Chat
Contact us
Close contact box
Connect ID #
802 194 59
Connect ID #
802 194 59

Sorry, chat is currently unavailable

Don't wait on hold. We'll call you back when it's your turn to talk with the next available .
Please enter your name  
Please enter your phone number  
Please enter a message  

Calls may be recorded for training and quality control purposes.

We are located in Virginia USA.

Thank you. We will be calling you .
We're sorry. We have encountered a problem.

10 tips for taking your dog to work

How to preserve peace and productivity when your office has gone to the dogs

In this article:

3 must-haves for a dog-friendly workplace:

  1. Fur-free zones
  2. Exercise areas
  3. Hydration stations

7 tips for coworking with canines:

  1. Think like a dog
  2. Take it slow
  3. Dog-proof your workspace (and people-proof your dogspace)
  4. Get a buddy
  5. Stock up on toys
  6. Be inclusive
  7. Know your dog’s limits

The internet is full of articles about why dog-friendly offices are amazing. And it’s not just the high adorability factor — there’s actual science behind it. Studies show that having dogs around the office can lower stress and boost morale.

Plus, being able to take our pups to work is conducive to a better work/life balance. As a longtime animal shelter volunteer, my favorite aspect of this is that it can break down potential barriers to adoption.

Brady and Grizzly

Making your company dog-friendly is a great way to attract and retain potential employees, but it needs to be done right. It’s important to consider staff productivity and the well-being of our coworkers and dogs. Here are some tips for tackling all that, straight from dog-friendly Crutchfield HQ.

Company concessions

I’ll start with a few things the company can do to keep coworkers and canines happy and healthy.

1. Establish some fur-free zones

Fur free sign

It’s important to make room for employees who are allergic, afraid, or just plain don’t like dogs.

Most people here are pretty into dogs, even if they don’t have one of their own, but we keep separate no-go zones for folks who don’t want to be around dogs for whatever reason.

2. Make exercise an easy option

Our dachshund intern Lincoln could wear out all our typing arms playing fetch, so we outsourced the job to the iFetch ball launcher. We are lucky to have a dog park here at Crutchfield HQ for this kind off-leash fun. Of course, it’s not always feasible to have an on-site dog park, but it’s important to have somewhere for pups to get a bit of exercise and do their business.

Tara and Moose

Our senior content manager Tara and her dog Moose enjoy midday walkies in the woods.

Crutchfield also has a few miles of walking trails that offer a great way to take a break from our desks, whether we’ve got a dog with us or not.

3. Provide plenty of water

Nina drinking

Photo studio assistants Nina and Martyn grab some water from their respective fountains.

Dogs need to drink about an ounce of water per pound of body weight per day. They need even more after a lot of activity (or if they are warm or stressed). In short, it’s absolutely vital to make sure they have access to plenty of fresh water.

Most of our canine coworkers have bowls of water in their offices or cubicles, but the company also provides a PetSafe Drinkwell Platinum Fountain so they can grab a big gulp on their way in from their walk or play park fun.

Chris, our Chief HR Officer, explains a bit about how and why Crutchfield HQ became dog-friendly. 

Set yourself up for success

Here are a few ways you can make this easier on yourself, your coworkers, and your dog.

1. Think like a dog — specifically your dog

Do her age and disposition lend themselves to being an office dog? If she likes being around other dogs and people, that’s a great start. If she doesn’t, it might be something to work on with a trainer or at home before she comes to work with you.

I have one pretty simple reason for never bringing my hound Abby in with me — she gets carsick. Easily. And I have a very curvy commute so it wouldn’t be much fun for either of us.

Roxy in the office

Senior IT anyalyst Nicole gives her growing puppy Roxy plenty of room to play.

Puppies will likely require more attention and more frequent breaks than adult dogs. That doesn’t mean it’s not doable, only that it might be more of an undertaking. Bringing your puppy to work does have its advantages. It makes house-training and socialization much easier. 

Annie sleeping on desk

Okay, so maybe it’s worth a little extra effort in order to have a sleeping puppy on your lap while you work.

Some older dogs might be reluctant to change their routines, while some may totally roll with the punches. Matt, one of our editors, adopted an older dog named Porter last year and he’s an ideal office dog. He’s happy with a few walks a day and the rest of the time you’ll find him napping.

Matt and Porter

Distinguished senior pup Porter loves coming to work every day with his dad Matt.

2. Take it slow

An office is a new and potentially overwhelming environment for a lot of dogs, so be patient with your pup. Consider starting with a half day. And when you first meet other office dogs, try doing it via parallel walks outside where you get gradually closer instead of rushing up for an indoor, leashed greeting.

3. Dog-proof your workspace (and people-proof your dogspace)

We know to keep things like chocolate and grapes away from dogs, but remember that — to a dog — trash cans can be a source of plenty of other harmful, yet appetizing things. Electrical cords, plants, and paper shredders are also best kept out of reach of curious pups.

Cubicle signs can be a really helpful way to let coworkers know what to do (or not do) around your dog. This can be especially important if your dog is shy, in training, or on a special diet.

Kaylee's sign

Sales Advisor Kat has posted some Dos and Don’ts for interacting with her dog Kaylee.

4. Find your dog a buddy

/Kaylee Grizzly and Kat in dog park

When Kat takes Kaylee out, she also grabs Grizzly so they can play together.

