Tips for a dog-friendly workplace

More and more workplaces these days are becoming dog-friendly, which can be a healthy experience for both pets and owners. Done wrong, however, it can also become a chaotic nightmare! If your office is considering allowing dogs, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Don't forget the walk. Dogs should have a vigorous morning walk of at least 30 to 45 minutes before being brought into the office. That way, the dogs will be in resting mode.

2. Get everyone involved. The workplace should be controlled by humans. Everyone should understand what is expected of them in the pack leadership role, so if a dog misbehaves and the owner isn't around, another employee should step in and remind the dog of the rules. All dogs should see all humans as pack leaders in a work environment.

3. Set rules. Co-workers should be told the proper way to approach the dogs: no touching, no talking, and no eye contact until the dogs are in a calm-submissive state. Owners should be in control of the dog at all times.

4. Take group walks. On breaks, consider getting a dog walking group together. It doesn't have to be a long trek, but migrating together as a pack will help the dogs bond -- and could also be a boon to office morale!

5. Enjoy your dog's company! According to Pet Sitters of America (the creators and sponsors of National Take Your Dog to Work Day), studies show that pet-friendly workplaces boost employee morale, raise productivity, and even keep employees from rushing home from work to take care of their pets. That's a great motivation to make your workplace a good example.