June 22 Is Take Your Dog to Work Day!

Part 7 in the Dog Blog series

Take Your Dog to Work (to)Day!

Every year, employees across the US bring their dogs to work on the Friday after Father's Day in honor of National Take Your Dog to Work Day, "A celebration of the companionship between canine and human, National Take Your Dog to Work Day hopes to inspire others to adopt from shelters and humane societies."

For Some of Us, Every Day Is TYDTWD

Yep, I get to bring my dog to work. It's an awesome thing! We have four office dogs at ThriftBooks: there's Dash, an über-cute Cocker Spaniel puppy; Ruger, a chill Pointer who loves apples as treats; Roxy, a Chihuahua mix who's made friends with everyone at the office; and my dog, PL, who is a Shepherd-Lab mix. PL basically just sleeps under my desk the whole day when he's in the office.

Among the four of us, we have figured out some routines that work for all—we check to see who else has plans to bring in their dog, we make sure we never keep our dogs unattended in our office or cube, and we take them out for regular walks and pee breaks. Also, we respect the fact that not everyone loves dogs and err on the side of discretion, meaning we take our dogs straight to our areas, and if anyone wants to meet a dog they come by and visit our desks.

Our system has come about organically as our office team has grown and we've gotten to know each other's dogs, but it closely matches accepted etiquette for bringing your dog to the office. There are a lot of cool links out there for "dos and don'ts," including "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan's list of rules:

1. Give your dog a place to feel safe
2. Make sure your dog is well-behaved
3. Supervise your dog at all times
4. Make sure your dog is healthy and up-to-date on vaccines
5. Your dog must be housebroken
6. Exercise your dog during the day
7. Make sure your dog is properly stimulated – find a happy neutral where your dog is neither bored nor stressed
8. Limit food and treats, especially when your dog is new to the office
9. Your dog is your responsibility

(Source: https://www.cesarsway.com/dog-training/socialization/how-to-bring-a-dog-into-an-office-pack)

Cesar Millan

Cesar has also written several fantastic books about dogs, human-dog interaction, and living a balanced life with your companion dog. Here are three of my favorites:

• Be the Pack Leader: Use Cesar's Way to Transform Your Dog…and Your Life
• How to Raise the Perfect Dog: Through Puppyhood and Beyond
• Cesar's Rules: Your Way to Train a Well-Behaved Dog

In case you missed it, check out the previous installments of The Dog Blog series from Linda:

• Part 1: Ushering in 2018 - The Year of the Dog: How to Regain Your Zen and Stop Worrying About Your Dog
• Part 2: Be Like Your Dog and Enjoy the Simple Things in Life
• Part 3: February 23 Is National Dog Biscuit Day: Don't We All Need a Treat Sometimes?
• Part 4: March 13 Is National K9 Veterans Day – 'Nuff Said!
• Part 5: April 17 Is National (Dog) Haiku Poetry Day
• Part 6: May 6 - 12 Is National Pet Week

About the Author: Linda Vandercook is the Operations Program Manager at ThriftBooks. A software developer by trade, she joined Thrift Books in 2010. While supporting her husband's career in the military, she is also an avid animal advocate, volunteering at local shelters, and trying hard not to adopt every rabbit, cat, squirrel, dog, or other miscellaneous critter that shows up in her backyard.

Read more by Linda Vandercook