Whether an office is opening its door for “Bring a Dog to Work Day” or it has a company policy that allows office pets all day/every day, its employees need to understand that the success of this opportunity is partially up to them. The following information offers tips for employees to consider when taking their dog away from home and bringing it into their workplace. 

Tip #1. Check with the Vet

Whenever a dog goes somewhere new or encounters another dog, they are at an increased risk of disease. Before heading out to the workplace where other dogs will be present, it’s important to talk to the veterinarian to ensure that the animal is:

• Healthy
• Up-to-date on all vaccinations
• Current on parasite preventives.

The following animals should not be taken to work:

• Nursing mothers
• Puppies under 4 months of age
  • Sometime around this age the puppy’s maternal immunity will be begin to wear off to allow their own immunity system to take over, which makes them more vulnerable to disease
  • While socialization is important, puppies this young should be kept away from large numbers of dogs when there is no way to be absolutely positive that the dogs are all healthy and vaccinated
• Females in heat.

Tip #2. Check with Workplace Employees

Not everyone loves dogs. In order to respect the workplace, employees should consult with their co-workers to determine whether bringing their pet to work could create a problem. If there is someone within the office who is afraid of dogs or who has a medical reason to avoid them, a discussion should be held and suggestions need to be asked for in order to find a way to accommodate all employees.

Tip #3. Consider the Dog

While having dogs at work may make the environment more relaxed, it is a place of business, and work still needs to be done. To avoid unnecessary workplace disruptions, employees need to think about their pet and its behavior. While most dogs will enjoy spending the day away from home, other dogs may not. Just because dogs can be brought to work    doesn’t mean that all should. Thought needs to be given to things such as:

• Activity level
  • Is the dog calm or is it hyper?
  • Will its energy needs allow for work to be completed as expected?
• Types of reaction
  • When the animal is in new places or around unfamiliar dogs and people, how does it respond?
    • Cautious or fearful
    • Confrontational
    • Aggressive or territorial
    • Friendly or indifferent
  • Does the dog become protective or overprotective of its owner?
• Barking
  • Does the animal know to stay quiet, or does it bark a lot?
  • Could barking disrupt the concentration of coworkers or frighten customers?
• Bathroom needs
  • Is the animal house broken?
  • Are there any issues with incontinence?
  • When the dog gets upset or is in a stressful situation, does it submissively urinate?
• Training
  • Does the animal know and respond to the basic commands of:
    • “No!”
    • “Stay”
    • “Down”
    • “Come”
  • Does it know how to walk correctly on a leash?
• Fixed vs. not-fixed issues
  • Being out in public with a dog that has been fixed is often easier than with one that is not
  • Unaltered males may mark and urinate on office furniture
  • Females in heat will attract a male dog’s attention and may spot where they rest.

Tip #4. Employee Responsibilities

Additional employee responsibilities that surround the decision to bring a pet to work include:

• Making sure the dog has up-to-date licensing
• Transporting pet safely and securely to/from work
• Supplying food, water, bowls for the pet, plus materials to clean up afterwards
• Providing a place for the animal to rest, and quiet toys to keep it from becoming bored
• Walking the animal for short exercise and bathroom breaks, supplies for cleaning up afterwards
• Supervising the animal at all times, devising a back-up plan when this isn’t possible.

When followed, these tips offer helpful suggestions for anyone wanting to share their work day with their pet!