Is Your Dog Ready for the Office?

Thinking about taking your dog into work, but not sure if they’re ready for the office? Here are some questions to ask yourself.

There’s no better feeling than getting home to your excited pooch, or even better yet, working from home with a dog as your furry work companion. So, with more and more businesses making their workplaces dog-friendly, it’s possible you’re considering taking your furry friend into the office for the whole team to enjoy having around. But is your pooch really ready for the office? Dogs are the best, but let’s face it, some might be too excitable or mischievous for a work setting!

Before heading off to work with your dog in tow, here are a few things you might want to ask yourself.

Is your dog properly socialised?

This is a really important one, as your dog will be exposed to lots of new people, sights and sounds in the office. That’s a lot to take in if they’re not used to being in busy environments.

Well-socialised dogs will find it a lot easier to adapt to going into the office. So, before you start taking your dog to work with you, introduce them to plenty of people and other dogs, and take them for walks in places that will get them used to various sounds. Make sure you reward the behaviours you want to see from them at work. This will help to stop your dog jumping up at people and other common dog behaviour problems that can be triggered by over excitement or anxiety.

Is your dog toilet trained?

The last thing you need when taking your pooch to work with you is for them to have a little accident on the office floor, so it’s important that your dog is toilet trained. Once you’re confident that they’re housebroken, you’ll have a lot more peace of mind when taking them into the office.

Is your dog obedient?

It’s also up to you to give your pooch the relevant obedience training to prevent common dog behaviour problems. A puppy barking for attention or a dog jumping up and pinching someone's sandwich probably won’t go down too well with colleagues! Your little buddy might be the cutest thing in the building, but they still have to be professional and well-mannered.

Does your dog have office gear?

Your new furry colleague may not need a laptop and headphones, but they will need a few office supplies. For example, if you want them to lay down peacefully by your desk, they’ll need some sort of dog bedding, like a travel bed, blanket or mat. You also need to make sure they’ve got bowls to eat and drink from throughout the day. Taking their favourite toy to keep them occupied and help them relax can be a good idea too.

Can you maintain your dog’s routine?

The best way to help your canine co-worker settle into office life is to stick to your dog’s routine as much as possible. Maintain consistency when it comes to things like food and treats, by bringing what they’d be enjoying at home to the office with you. This provides the comfort of the familiar and reduces the chances you’ll be cleaning up after a nervous stomach. It’s also a good idea to take them on their usual walking route before work, so they can start the day with a bit of familiarity and burn off some excess energy.

Is your dog up to date with vaccinations and flea treatments?

You don’t want to risk your pup catching or spreading anything unpleasant, so most office pet policies will state that any dogs coming into the workplace should be vaccinated and given flea prevention. If you suspect your pooch could be suffering from fleas, treat it at home and don’t take them into work or anywhere else they can spread it to other dogs.

Being able to take your pooch to work certainly makes having a dog and working full time a lot easier, and there are lots of benefits of dogs at work too! But best of all, you get to spend more time with your four-legged pal. If your buddy is ready to take this next big step — from dog park to office — there’s a whole new future ahead for you both!