Some days you may feel like you’re working like a dog at your job. But imagine getting to work with your dog in your box, office or business.
In 1999, Patti Moran, founder of Pet Sitters International, created the annual Take Your Dog to Work Day event. This year it is celebrated on June 23rd and it has now expanded to Take Your Pet to Work Week and yes, even Take Your Cat to Work Day.
“I wanted to find a way for PSI to give back to the pet community our members make a living from and find a unique way to celebrate dogs and promote their adoptions,” says Patti. “Since that time, the event has grown by leaps and bounds.”
Take your dog to work every day in these dog-friendly offices
Tito’s Handmade Vodka, headquartered in Texas, embraces Take Your Dog to Work Day every day. “Since Tito’s Handmade Vodka was founded in 1995, stray dogs have always found their way to the Austin countryside distillery, where Tito’s team fed them, cared for them and occasionally adopted them,” says Beth Bellanti, manager of Tito’s. Vodka for Dog People program. “By allowing humans to bring their furry companions to work, we have seen reduced stress and anxiety levels and better work-life balance within our workforce.”
Well-behaved dogs are also welcome at dog products supplier Chewy. And that brings a smile to Gabrielle Miller, senior member of pet team operations. “I love being able to bring my dogs, Tuffy and Maddie, to work with me,” says Gabrielle. “When I take breaks, I walk them around and enjoy seeing them modeling and working on set with other animal trainers. behavior of dogs.
On a tour inside the Dallas fulfillment center, you’ll spot dozing dogs on comfy beds next to their workstations. One rule applied: dogs cannot be tied up and left unattended, even for a few minutes so that their parents can have a coffee or go to the bathroom. Another colleague should stay with the dog until the pet owner returns.
Vallie, Louie and Roy are regulars at Tito’s Handmade Vodka offices in Texas © Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
Get your office dog ready for work
Teoti Anderson, past president of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and co-owner of Pawsitive Results in South Carolina, encourages candid evaluation of your dog.
Before bringing your dog to work, ask yourself:
“Having a well-behaved dog will make it easier to accompany him to work,” says Teoti, who is also the author of the Ultimate Guide to Dog Training. “Revise his training and he could be the employee of the month!”
Tips for preparing your dog for a day at the office
Giving your dog a trial run can help you gauge whether he likes or dislikes being at work, says Cara Armour, a professional dog trainer and agility instructor from Massachusetts.
“See if you can bring him on a day off or a quiet day at work so you can pay attention to your dog’s behavior in the office,” says Cara, who is also president of Cara Armor Consulting. “Be pet proof in the area your dog will be in whenever he comes to work with you. Pay attention to anything on the floor. What if a co-worker drops an Advil and your dog finds it? Make sure your dog is not allowed to roam freely and rummage through your co-workers’ trash cans.
How do you stay focused with your four-legged work buddy?
“It’s important to teach your dog to self-soothe,” says Teoti. “Have a supply of frozen, food-filled rubber toys on hand that you can pull out to use as dog soothers during your get-togethers. Be sure to take it out to dispose of in the designated potty area before attending office meetings.
Beth from Tito’s shares these three strategies for a successful day at work with your dog:
- Keep your pet’s needs in mind. Bring treats, chew toys, a water bowl, and a comfortable bed for your pet to relax in while you focus on work.
- “Define ‘ex-pet-tations’ in advance,” she says. “Make sure there are office-wide pet guidelines and policies that address roaming, leash restrictions, number of pets allowed per person, and any other thing to ensure a peaceful environment for pets and humans.”
- Take quick breaks throughout the day to get out to give your pet some air and a chance to play and get some energy out. “Break breaks not only keep your pet happy, they’re also good for employee well-being and stress management.”
How to start the day Take your dog to work at your office
Before participating in TYDTWD or introducing a pet-friendly policy in your workplace, follow these tips from PSI President Beth Stultz-Hairston:
- First present the request to your boss and/or your human resources manager. “Be prepared to address any management concerns, including security protocols,” Beth says. These issues can include building codes, liability issues, and employee allergies or phobias.
- Respect the views of co-workers on pets at work. “Avoid forcing co-workers to interact with your dog,” she says. “Dog lovers are going to make themselves known!
- Make your dog’s wishes your priority. “While most dogs enjoy TYDTWD, your pet may not, so have an exit strategy, such as calling your professional pet sitter, if your dog becomes too loud, restless or withdrawn while at home. your office.”
PSI also offers a free, downloadable TYDTWD Toolkit and ideas on how to celebrate in your workplace.
Working from home with your dogs
Cara Armor does a lot in a day, even with the challenge of working from home with not one, but four enthusiastic boxers named Debbie, Walter, Phoenix and Wendy. A professional dog trainer and pet business consultant in Massachusetts, she also finds time for her dogs to compete in agility competitions and teach the sport to others.
What is her secret to succeeding in working in a house full of dogs? “Early on, I trained them to think of their crates as places to reward, places to enjoy treats, and places to relax and sleep,” Cara explains. “I teach them relaxation and reward calm with lots of treats.”
Three tips for working from home with dogs:
Tap into your dog’s need for predictability. “Do your best to stick to a regular schedule when working from home with your dogs,” she says. “I crate them from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day to keep things regular. And I take my dogs for long walks every day before I start work.
Use a marker or clicker to teach and reward your dog to be quiet. Resist yelling at your dog to shut up when he barks at the mailman coming up on your steps while you’re on a live Zoom call.
“Dogs need to breathe during barking and quiet times with something super delicious,” Cara says. “Your dog will learn that when he’s calm, he gets something really delicious. You can also lead your dog to a licky rug or a busy food puzzle in another room to keep him quiet and busy while you answer that Zoom call.
Read our article on 6 awesome food riddles.
What is Take Your Dog to Work Day? A quick recap
- 1999: The first TYDTWD event sponsored by Pet Sitters International takes place on the Friday following Father’s Day – a tradition still upheld today.
- Derived Pet Celebrations: Take Your Pet to Work Week is June 19-23 and Take Your Cat to Work Day is scheduled for June 19.
- About 300 companies participated in the first TYDTWD. Now the number of companies is steadily increasing every year.
- PSI’s Pet Sitter Locator is a tool to find a local professional pet sitter or dog walker for days when pets can’t be at work or dogs need midday walks on TYDTWD.
- Follow TYDTWD events and post your company’s participation using the hashtag: #takeyourdogtoworkday.