This is another great tip from Kat, one of our awesome Advisors. Whenever Kat gets a break, she takes her dog Kaylee AND Kaylee’s work-bestie Grizzly out to the dog park. The two completely wear each other out running and fetching together.

We all know a tired dog is generally a good dog, so Kat’s ten-minute play date benefits pretty much everyone on the sales floor. So find your pup a playmate and sit back and relax (or, you know, get some work done).

It’s also important that your pup have a human buddy or two. That way you have a designated dogsitter in place in case you need to step away for a moment (people need potty-breaks, too, after all!).

5. Stock up on toys, treats, and more toys

Veronica and chew toy

My Veronica doesn't care about anything else in the world when she's working on her frozen treat toy.

We can’t always get outside to play as often as our dogs would like, so be sure to have plenty of toys on hand to keep their interest. Try to minimize work disruptions with quiet toys, like non-squeaky balls, chew toys, or an interactive brain game like the iFetch Frenzy.

Treat puzzles or treat-filled hollow chew toys are another great way to keep a dog entertained for ages. A quick web search will yield loads of treat stuffin' recipe ideas. My favorite is mashed up banana mixed with peanut butter. I fill the toy and then freeze it for a few hours, which makes it last a lot longer. Just make sure you are only using toys specifically designed for this purpose.

6. Include your dog, whenever you can

JR and Scherzer

Wherever our training manager JR goes, so goes his dog Scherzer.

Your dog probably doesn’t want to be stuck in a cubicle or office while you are out and about. Boredom and loneliness might lead to barking or worse. So make sure to include him in your workday activities whenever possible. It’s a natural fit here at Crutchfield where we’re always putting pups to work as models and Smart Pet product testers.

Nina in studio

If you’ve ever browsed our catalog or website, you’ve probably seen Nina—she’s always helping her dad J. in the photo studio.

7. Know your dog’s limits

You can probably recognize when your dog isn’t herself, but if you aren’t sure, here are some fairly common indications that she might be feeling anxious:

  • Excessive salivation, panting, yawning, or lip licking
  • Scratching or shaking off (as if she’s wet)
  • Ears pinned back
  • Tail tucked

Watch for these signs of discomfort and be willing to listen to them. If your dog seems uncomfortable, here are some things to try.

A walk. Seriously. One of my canine coworkers who shall not be named was recently shivering and panting excessively. It was pretty worrying. His dad took him out for a walk and it turned out he just really, really needed to relieve himself. Repeatedly. He was perfectly fine when he came back inside.

A physical barrier

Veronica and Emily at work

Out of sight, out of mind. Some dogs will relax if you take away the visual trigger of their excitement.

My dog Veronica gets really animated whenever people walk by my cubicle row. She gets even more excited if they have a dog. I put up a couple of panels to block her view — now she is much more at ease, and I can get some work done.

Create a safe space

Moose under the desk

Moose enjoys being tucked in next to his favorite person. And PS — those tufty paws of his are almost more than I can bear.

Many dogs need a place to retreat — like a crate — especially if they are shy. Make sure it’s got a nice comfy bed inside. Some dogs also feel more secure if you cover the crate itself with a blanket.

If worrisome behavior continues at home, check in with your vet. If your dog seems uncomfortable only at work, consider leaving her at home or trying it part-time. There are plenty of cool ways to stay connected to your pets, even when you have to be at work without them. Personally, I use the Circle 2 camera from Logitech to keep an eye on my dogs when I’m away. I can even chat with them using the mobile app’s two-way talk feature.

Would your office be better with dogs in it?

If you think your company culture might make for a dog-friendly workplace, talk to your HR rep about creating a dog policy. And if you already have a pet-friendly office, we’d love to hear your favorite tips for sharing space with canine coworkers.

For more ways to make sure your pet is living his or her best life, check out our smart pet offerings.

Lex and Neil
  • Marina from Port Arthur

    Posted on 10/26/2021

    And the world would be a better place for pets and their owners. Which in turn, I believe, would make a better company and a better product or service. That would also have much happier, less stressed out employees(and fur babies).

    Commenter image

    Emily S. from Crutchfield

    on 11/4/2021

    Thanks Marina! We certainly find that to be the case at Crutchfield!
  • Fran from La Crosse

    Posted on 2/24/2019

    I was an interior designer and remodeling contractor for 30 years and my dear Sophie, a red & white corgi, was with me all the time. She was in my car whenever I went to showrooms, vendors, offices, clients homes and she kept me company in my office. She owned the front passenger seat. During free time she climbed mountains and camped and kayaked with me. I am so glad we shared that time for 15 years as her time was up last April. I miss her everyday. RIP dear Sophie.

    Commenter image

    Emily S. from Crutchfield

    on 2/27/2019

    Aw Fran, it sounds like your Sophie had the most wonderful life with you. I'm so sorry for your loss. Take care, and thanks for the note.
  • Mike from Oak Ridge NJ

    Posted on 11/30/2018

    Smart and well written. Thank you

    Commenter image

    Emily S. from Crutchfield

    on 12/3/2018

    Thanks so much, Mike!
  • Vicki from Grandview

    Posted on 10/2/2018

    Pet-friendly work environment... Now that is one positive feature of the modern work ethic.

    Commenter image

    Emily S. from Crutchfield

    on 10/4/2018

    We couldn't agree more, Vicki! Thanks for the note!

Looking for
smart pet products?

Smart Pet Products Shop our selection
Compare the sound