Dog in the office: How to make the working day a woof experience

Can bringing pets to work play an important role in the workplace? More specifically, are there any benefits to allowing employees to bring dogs to work? Believe it or not, dog-friendly offices are becoming increasingly popular as the corporate world becomes more inclusive across numerous industries.

If your office is considering opening its doors to our furry friends, we encourage you to read the following sections. After that, you will know why allowing dogs in the workplace brings many interesting benefits. You'll also know exactly how to keep things under control when you bring your furry helpers along.

The advantages of having a dog in the office

Taking your dog to work isn't all about fun and games (although there's plenty of that too).

In fact, there is a growing body of research showing that having a dog in the office has some serious benefits:

• Stress Relief: Working in the office can be stressful, but looking into the eyes of a lively dog can make all those difficult moments more bearable.
• Increased Happiness: Dogs can make even the gloomiest days seem brighter. A wagging tail or excited pricking of the ears can immediately increase employee satisfaction.
• Unleashed Productivity: Some studies have shown that the presence of our four-legged friends can increase productivity which is a direct result of the other benefits mentioned here.
• Perceived work-life balance: Bringing pets to work makes you feel like you've brought a piece of home to the office. As a result, employees can feel more relaxed and comfortable, even if they drag themselves into the office on a rainy Monday morning!

National Take Your Dog to Work Day

Technically, every workday could be “bring your dog to work day” if your office establishes a pet-friendly work environment. However, there is an official day in the calendar on which employees are encouraged to bring their dog to the office. This day always falls on the Friday after Father’s Day.

In 2024, June 21st was the day the corporate world merged with the cheerful vibes of our four-legged friends. And that wasn't the first time! This day has existed since 1999, and for more than 25 years it has been a day on which companies can experiment with one of the most creative office redesigns.

Tips for dogs in the workplace

If you google “taking a dog to work,” you’ll get all sorts of weird and wonderful tips and advice. However, to provide you with practical tips that apply to all businesses, we have put together a few things:

• Prepare your dog: Make sure your dog knows and follows basic commands so that he will be relaxed and well-behaved in the new office environment.
• Bring a dog bag: Bring food, treats, water and even a dog bed to make your four-legged friend feel at home.
• Make your work area dog-proof: Hide tempting cables and watch out for dog-unfriendly plants.
• Plan dog breaks: Nobody wants an “accident” during a big presentation. Your work schedule should be designed so that you can plan the necessary walks.
• Be considerate of your colleagues: Remember that not everyone is a dog lover. Keep your four-legged friend under control.
• Do you have an exit strategy: Even well-trained dogs can be unpredictable. If your dog gets out of control, you should have a plan B to avoid disruptions in the office.

Book a dog bed in your office with Flexopus!

Imagine reserving a spot for your furry colleague was as easy as booking a meeting room. Introducing Flexopus, the desk sharing softwarethat knows that bringing pets to work has immense benefits. This clever and continuously improving software makes desk sharing, meeting room booking, and even parking spot reservation a breeze.

Flexopus also offers services to make bringing pets into the workplace as seamless as possible. When you open the Flexopus app, you can now reserve dog beds for specific dates and times. This way you can plan the presence of dogs in the workplace and have the certainty that your four-legged friend has his own place in the office. This also helps to improve coordination among colleagues who also regularly bring dogs to the office.

What could be more inclusive and animal-friendly than that?

Summary

If you follow our tips and use tools like Flexopus, you can create a harmonious environment where both two-legged and four-legged colleagues feel comfortable. So next time you go to the office, why not take your faithful companion on a leash? Because in the working world every dog should have his place, and with the right preparation that place can be every day!

Remember, a little tail wagging in the workplace can be the secret to reducing stress and increasing productivity.