Get ready to update your calendar: Friday 21 June marks International Take Your Dog to Work Day!
For some, this will be a chance to flood their office floors with furry friends. For others, it will herald a day like all others, in which no pets and little joy graces the workplace. No doubt there will be those who haven’t even considered the thought of having pets in the workplace.
Needless to say, at Mad Paws, we fall into the first category. Every office day is like ‘Take your dog to work’ day for us! In fact, in previous years of celebrating this day, we’ve had up to 13 dogs into our office.
Now, to be fair, Mad Paws is Australia’s largest Pet Sitting platform so dogs are pretty much our thing. However, you don’t need a John Wick-level love of pooches to enjoy their presence in the office. In fact, psychologists and canine experts alike agree that dog-friendly offices work for everyone. And we have actual statistics to back that up…keep reading!
Here are just a few reasons why you should bring your dog to work with you.
#1: Dogs in the workplace benefits your dog
At their heart, dogs are social creatures. Research has proven that our furry friends suffer distress and melancholy when left on their own all day. While Pet Day Care can fill this void, there is no-one a dog would rather be with than their Owner. By bringing them to work with you, you’re not only keeping your pup happy – you’re also strengthening your bond.
Are other colleagues already bringing their doggos to work? Even better. When you expose your dog to others in a controlled environment, you contribute to their socialisation process. In other words, you’re raising them to be a proper and social canine.
#2: Dogs in the workplace benefits employees
If you’re a Dog Owner, you probably don’t need us to tell you that dogs at work serve your wellbeing. Even so, we’re going to do it anyway. Many studies, including one conducted by Washington State University suggest that as little as 10 minutes spent in the presence of pets can lower stress levels and trigger serotonin – thereby creating happier, more motivated employees.
Beyond that, you’ll find that vocational pooches also let you build a rapport with your colleagues. After all, what’s a better ice-breaker than playing fetch with Bella the Labradoodle and Alan from Accounting? As long as you have a HR department if things get a bit hairy…
Finally, nothing will keep you active like a dog beside your desk. Instead of browsing your iPhone on your break, you’ll find yourself walking your furry friend around the block. Not only is this a good excuse for some exercise, but the act of walking (over sitting) has been shown to boost creativity levels. 10,000 steps a day, here we come!
#3: Dogs in the workplace benefits society
You may say we’re reaching with this argument. But our pack at Mad Paws HQ have proven this is an actual thing! When you host dogs in the workplace, you’re casting a light on responsible pet ownership. In fact, Take Your Dog to Work Day first began as a means to highlight the perils of leaving your dog at home alone. Every time you bring your pup with you to the office, you’re encouraging a conversation about proper pet care. When you see other Pet Owners interacting with their own furry friends, it sparks conversation around different dog training techniques, and various ways to provide care for them.
Want to see a sneak peek of what it’s like working at the Mad Paws office?!
What you should do if you can’t bring your furry friend to work
Of course, not everyone can bring their dog to work with them. Perhaps your office isn’t pet-friendly, or maybe you take public transport to work. Whatever the reason, it’s important to ensure that your doggo doesn’t spend their day mired in worry while you’re away. Whether you leave them with a relative, book them into Doggy Daycare, or even find them a Dog Walker, they’ll appreciate the company until you return to them.
And if your workplace isn’t pet-friendly? SURELY your employer will make an exception for Take Your Dog to Work Day…
