After the pandemic forced us to stay at home, to go out less and to work in smart working, among the things we least like to do in this new phase is leaving habits that have made us happy, consoled, kept company.
For example, spending hours and hours at the computer with the house cat stretching on the keyboard or the dog crouched next to us ready to stimulate us for a break, accompanying him for a walk.
World Dog Day in the office
is celebrated on 24 June 2022 ,
anniversary established in England with the name of "Take Your Dog To Work Day" at the end of the 90s, when smart working was still an unthinkable phenomenon and far from the most common logic.
And it is an opportunity to talk about the new welcome of four-legged friends even in the office which has become a more dynamic and open place than before and less rigid on the presence of animals than it was years ago.
It is one of the good things, of the change induced by these complicated years and it would be absurd to deprive oneself of it, especially since the benefits, that is, an improved mood, a more integrated environment with greater interaction between colleagues and also a new drive to go to the company in company. , they are recognized, in spite of a few extra hairs on the clothes that they too have changed anyway, less formal,
If you want to bring Fido to the office, you have to respect some basic common sense rules, in order to avoid that the animal suffers and that our work is also affected.
Here, then, are the six tips of MYLAV
1. Reserve a dedicated corner for him, even if our office is not very big
When you bring Fido to the office, we have to think about bringing his kennel with us, or in any case a towel that he knows and of the which can recognize the smell.
Better, then, if the corner of him is prepared in sight of the owner, with a bowl of water and some crunchy, in a quiet place and not in transit.
If our four-legged friend is then used to having some puppets or toys, it is always better to take him with us, so as to recreate the same environment in the office that he already has at home.
2. The attention to be paid if there are several dogs that share the same environment, building or office
It will be advisable to introduce them first, perhaps with a walk together and check that none of them are uncomfortable, tense or excited by the presence of others. .
Furthermore, if you were to offer a snack, it will be good to avoid too much proximity between them, it could cause some growl or tension for a natural possessiveness compared to something you don't eat every day.
3. If our dog is particularly lively, let's bring some natural chewable or mental activating toys
If we have a puppy, or in any case a particularly active dog, we can also think of bringing with us some natural chewable, such as deer horn (it must be removed when it has been gnawed and they consume too much so as not to risk that they ingest it in a single piece too large), coffee or olive wood, heather root, or meat snacks (ears and noses of pork, beef, crow's feet) or fish (to be calculated in the daily caloric amount of the daily ration) .
This will help him to release any nervousness by chewing and to relax.
There are also mental activation games (with various levels and difficulties), useful for keeping the dog busy for a while, without exaggerating and only in our presence.
4. Even if our puppy is cute, you shouldn't let him "snog" by all his colleagues if he doesn't want to
. There are dogs who love to be petted and pampered and dogs that are more shy and suspicious.
Each owner knows the character of their Fido and behaves accordingly, but often people on the street see a furry wad and cannot resist the urge to caress and cuddle him.
This of course can also happen in the office and is often done in good faith.
However, it is necessary to explain to colleagues that the dog may not like to be handled and that if you approach it you have to do it with some precautions (do not touch his head but in places that are pleasant for him, such as under the chin or on the chest), respecting his hours of rest.
5. Let's take some time to take him for a walk.
Even if we are engaged in calls or meetings, we must never give up the daily walk
Our agenda will be precious: as we write down deadlines, commitments or calls, we foresee an alarm so as not to distract us and foresee the exit with our four-legged friend: it will good for him and also for us to take a break for our eyes and a little healthy movement.
It doesn't matter if we have a lot of work to do or if there is a call that has gone on longer than expected.
It is always important to respect Fido's usual exit times, to keep his habits unchanged and his lifestyle unchanged, even if he is in the office and not at home.
6. If we see that the dog in the office is not comfortable, let's not take him anymore
It is true that if we do not have a dog sitter or if there is an urgency and we do not know what to do we must bring our friend to the office by force;
however, if we see that he is not feeling well, he shows agitation, he cannot find a place for him, he does not eat, he does not drink, we must think of not taking him with us anymore, obviously he is not comfortable with him.
We therefore act in advance, if we know that our work could potentially require us, even at the last minute, to go to the office in person, we contact a dog sitter in advance or we hear the kindergartens for dogs, present, now, in different cities, or in alternative, neighboring guesthouses.
This might help us to avoid leaving the dog at home alone if we know we will be away for many hours.
"The dog in the office brings joy, a little informality that never hurts and above all a lot of fun - explains Dr. Maria Chiara Catalani, MYLAV Expert - if, however, we decide to take it with us to work, even if it is a few times a year, it is essential to respect some basic rules to avoid that Fido is ill and does not live the "trip" serenely.
With all that dogs do for us, what does it cost us after all to put ourselves in their shoes and try to understand what is good for them, regardless of what is comfortable for us? ".
According to internal research by the Mars Group (Mars, Royal Canin and AniCura), which has created pet-friendly offices around the world, 64% of respondents own a pet - most of them under the age of 5 , and of small size and as much as 96% are convinced that taking it to the office with you will brighten everyone's working hours, positively influencing the entire work environment.
In fact, the presence of four-legged friends in the office has been shown to reduce stress (93%), improve relationships (79%) and help increase attachment to the company (91%).
Among the most common requests in the office: Areas dedicated to pets (
desks with kennels
) Great
attention to cleaning
not to be intrusive with those who may be allergic. Need for respect especially in the common areas (coffee machine / lunch).
Among the most common requests outside the office: Creation of areas where dogs can "scurry", creation of
pet-friendly areas where they can be left during the lunch break.
The classification of the breed is: Mestizo, Dachshund, Poodle, German Shepherd and Australian Shepherd.
E On the occasion of World Dog Day in the Office (24 June), an initiative by Deliveroo in Milan with a dedicated snack is worth noting