Taking dogs to work

[Handsfullofholes]

Anyone got any tips? Dog friendly office with a couple of other dogs who go in.

Getting in involves a trip on the train/tube so will hopefully tire him out a bit! He’ll also have a walk beforehand. He’s fairly good at settling in pubs/cafes etc so hoping he will be ok.

I walk mine for 20 mins before I go in the door (this is after a 30 min car ride). Everyone in the office helps with toilet breaks - if you see a dog at the door you let them out! They all have their own sleeping place so can have quiet time when needed. I feed with a kong so they have something interesting to do over dinner. Half hour dinner time walk. Oh, and probably the most important thing - put a hand action to every command they know, then you can use sign language to instruct them as needed (vital when on phone with a client and you need them to sit / lie down / stop barking etc).

If your workplace has not already seen, Dogs Trust have a "Dog Friendly Workplaces" support package for businesses:
www.dogstrust.org.uk/get-involved/corporate-partnerships/dog-friendly-workplaces/

Make sure you have some cleaning spray and kitchen towel to hand for any surprise accidents. We had one office dog who was fully trained and everything - but if you left an umbrella on the ground, to dry for instance, she WOULD pee in it...

Does he know the other dogs? Are there any issues with resource guarding or being protective over beds?

I wouldn't rely on a train journey to tire him out, he'll need a walk beforehand too.

Seem to recall one of the pet insurance questions was asking if I took my dog to work so if have a policy may want to double check it still covers 3rd party/accidents.

He hasn’t met the other dogs, but it’s a dog friendly shared workspace rather than a dog friendly office, so they will all be on leads rather than interacting. I think that’s better as otherwise he’d be constantly trying to play! There’s another cocker who sometimes sits on a chair next to her owner, but he will have his blanket under the table. Will make sure he’s on a table with no other dogs too.

Thanks for the tip about insurance, I hadn’t thought about that so will make sure to check our policy.

We can pass through the park on the way to the station so I’ll make sure he has at least 30 minutes running about the park before we go to the station.

thanks @bunnygeek for the link, will check that out!

He’s got a couple of Yak chews and some coffee wood which we’ll take too in case he gets bored.

We are doing a trial day next week where I’ll be on hand to come over and take him home/away from the office environment if it gets too much.

We have office dogs. Persevere - you’ll find it stressful to start with making sure he isn’t annoying anyone, but you’ll both get used to it. Try doing short visits initially to build up the time he’ll spend sleeping quietly by your desk. Watch out for possessive behaviour between other dogs - mine was fine until my boss brought his in and then they fought so now we have a rota. Take chewsticks. A lunch walk is essential so dog doesn’t get bored and has plenty time to go to the toilet (nipping him out to the car park won’t cut it) - if you ever can’t go, organise help. Do you need to go to external meetings? What will you do if a client is frightened? I’d get a colleague to look after dog in those circs. Take your own food as you can’t nip into shops. Does he bark much? One of my colleagues had to give up bringing hers as it barked every time the front door opened, which was every 5 minutes in a busy environment. Assess how many disturbances your dog makes and be prepared to accept it might be too many or you might need to do shorter visits as the dog gets the hang of office life. Bin raiding, handbag surfing and staring longingly at everyone’s sandwiches are mostly treated with amusement at my work but might not be everywhere. Is your office safe - no doors propped open where dog could get out, no mouse poison left where it can be reached? Also, put dog to work - office dogs are excellent social media mascots for your company.

Other advice that most people don’t need to be told but my boss did: don’t use office cereal bowls for dog or put dog bowls in the dishwasher; don’t leave uneaten dog food to go off; don’t leave rabbit/pig ears on floor as it upsets vegan staff; don’t put dog shit in the kitchen bin; housetrain it better; don’t make your assistant walk your dog; follow the fucking rota and stop turning up any day you fancy… don’t be my boss!

No link but try find the story about the woman who dropped her huge ddog off at ddoggy day care regularly before a member of staff fessed up it was just an office...

have you tried bringing him to a daycare?