How to Convince Your Boss to Allow Dogs in the Office

The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA) recently conducted a survey with companies who allow pets in the workplace. The results confirmed the benefits of allowing employees to bring their four-legged family members into work with them:

• 73% said that having pets in the office increased productivity.


• 58% of employees worked longer hours when their pets were in the office with them.


• 73% said having pets in the office lead to a more creative environment.


• 27% noticed a decrease in employees being absent (of course, who wouldn't look forward to going into work with a ready-to-pet furry, cuddly pooch there)! In addition, none of the companies surveys reported an increase in absenteeism.


• 100% agree that pets in the office reduces stress and relaxes employees.


• 96% said that pets create positive work relations.

After you get your boss's permission (how could he/she possibly say no after reading this article?) go through these quick tips to pave the way for the smoothest possible first day of your dog going to the office. And, who knows, if day one goes well, dogs in the office might just become a new daily trend!

Tip#1: Make sure your dog is really office ready. Does your dog interact well with strangers? Is your dog overly hyper? Does your dog chew and destroy everything in his/her path? Is your dog house trained? Does your dog have a habit of biting people? Does your dog jump up on strangers? Ask yourself these important questions. If your dog is not the calm, sociable type, he/she may not be a good candidate for going into work with you. No matter how much you want your pooch there with you. Otherwise, you may end up angering your co-workers or worse, one of them may end up getting hurt!
Tip #2: See if any of your co-workers are allergic to or afraid of dogs or if they are opposed to dogs in the office (boo hiss).
Tip #3: Take a walk around the office to make sure that there's nothing dangerous to your pooch lying around. For instance, mousetraps, exposed electrical wires, etc.
Tip #4: Go outside your office and plan where your dog is going to relieve him/herself. Be sure that it's in an area that would be acceptable to management. Also, be sure to bring waste bags with you to work. There's no faster way to get complaints aobut "bring your dog to work day" than when an employee steps in a pile of poop.
Tip #5: Pack a goodie bag for your dog the night before the "big day". Include dog treats, chew toys and other dog toys (preferably non-squeaky ones), waste bags, water bowl, etc.
Tip #6: Give your dog a nice bath and a good grooming the night before. People (especially non dog lovers) prefer clean, sweet-smelling dogs. If you want dogs in the office to become a regular thing, it's best for your dog to make a really good first impression.
Tip #7: At work, keep your dog on a leash unless he/she is in your sectioned-off office or in a secured area. You may want to bring a baby gate or two so that you can keep your dog contained.
Tip #8: Let people come to your dog, not the other way around. Don't worry, dog lovers will make themselves known and will be excited to meet your adorable pooch. However, there are plenty of people who are not comfortable around dogs or who are even afraid of them. The last thing they want is for you to bring your dog into their space for a forced introduction.
Tip #9: Be sure your dog gets enough water throughout the day, limit the amount of dog treats people give and don't forget to take your dog out for potty breaks.
Tip #10: If things don't go well, be prepared to abandon ship. If for some reason your dog doesn't do well in an office environment, just go ahead and bring him/her back home.

We are very proud to say that this is our first lens to be blessed! Thank you very much to ColorPetGifts for blessing this lens. Please take a look at ColorPetGifts' page and you'll see all sorts of fun and interesting articles about pets