Does your workplace have a pet policy, but you aren’t sure how to best take advantage of it? 

At HR Online, we see more and more companies have recognised the positive benefits of having a pet with you during your workday, but that doesn’t mean you should leash up Fido and drag him (or her) along with you just because you can. 

There are a few important details you need to consider if this decision is not only best for you but best for your pet?

Inspect the benefits of such a decision, what essential know-how you need in advance, and how to best make this a successful endeavour from day one. 

Benefits of Pets in the Workplace

The workplace can often be a stressful environment that needs a strategy for happiness, even when you don’t come in regular contact with the many behaviours and emotions of co-workers. 

In fact, many people keep pets to help alleviate their day to day stressors to provide them with a distraction from the events and feelings you may struggle with after a long day of work (even when you love your job). 

Pets also provide companionship, which can be very soothing, for both office workers and those who live and work from home alone. Therefore, it makes sense that these same benefits would apply to your classic workspace as well, right?

Office Pups Are A Reminder of Work/Life Balance

Studies have actually shown that neglecting the things that make you happy can inhibit your productivity. Having your dog with you throughout the workday can remind you of what you are working for – a happier, stable life, and that it needs to be the main focus of your day. 

Otherwise, why work in the first place? This results in more efficient work and influences relief from stressors related to your job. 

Still, trading dog walk time as a perk or an element of gamification in the office is a great idea.

Office Dogs Bring Long-Term Healthcare Benefits

If you take your dog on the job or work from home with your pet, you’ll have to get up to go for the occasional walk and potty break. This is good for you both mentally and physically and ends up affecting your healthcare costs. 

Pet ownership has long proven to help work on positive mental health support, plus, getting up and moving around is a proactive approach to a healthier you – especially if your job is more stagnant. Not to mention all the peculiar know-how you’ll find throughout pet blogs and social media.

Office Dogs Act As Stress Reduction

Mentioned earlier is how pets influence healthier mental health through the reduction of stress. Just petting a dog works to lower cortisol levels, which feeds your flight or fight responses when faced with fear and stress-inducing stimulus. 

This allows you to better process emotional discomfort. This also results in lower blood pressure, reduces loneliness, and boosts your mood – all things that can help combat stress. 

Know Your Company Policies

Obviously, you need to know your company policies on the neat and tidy workplace and such an opportunity. It isn’t easy and making it fully legal may require some specific actions prior to our dog being allowed in your work area, but it’s always manageable. For example, you may need to show proof of vaccination. 

Also, it is important you get your dog some basic training, so you have no issues with them staying calm, keeping a friendly temperament in new situations, and listening to your commands while on the job. 

Consider Your Co-Workers

Even when your place of employment allows dogs on the job, you want to feel out how your immediate co-workers may feel about this, as navigating workplace personalities is far from easy.

Fear of dogs and allergies are things you cannot control, and so respecting these possibilities is a must. 

Sometimes there are solutions that can work out for everyone involved with respectful conversations – such as meeting your pet beforehand for anyone nervous about the idea or respecting spaces for allergy issues. 

How To Introduce Dogs In The Office

You must realise that everybody will be overexcited about a new puppy. It will be a rescue for some, and it will the first pup for many. This puppy could be the best thing that has happened to me in a long time.

That being said, take some precautions to prevent your new puppy from being harmed by other pets or people.

It would be best to give it a few fast rounds of meeting everybody to, later on, distribute the dog walks schedule.

Make sure that your office puppy is safe and healthy, and get it tracking gear.

Tips for Office Dog Success

Not all dogs are cut out for the workplace. You don’t want to make your best buddy uncomfortable or stressed by putting them in a situation that they aren’t enjoying. 

Are dogs in the kitchen at the office a problem? Maybe no. It would be a disaster if you leave a pup in the kitchen. It’ll stay there forever. 

Be sure you feel out of this new environment slowly and make the right decisions that are best for your pup. 

If you have decided this is a great idea for you and your pup, and your co-workers agree, review the steps to take for success!

• Take care of basic vaccinations, training, and temperament. 
• Make sure your dog has all their contact information on its collar. 
• Be sure your co-workers are comfortable with the idea.
• Introduce your dog slowly to a new environment.
• Offer your dog a kennel if they are used to it, their favourite beds and blankets.
• Make sure your dog’s hygiene is kept up with regular grooming and bathing.
• If feeding your dog at work, use a slow food bowl to help give them something to do.
• Consider bringing their favourite toy or bone, but avoid squeaky toys or anything else that makes noise. 
• Be sure to have a way to secure your dog at all times with a leash or harness.
• Always have poop bags and cleaning supplies on hand for walks or possible accidents and stay alert that cleaning carpets from dog smell naturally is not a future-proof solution. 

Problems With Dogs In The Office

• Do you know have skipping on hygiene could pose a risk to food and pests? Dogs in the office. Fleas. An infestation can rapidly spread far beyond your office.
• Mind wellbeing and safety of bites, scratch wounds, and allergies.
• Property damage and office maintenance for chewing and digging can cause problems.
• Indoor or outdoor greenery can suffer, especially if exterior integrates micro gardens, container gardening or flower beds or other plant life needing dog-proofing.
• Stress of moving when you relocate the office.  
• Insurance and legal.

Office Pup Grows a Dog, Recap

The bottom line is, if you can take your dog to work, it is well worth exploring the possibility of making that success for both you and your pet. 

Not only is it conducive to your day-to-day routine, but it helps influence a healthier lifestyle and influence a more relaxed working atmosphere. Be sure to check into the details of making this happen, and then enjoy the company of your best friend!