Dog's Life

Dogs at Work

Bring your best friend to the office

Walk into Napa Home, a Dallas, Texas, home décor company, and you’ll find Napoleon and L’Il Bean, two bright-eyed French Bulldogs basking in the sunlight by the shop’s front door. Once inside, the sweet-as-can-be duo sniffs and follows customers as they shop, occasionally stopping to smell the potpourri lining several shelves. "They bring me such joy—they are my companions," store co-owner Julia Elam says. "They get to be with me all of the time, and I wouldn’t have it any other way."

Like Elam, many companies are instituting dog-friendly policies that allow human employees to bring their canine companions to work. Evelyn, a Cardigan Welsh Corgi, has been enjoying the pet-friendly policies at Autodesk Inc., in San Rafael, California, with owner Heather MacKenzie for the past eight years. “She sits under my desk on a bed—she’s with me the whole day. We go for walks. We have an outside lunch area, so we eat lunch together,” MacKenzie says, adding that Evelyn has her own nameplate alongside hers on her cubicle.

Getting Ready

Before bringing your dog with you to clock in, it’s important to know how he might respond to the work environment. Suzanne Hetts, certified applied animal behaviorist of Animal Behavior Associates Inc., in Littleton, Colorado, suggests thinking about his personality to determine if your friend will be happy in the office. “People need to evaluate the workplace environment as well as the home environment; compare and contrast work versus home.”

You’ll want to have a flexible schedule too—that way, you can step outside for playtime at any point during the day. Stephanie Schwartz, M.D., a pet behavior specialist with Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston, says that with a flexible schedule, it’s easier to enjoy more walks outdoors together—a more fun way to spend a free moment than walking to the kitchen for your usual coffee break.

Clocking In

Once you’ve decided the two of you are ready to venture to work together, there are several ways to make the transition as smooth as possible. “Go in, say hello, give coworkers some treats to give to the dog, allow your pet to check out the workspace, and then go home,” Schwartz suggests. “Do that for a few visits, then stay for an hour—make it gradual.”

Once your friend is familiar with the new space, Schwartz says, it’s time to go to the office together! Gather up a few items for a comfortable, playful, day together—a cushioned bed, a warm blanket, food and water bowls, and waste disposal bags. Schwartz also suggests chew toys and balls for entertainment. You’ll love having those toys on hand to use for fun midday playtimes and post-walk treats.

Just being together is reward enough, but soon your new working arrangement will occupy some of life’s finest moments with one another!