Scots twice as likely to bring their dogs to work - but people stress about these three things

Scots who are being pushed to return to office will be starting to mourn certain aspects of home working, and one of them will be getting to spend all day every day with their beloved pet. Or maybe not.

New research from Trainline shows one in five Scottish dog owners are commuting with their pets, compared to one in 10 across the UK. According to the RSPCA, 11 per cent of Brits bought new animals during the pandemic.

This means that some bosses have been forced to accommodate animals as they tempt people away from working from home. In fact, one in three Scots now report working in dog-friendly offices.

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But it’s not smooth sailing for everyone - with three main worries for dog owners. More than four in 10 (42%) worry about other passengers' reactions when travelling to work on public transport.

Meanwhile, 27 per cent worry about safety, and 35 per cent aren't sure how their pooch will handle the noise.

"Travelling with your dog can be a wonderful way to spend time together, but preparation is key to ensuring the journey is enjoyable and minimally stressful," Jenna Kiddie, Head of Canine Behaviour at Dogs Trust said.

"There are some simple things owners can do to make travel more dog-friendly... it is also worth checking ahead on whether there are any stairs, escalators or lifts at your stations."

If you're wondering how you can ease your four-legged friend into office life, though, look no further. Dogs Trust have come to the rescue with some top tips on bringing your dog to work.

Start at home

Teach your dog basic skills like sitting or lying quietly while you work before you leave the house. Some useful skills include learning to settle when you can’t give them attention, learning to stay and knowing what it means to leave.

Make sure your dog is up to date on all their vaccinations, deworming, de-flea and tick treatments, too.

Introductions to strangers

If your dog goes hyper when greeting people, have them develop a calmer response so they don't go overboard in the workplace. Again, you can start training this either in your home or out and about on familiar walks.

Your dog will soon learn that calm greetings, free from jumping up or barking, are rewarded with attention, and it will become their go-to response when meeting new people.

Introduce the commute

If your dog is not used to the method of travel to work - car, bus, train, as well as the time of travel, namely rush hour, you may need to begin taking them out, little by little, to help them get comfortable with your route to work.

Try short walks, car journeys or trips on public transport at the weekend when it’s less busy, and work up to longer and more busy journeys.

Prepare your workspace

Consider the layout of your working area. Does your dog have somewhere to settle comfortably in a safe and quiet space? If your usual desk or workspace is close to a busy area with lots of footfall, can you move to a quieter area?

Have you removed all wires and items that your dog might be tempted to chew on or get tangled up in? Is there appropriate (non-slip) flooring? Prepare a place to put your dog's food and water where it won't get in the way, too.

Prepare your colleagues

Communicate openly and clearly with your colleagues and agree ahead of time how you will all work together when your pooch is present. Establish whether your colleagues are truly happy to have dogs at work, or if they have an allergy.

They need to recognise your dog's needs and boundaries, and vice versa, and be understand of the occasional bark or mess. Similarly, if your dog has food allergies or intolerance, flag this up so they don't offer a treat that can be potentially dangerous for them.

Prepare a puppy pack and back-up plan

Just like you pack your handbag, briefcase, or rucksack for work every day, your dog will need a pack with all the essential supplies to ensure they have a good day in the office.

This can include:

• uniform – their collar, tag, harness (if they wear one) and lead

• refreshments – food, water, bowls, treats and any medication they might need

• soft furnishings – a bed, blanket or mat for them to snooze on

• entertainment – toys, enrichment games, long-lasting chews

• cleaning – poo bags, a towel, dog friendly enzymatic cleaner for any accidents that might occur.

Gradual introductions to the workplace

To avoid your dog getting overwhelmed, introduce them to the workplace at a slower pace. Bring them in for some half days, if possibly, so they can acclimatise and build up steadily to one or two days spread throughout the week.

Try a full week

When your dog seems confident, relaxed, and at ease with their new environment, you can try bringing them in every day for a week and see how they react.

Remember, your dog might cope very well on Monday and Tuesday, but by Wednesday might become fed up or a little overwhelmed, and this could mean that Thursday or Friday might be too much for them to cope with.