Dog between people in the office

Who let the dogs in?

The A-to-Z of getting the office ready for Take Your Dog To Work Day

24.6.2022

Pet Sitters International celebrated the first annual Take Your Dog to Work Day on the Friday following Father’s Day in 1999. The original goal was to create awareness of the bond between humans and dogs to encourage adoption. The yearly event has now also sparked an interest to welcome more furry friends to workplaces.

Studies have shown there are benefits in allowing dogs in the workplace like stress relief. However, a few things need to be in place to make the office comfortable for you, your dog, and your colleagues.

 

The A-to-Z of getting the office ready for Take Your Dog To Work Day

I

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I for ID on collar


Circulate an e-mail beforehand with your cellphone number, the dog’s name as well as where you work in the building. This should be the same as the information on his collar or ID-tag. 

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J

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J for Junk 


It is a good time to clean the office out and get junk that might be dangerous to your K9 such as old boxes out of the way. Fasten electrical and computer cables to the wall. 

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K

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K for Keep to a certain space


If you have a removable dog gate at home, install it at your own office door to keep your dog from roaming.

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L

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L for Lids of garbage bins


These should be tightly fitting to deter your furry friend from a sniffing inspection.

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M for Meeting place


Agree beforehand with other colleagues bringing dogs where you can meet and introduce possible future friends. 

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N 

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N for Noise


Do a noise check in the office beforehand to curb dog noise anxiety. 

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O for Office protocols


Make yourself familiar with company policy for bringing animals to work. 

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P

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P for Potty breaks & poop bags


Be sure to take your dog for walks at regular intervals. Make sure that you take poop bags and a poop scoop along to clean up behind your dog. 

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Q

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Q for Quarrels


To prevent conflict, socialise your dog beforehand at a doggy date with a friend’s dog. 

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R for Respect


Respect colleagues’ wishes who are afraid of dogs and maybe arrange just a visit to the office for an hour in an outside area. 

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S

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S for Space


It is important to check with the company’s landlord that bringing a dog to the office is not against your lease and the office space you are in.

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T

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T for Toys


Squeaky sound toys are popular with dogs but might be unpopular at the office. Rather bring one that can be quietly chewed. 

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U

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U for U-turn


Put a “Dog-in-the-office’ sign on your door for in case a colleague might prefer to make a U-turn at the door and rather phone you. 

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V

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V for Vaccination


Check that your dog’s vaccinations are in place. Double check that your dog has been vaccinated against kennel cough. 

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W

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W for Walkies


Plan a route for a neighbourhood walk-around which takes in plenty of open green space.

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X

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X for X-it


Agree on an exit plan beforehand for in case you and colleagues need to take the dogs outside in an emergency. 

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Y

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Y for Yapping


Make sure that you know how to calm your dog down should a yapping spurt happen in the office. 

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Z

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Z for Zone


Name a pet-free zone, like a meeting room, where colleagues would not be distracted by dogs

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Elize Parker_ZA Press Officer

Elize Parker

Public Relations Officer

Elize is a former environmental journalist who specialised in the writing of wildlifecrime and endangered species. She was also a columnist for seven years with a weekly magazine and has a popular column on a foremost portal. She has published more than 40 book titles ranging from fiction to motivational books.

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