According to new research by the UK’s leading joint supplement brand for dogs, YuMOVE, 63% of Brits opt to leave their dogs at home when they go to work. Google trends data also suggests that many are having to fork out for doggy day care while they bring home the bacon.
Liverpool saw the largest number of local day care enquiries, with searches up by 1,150% compared to this time last year. Searches for doggy day care services in Glasgow were up by 90% and Nottinghamshire a further 60%.
However, with purse-strings tightening and the average UK day care cost coming in at between £25.92 per day, the research also reveals that 37% of dog owners now take their pet to work with them on a regular basis.
14% of those say they take their dog to the office with them every day, and a further 8%say they share the responsibility for taking their dog to work with their partner.
While this undoubtedly saves pet owners the extra cash, Dr Jayne Laycock, resident vet at YuMOVE, warns that being in a work environment that isn’t tailored to your dog’s needs can be harmful to their health.
Dog friendly offices are on the rise across the UK and a quarter (25%) of Brits feel confident that their office is pet friendly, and will happily leave their dog to roam around without worry.
However, there’s also a huge number of pet owners who aren’t quite as confident about their dog’s safety whilst in the office. Almost a fifth (18%) say that lots of people come and go from their office, so it isn’t always completely secure. A further 21 per cent say they worry about other members of staff feeding their dogs tit bits and upsetting their tummy. And more than one in ten (11%) say they aren't able to get their dog outside for walks and fresh air as often as they’d like during the day due to an intense workload and/or meetings.
Jayne comments: “While your office space may well welcome dogs, it can be full of hidden dangers, so you’ll need to ‘dog-proof’ it properly before you decided to take your pet to work with you. Some of the main things to look out for and have in place are:
THINGS HANGING OR LYING AROUND – Jayne says “Our research reveals that one in ten offices (10%) have lots of wires and leads lying over the floor or hanging from desks and other equipment that some dogs will no doubt love to chew on posing an obvious risk to both them and you. Then there are things like bags on the floor where your dog might sniff out someone’s lunch. If there are dogs in the office, best to keep anything they can chew or eat, up and off the ground.”
SLIPPERY FLOORS – Jayne says “Does your office have hardwood or laminate flooring? Our research shows that 13 per cent of offices do – so you need to be mindful of how tricky it can sometimes be for your dog to move around on. Constantly feeling unstable and slipping around all the time plays a toll on their joints over time, so non-slip floors or carpets are best.”
SPACE TO RELAX? – Jayne says “Though your work environment might be hectic, it’s important that if your dog comes with you, they have a quiet space where they can relax, have a doze and be off the lead. Dogs really pick up on the energy of the environment around them, so if your office is busy 24/7, it can be stressful for them . They definitely need space to be calm and relaxed during the day. They should have a proper bed at the office where they can take a doze and space to play with some toys from home to make them feel more comfortable.”
DOES YOUR SCHEDULE ALLOW TIME FOR YOUR DOG? – Jayne says “Think about your schedule for the day - How frequently can you get away from your desk to take your dog outside? Being stuck in an office all day isn’t much difference to being left at home all day. Just because they’re with you, they’ll still need to go out for walks, fresh air and of course, to do their business. But if you’re chained to your desk, you might not be able to give them the love and attention they need. So, make sure you check your diary and plan accordingly.”
TRUST AND SECURITY – Jayne says “You obviously love your dog very much and know them, their traits and their needs well – however most of your colleagues won’t. For example, do you have a dog who likes to dart for the door? If so, making sure colleagues understand to keep the doors closed is really important. Does your dog struggle with tummy problems? While a colleague might think they’re being nice by dropping your pet a crisp or a biscuit, they might be causing them more harm than good. It’s therefore important that your colleagues understand the needs and nature of your dog before you take them in, so collectively you can help care for them and keep them safe.”
The research of almost 3,000 UK dog owners was conducted by YuMOVE ahead of National Bring your Dog to Work Day on June 24. The annual nationwide event helps to raise money for charities dedicated to making a difference to the welfare of animals. Thousands of businesses and dog owners are set to take part again this year.
Jayne concludes: “We hope everyone has a lot of fun taking part in Bring your Dog to Work Day this year – just be mindful of my advice and make sure it’s a fun day for both you and your pet.”
