Why should you be the only one stuck in a cube?

This Friday the 22nd is Take Your Dog to Work Day.  Started in 1999 by Pet Sitters International, this is the one day of the year that you might be able to convince that hard-a*s of a boss to lighten up a little and let you bring your pooch to the office.

Now, on the surface this may seem like a great idea, and it can be, but bringing your dog to work also has the potential to be a career ender.

(And, yes, I know I'm being a wet blanket but I'm trying to save you from being the office pariah so bear with me.  A bad experience with a dog in the work place can be worse for your career than stealing the boss's Kung Pao chicken from the office refrigerator.)

So I've compiled a list of do's and don'ts for TYDtW Day. 

Do:

• Get permission from the boss to bring your dog to work.  Don't just show up on Friday with Rover in tow without talking to the powers that be first.
• Bring your dog in on a leash.  I shouldn't have to say that but... Yeah.  I do.
• Have respect for your co-workers.  If you know that Sally has horrible pet allergies or Larry is afraid of dogs it's probably best to leave Rover at home.  If you do get the green light please make sure your co-workers are not being constantly bothered by a slobbery head in their laps every five minutes.  You should probably make sure the dog doesn't bug them either.
• Make sure your dog is well trained and listens well... And not just if you have a cookie in your hand.  I mean he knows his commands even if you don't have a liver treat dangling over his head.
• Make sure he has his I.D. tags and rabies tag on his collar.  You never know, he could slip away unnoticed when an elevator door opens in search of a hot Administrative Assistant.

Don't:

• Bring your dog to work if he is a habitual "marker".  It's hard enough to work in a cube farm without the walls of your work space reaking of urine.
• Bring your dog to work if he is a chronic jumper.  You don't want to have to pay for 25 dry cleaning bills, or worse, new work clothes for your co-workers.
• Bring your dog to work if he is a barker.  It's hard enough to get your work done with Margaret from accounting always stopping by your office for a "short" chat about her latest needlework project...  As a matter of fact, if your dog barks at all make sure you bring him over to meet Margaret.
• Neglect your work to care for your dog.  Make sure Rover has plenty of water, (quiet) chew toys, and food at the beginning of the day and take him out for periodic bathroom breaks, but don't play tug-of-war if you have a major upcoming deadline.  If your work suffers I'm fairly certain the boss will make sure you and everybody else isn't allowed to bring your dogs to work next year.  And let's face it, you're probably already shirking a few of your duties surfing the web.  You don't want to lose that luxury.
• Forget that this is supposed to be a special privilege.  Enjoy yourself and others will enjoy your dog too.

Comments

[jan]

This would be such a neat idea if more people did the do's and fewer people did the don'ts. Unfortunately like dog parks and dog beaches, a few irresponsible owners often ruin it for everyone.

[ericat]

I enjoyed the descriptions on the lab's birthday blog. Funny how such a "difficult" pet can creep into your heart to be missed more than the easy ones when they are gone. What caught my eye here was the dog to work idea. No way that could work out. I am a dog lover, but to have a bundle of nervous dogs (and eventually owners) at work, I might as well stay home and skip the frustration. I ask myself, the person who thought that idea out, do not give him/her any important decissions to make - like managing a country.