The Office Dog – Pros and Cons
Have you ever worked for a company with an office dog? As a dog owner myself, I can’t help but think of how fun it would be to have a dog around at work. But, it may not be a good idea for all office environments.
Benefits of an Office Dog
We know dogs have a positive effect on our mood, but they affect us on a very biological level as well. Studies show that interacting with a dog lowers your resting heart rate and blood pressure, which is why they are so popular as service animals. Under stress, these results are even more dramatic. Have you ever experience a stressful day at work? Of course! Workplaces that allow dogs report higher productivity, efficiency, and happiness.
Criteria To Follow
If you’re thinking about adding a furry friend to the office, make sure you take into consideration the following points:
- Behavior – it seems obvious, but an office dog should have impeccable manners. Basic obedience, and even some advanced training like therapy/service dog certification is highly desirable.
- Noise Concerns – Some dogs just like to exercise their voices. Choose wisely here because a barking dog gets annoying very quickly.
- Staff Acceptance – Is everyone on board with the idea? Does anyone have an allergy? This may be the most important thing to consider. If you have a few employees that are adamantly against the idea, you must respect those opinions.
- Maintenance – Most dogs shed, drool on some level, or track in mud. Who will be in charge of regular bathing? Will there be an increase in cleaning costs?
Give It A Try
If you’ve found the perfect canine companion and considered all of the points above, give pup a trial run at the office. Make sure you announce the time and duration of the trial. Collect feedback afterwards and make a decision based on the responses.
An office dog could be a great addition to your business, provided you’ve carefully taken the proper steps to decide if it’s right for you.
