How to Get Your Dog to Work Without Being an Asshole
June 24th is National Bring Your Dog to Work Day, but many people take their pets to the office or other professional space more than once a year— usually to the delight of their co-workers. It’s great for dogs who don’t have to stay at home looking forward to the return of their loved one, and it can be a lot of fun for employees, but the process of bringing a puppy into the workplace still requires some planning to get it right. .
Make sure your dog is trained and ready to be around strangers.
According to Chewie , there are a few basic commands your dog needs to learn before taking him into your office, but the good news is that these are the ones you’ve probably already worked on with him. Before going to the workplace, your fluffy baby should know these commands:
- Sit
- stay
- come
- Go to [place]
- leave it
Your dog also needs to be cage-trained, or at least gate-trained, as you’ll still have to work and won’t be able to be with them every second. Chewy recommends purchasing a treat toy to make it a little easier for them to handle it.
Don’t let your dog run around the office unsupervised. They could disturb people, make a mess, get lost or get into something dangerous. If your dog is not familiar with “sit” and “stand” or cannot stay close to you, he is not ready for this adventure.
Make sure your co-workers don’t mind your dog’s presence
Ask the people who work near you if they are okay with bringing your dog with you. This is not a case where “it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission” would work if, say, someone is mortally allergic to dogs or mortally afraid of them, or if they just don’t want to work, being distracted by running. near. You can save money on a dog sitter or enjoy showing off your pet, but is a HR review worth it?
Speaking of HR, check with that department or your boss to make sure you’re even allowed to bring Fluffy with you. Many offices allow this, but there may be a rule—either at your company or the building it occupies—that forbids it.
Also, remember: you won’t be allowed to bring your animal back if it causes disruptions or upsets anyone and you might get in trouble. So make sure you do your homework ahead of time.
Pack the right supplies
In addition to the treat-handling toy mentioned above, you’ll need to pack quite a few things for your dog if you expect him to spend eight or more hours hanging out in the office without causing disturbance. Here’s what you’ll need:
- A box or other means of transporting them and/or in which they can hang out when you don’t let them scream under your desk.
- Leash when they need a potty
- water bowl
- Food bowl (and food)
- Heals
- Comfortable sleeping blanket
- Lots of toys, but not noisy.
- A small pillow, just in case
Be prepared that this will not be a regular work day.
People will likely stop to see your dog and news of the furry visitor will spread everywhere, so be prepared for occasional interruptions in your productivity. You also need to take your dog to the potty quite often, not only for his comfort, but also to avoid the horror and repercussions of having him go about his business at the office. Plan it, and if you don’t think you’ll have time for multiple breaks on a given day, don’t bring your dog with you. This is unfair to them or your colleagues.
The dog experts at Rover suggest going to the conference room alone for a while if your dog is overly restless and taking him for a long walk during lunch to tire him out. They also suggest assigning one of your co-workers the responsibility of taking care of the dog at a time when you need to work, go out to a meeting, or just take a break. Before bringing a dog, make sure you and the person agree to share some of the responsibility.
Ultimately, while having your pet around during the work day can be fun and rewarding, it’s a privilege (and responsibility) that you shouldn’t take lightly. As Mars Petcare points out , you must keep your dog and your co-workers safe, including making sure they don’t get in the way of anyone else doing their job. If you think you (or your dog) aren’t quite ready for this, don’t pack your dog.