Bring your dog to work – there’s even a day for it

The American Pet Products Manufacturing Association had similar findings when surveying Americans, 55 million of whom believed having pets in the workplace leads to a more creative environment. Fifty million believed having pets in the workplace helps co workers get along better.

So it would make sense to take your dog with you June 21 even if it wasn’t “Bring Your Dog to Work Day.”

Debbie Black, a director at Dogs@work, an advocacy group that supports dogs in the workplace, said it best: “Dogs in the workplace make for better and kinder companies, and in turn, a better and kinder world.”

Companies that allow their employees to bring their canines to work, like Google, have a code of conduct owners and their pets must follow. Only dogs are allowed, managers and co-workers must agree, and aggressive behavior sends the dog home.

When my husband, Ed, works in his home office, Teddy often joins him. The Lab has a cozy bed to relax in while his “fearless leader” works to pay for all the toys he chews up.

Often when Ed goes to his downtown office he drops the pooch off at a kennel, where he participates in a playgroup with other dogs.

When Teddy rides in the car he sits quietly in the back. His black fur blends perfectly with the leather seats. We call him the “stealth one.”

One day, the fearless leader and his sidekick jumped in the car. Ed was headed to the office and Teddy to his playgroup.

The “stealth one” didn’t make it to his playgroup.

Twenty minutes after Ed and Teddy left, I got a call from Ed.

He was laughing. “I’m in the parking garage. Guess who’s with me?”

“No clue,” I responded.

“Teddy.”

“Teddy? You didn’t drop him at his playgroup?”

“Nope. I got a phone call as I pulled out of the driveway and I forgot. I didn’t realize it until I reached back for my brief case and got my hand licked.”

So Teddy went to work with his fearless leader.

By Ed’s account, it was a pleasant day.

Teddy made himself comfortable, stretching out on Ed’s office floor, and greeted employees with his patented “Hokey Pokey” – rump wiggling and tail wagging.

Ed’s assistant, Vickie McDonald, got Teddy treats, which he quickly gobbled up.

On Ed’s lunch break, the two took a long walk on Dayton’s River Walk.

The work day ended with a stop at Dairy Queen.

When the two weary workers arrived home after a long, hard day, I asked how it went.

“Good.” Ed replied.

“Did you get anything accomplished?” I asked, not willing to settle for “good.”

“I did. Fortunately, I didn’t have any meetings. That could have been problematic.” Ed patted his sidekick on the head.

“Would you take him again? On purpose?”

“If I had a day like today without meetings or events I had to attend, sure. I enjoyed it,” Ed replied without hesitation.

I looked closely at Teddy.

Relaxed and happy, tail wagging away, he didn’t look much different than when he comes home from his playgroup.

And he was definitely cleaner.

A husband less stressed after work? A clean dog? Maybe there is something to bringing your dog to work.

TOP DOG FRIENDLY COMPANIES

SOURCE: theactivetimes.com/home/top dog friendly companies work