By Steve Dale
Have you ever wished you could bring your dog with you everywhere you go? Some employers are helping make that possible, allowing pet owners to bring their dogs in the office. While an office full of pups sounds like heaven, it is important to make sure both your boss and your dog are ready to handle it.
Socialization is key
If your dog hasn’t spent much time around strangers, he may not feel comfortable in your workplace. To make sure your pup won’t be scared or misbehave around your coworkers, expose him to new people and pets to work on socialization. Once you get to the office, walk him around on his leash to meet everyone. Let him investigate all of the new sights, sounds and smells before you settle in for the day. If he is timid, remind others to approach him carefully. If he doesn’t do well with strangers, it’s best to leave him at home.
House training, please
House training is another thing to keep in mind when looking to bring your dog into the office. The last thing you want to be doing at work is cleaning up a mess from your dog. House training is usually best taught while dogs are still puppies, and chances are you have probably already worked on it with your pup. Not sure where to start? Check out this article. If you are still working on house training, you should save the office visit until he has it mastered. For starters, makes sure your pup does business outside before entering the office, and a midday bathroom break is a good idea.
Teach him to stay
In new spaces full of places to explore, it might be hard to keep your dog from roaming around. It is helpful to teach him to stay before bringing him into the new environment. In any case, most offices will require that all dogs are kept on a leash. Some offices actually allow baby gates to keep dogs restricted from exploring or playing with the dog down the hall.
Bothersome barking
Is your dog known for barking at everything? This could definitely be troublesome in the office. Training your dog not to bark might seem daunting, but it may not be as hard as you think. Check out this article to learn how to train your dog not to bark. Once he has become the king of the silent game, he will certainly be ready to come to work with you.
If you are one of the lucky ones who work in a pet-friendly environment and you think your pup is ready, it might be time to bring him into the office! Studies have shown that having pets around the office can be helpful in reducing stress – not only your stress but also your colleagues’ – and increasing work performance. Plus, who doesn’t love hanging out with dogs?
For more information and advice from Steve Dale visit https://www.stevedalepetworld.com/
