What is the best flooring for dogs?

The best flooring for dogs UK

Wood flooring:

Wood flooring has a warmth and texture that make it a popular choice for home owners. It can last decades (if hardwood) and is hypo-allergenic. It is also easier to keep clean than carpet. The disadvantage of wood flooring when you have pets is that it can be scratched by dog claws, and stained by spillages. Pet urine which can lead to a process of sanding and re-sanding which can become expensive to maintain. It can also be slippery underfoot for you and your dogs.

Carpet:

Carpet is the most popular choice for home owners. We love the feel of soft carpet under our feet, and carpet has the highest warmth retention of all floor coverings. Unfortunately for dog owners it can become worn relatively quickly by dogs. It can trap allergens in the fibres which may cause allergic reactions to home owners and in some cases your dogs.

Ceramic Tile:

Often touted as a good pet friendly flooring the ceramic tile is easy to clean and maintain, hardwearing and long lasting. Very popular in Kitchen installations due to its water resistant nature. It has long been a popular choice with dog owners. The one thing to consider with ceramic tile is the lack of slip-resistance for you and your dog especially when wet. Over the last few years research into dog injuries have found slippery floors to be one of the main causes of arthritis in dogs. Damage from an early age caused by slipping can lead to decreased mobility in later life for dogs.

Laminate:

Once celebrated as the solution to pet owners needs for easy clean, low maintenance flooring this product thrived due to its low price and numerous designs. Still used today it is a popular choice for those who need a cost effective flooring solution. The negatives of the floor type is that it is prone to staining. Any harsh chemical used to remove these can bleach the colour – and leaks. This obviously has repercussions for dog owners who will have dog urine and water spillages from dog bowls on their floor. It is also very low on the slip-resistant rating.

Rubber Flooring:

Rubber is a warm, comfortable solution for homes. Available in many colours and sustainably sourced. It has good slip properties, but is prone to scratching. It can be difficult and expensive to lay correctly. It is popular for dog kennels and dog training areas where aesthetics are not a priority. Some higher density rubber flooring is popular in homes, however dog owners may find the scratches to be prohibitive to specification.

Luxury Vinyl Tile Flooring:

LVT has rocketed in popularity in the last few years due to the improved 3d printing technique which allows the floor to take on the look of wood, stone, and ceramic. It is also waterproof, stain-resistant, long lasting, and hardwearing.

Floors For Paws LVT:

Officially: The world’s best flooring for dogs.Floors for paws has all the attributes of the LVT along with a double wear layer to negate scratching from dog claws, dropped items (those heavy dog bones!) and day to day wear and tear of busy households. It enables us to offer an extremely long domestic guarantee. Due to the ridged design it is also better than other LVT’s in terms of slip ratings (85 PTV BS7976). Giving better grip than others on the market. The 0.6mm wear layer is also stain resistant, so any dog urine, wine spills, and worse will not damage the flooring. It can be wiped clean without leaving a mark. As dog lovers we also wanted dogs to benefit from our company. We donate 10% of every sale to Dogs Trust.

Please visit our products and order your free samples.

The Benefits of Anti-slip Flooring for your Dog

I have spent my whole life working with animals, as my uncle was a farmer and I grew up with no other destiny as my love for animals was so strong. Its funny, I never realised how much thought needs to be put into flooring until I became a veterinary nurse. This issue has only become more highlighted as I became an animal physiotherapist.

Flooring was always been second nature for me. Even on farms, we paid a lot of attention to the floor and bedding to ensure it was good for the animals foot care. It had to be shock absorbing, non-slip and not allow the animals to get wet hooves, paws or claws. It doesn’t matter what animal it is, we need to think about the same basic principles.

When I became a nurse I did some home visits and became more aware that many people lived differently and had different types of home and décor. When I became an animal physiotherapist I became more aware than ever before, that there were other type of flooring out there were less than ideal. Some of the questions I have to raise with owners is, what type of flooring do you have? A common answer was laminate or tiles. As time has moved forward more and more people are opting for hard floors for the understandable convenience and cleanliness. Lots of the flooring has become more varied aesthetically, but many hard options remain shiny and hard and cold.

