Take Your Dog to Work

June 26th is Take Your Dog to Work Day! Take Your Dog to Work Day celebrates the joy of dog ownership and introduces non-owners to the benefits of having a dog in your life. This day is also intended to help increase dog adoptions. And taking your dog to work with you can be a terrific way to improve your health.

Taking Fido to Work is Good for Your Health

Did you also know that taking your dog to work can be good for your health? Dogs understand the importance of connecting with others and are ideal role models for excellent socializing. A study at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom showed that taking your dog to work resulted in three times more social encounters. By having a dog as their sides during the day, people had one-third more encounters with friends, over twice as many encounters with acquaintances, and over twenty times more meetings with strangers. Just having a dog at your side widens your sphere of these important social interactions.

You might guess that connecting with your co-workers can lighten your mood, but did you also know that socializing improves your physical health? Studies prove that being more socially engaged improves your health by:

• Improving your mood
• Reducing your risk for heart disease
• Improving your long-term memory
• Extending your life

So take a trip to the water cooler. Get a drink for you and Fido, and use that time to also connect with your co-workers. They won’t be able to resist your pooch’s sweet brown eyes and you make begin a lasting, and healthy, friendship

Make Sure Your Fido Will Enjoy Going to Work

Before taking your dog to work, make sure your dog is well socialized and comfortable with people, other dogs, and any noises or equipment that might be encountered during a visit to your work. If your dog is nervous around others, upset by a change in his routine, or stressed by lots of attention, consider celebrating the day with an extra walk before and after work and adding a photo of Fido to your desk.

Getting Ready for Fido’s Day

Make sure you have supplies for Fido to take with you to work. These might include:

• Leash
• Kennel, pillow, blanket
• Water dish
• Chew toys
• Poopie bags
• Paper towels, disinfectant, and hand sanitizer for unexpected accidents
• Small doggie treats

Be sure to set up a quiet area for Fido – perhaps putting his favorite blanket next to or under your desk. Being a canine ambassador is hard work, so make sure Fido can take a break from greeting others.

Also, be sure to take Fido for a nice walk on the morning before work to help reduce excess energy and prepare him for quiet time while you get your work done. Give Fido time for potty before entering your building and plan on potty breaks during the day and a nice walk at lunch. Hopefully, you’ll enjoy the before and during work walks so much that you’ll add them to your daily routine every day!

Celebrate Taking Your Dog to Work

So check with your employer about adding Take Your Dog to Work Day at your job. It’s fun for you and Fido and good for your health!

For more tips on Take Your Dog to Work Day and information on how you can enroll your workplace, visit www.takeyourdog.com

Article contributed by regular guest blogger, Dawn A. Marcus.

About the author: Dawn A. Marcus, MD is a medical doctor and professor at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She also serves as medical expert to Del Monte’s Power of Paws program, which promotes better human health through pet companionship. She is an internationally-recognized speaker, educator, and author, receiving the National Headache Foundation Media Excellence Award. Dr. Marcus has written nine medical books, including her latest book, Fit As Fido: Follow Your Dog to Better Health. Visit her websites www.dawnmarcusmd.com and www.fitasfido.com.