| DOGS IN THE WORK PLACE |
| When we add a baby to our family, one parent stays home for a time to take care of the baby and we call it maternity leave. We have daycare for our children before they are ready to go to school. We don't let our children be unattended while they are small and want to spend quality time with them as much as possible. The same can be said for most dog lovers. I would never think of letting my pups/dogs be by themselves day after day alone at home for 9 hrs. a day. But many people do and the dogs aren't socialized or very happy. Pups that are left alone during the day tend to take longer to potty train and tend to be more nervous and not friendly at all around strangers as well as different stimulation outside the home. People that come home for lunch tend to have a bit more outgoing dogs, but still don't except most strangers that come in the house. They only except the people they know that are around them the most. Some dogs left alone for long periods of time on an on going bases will lick doors, eat walls, tear pillows, pee or poo where they are not supposed to. All because they need our attention, remember they are pack animals just like us. Some work places understand this problem and want the work place to be a happy place and know if their employees are happy, that their employees will be healthier mentally and physically. They will also work harder for the company. A quick scan of dog friendly employers listed on dogfriendly.com shows ad agencies, attorneys, retailers, software developers and various office jobs where dogs are welcome. Most are in the USA but more are each year Canadian companies are following suit. Many people that have their own companies or work in their homes have their dogs on their laps or by their side while they work. My dogs are always around me while I mend clothing for people or design a outfit for a client. When I have to go out to do a fitting I bring one dog with me and everyone of my clients love to see the dogs. Having your dog with you at work is definitely seen as a big perk by workers, according to a survey by the web site Simplyhired.com and Dogster.com. A whopping 70 % of respondents said a dog friendly work place is an important employee benefit. Almost half the dog owners said they'd switch jobs if their dogs were permitted at work. Even more 66 % said they would work longer hours and another 34 % aid they'd take a pay cut to bring their dogs with them. Toronto based Softchoice Corporation, which sells computer systems from manufacturers like IBM, Microsoft and Hewlett Packard to business users, is another high tech company that welcomes dogs in the office. Though it doesn't have the size, space or creative emphasis that Electronic Arts does, Softchoice is still big business, with some 300 employees at its head office and 32 locations across North America. All are dog friendly, if leases permit. A growing number of companies are recognising the benefits of dogs in the work place. I even know truckers, hair dressers, dispatchers, real estate agents, dentists, vets, owners of a gas station, computer designers, fire fighter and dance teacher. All work harder, longer hours and are very happy. The dogs are very happy and outgoing. They love everyone and make for better pets. Some people take their dogs only a couple of days out of the week and some dogs go full time. But what every you and your employer decide to do, remember that the dog should always come first. They need you, just as much as you need them. Remember also that if you decide to take your dog to a puppy daycare you must do your research on the daycare, just as you would if this was your child. Not all puppy daycares are made the same. The dogs mind need to be stimulated and they should be socialized during this time as well. Most dogs are like children to over 86% of pet owners. |
