Dogs in the office - a walk in the park or a dog's dinner?
By Esme Wheeler - Science & Policy Officer
At the RSPCA, every day is Take Your Dog to Work Day. But across the rest of the UK, 21st June is the official national awareness day to celebrate dog-friendly offices and employers, something which is personally close to my heart.?
As a single dog parent I know too well how logistically challenging it can be to juggle both work and dog care commitments. I rely heavily on a network of generous and trusted friends, family as well as my employer's dogs at work scheme to ensure that my four legged family members are never left alone for more than four hours. This is not easy but dogs haven’t evolved to cope with long periods of isolation.
As one of the most social species on the planet, they can suffer extreme emotional and psychological distress if left alone for prolonged periods of time or, if left alone for any length of time without appropriate training; unsurprisingly separation related problems are amongst the most common behavioural concerns affecting dogs in the UK.?
With this in mind, I am a huge advocate of dog friendly work spaces and not purely for my own convenience. There are a number of positive co benefits to be reaped by employers who implement similar policies. We know from research that appropriate dog-human interactions can provide both physiological and psychological benefits for both ends of the leash. Having the presence of a dog in the office can lower stress, increase productivity and cohesion between employees.
I would also suggest that - when done right - dogs in offices provide a unique opportunity to improve understanding and education about dogs in general. With nearly 11 million of them now living in the UK, this could act as an important public safety measure as well as improving the welfare of dogs.?
That said, it's not all a walk in the park. There are important things to consider if human and canine welfare is to be safeguarded. Here are my top five based on my professional and personal experience:
It is important to think about the layout, hazards and proximity to other dogs. Are you able to work in a quiet space with low foot fall? Do you have room to create a safe haven for your dog? A safe haven is designated comfy space where your dog can rest and sleep without any petting or attention. You will also need to think about where you can feed, water, toilet and exercise your dog throughout the day.?
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2. Is your dog office friendly??
Dogs are highly individual and not all will be comfortable in an office setting. If your dog has known behavioural issues or sensitivities towards people, other dogs or the planned commute then they might find the work day particularly worrying and stressful, as will you if you are having to manage a frustrated dog alongside your usual workload. In these situations a trusted dog sitter or day care facility might be a better option.?
Similarly, very young dogs or senior dogs might find the long work day tiring and frustrating. Learning to read your dog's body language is a super useful skill and will help you to identify if they are struggling, it's also a great way to strengthen your bond and relationship. Learn more about reading dog body language here.?
3. Gradual introductions work best?
It is worth remembering that dogs work really hard to fit in and please us. It takes enormous effort on their part just to navigate the busy, modern, urban world of humans. We can help our dogs by getting them used to new environments, people and experiences in a slow and gradual way. You could start off with getting your dog used to the commute and then a first visit to the office followed by a half and a full day, all being well. By taking it slow and steady you will prevent your dog from becoming overwhelmed and frustrated and set them up for a successful work life.?
4. Pack the essentials!
Remember to take a comfy blanket and non-slip mat (if your office has slippy floors), collar & ID tag, harness, lead, water bowl, food, poo bags, toys, long lasting chews (essential if you have meetings or calls), treats, any medication and enrichment devices. I recommend a snuffle mat as a great way to keep your dog occupied with minimal noise - perfect for an office environment!
5. Be prepared for… extra work!
Don’t get me wrong, I love bringing Inti (my rescue pup) to work but even as a super chilled and relaxed individual there is a huge amount of extra work just in having him with me. My breaks are taken up with feeding, toileting and attending to his needs. I have to find a willing colleague (shout out to everyone who helps me with this!) to take him if I want to go anywhere, even if it's just the kitchen or a shop that is not dog friendly. We also have the train journey home which can be tricky in peak hours.?
Practicalities aside, I can honestly say that there is something very special about working alongside your dog. As dogs live much more in the moment than we do, they have a natural lightness to their character. Put simply, they are a lot of fun to be around and this can be immeasurably valuable to any work setting.
Director at The Eco Monkey, Founder & Chair at Global Wildlife Rescue Project
9 个月I think this is missing a really important question for dog owners to consider - is your dog suitable for being an office dog? As has been shown by some that shouldn’t have been taken into the RSPCA office - not all are!