We are all very house proud these days and with it becoming more expensive to move house and buy homes, people are choosing to invest in making their own home perfect. This is wonderful! I would like to ask that in choosing perfection, please remember to think about the comfort of our animals in those homes too. It’s actually not even just for the animals. As we age, we will also see great benefit in choosing a floor that suits these needs too.

An ideal floor will have good grip. If we lose our balance we need to be able to rely on our feet and not slip more. Rather like tyres on the road. A little forgiving slide is OK as it allows you to slow to a stop without damage, but skidding is a real worry, especially for the older pet or human. Laminate and high gloss floor tiles don’t allow enough grip and so can make our pets feel unsafe. Some dogs even get to the point where they refuse to walk on these types of floor, and I have seen this countless times. In many cases the dog may alter their gait and walk looking very strange as they over use too many muscles to try to be extra careful on the floor High gloss and laminate also make it virtually impossible for some animals to get up from laying on as they can’t get the traction needed.

An ideal floor is an easy to clean one! I understand this completely, so it can be easier to have a hard floor rather than carpet. Vinyl makes a great compromise as it is easy to clean and has excellent grip. After all, we can’t carpet every room, its just not hygienic or practical.

An ideal floor is not too hard or cold. That might sound ironic when talking about hard floors, but if you fall on a tile or stone floor it is less forgiving than a fall on a less solid surface. The temperature is also something to consider. The circulation in paws and feet is poor compared to the rest of the body, so they get cold so walking on a cold surface is not kind, especially for arthritic toes. Many of our pets will also choose to lay in the room we are in and if they are laying on a very cold stone or tile surface then their muscles can become very stiff. They can also get sores on their bony prominences, like their elbows, from where the circulation is so poor as they have laid with the pressure on the skin for too long on a hard surface.

I too, like many others, am going through a home renovation. I was over the moon when I found Floors for Paws on my hunt for suitable flooring. I am a big fan of vinyl for the grip, temperature, and ease of cleaning. A big feature of Floors For Paws is the extra scratch resistant layer, and I definitely think this is a big bonus to stop claw marks. I have an old arthritic dog and a young 3 legged dog. Both love to follow me into my kitchen and my bathroom! Both will benefit, and most importantly, over my life I will have many dogs and they will all benefit regardless of age. I also know my whole family and myself, will also benefit. Thank you Floors for Paws!

Donna Wills PGC A Phys, RVN, MIAAT.

Member of RAMP

Member of the British Veterinary Nursing Association

M. 07776 182 911
W. www.animalphysiotherapy.org.uk


What is Pet Friendly Flooring? UK

Well, that depends who’s asking; humans or dogs!

In the past we have regarded ‘pet friendly’ as a floors system that is easy to clean and maintain in an environment with pets. Smooth hard floors are excellent at keeping out ingrained dirt, however they are not the best solution for all of us in the family. What we have sometimes not considered is what our beloved dogs require;

Slippery floors are a significant contributor to chronic pain and arthritis in dogs, due to injury from slips. For dogs with existing arthritis it is essential that flooring issues are addressed.

Most dogs in the UK live in their owner’s home, and may spend up to 90% of their life in that environment. If there are steps that they repeatedly struggle up and down, floors they repeatedly slip on, or solid cold beds they repeatedly sleep on, their condition will not improve as they will continue to injure themselves.

Your dog’s lack of ability to correct and therefore protect themselves when they slip or have to negotiate difficult paths will leave them prone to further trauma.

A slippery floor, be it wooden, laminate, or tile is very hazardous for an arthritic dog that already has weak & painful limbs. Repeated slips, no matter how small, will progress the clinical signs of arthritis.

So when choosing your next Floor system please take into account the slip-resistance of your choice;

Floors for Paws has a BS 7976 pendulum slip-test result of 85 PTV.

Best flooring for pets

Why is your Floor so important to Dogs?

If your head was a foot away from the floor at all times you’d be pretty interested in it too!

As you know Dogs rely on scents to navigate, to rest and to play. As we understand the needs of our greatest companions more and more we realise that we can help them by providing them with a clean, safe environment.

