Bring Your Dog to Work Day, Done Right
Pet Lifestyle
Monday to Friday, plenty of dogs spend the working day watching the front door. Bring Your Dog to Work Day flips that routine for one Friday in June, when offices open up to four-legged colleagues and desks come with a wagging tail underneath. In the US the celebration goes by Take Your Dog to Work Day, in the UK it doubles as a charity fundraiser, and in dog-loving workplaces everywhere else it is simply a very good excuse.
Below you will find when each version falls, six reasons dogs make wonderful co-workers (useful if a manager needs a little persuading), how to tell whether your dog is office-ready, and what to pack so the day runs smoothly for everyone, two legs or four. Once the date is on the calendar, these tips for a dog-friendly office cover settling your dog into a new workspace.
When Is Take Your Dog to Work Day?
Take Your Dog to Work Day falls on the Friday after Father's Day in June, which places it between June 20 and June 26 each year. It was created by Pet Sitters International to celebrate dogs as companions and to encourage adoption from shelters and rescue groups. The UK's Bring Your Dog to Work Day is a separate charity event held on a Friday in late June, and in some years the two land on exactly the same day.
The US Event From Pet Sitters International
Pet Sitters International launched the day in the late 1990s, and the week leading up to it is known as Take Your Pet to Work Week. Businesses sign up, employees bring in well-mannered dogs, and many offices pair the day with a shelter fundraiser, an adoption drive, or a visit from a local rescue. The thinking is lovely in its simplicity: spend a day beside someone else's happy, well-adjusted dog, and you might just go home and adopt one of your own.
The UK Dog to Work Day for Charity
The British version was founded by HOWND, an ethical pet care brand based in Cardiff, after its team saw the American event and wanted something similar at home. Workplaces register, invite dogs into the office for the day, and make a donation to animal welfare charities, so a day of desk-side cuddles also raises real money. It is usually held on the last Friday of June, which is why dogs on both sides of the Atlantic sometimes clock in together.
Dogs in the Office: 6 Reasons They Make Great Co-Workers
If the idea needs selling to a manager, these are the points that tend to win the room.
1. Office Dogs Lower Workplace Stress
Time with a dog is linked to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and a calmer mood, and workplace research points the same way. A study at a North Carolina company found that employees who brought their dogs in felt steadily less stressed as the day went on, while stress climbed for colleagues without a dog nearby. On days those same owners left their dogs at home, their stress rose too.
2. A Dog-Friendly Workplace Lifts Morale
A calmer team is usually a happier, more engaged one. Surveys of pet-friendly workplaces regularly report staff who feel more connected to their employer and more likely to stay. And it is genuinely hard to stay tense through a tricky meeting when a spaniel is snoring gently in the corner.
3. Dogs at Work Get Colleagues Talking
Dogs are the ultimate icebreakers. They greet the CEO and the newest recruit with exactly the same enthusiasm, which gives people across different teams an easy reason to stop and say hello. A quick chat by the office dog often turns into the conversation that would otherwise have waited for a formal meeting.
4. Office Dogs Make Everyone Take a Break
Dogs need toilet breaks, and so do the people glued to their screens. A dog at work is a built-in reminder to stand up, step outside, and get some fresh air, and short breaks help people return to their desks sharper and more focused.
Keep a leash on a hook by the desk and the midday walk takes care of itself. These dog collars and leashes include plenty of styles that look smart enough to hang in any office.
5. No Lonely Dog Waiting at Home
For the dog, the biggest perk is simply company. Many dogs spend long workdays on their own, and some dogs genuinely get lonely when the house sits empty for hours.
One day at the office means no watching the door and no waiting for footsteps. It also means no sneaking peeks at the pet camera and other dog tech between emails, which is a small productivity win in itself.
6. The Event Helps Rescue Dogs Find Homes
Both versions of the day were built to do good. The US celebration was designed to nudge dogless colleagues toward adoption, and the UK event raises money for animal welfare charities. An office full of happy, relaxed dogs is the best advertisement there is for adopting a rescue dog.
How to Ask Your Boss to Let You Take Your Dog to Work
Most managers say no to a vague idea and yes to a clear plan. A little groundwork makes all the difference.
