This week marks the yearly Take Your Dog to Work Day, which is also known as the best holiday of the year. Though, really, every day should be Take Your Dog to Work Day, because who doesn't want to work with a little fluffy muffin by his or her side?
Nowadays, more and more companies are letting people bring their pets into the office, as employers realize that as long as a dog is well-groomed and well-behaved, a canine's cheerful and calming presence serves to boost company morale and ease anxiety. But bringing a dog into the office isn't just good for the human; it's also great for the animal.
Everyone knows dogs hate being left at home, so they're elated to come into work with you. Even if all they get to do is lie next to you and watch you type while staring at the mysterious glowing rectangle on the table, they're happy just to be near you. And the biggest reason that dog-lovers don't adopt their own furry friend is because they know they won't be home often enough to take care of them.
In fact, that's why the whole holiday was invented back in 1999 by Pet Sitters International. Knowing how tragic it is that so many dogs are wasting away in shelters, they created Take Your Dog to Work Day to celebrate what great co-workers pups make and, hopefully, inspire other people to adopt pets in the process. So if someone you know still isn't convinced that bringing dogs into the office increases productivity and makes life 1,000 percent better, tell them to check out the photos below! And if you're looking to transition to a dog-friendly space, check out the 30 Most Pet-Friendly Companies in the U.S.
1 | They Are So Happy
The first time I brought my corgi, Sherlock (shown above), into the office, he was so excited to have the privilege of taking part in my important human activities that he could not stop grinning from ear to ear all day. Obviously, making a living being that happy makes you happy as well. Oh, and speaking of corgis: If you don't have one, here are 50 Corgi Facts That Will Make You Want One Immediately.
2 | They Make Everyone Else Happy
When I brought him into my former office as a six-month-old puppy, my colleagues lost their minds.
3 | They Help You Make New Friends
Does everyone in your office just sit silently all day with their headphones stuffed in their ears? Well, dogs provide a cure for this lack of social interaction. Everyone wants to pet the pup, ask you how old he is, and share stories about their own doggos. It's all the synergy of an office happy hour at none of the cost!
4 | They're Great At Interviews
"Hello. I have an important announcement to make. And the announcement...is that I love you."
5 | The Bring Great Ideas to The Table
"Looking at the actions of our competitors, I propose a 32 percent increase in snacking to maintain our market value." For more announcements from dogs, here are 19 Things Your Dog Is Trying to Tell You.
6 | They Can Answer the Phone
"Hello, this is Dog. I would like to speak with Pizza."
7 | They Look Great In Suits
This dog looks like he is about to bust out some Warren Buffet-approved financial advice.
8 | They Only Send Important Emails
And they always follow up. To learn more about the science behind why you have the unbearable urge to cuddle this pooch, check out Here's the Age When Cute Puppies Are At Their Cutest.
9 | They Make Great Snuggle Breaks
When I work from home, I notice that my dog does something I like to call HIIN—or "High Intensity Interval Napping." He zooms around the house for 45 minutes, then spends 10 minutes napping in a sunbeam, only to get up and do it all over again. I have started to follow suit: writing furiously for 45 minutes, then joining him for a refreshing ten-minute nap. It does wonders for your concentration!
10 | They Look Adorable Sitting At the Computer
Even if they don't really know what they're looking at.
11 | They Are Hilariously Bad At Typing
RIP to the wonderful golden retriever behind this "I Don't Know What I'm Doing" meme.
12 | They Keep Your Lap Warm As You Work
Nothing helps keep you feeling safe and calm like a warm bundle of doggie.
13 | They Mostly Nap
People worry that having a dog around will be distracting but the truth is that they mostly happily snooze by your desk in hilarious positions that elevate everyone's moods.
14 | They Provide Much-Needed Attention
And they are totally subtle about it. To read about another very good boy, Meet the Adorable Dog That Waits for His Owner's Train All Day Long.
15 | Free Advertising
Puppies are endlessly Instagrammable which makes social media posts that include the name of your company all that much more noticeable.
16 | They Force You to Take Breaks
We all know that sitting is the new smoking, but when you've got a dog in the office, it forces you to take those much-needed 10-minute breaks to do a lap around the block. It's good for you and your pup.
17 | The Selfies
Seriously, you can double your social media following just by bringing your dog to work.
18 | They Make the Office Look Good
When people walk into an office and see a puppy casually chilling out there, they immediately know that it's a friendly and well-balanced environment.
19 | They Attract New Clients
Forget trying to shmooze a potential client over a fancy dinner and drinks. Your dog is your best asset to landing that big deal. Who could say no to this face?
20 | They Are So Grateful
If a dog is accustomed to dealing with the tragedy of your departure on a daily basis, the look on his face when he realizes that he gets to come with you is too much to bear. It's literally the best thing that's ever happened to him.
21 | They're Fun to Dress Up
It'll make everyone laugh, thereby enhancing the overall mood of the office. To see some other dogs who look oddly familiar, check out 20 Celebrities Who Look Like Their Pets.
22 | It Saves Money
Getting a dog-walker to take your pup out for 30 minutes a day while you're at work costs about $100 a week. So not only does bringing your pup into the office boost emotional wellbeing, it's also a great way to save $400 a month!
23 | They Encourage Employees to Work Longer
A 2008 survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association found that employees at companies that allowed dogs weren't as eager to rush out of the door at 5:00 p.m. sharp as those who worked at companies that weren't pet-friendly.
24 | They Make Employees Healthier
It's not just a rumor. Several studies have found that people who have dogs live longer and healthier lives, since dogs help lower cholesterol, maintain low blood pressure, reduce your stress levels, and more. And a healthy employee means better work and fewer sick days! To learn about other secret benefits, check out 20 Amazing Facts You Never Knew About Your Dog.
25 | They Make the World A Better Place
Here's the deal: bringing a dog into the office creates camaraderie between co-workers, makes everyone happier and healthier, boosts productivity, inspires creativity, and saves money. Plus, it makes it more realistic for people with 9-5 jobs to actually adopt one of the millions of stray puppies in the world who are in dire need of their love. And it makes dogs who would otherwise be stuck at home insanely happy. Who can ask for more?
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