Flooring is a huge part of that environment; While they love to find unsavoury elements hidden deep in our carpets we know that this is not healthy for them. Allergens that can become stored in soft furnishings such as rugs, carpets and curtains can cause them symptoms that include regular ear infections, sneezing, itching and skin inflammation.

Another element to consider is slippery floors such as polished ceramic, laminate and smooth tiles. This type of flooring has kept Animal physios busy for the last 15 years. Strains, concussion, sprains and ligament damage are common injuries for dogs slipping on floors.

Then there is the little accidents; Although our beloved woofers amaze us with what they will actually put into their mouth when out on walks, just like us they do not like the scent of ones and twos in their home. Carpeting and rugs can retain the nastiness in their fibres and linger to the chagrin of humans and dogs.

‘Hey; that’s a lot about our Dogs; What about us?’

Well said; What do we want? Personally I want a safe flooring for my dogs, but your damn sure I want it to be easy to maintain and I don’t want my dog to ruin it! Mrs FFP and
I have had wooden flooring in the past which we love the look of, however it became stained, scratched and scuffed very quickly thanks to our Dogs. As you know; not cheap to replace!
So hopefully something to bear in mind for dog owners when choosing your next floor covering.

M

Floors For Paws Luxury planks are Hypo-allergenic, wipe clean, non-absorbent and Anti-slip, and Anti-scuff, and with its realistic wood effect finish it really is the World’s Best flooring For Dogs’

Is Vinyl Click good for homes with pets?

The introduction of vinyl click flooring has offered a convenient, cheap and easy to install flooring options for home owners. A good quality click flooring system can last years in a dry, cool environment. But is it good for pet owners?

While click flooring can resist some spills it is not 100% water tight like a glue down system, which means that those little Pet accidents that happen from time to time can seep underneath the flooring and start to rot the underside and leave an unsavoury smell.

High humidity and spills may cause the click system to warp over time creating trip hazards for you and your pets.

Floors For Paws glue down system is the ideal choice for homes with pets; once down your flooring will be waterproof as no liquid can get underneath to cause any problems. It is worth the extra effort to have your flooring permanently fixed as it will last years longer than a click alternative, saving you valuable money over a life time.

Order your free samples of Floors For Paws today for a future of hassle free, low maintenance flooring you and your pets!

Is Vinyl Flooring Pet Friendly?

Most luxury vinyl is water resistant and some varieties are even waterproof. It is easy to maintain, and easy to clean. Plus, it is soft underfoot. … So, if you are looking for a budget-friendly flooring that you and your pets will enjoy, luxury vinyl is an excellent choice.

Vinyl flooring is a popular flooring option for families with pets. Luxury vinyl tile and vinyl sheet are highly durable, long-lasting, and resistant to moisture, scratches and dents. They are also easy to maintain.

This makes it the ideal flooring solution for spaces such as living rooms, kitchens and bathrooms. In addition, vinyl plank flooring is very durable with commercial grade wear layers and fiberglass reinforcement. Vinyl can be installed on nearly any subfloor, with the thicker floors being forgiving to imperfect subfloors.

Top of the list for dogs and cats must surely be vinyl flooring. … New luxury vinyl sheet, tile or plank flooring is an even better option thanks to its added thickness. Installed properly vinyl will wear well, with no scratches or tears, and with its water resistant qualities is a cinch to clean.

Floors for paws has all the attributes of normal luxury vinyl plus the added advantage of an unique micro-ridged design that ensures safe footing for 2 and 4 legs. Designed with the whole family in mind it is the perfect option for your home.

How does LVT compare with Laminate?

LUXURY vinyl tiles (LVTs) and planks have sometimes been compared with laminate flooring. So what’s the difference?

Laminate flooring is considered to be easy to install, but moisture or high humidity can easily affect the product if not controlled. The key point is successful control of relative humidity. The core of a laminate has been described as acting like a sponge, absorbing moisture causing it to expand. If there is not enough expansion in a room, the floor will buckle, or the joints of the laminate will squeak as you walk across it.

The biggest issue is when water is repeatedly applied to the seams they swell and lift, causing one ugly looking floor and permanent damage.

