A warm welcome is always assured for four-legged friends at Fish4Dogs. The premium pet food company, actively encourages staff to bring their dogs into its head office, in Droitwich, Worcestershire, but a new member of the family has recently needed a little more ‘TLC’ to find his feet in the workplace.
Rescue dog Tato, an eight-year-old beagle, taken on by Technical Manager Annabel Battersby, was struggling to come to terms with life ‘outside the pack’ having spent most of his life as a hunt dog.
Annabel, an experienced dog owner, knew that he would struggle to cope with isolation while she was at work, but equally, Tato was unused to spending time inside a building, having previously being housed in an outdoor kennel.
Having consulted colleagues and pet psychologists, she devised a plan with office ‘DogMother’ Jo Little, to gently integrate Tato into the office and encourage him to socialise with other dogs and humans.
They prepared a den for Tato – a place where he could go to feel secure, reassured and take ‘time out’ when he needed to get away from the crowds. Colleagues have adapted their behaviour to appear nonthreatening – particularly men which he saw as ‘authority figures’ – and they will drop their gaze or turn away to make him feel less anxious.
He has even found a surrogate mum in Product Portfolio Manager Karen Hubbard, who joined the team earlier this year, and shares the same work space with Annabel.
Said Karen: “When I first met Tato he was very fearful of me. I had little experience with dogs but with coaching from Annabel, Tato has slowly built his confidence in me and we have bonded well. I was delighted to house sit for Tato recently and he now greets me every day in the office with a waggy tail and he seems much happier in his new surroundings.”
Said DogMother Jo, who is also Fish4Dogs Head of Marketing: “We are all invested in Tato’s ‘journey’. He is fast becoming a much happier dog and we are delighted to witness and support his progress.”
For further information on Fish4Dogs products visit: www.fish4dogs.com
