5 great reasons to take your dog to work

2 mins to read

Dog lovers agree on one thing – we miss our canine companions like crazy while we're at work. But Friday, June 24, 2016, is an auspicious date in the canine calendar, Take Your Dog to Work Day (TYDTWDay).

With the permission of your employer, you may be able to bring your dog to work for a day of doggy fun, meaning you get to hang out with Scruffy or Fido all day long.

The aim of this annual event, an initiative of Pet Sitters International in 1999 , is to celebrate the benefits of dogs in the workplace, as well as to encourage pet adoptions.

Here are just a few of the reasons why it's a great idea to take your dog to work.

You’ll be less stressed
One of the major occupational problems in today's world is high levels of stress, says Stanley Coren, psychologist and author of The Wisdom of Dogs.

The good news is that the calming effect dogs have on humans seems to help people handle stress better. A US study found that owners who brought their dog to work had reduced stress levels, compared to their workmates.

"Simply being able to touch a dog or even having one nearby has been shown in numerous studies to relieve stress,” says Coren.

You’ll protect your heart health
Dog owners also appear to have lower levels of cholesterol and triglycerides than non-owners.

The reasons for this aren't clear, according to ‘Get Healthy, Get a Dog’ , a report by the Harvard Medical School, and can't be explained by diet, smoking or body mass index.

But the Harvard researchers say that people who spend time around dogs experience less cardiovascular reactivity, which means their heart rate and blood pressure go up less and normalise more quickly, defusing the effects of stress on the body.

You’ll be happier and fitter
Taking your dog for a lunchtime walk on TYDTWDay will give you the opportunity for some exercise as well as improve alertness for the rest of the afternoon.

Your mood could benefit too, with studies from Stanford University in the US showing how walking in nature reduces anxiety and helps improve mood and working memory .

You’ll be more mindful
Dogs are masters of mindfulness, the practice of living in the moment. One of the most helpful psychological benefits of interacting with a dog is the opportunity to be more mindful yourself, which can help reduce stress and enhance health, say the Harvard researchers.

Mindfulness techniques have also been found to improve job satisfaction and reduce emotional exhaustion, reveals a study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology.

So, when you take your lunchtime walk, take your cue from your dog and focus on the sights, smells and sounds around you – you'll feel better for it.

You’ll get on well with your colleagues
A US survey found that 50 million people believe bringing a dog to work helps employees get along better. "Research shows that dogs promote social interactions,” says Coren.

“People stop to say hello to your dog and, of course, in the process, they speak to you. These brief pleasant interactions can form the basis of a friendship and co-operation with other people in your workplace.”