Bring your dog to work day: How to join the Fun

If you’ve always wanted to take your four-legged friend into work to help ease the working day, now is your chance - Bring Your Dog To Work Day is almost here! This year, BYDTW is marked around the end of June every year. 

Established in 2014, Bring Your Dog To Work Day is an annual nationwide event that raises money for charities dedicated to making a difference to the welfare of dogs. All businesses and employees are welcome to join in the fun in what has become the nation's best day out for dogs!

Why do people take part? 

The day is organised to help raise money for animal welfare charities. As well as this, founders and organisers Hownd say; ‘scientific studies have concluded that the presence of pets can substantially reduce a person’s stress level’.  They also say that bringing a pooch into the office can increase ‘job satisfaction, team co-operation and morale. So, in addition to raising funds, Bring Your Dog To Work Day is likely to boost the productivity and happiness of the employees within your company. And it means hundreds, if not thousands of pets around the UK can now go to work alongside their humans!’

The benefits of having pets in the office has even prompted some companies to implement pet-friendly initiatives year-round. For example, at Amazon’s office in Seattle, Washington, more than 6,000 dog employees show up for work each day alongside their owners.

In the UK, the holiday is intended to raise money for All Dogs Matter, an organisation that rescues and re-homes more than 400 dogs every year in London. It also aims to raise money for Animals Asia, an international charity devoted to ending the practice of bear bile farming, as well as improving the welfare of dogs and cats in China and Vietnam.

How do you take part?

You might have to work some magic to convincing your boss to let you bring your pet in, as unfortunately, not everyone is going to be keen on the idea.

Registration is not required for the holiday, which means you can simply bring your dog to work , as long as you have the permission of your office and your boss. It is advised to read your company's policy regarding pets in the workplace.

Any participating business who wants to can make an online donation on https://www.bringyourdogtoworkday.co.uk/join-the-fun to become a business sponsor. 

You can also share photos of your canine "colleagues" on social media with the hashtags #TakeYourDogToWorkDay or #TYDTWD.

What should you know before bringing your dog to work?

If your company does participate in the holiday, there are a few things to consider before bringing in your pooch. The organisers have put together some essential tips to make sure your furry friend and your colleagues have a puptastic day at work:

• Puppies in the office are cute but while they might be house trained it might not be the same at work so don’t forget to be mindful of your dog’s bathroom needs while at work.
• Remember to bring along a water bowl and snacks. 
• If you’re commuting on public transport, make sure your dog is used to buses and trains – especially during rush hour
• Take into account your dog’s personality. Like people, some dogs can be overwhelmed by the attention and too much petting. Consider getting some calming treats, they are perfect for nervous or anxious dogs.
• If you are going into a lift - check with the people on board before you get in the lift if they are nervous or okay with dogs
• Even if your dog is not a chewer at home the office cables might be irresistible – bring lots of chew toys to distract them.
• Take them out for plenty of breaks but don’t let colleagues take your pooch out without you unless they know each other very well.
• Keep them occupied, and while filing or data entry might be out of the question some puzzle toys to stimulate their brains will keep them busy at their desks.
• It might be a good idea to bring their bed in for the day or a comfortable blanket so there is somewhere that feels familiar and it will encourage them to have a rest after all the initial excitement has died down.