Pets have been a part of Donna’s Pet Services since day one. I, Donna, am a very passionate animal lover who believes that pets deserve to be treated just as we would our family members. I have two dogs at home myself and the perks of doing what I do is that I can bring my pets to work with me. That is why I thought it might be a great idea to create this blog post and try to answer the common question of ‘Should I Bring My Pet To Work?’.
I know all too well how difficult it can be for pet owners when they need to leave their beloved furry friend behind for hours on end while they go off to work. That’s why I decided to turn my passion into a full-time job and offer my Pet Services where your pet will always be taken care of with love – just like if he or she were at home with you! I have many years of experience working with animals, so I know how important it is to provide them with comfort and safety throughout the day.
Many businesses allow their employees to bring their pets into the workplace with them. A lot of these companies include a designated pet area that allows your pets to roam freely throughout the workplace and to enjoy their time with their owners. One of the most common questions asked by people who are looking to bring their pets into the workplace is, ‘Should I take my dog or cat to work?’
The most important thing you need to remember is that your workplace needs to be pet-friendly first and foremost! You must also make sure to inform yourself about any of the pet policies of your company before bringing any pets into the workplace. If you don’t have a dog-friendly office or they do not allow pets, then you may need to find an alternative way to have them cared for throughout the day, there are many options for pet sitting available.
The benefits of bringing pets to work can help make the pets themselves and other employees or staff members feel less isolated and lonely. Pets can provide welcomed distractions and help to keep us from boredom or anger. Studies have shown that working with pets can significantly increase work productivity and employee morale. Other benefits can include providing help for those who might be suffering from mental health conditions, as well as providing lower levels of stress, studies have also reported this on the days when pets were present in the workplace.
It may not seem obvious but there can also be some financial benefits of bringing your pets into the workplace. Pets can make great security guards, which helps in providing an additional layer of protection for the company, especially when they are placed near doors and entrances and exits. One last benefit is that pets can also provide a great form of psychological therapy. From the moment they arrive in your company, everyone will be talking about them and will be focused on how cute they are. It is a great way to also break the ice with employees that you perhaps don’t usually stop to talk to or haven’t had the chance to strike up a conversation or have not introduced yourself yet.
It’s safe to say that one or all of these behaviours from your dog will get you in trouble with your boss or your team at work.
If your dog has been trained well enough so that he/she knows what is expected of them when at work, then you have nothing to worry about. If however, you want to know more about how to train your pet to behave in the workplace then read on for some helpful tips!
The first step towards teaching your dog to behave at work is by making sure that he/she understands why you need quiet time at work. It’s best to start with small things like leaving toys behind or even just sitting quietly next to you until you feel comfortable enough to ask them to stop barking. Once you’ve taught your dog to sit still during office hours, you’ll be able to teach him/her other commands such as “sit”, “stay” and “come”.
Barking is something that most people don’t think twice about but for those who own pets, it can cause problems especially if you’re trying to hold meetings. Dogs bark because they are excited or anxious; therefore, if you try to calm them down before holding an important meeting, chances are high that they won’t listen to you. Instead, you should wait till after the meeting to see whether they calmed down or not. If they did, you may consider rewarding them with treats.
This problem usually occurs when your dog gets bored or stressed. They chew everything including paper, pens, pencil cases, etc. So the solution here is simple: keep your dog busy. Make sure that he/she always has plenty of toys available and play games together whenever possible. Also, give your dog lots of attention and love. These two factors alone will ensure that your dog doesn’t become too bored or stressed.
Some areas within the office might seem harmless yet they pose danger to both humans and animals alike. For example, if your dog likes chewing on shoes, he/she might end up damaging someone else’s property. Therefore, it’s advisable to place rubber mats near doors where your dog tends to go inside or outside. Another area that needs special care is the kitchen since many foods contain chemicals that can harm your dog.
Finally, you should never forget to reward your dog every once in a while. A good way to do this is by giving him/her a treat each day. By doing this, you’ll be showing your appreciation for his/her hard work, and they will likely improve on their behaviour over time and become an invaluable member of the team.
As always, when you make any decision, there will be some risks involved. One of the risks is that your pet can cause distractions or disrupt the flow of work. This can potentially lead to an increase in mistakes and accidents which could be costly for the company if this happens. From a legal perspective, some working places are not allowed to have animals because of the cleaning standards which can mean consequences for employers if this happens.
A few of the risks involved when bringing pets into work can include the risk that your pet could harm someone, or your pet could even be harmed by someone else, depending on the severity this could potentially create insurance issues for the company that you work for. Additionally, if your pet is still a puppy or is not properly trained yet, then they can act in a way that could be considered aggressive, it could be less severe and they might just destroy company property. You must be aware of these risks and any pet policy that your workplace might have before making any final decisions. To ensure that you are not breaking any rules or laws, it is always advisable to check with your local government about a pet-friendly workplace and be sure to follow any code of conduct that might be in place.
So, if you do decide to bring your pet in and you are certain that it is a pet-friendly workplace, here are some more things that you should try to keep in mind:
You want to ensure that your pet has enough space to move around during his or her stay in the office spaces. It is best to place a bed or crate where your pet can sleep comfortably and safely. The room should also contain toys and treats for your pet to play with to keep them occupied for when you can’t entertain because of being busy with other work duties.
It is important to keep food away from your pet’s playing/sleeping areas. They should also never be allowed to access these areas without supervision. Try to avoid leaving bowls of water unattended; instead, use drinking stations if applicable.
Make sure that you plan for when you are going to leave the office. Do not forget to feed your pet first, especially if you are planning on taking him or her outside, of course, if you are heading straight home and the journey isn’t that long, then you can probably manage to skip this step and just feed your pet when you get home, however, it is probably a good idea to take them to the toilet and perhaps let them have a little run around for 5-10 minutes so they will be settled for the journey home if they are going home in a vehicle.
It is important to give your pet plenty of fresh air and exercise after feeding them. Your pet should receive ample amounts of both water and exercise. Dogs require more than twice the amount of water compared to cats. Cats usually only require half the amount of water compared with dogs. Try to schedule regular walks for your pet.
It should be common sense, but you should not overfeed your pets. Overfeeding your pets can lead to obesity which can cause a lot of serious medical problems such as diabetes. Always supervise your pet closely whenever he or she eats, if anything seems out of the ordinary or they don’t seem to be following their usual eating pattern, then it’s probably best to seek medical advice from a local vet.
If someone in the office has a severe allergy to pets, you should be aware of this before bringing your pet into the workplace. Your employers might not see your pets as a necessity and it is your responsibility to make other people aware of this if they do suffer from an allergy before you bring them in. Bringing your pets into the workplace can also cause a distraction for those who are allergic, in some extreme cases, this can also be very dangerous to people who are allergic because this can trigger all kinds of reactions that lead to more severe health problems.
So as you can see, bringing pets to work should only be considered if you are sure that there will not be any problems and that the presence of your pet will not cause any severe allergic reactions.
I have discussed that pets are a great addition to any workplace or office environment. Some benefits include increased employee morale and decreased stress levels for employees who have pets at work. However, some challenges come with having pets in an office setting. Those challenges include distraction from petting or talking to animals and potential allergies among coworkers if they’re not used to being around furry friends all day long. Overall, we feel like it’s worth considering whether your workplace is ready for the responsibility before bringing home Fido!
If you have any questions or comments about this blog, about any general questions, or even about any of the services that I offer, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
