There are lots of benefits to Take Your Dog to Work Day – and these include factors which apply to the wellbeing of (human!) professionals and pet communities. With the cause raising awareness and funds for pet charities over many years, the day is a great time to shed a light on ways in which to help boost the safety and happiness of animals. On top of that though, studies have shown that Take Your Dog to Work Day is also great for human happiness and wellbeing, with stress levels of workers being severely reduced, and efficiency and productivity levels rising as a result.
With that in mind, and with the day being a growing phenomenon all over the world, here are a few tips which it might be useful to bear in mind if you are planning to take your dog into work this year on June 21st:
1. Make sure the workplace is suitable for your dog
Although it is such a great thing to do in so many workplaces, you should be aware that there are various places where it is not such a great idea, for reasons of safety primarily. Workplaces such as restaurants and factories for example will have strict regulations in place which means that taking your dog into work in this case will not be an option.
2. Carry out all the necessary checks
If you are planning to participate in Take Your Dog to Work Day at your office, then there are certain checks which it would be best to follow. You will need to be top of all the insurance and health & safety checks. As well as doing that, you should carry out a general risk assessment and have it officially documented. Related to this too is the matter of checking your dog. This may seem a strange idea, but it is simply to say that all the dogs coming into work should be healthy and not carrying any injuries or sicknesses. It won’t be too much fun for them if they are dragged out to a day in the office whilst they should be getting some rest to recover from any kind of ailment!
3. Keep an eye on your dog and have a quiet space ready
There may be some workplaces that don’t have any specific regulations in place that mean dogs shouldn’t be in there, but there could still be issues that may cause your dog to stress or worry. This could especially be the case in high intensity, loud workspaces. So, when your dog joins in the fun at work, you should check if they seem to be having a nice time by making sure they aren’t panting too much or constantly licking their lips. If things get a bit too much and your dog seems to be a bit overwhelmed, then it is always preferable to have a quiet and relaxed place prepared in the office, where you can take them to chill out and have a bit of peace for a moment.
4. Make sure there is enough water and walkies!
To ensure that your dog remains cheerful and their wellbeing remains high throughout the whole day, you should make sure that they have enough access to water, with plenty of bowls being set up and readily accessible. On top of that, dogs (famously!) love their daily walk, so you should bear this in mind when you are organising the day. This means that, if you do bring your dog into work, you might want to have some pre-planned lunchtime walk routes in mind so that you can use this slot in the day to allow your dog to stretch their legs. Also, it is important that you make a point of taking your dogs outside for regular potty breaks.
5. Make sure that your dog is comfortable
If you are someone who gets the underground to work in the middle of rush hour, then you might want to consider other options which will allow your dog to be more relaxed and comfortable. Then, once you have brought your dog into work, make sure you have a comfy bed or two for them to sit peacefully in.
6. Be responsible for your pet
Each person should be in control of their pet at all times, and also aware of where their pet is (and who they might be bothering!) It will probably be the case that your dog will want to sit by your side for most of the time, but there is always a potential for them to become office explorers. In this case, you shouldn’t leave it up to other people to look after them, and indeed if you do have to pop out on an errand where your dog can’t come with you, you should ask someone to keep an eye on your dog whilst you are gone.