Bringing your pet to work is increasingly seen as a win-win by businesses—a more pleasant work atmosphere for animal lovers and more productivity and (hopefully) more profits for management.
Maybe that’s why one in five U.S. companies allow their employees to bring their pets to work, according to a new study by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association.
But before you plant your dog into your cubicle for the day, know that there are plenty of “dos and don’ts” involved, and knowing the difference can improve your pet’s visit and enhance your own reputation in your workplace.
“When it comes to taking your dog to the office, the key to a safe and successful experience is to prepare your dog in advance and to recognize potential problem situations before they happen,” said Liam Crowe, president and COO of Englewood, Colorado-based Bark Busters, which has trained more than 350,000 dogs over the past eighteen years.
From Crowe and other pet experts, here are some helpful tips when bringing your dog to work:
- Note that most companies only allow dogs in the workplace. Check with your employer to see what animals are allowed at work.
- A workplace can be an anxious environment for you pet. Make it more “homey’’ by bringing your pet’s favorite snack, blanket, or toy to make them more comfortable.
- A hungry or thirsty pet can be a distraction in the workplace. To keep your dog in line, bring along plenty of food and water.
- To avoid conflict with other pets, keep your dog or other pet isolated from other employees’ pets.
- Recognize that your pet is different from other pets. While you may immediately “read’’ your pet’s mood, it’s not so easy to gauge the mood of an unfamiliar animal. Consequently, keep your eyes and ears open for signs of aggressiveness from other employees’ pets. For example, if another dog stares with its ears forward, has its hackles up, or growls aggressively, these are clear signals of adrenaline in the system and could indicate the dog is ready to attack.
- Conflicts between pets are inevitable. If your pet gets in a scramble with another animal in the office, keep a cool head and a handy blanket nearby. Toss the blanket over the squabbling pets to distract them, and then remove your pet from the scene.