Suggest a One-Day Trial
Frame it as a single Friday rather than a permanent policy change. Check whether the company already has a pet policy, and whether the building lease allows animals, then put a short proposal in writing: which dogs are coming, where they will settle, and who is responsible for each one. A trial day is a far easier yes than an open-ended request.
Plan Around Allergies and Nervous Colleagues
Ask the team before the day, not on it. Some people have dog allergies and some are truly frightened of dogs, and both deserve to enjoy their workday too. A dog-free meeting room or floor, plus a simple rule that dogs only greet people who invite it, keeps the day pleasant for everyone.
Is Your Dog Ready for a Dog at Work Day?
Not every dog enjoys an office, and that is completely fine. A busy workplace is full of new smells, strangers, ringing phones, and slamming doors, so it pays to be honest about your own dog before signing them up.
Signs Your Dog Will Enjoy the Office
The happiest office dogs are fully toilet trained, relaxed around people they do not know, and able to settle on a bed for long stretches without fuss. They respond reliably to sit, stay, and come, and they are up to date on vaccinations, flea and tick treatment, and worming. A quick bath or brush the day before is a thoughtful touch, especially for colleagues with allergies.
When to Leave Your Dog at Home
Some dogs are happier with a quiet day on the sofa. That includes puppies who have not finished their vaccinations, seniors who find change tiring, females in season, and any dog recovering from illness.
Dogs who bark at every new noise will find an office exhausting, and this look at why dogs keep barking explains why that stress is hard for them to switch off.
Dogs who lunge or growl at strangers or other dogs are better left at home, too. If that sounds familiar, these tips on training a reactive dog are a kinder starting point than a crowded office.
What to Pack for a Dog Day at Work
Most office days go wrong on logistics rather than behavior, so a dedicated dog bag keeps everything in one place.
Office Dog Packing List
- A familiar bed or blanket that marks out your dog's spot.
- Food and water bowls, plus a bottle of water for the commute.
- Their usual food, since a new office is no place to test a new diet.
- A leash, and a collar with an up-to-date ID tag.
- Poop bags, paper towels, and a pet-safe cleaning spray.
A long-lasting chew or a stuffed puzzle toy is the secret to a peaceful afternoon, and this guide to choosing the right dog toy helps you pick one that keeps a busy mind quiet.
Dog-Proofing Your Desk
Tape down or hide cables, empty the bin or swap it for one with a lid, and move snacks off low surfaces. Chocolate, grapes, and sugar-free gum containing xylitol are all toxic to dogs, and they turn up in offices more often than you might think. Clear away small stationery such as rubber bands, erasers, and staples, and check any desk plants before your dog arrives.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
01What date is Take Your Dog to Work Day?
Take Your Dog to Work Day is held on the Friday after Father's Day in June, so it always lands between June 20 and June 26. The week before it is Take Your Pet to Work Week. The UK's charity version usually falls on the last Friday in June, which is often the very same day.
02Are the UK and US dog to work days the same event?
No, they are two separate events with a shared spirit. The US day was created by Pet Sitters International to celebrate dogs and encourage shelter adoption. The UK event was started later by HOWND as a fundraiser, with workplaces donating to animal welfare charities. Both invite well-behaved dogs into the office on a Friday in late June.
03Who started Take Your Dog to Work Day?
Pet Sitters International, a US professional association for pet sitters, created Take Your Dog to Work Day in the late 1990s. The goal was to show employers how much dogs add to a workplace and to encourage colleagues without dogs to adopt one from a local shelter, rescue group, or humane society.
04Can I celebrate if my office is not dog friendly?
Yes. If you work from home, the day can be a lovely excuse for a longer lunchtime walk and some one-on-one play. In an office that cannot allow dogs, suggest a lunchtime fundraiser for a local rescue, a dog photo board, or a visit from a shelter with adoptable dogs. Every one of those still honors the spirit of the day.
05How long should a dog stay at the office the first time?
Start with a half day if you can. Even confident dogs find a new environment tiring, and a shorter first visit lets them leave on a happy note rather than an overwhelmed one. Watch for yawning, lip licking, pacing, or trying to hide, and head home early if your dog seems stressed.
If your workplace is joining in, the organizers at Pet Sitters International share free resources to help plan the day.
And for dogs who are staying home, these indoor activities for dogs make the day a little special for them, too.
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