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Take Your Dog to Work, Armonk

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. -- Boss got you down? Soothe your savage supervisor with a healthy dose of canine cuteness. Friday, June 22 is “Take Your Dog to Work Day.”  

“Having dogs in the office can be a positive experience if pet owners are respectful of their co-workers,” says Joan Nieman, a pet care expert and Vice President of Best Friends Pet Care, the national pet care services company, where employees bring their dogs to work every day.

Best Friends cites a recent article in the International Journal of Workplace Health, which reports on a study from Virginia Commonwealth University, which found that having dogs in the workplace can reduce employee stress, increase job satisfaction and work commitment.

“It’s important for people to be realistic about their pets’ temperament and training,” explains Nieman. She recommends only bringing a dog to the office if the dog is already accustomed to being well behaved in other highly social situations. “You have to know that your dog will behave appropriately around other dogs.”

Good behavior notwithstanding, Neiman says dog owners should talk to co-workers in advance about everything from allergies to comfort levels around man’s best friend. Nieman also suggests bringing along a pet or baby gate, so the dog can be restricted to one area; a designated doggy water bowl (don’t forget a plastic mat for under the bowl to prevent damage to office carpeting); and plastic bags for cleaning up when the dog does its own “business” for the day.

For more advice on successfully negotiating Take your Dog to Work Day, visit Nieman’s blog at www.bestfriendspetcare.com/dog-dish

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