LVT, on the other hand, is a heavy duty vinyl floor, produced in individual tiles or planks. Think of it as a laminate floor without the major issues that water and moisture cause.

LVT products are generally made of highly moisture resistant PVC or virgin vinyl. This results in a floor that is easy to maintain and clean, highly durable and easy to install. An LVT can be fully glued down, or installed with glue less self-locking edge just like a laminate.

Laminate flooring and LVT are similar in that both have cost and durability advantages over such other solid-surface flooring choices as hardwood, ceramic or stone. Both imitate natural surfaces like wood or stone – or other flooring types for that matter.

Both are easier to maintain than wood or tile. For example, hardwood or engineered-wood floors may need refinishing, and some tile types may need resealing or re-grouting. Both can allow for repair by replacement of a damaged plank or tile. Both have wear layers. LVT may have a clear-vinyl and urethane coating to protect it.

LVT and laminate flooring: The differences:
They’re made out of different materials. Laminate flooring is made of layers.

The primary layer (the core) is made of high-density fibreboard (HFD). This gives laminate flooring its rigidity and strength. LVT is made in layers as well; its primary component is PVC vinyl, which makes LVT dimensionally stable and flexible.

They install differently. Laminate flooring is a floating-floor system that should never be nailed or glued to the subfloor. Some LVT products now offer a floating-floor approach to installation.

LVT installs traditionally as a glue-down system by the application of a separate adhesive or the use of peel-and-stick tiles or planks. They feel different. Because laminate flooring is made primarily from wood, it feels like wood. LVT is made out of vinyl and it feels like plastic.

They handle stains and flame differently. Laminate flooring is highly stain-resistant and will not be damaged by limited flame exposure, like a hot ember tossed through a fireplace screen. Some LVT is very susceptible to staining and will be damaged by limited flame exposure.

Contract Flooring Journal


Christmas Time and your Puppy

Christmas Trees

When you decide to ‘deck the halls’ for the Christmas season thinking about your puppy and their safety is very important; especially if it’s the first Christmas in your home. Christmas trees are very exciting with sparkling lights, pretty decorations, presents and of course the inviting smell but beware, natural curiosity can place your puppy in danger. Prevention is better than cure; the ideal scenario is putting your tree in a room that can be closed off from the rest of the house or alternatively investing in a baby gate in the doorway to prevent entry. In households where this is not possible follow our simple tips to help avoid disaster.

• Needles: Don’t let your puppy chew/eat tree needles. Tree needles are not digestible and can be mildly toxic depending on your dogs’ size and how many are ingested. Fir tree oils can irritate your dogs’ mouth and stomach causing vomiting. Dogs who like sniffing round the tree are at risk of getting scratches or ulcers on the eye from the sharp pine needles.
• Ornaments: Avoid using glass or edible ornaments; chocolate is especially toxic to dogs so these must be avoided at all costs. Glass ornaments can be placed high up on the tree out of reach if you are confident your dog will not jump up and knock the tree over.
• Lights: Don’t string the bottom of your tree with lights, some types can get very hot and burn your dog. Always switch lights off as a matter of course when leaving a room. Firmly taping any wires to the wall can help to prevent accidents.
• Tinsel: Tinsel and ribbons are great to play with however if ingested very dangerous, surgery is often needed to remove the foreign object
• Water: Tree water can be poison to your dog. Preservatives such as pesticides, fertilisers and other agents are often added to the water to extend the life of your tree.

Other things to consider

There are also other things to consider over the festive period to ensure your pet remains happy and healthy. Christmas can be a very stressful time of the year, our pets pick up on how we are feeling the chances are if you are feeling out of sorts so is your best friend, wrapping up warm and heading out for a brisk walk will do you both good. Christmas is also very disruptive, routines are out of the window and additional visitors and parties may be upsetting for your pet; make sure they have a ‘safe quiet place’ to escape to when things get too much. We all put on a little extra weigh over the festive period but be careful not to share your ‘treats’ with your pet: nuts, chocolate and raisins can be deadly. Christmas also means ice and snow which most dogs love, however slips and trips are more common this time of the year so keep you dog on the lead until it is safe to let them off, dry your dogs feet before they walk back into the house (if you do not have Floors for Paws) as smooth flooring and wet feet don’t mix. If your dog is prone to arthritis or small, short walks more often are better to ensure they don’t get too cold. And finally please be careful with anti-freeze it causes kidney failure if ingested; store it away from children and animals.

