, or other grim they might trek into the office. These are both ways to respect your coworkers and the pets they might bring in with them!
It is also important to check in with where your dog is with their obedience training, if your dog has a hard time spending long hours relaxing quietly it might be the wrong time to bring them into work, remember these are the kind of behaviors that would be required of them within your workplace. It is imperative to not set your dog up for failure with a challenge we know they are incapable of successfully facing.
If your dog is a good fit to take in to meet the office family and you plan on going forward with bringing them into work it might be a good idea to pack along a bag of your dog’s things for the day. This may include things such as: their regular meals, treats, and bowls for food and water, as well as toys and even a bed or blanket for comfort. Having all the proper supplies will help to not disrupt the workflow while still being prepared as a dog parent!
A few days before bringing your pup to work it’s also advisable to check around your workspace for potential dangers to your pet. Figure out ahead of time where they should and should not go. For example, don’t let them wander into designated pet-free zones like cafeterias, employee bathrooms, or production areas. Also, be sure to keep them away from workplace hazards like heavy equipment and potential pet poisons like cleaners and certain plants.
The Day of Your Doggie Office Mate
Finally, by bringing your pet into the workplace you understand that it’s your responsibility to make sure your dog stays safe and doesn’t negatively affect anyone else at work. We advise using a gate, leash, or crate to keep your pet connected to you, in your area, cubicle, or desk space. Also, arrange in advance for a colleague to watch them if you have a meeting where your pup can’t tag along. This will ensure you are prepared for whatever the day throws at you and even if your eyes aren’t always on your pooch (which let’s be honest, if you’re working how can they be?) that they aren’t off wandering around and getting into trouble.
If your dog isn’t a good candidate for “Take Your Dog to Work Day”, that’s alright! They can always hang out with us at school to learn the fundamental behaviors that would allow them to participate in the holiday next year! Just get in contact with us about setting up a consultation to get started on your pup’s reward-based education.
