How To Turn Your Office Into a 'Dog-Friendly' Workplace

Having a dog-friendly workplace is good for you, good for your dog and good for business. These tips will help you put together a dogs-at-work policy.

There are dozens of studies that have proved having a dog in the workplace is a great decision.

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From Inc.com:

A recent study from the Virginia Commonwealth University found that employees who brought their dogs to work experienced lower stress levels throughout the work day, reported higher levels of job satisfaction, and had a more positive perception of their employer.

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From TheBark.com:

In 2010 a study, headed by Christopher Honts, at Central Michigan University, found that the mere presence of a canine in the office could help make people collaborate more effectively.

Improved employee relationships, reduction in employee absenteeism, drive creativity, increased sales reported by store owners who brought their dogs to work. The list is endless.

TSM

97ZOK's office and studios are dog-friendly and I can tell you from experience that having visits from our four-legged family members boosts my mood immediately.

Now that you know having a dog at work could be a benefit to business and you've got the boss(es) to think about it seriously, you're going to have to create a 'dog policy'

TheBark.com put together a great list of things to think about when creating your office's 'dog policy'

Start off with a dog-committee made up of dog owners and non-dog owners to draft a policy.
Dogs must be friendly to human and other dogs.
Make sure there are readily accessible outdoor areas for dog “breaks.”
Follow a dog “hire” policy where a new dog is interviewed for acceptability into the workplace.
Have a three strikes rule concerning behavioral breaches or human-non compliance (like not picking up after a dog), but if a dog displays aggressive behavior he/she must be removed from the office immediately.
Some dogs might not be “ready” for the workplace, make sure the office environment is amenable to your dog too. Fearful and shy dogs might not flourish in a busy office.
Basic training is a must and dogs should have a good social personality.
If dogs are permitted in meeting rooms, make sure your dog is well-mannered and does not cause distractions.

TheBark.com has 8 more suggestions, visit their website to continue putting your 'dog policy' together.

As much as I would like to bring my Saint Bernard to work more often, he's just too loud and messy. When thinking about dogs that can hang in your office, a Saint is probably not your best choice. There's also the sober issue.