Denise Flaim

June 12, 2008

Take Your Dog to Work Day is June 20, which leaves you little more than a week to convince your boss to let you spread a little interspecies cheer - not to mention dog hair - around the office.

If you do get the green light, remember that you only have this one chance to make a good first impression - and create the possibility of an annual company tradition. Here are some tips for success:

1 TIRE HIM OUT One way to ensure an angelic-looking dog in repose is a good workout. If you have a young, energetic dog, take him for a long morning run before you get to the office.

Running risk: To prevent orthopedic injury, never run a dog that is younger than a year old (18 months is even better) on concrete or blacktop for any length of time. Instead, opt for free-play on grass or a similar soft surface.



2 BRING DISTRACTIONS Your dog doesn't have the benefit of being able to sneak a game of computer solitaire to alleviate his corporate boredom. Instead, bring a tried-and-true standby: a rubber Kong (toykong.com) stuffed with favorite treats. (I fill mine with Velveeta or peanut butter, then freeze them.) Bully sticks (most pet stores carry them) are another good choice, although they are expensive, and nobody likes to think of what they're really made of: male bovine private parts. Ouch.

Mine! Avoid food treats in the presence of other dogs, as this is a recipe for bedlam.



3 CREATE A REFUGE

You need a place for your dog to retreat if he's overwhelmed by all your colleagues and the newness of the situation. For small and toy breeds, consider a Sherpa carrier (sherpapet.com). For bigger dogs, a soft-sided mesh crate (midwesthomes4pets.com) is easy to tote, though escape artists can chew through it if unsupervised. Not to mention those that soon perfect a "tumbleweed" method of rolling it around.

Common scents: Bring a blanket or bed from home.



4 TAKE THE STAIRS "If you work on the upper floors of a building, try taking the stairs - some dogs may be terrified of the elevator," suggests Nancy Hassel of the Dog Federation of New York (dogfederationofnew york.org).

Fence him in: If you work in a cubicle, Hassell suggests a baby gate to create a canine playpen.



5 AVOID ACCIDENTS Nothing sours a boss on canine visitors like a poop pile in the utility closet. Make sure your dog relieves himself before you get to the office, take him out for regular potty breaks, and don't let him off leash to wander.

Leg lifters: You can prevent male dogs from christening the copy machine with a belly band (decotogs.com), a strategically placed fabric cummerbund.



6 KEEP IT FRIENDLY

It should go without saying, but let me say it anyway: If your dog is not friendly, to humans or other dogs, don't bring him to the office. It won't end well.

More, more, more: Visit takeyourdog.com for a downloadable guide for bringing your dog to work.

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