Take your pet to work day
Today is take your pet to work day. In New York City, pet owners are carrying around doctor’s notes that say their dog is a medical necessity — as in the psychological benefits of dogs — so that store owners legally have to let the dogs come in. I can see that doing this at the workplace will be next.
I don’t recommend it. Why be annoying about your dog when there are so many other things to be annoying about at work? Maybe a better idea is to be annoying to get on a great project or to work from home? And if you really want to bring your dog to work, check out JobKite’s new listing of pet-friendly offices.
I have actually worked at a few offices with dogs. It wasn’t bad, but make sure your dog is cubicle-ready. People always think their dogs are better behaved than they really are.
Ditto. We had a “bring your dog” permit at our office, so I brought my (outdoor) 120lb. Chesapeake Bay Retriever to work one day for kicks. He bit the black Lab in the office. I credit that to the confinement of a cubicle and the curious feeling of carpet. No wonder we’re stressed.
As with their kids, you are right that people overestimate how well behaved their dogs are. A resident dog or cat might work better. And then there’s the real working dog, a guide dog for the blind for example, that has to be at work. Conflicts could abound.
Now, providing facilities so people can bike to work! That’s something to push for. Reduces stress going both ways.
Right, Julia. There’s a big difference between bringing a dog to work for one or two days and having the dog there every day. I think the latter works better. Dogs (and kids!) do better if there is a regular routine.
“Why be annoying about your dog when there are so many other things to be annoying about at work?”
I love this sentence.
I’m a long-time reader of your column and I enjoy very much reading your blog.
Please keep on!
I really enjoyed this post about why you shouldn’t take your dog to work. I have shared it with my readers on my blog: http://northstarthinktank.typepad.com/northstar_thinktank/2008/06/take-your-dog-t.html
Thanks, and keep up the good work!
I have to agree. I bring my Bengal cat to work with me every day and have since he was 9 weeks old. Routine make a huge difference. He has been a fantastic addition to our place of work. He is quite entertaining and a joy to have around. Although he has full run of the very large office, he stays right by my desk all day. Talladega is always the talk of the office. Since his markings are so beautiful, customers and co-workers come in and take pictures. Our delivery guy comes into the office just to say hi to Talladega and pet him since he is as soft as silk.
As with their kids, you are right that people overestimate how well behaved their dogs are. A resident dog or cat might work better. And then there’s the real working dog, a guide dog for the blind for example, that has to be at work. Conflicts could abound.