Essential Inquiries for Considering an Office Dog

Adding a dog to your office can create a relaxed and family-like atmosphere, but it involves more than just picking out a cute pup. You need to consider how an office dog will impact your business.

Think about how your employees and clients will react to a company dog. Some people may be allergic or afraid of dogs. By deciding to have an office dog, you might be excluding anyone who can’t or won’t be around a dog from working with or buying from you. This is a significant consideration.

Additionally, your type of business and its location might have regulations that prohibit having a dog on the premises. For example, if you run a bakery, health codes might prevent animals in food prep areas. Be aware of these laws before deciding to get a company dog.

If your staff loves dogs and clients rarely visit, you’ve got one hurdle cleared. The next step is figuring out who will take care of the dog. Someone needs to handle feeding, walking, and end-of-day responsibilities. Dogs also need regular vet visits, insurance, exercise, and training. You must decide who will manage these duties and cover the costs.

Will one person handle all the tasks, or will you divide them among employees? If the dog belongs to one of the company owners, it might be unfair to ask employees to take care of it. In that case, the owner should manage the dog’s needs.

Dogs thrive when they understand their boundaries. Depending on your business, you might give the dog free range or designate specific areas for it. Decide if everyone can give the dog treats or if only the owner should. These questions need answers before the dog arrives.

Having a dog at work is not just about fun and companionship. It changes your company’s responsibilities. Consider the potential liability if the dog bites someone or causes any trouble.

You should talk to your insurance agent to include the dog in your liability policy, requiring proof of vaccinations and breed details. Legal advice is also important to protect your brand and assets.