Time to put the muzzle on taking dogs to work

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By D.L. Stewart, Contributing Writer 5:47 PM Tuesday, June 23, 2009

As if it weren’t bad enough that some employers want us to work like dogs, now a lot of them seem to think we should work with dogs. According to a recent survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, 20 percent of U.S. companies have pet-friendly policies and encourage employees to bring their dogs to work with them.

Advocates of this practice, including the humane society, claim that allowing employees to bring their dogs to work reduces stress for owners who worry about them being home alone all day, has a calming influence in the workplace and helps employees form relationships.

I’m not sure about any of that.

That’s partly because I don’t have a lot of stress about what our dog does when I’m at work. I know exactly what he does. He sleeps. Which is pretty much the same thing he does when I’m at home. I’ve heard that some dogs do all sorts of bad stuff when their owners are gone, such as jumping on the furniture, chewing on shoes and tipping over wastebaskets, but our dog doesn’t do those things. He refuses to engage in physical activity that doesn’t result in immediate food.

Besides, I’m not sure how bringing him to work would have a calming influence in the workplace. When our dog’s not sleeping, he’s barking. Occasionally he’s barking when he is sleeping. The last thing we need in our office is more barking. That’s why we have editors.

Whether bringing our dogs to work with us would help form relationships also is debatable. Many people don’t like dogs. Some are afraid of them. I, personally, wouldn’t consider going anywhere near the desk of a co-worker who had a Rottweiler named Satan sitting under it.

But if your company does decide to allow bringing dogs to work, it will need to set some rules. Not all dogs are suitable, cautions Liz Palika, a California dog trainer and author of “Dogs at Work: A Practical Guide to Creating Dog-Friendly Workplaces.” She says they must not be “food thieves ... have constant flatulence, snore loudly or be excessive droolers.” I assume she’s talking about the dogs, but maybe not.

Then again, dogs like those would make convenient scapegoats.

“Where’s the report that was due today?”

“The dog ate it.”

“How come you missed the 11 o’clock meeting?”

“My dog really, really needed to be walked.”

“Why is there porn on your computer?”

“Dog slobber.”

I could talk to our dog about coming to work with me, I suppose, although my guess is that I’ll have to drag him there. Because me going to work provides two of the highlights of his day: when I leave for work I toss him a treat and when I come home from work I give him another one.

But June 26 has been designated as this year’s “Take Your Dog to Work Day” and, just for that day, maybe I’ll send my dog to work.

I’ll stay home and sleep.

Contact this columnist at dlstew_2000@yahoo.com.

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Please keep your pets at home! Not everyone enjoys your pet as much as you do. This goes for the workplace or any type of festival. I hate having dog slobbers all over my feet when trying to scarf festival food.

Cat Owner
9:18 PM, 7/6/2009

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This colume is funny, yeah some dogs like to sleep and bark. If I took my dog to work with me he would try to bite every srange man that came around me, so I don't think taking him to work would be a good idea. My dog isn't a barker but he is very guarding and doesn't like everybody so he will have to stay home.

anna
2:21 PM, 6/28/2009

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I bring my dog to the office about once a week and it works out great. Everyone loves her and she likes to get out too. I like knowing that she doesn't have to "sleep all day". Animals deserve some level of variety in their lives too.

Me in Middletown
9:57 PM, 6/25/2009

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