For devoted dog mums and dads, heading out for work in the morning trailed by puppy dog eyes never gets easier. That is, unless you could bring your dog along to work with you.
This is exactly what an expert dog trainer is calling for, encouraging businesses to introduce dog friendly work spaces that he believes will improve the lives of pets, owners and co-workers.
According to research by Statistica, the pet dog population in Ireland in 2017 was 450,000.
Chris Hanlon worked for 20-years training specialist sniffer dogs used by police and government services locally and internationally, including Singapore and the USA, and co-owns Werewolf Food, an online dog food subscription start-up with his wife Bridgeen Hanlon.
They are asking Irish companies to welcome dogs into the office ahead of Dog's Trust's Bring Your Dog to Work Day, which takes place tomorrow.
"My experience working with dogs over the last 20 years has assured me that the office is an excellent environment for dogs and humans to benefit from each other", Chris says. "Irish companies who don't yet have a dog-friendly policy may be missing a trick when it comes to these benefits.
"For starters, dogs are excellent social lubricants that instantly bring employees together, bettering the bond amongst colleagues and improving the way the team works together", he adds, highlighting how many major companies like Amazon, Google and Ticketmaster all have dog-friendly spaces.
Granted you can adequately care for a dog, the reasons for adopting one are many. "We know that dogs encourage owners to take exercise benefiting a workforce’s physical and mental health", Chris says, "and so when employees can have their dogs at work they are much more likely to get out and about at lunch."
"Pet ownership has actually been shown to result in fewer visits to the doctor, meaning a healthier workforce when dogs are part of the team."
Naturally, having a friendly and fluffy pooch nosing around the office is a surefire way to get people talking, laughing and interacting together, and when tensions run high, there are few things that can diffuse it as quickly as a dog looking for belly rubs.
"The presence of a dog, the petting of it and the cuddles, instantly lowers blood pressure and acts as a coping mechanism lowering negative atmospheres", Chris says.
"Today’s workforce can be tough to impress but dog-friendly offices may find the recruitment process that little easier." As well as this, bringing your dog to work saves on dog care, an added financial perk that will make the company even more attractive to employees.
Of course, not all work spaces will be able to accommodate animals, be it due to size or other factors, but Chris says "the majority of businesses can do a great deal more and will ultimately reap multiple benefits from doing so".
Bridgeen adds that there are many versions of dog-friendly initiatives that she and Chris have seen in recent years, including "pawternity packages, bring your dog to work Fridays, reformed outdoor areas where dogs can be kept during the day and work from home days"
"Far too many dogs are left isolated in back gardens on their own so if you can facilitate, please encourage your employees to bring their dog to work this 'Bring Your Dog to Work Day’ and beyond."
