More and more offices and workspaces are becoming pet-friendly, and a recorded 79% of people want to discuss pet-friendly options while looking for jobs, so it makes sense that more and more companies are finding ways to make it work. There is even a day dedicated to taking your dogs to work, which occurs around June 23rd each year, depending on whether the day falls during the working week.
At Pet Drugs Online, we love nothing more than when someone brings their furry friend to work. However, several things need to be taken into account to ensure the health and safety of colleagues and pets remain our priority. Here, we’ve made a list of everything to consider when taking your dog into the office to provide the best experience for all involved.
Contents:
Before Bringing your Dog to Work
What to Bring When Taking Your Dog to Work
Having your Dog in the Workplace
Before Bringing your Dog to Work
Before you decide to bring your dog to work, there are some things you need to make sure of first, including if your place of work is suitable for a dog and if they allow them to be brought in. This should be discussed with your line manager before any other plans are made. After that:
Make sure no one in your office has any allergies or aversions to there being a dog in the office.
Familiarise yourself with any workplace policies regarding pets and sign any necessary documents or waivers.
Ensure your dog is healthy and up to date with all vaccinations and flea and worming treatments.
Make sure your workplace is safe for dogs (things like exposed wires and rubbish bins can be hazardous to dogs and need to be properly secured or removed to avoid temptations)
Can you supervise your dog throughout the day and give them appropriate walks/ bathroom breaks?
Is your dog well-behaved and socialised enough to be around people all day without causing distractions for yourself or other colleagues?
Make sure your dog is well-trained with positive reinforcement and is housetrained to avoid accidents in the office.
Ensure your dog has suitable identification, including a dog collar and tag with your details and a microchip.
What to Bring When Taking Your Dog to Work
Another important thing to remember when taking your dog to work is that you bring all the things your dog needs. We don’t just mean food and water (although this is crucial) but also things to make sure your dog is comfortable through the day and won’t be easily bored. This includes:
Your dog’s favourite blanket or bed to have near you so they can be comfortable and nap or lie down if they want to.
Bowls for your dog’s food and water and enough food to last them the day. Treats are also encouraged to reward your dog for their good behaviour throughout.
Your dog’s favourite toys to make sure they have a way to entertain themselves when you’re working to avoid them distracting you or others. We’d recommend bringing boredom breakers to really keep them preoccupied during the day.
Cleaning products to appropriately clean and disinfect any areas where your dog is sick or has an accident.
A lead or appropriate dog carrier.
If your dog can be nervous around new people or places, we also recommend using an appropriate dog calming aid to help them settle into the new environment. These are available in a number of formulas, including:
Diffusers like this Adaptil Calm Diffuser Pack
Food supplements like the Purina Pro Plan Relax Supplement Oil for Dogs or these Zylkene capsules.
Remember, every dog is different and some may not enjoy spending long periods of time in a new space, even if it is with their favourite human. Only bring your dog to the office if you're sure they will be comfortable being in a new environment and being surrounded by new people, as anxiety in dogs can lead to some behavioural problems, adding to your daily work stress as you worry for them.
Having your Dog in the Workplace
When you get to work with your dog, set up their things beside your desk where they can easily reach and relax while you work. If the set-up might take some time, it may be worth arriving a little earlier than usual to ensure you’re ready for when the workday starts.
If other dogs are in the office, it’s essential to ensure that they are introduced and socialised beforehand. This can be done more easily with dogs, but even their introductions can go either way, and it’s important not to distract others while they work. If you can’t find the time to introduce them before the work day starts, try to organise for the current office dog to be introduced to yours in the car park and take them for a short walk together. This way, the current dog should be more likely to accept the new dog into their territory. Some more things you should remember throughout the workday with your dog are:
Ensure they’re always supervised, whether by yourself or with a responsible coworker already familiar with and managing your dog.
Make sure you have time for regular bathroom breaks to stop your dog from becoming uncomfortable and let them expend some of their energy.
Always ensure they have access to food and water throughout the day and top them up when needed.
Be prepared to clean up after your dog if they have an accident. Frequent walks should minimise the risk of this, but accidents do happen, especially if your dog is particularly excitable. Remember never to punish your dog if it has a bathroom accident, and instead reward them when it goes during a bathroom break.
Ensure their belongings are not trip hazards for other coworkers and keep their things tidy and out of the way.
Reward your dog for its calm behaviour. The more well-behaved your dog is, the more likely it is to come to the office more frequently.
In some cases, you may be able to take your dog with you for meetings or coffee breaks in the office, but dogs should be kept out of kitchen areas for hygiene purposes.
We understand that not all workplaces are suitable for dogs, and some may be more welcoming than others, but we hope these tips can help you create a positive work environment for you, your colleagues, and your dog! It will give you more time to spend with your beloved dog, and having an animal in the office can create a warm and positive environment for others to enjoy.
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