Workplace Pet Dog Rules – Bring Your Dog to Work!

The dog rules below bring many benefits to the workplace. If the rules are fully respected, colleagues will be able to make decisions more efficiently, reducing office bias in dog decision-making. Our aim is to protect colleagues from acting in a manner that might endanger their employment.

Here are our top 5 workplace dog breeds to help find that perfect dog breed for work. Below are the free workplace dog rules with suggested guidelines for requirements, responsibilities and how to manage issues that may arise.

Your actual dog rules should reflect your organisation’s culture and decisions around bringing dogs to work.

Workplace Dog Rules

Dogs create a fun and happy environment, encourage interactions among people and get us up for regular breaks.

The opportunity to have them at our workplace is a privilege. To take part in our dogs-at-work program, employees must agree to honour the workplace dog rules.

• These workplace dog rules apply to employees only. We do not allow visitors to bring dogs to our workplace.
• The rules apply to [XYZ] location, and participating dogs are allowed any time their owner is present.
• The focus of our rules are on dogs. Please contact HR if you would like to explore adding other types of pets..

Dog Requirements

To participate, dogs must be:

• 6 months+ old with basic obedience training and have no history of biting, excessive noise-making, chasing or aggressive behaviour.
• Toilet trained
• Up to date with all vaccinations, free of any infections or parasites and well groomed
• Distanced from anyone who feels uncomfortable or has allergies or other medical problems with dogs
• Microchipped, to help locate and return the dog should they would run away.
• adequately toilet trained
• Fully insured, which must cover dog bites.

Dog Owner Responsibilities

To comply with our workplace dog rules, dog owners who want to bring their dogs to work must agree to:

• Be 100% responsible for their dog’s behaviour and well-being.
• Dogs must always be supervised.
• Good hygiene and happiness the entire time your dog is visiting.
• Be respectful and mindful of other employees, and their dogs, to ensure everyone can be as successful and productive as possible at work.
• Manage their workspace to ensure it’s “dog-proofed” and safe for their visiting dog and other colleagues.
• Ensure that the dog’s behaviour does not interfere with other employees’ comfort or ability to do their work.
• Always keep their dogs within eyesight
• Make sure their dog does not wander into restricted areas
• To ensure dog and colleague safety, dogs must be kept securely in the employee’s work area with their own Leashes.
• Waste bags, toys, food and water bowls need to be supplied by the dog owner
• Plan adequate bathroom breaks, access to water and food, and exercise throughout the day.
• Clean up after their dog immediately if any accidents occur. Please remove all dog mess from the workplace and do not place in the office bin.
• Solely accountable and responsible for their dog’s behaviour.
• Walking only in permitted outdoor areas.
• Ensure their dog is not a danger to themselves or others.
• Make sure their dog does not damage company or employee property 
• The dog owner takes full responsibility and must have their own insurance policy, which must cover bites.
• Be legally and financially responsible for any damage caused by their dog.
• Provide annual proof of vaccination and health for their visiting dogs.
• Keep dogs out of dog-free areas.

Managing Workplace Dog Issues

Concerns related to their workplace dog rules should be handled in the following way:

1. Talk with the dog owner and work to mutually resolve issues.
2. Escalate the issue to the dog owner’s supervisor.
3. Escalate the issue to Human Resources.