Take Your Dog to Work Day | The 6 Tips You Need To Know

At the Earth Rated HQ, we want all our poop bag testers to have a terrific time whenever they come into the office with their humans. Working at a dog-friendly office is as great as it sounds, but it takes some coordination! Every dog is different and ultimately we want them all to have good doggy habits and be comfortable here. That's why we have Sebastien, a certified positive reinforcement dog trainer from Bravo Fido, come in every week for one-on-one sessions with our pups!
Want to bring your dog into the office? Whether Take Your Dog to Work Day is coming up, or you work at an always-dog-friendly office, there are steps you can take to make the best of it. Here's what you need to know so that you, your dog, and your coworkers, can all have the greatest experience possible. Here are Sébastien's top tips for a smooth coworking experience with your dog:

6 Tips for Bringing Your Dog Into Work

1. Come and visit the office on a day off, if possible. This way your dog can get a look and feel for the new space when it's calmer and you can spot any challenges while being available to help since you're not rushed to go into work. 2. If you have slower days in your workweek, pick those to integrate your dog. Your buddy will need guidance and support on their first workdays and might be distressed if you're running around from meetings to customers and have no time for them. 3. Put out a snack bowl on the corner of your desk and ask colleagues to feed one to your pup when they come by. Your dog will learn to love their office mates! 4. Plan breaks to take your dog out for short walks, play sessions, as well as potty and pee outings! 5. Come prepared with plenty of dog poop bags. You never know when your pup might decide your office's new carpet makes for a perfect poo spot. 6. Teach your dog to settle on a mat, with a chew or a kong, for those moments you really need to focus. Also, teach a recall to get your dog back if they decide to make a break for it and roam the halls! If you need help with any of this, contact a trainer. Happy go lucky, pro-social dogs who love all humans will do best in an office environment. For those dogs, a day at the office is generally a massive thrill since they get to interact with loads of people, get many treats and games and feel like part of a large group. As for more anxious dog personalities, not all hope is lost. You can help your cautious dog have an easier time in a workplace environment by teaching your coworkers how to act around your pup. You can also use the following tips to make any anxious dog more comfortable around you!

3 Tips to Help Smooth Over Interactions with Anxious Dogs

1. Learn about dog body language. Getting a basic understanding of stress signs and postures will help you see when a dog is uncomfortable and reduce the risk you put pressure on a pup who's not ready for close contact. 2. Keep your distance from anxious dogs and pretend they’re not there. This might feel counterintuitive since our first reflex would be to soothe and comfort them. For an anxious dog, however, looks, speech, or touches from a stranger can be highly distressing. If you’re around an anxious dog, always give him lots of room when moving around and avoid looking, speaking, or touching him. Let the dog observe you from afar and wait for them to make the first move toward you. 3. Treats galore! If you want to befriend an anxious dog, it might help to toss a treat to them without looking. Check with the dog’s owner for appropriate foods and whenever you walk by, ignore the pup but toss them a tasty snack. Over time, the dog will learn that you’re a cool person who also happens to be a treat dispenser. Through all this, be patient. The dog gets to decide when and how they wish to befriend you (or not!). Some shy dogs, once feeling safe, will become your best buds. Others will be comfortable around you but aloof and that’s ok too! With these tips, you’ll be set up for success either way. We hope with these tips, you and your dog can have a paw-fect Take Your Dog to Work Day together! Next Article: What Can You Use Dog Wipes For?

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