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year where we all get to spend time with our loved ones including our four legged family members so eat, drink and be merry.

Merry Christmas

Why Choose a Rescue Dog?

These days there are literally hundreds of charities which re-home unwanted dogs, from the large well known ones such as the dogs trust and blue cross, to breed specific charities and the smaller independent rescue homes that simply do it because they want to help. Why are we in a situation where there are so many unwanted animals when we are meant to be a nation of dog lovers? There are three main reasons, one: many people fail to spay or neuter their dogs which then reproduce creating an enormous amount of puppies. Two: people still buy animals from breeders or pet stores thereby supporting the puppy mills that supply them. Three: people buy puppies without actually considering the lifelong commitment, money, time and effort required to care for them; once the novelty wears off they are no longer wanted.

Why choose a rescue dog?

Dogs do not choose or want to live in a rescue they end up there for a wide variety of reasons many which are not their fault. There are many sweet, well-mannered dogs in rescues which would make the ideal pet – not all rescue dogs have behavioural problems. If you are considering giving a home to one of the many unwanted and abandoned dogs; be guided by the rescue staff that spend every day with these animals, they should be able to match you with a dog which will best fit your situation.

Top tips for choosing a rescue dog

1. Prep before you go. Think about what you are looking for in a dog. A couch potato pal? A running partner? A sedate companion for long walks? The answers suggest how young and energetic your dog should be. Consider how much time you have to spare. Housetraining doesn’t take forever but it’s a lot of work, mess and inconvenience while the training is taking place. All puppies and young dogs need plenty of exercise and training whilst young is essential. As for grooming, you will either be doing that or paying someone to do it for you, the decision between a long haired coat/breed and a short haired coat/breed is also something to consider. If you don’t have a lot of time and energy to invest then there are plenty of older, quieter short haired dogs that need homes.

2. Visit the rescue and look for friendly dogs. A friendly dog wiggles when he sees you coming, he may press against the front of the kennel to get as much of himself close to you as he can. His eyes are squinty and his mouth probably opens in a doggy grin. He tail is wagging fairly low and his wags are soft and loose. If he barks it will be an excited happy bark. A friendly dog won’t charge the front of the cage barking deeply at you, he won’t stand rigid facing you head-on, he won’t sit or crouch stiffly watching you out of the corner of his eyes. A friendly dog won’t cower at the back of the kennel or ignore you. Shelter dogs are usually lonely for human company and this shows in their pleasure/excitement of seeing you.

3. Get an expert to help you. Rescue staff should be able to guide you however they will all have their favourites and have stronger bonds with some dogs than others. It is a good idea to ask an independent dog trainer to offer their opinion on the animal you are thinking of choosing; especially if you have no experience of owning a dog. The Kennel Club offer a list of accredited instructors
It may seem strange to hire a dog trainer when you don’t even have a dog however the money spent now could save you a lot of heartache in the future. It’s one thing to take on a dog with behaviour problems and past issues when you have had previous experience and expertise to care for these animals it’s quite another when you’re scared of the neighbours children coming round because your dog will bite them.

Questions to ask yourself when choosing a rescue dog

  • What is the dog’s body language like?
  • How is he responding to being touched?
  • Is he excitable? How quickly does he calm down?
  • How rough is he when playing?
  • What’s his reaction to other dogs?
  • How does he react if approached when in possession of food or a toy?
  • How does he react at the sudden appearance of a stranger?

Remember taking on a dog is a life altering decision that should be thought carefully about; the average life span of a dog is 10-13 years and annually they cost about £1200 – this is without unforeseen medical bills so a good pet insurance is advisable. Shelter dogs can be unpredictable and may come with more problems, they need your time, love, and attention but most importantly they need training, they need to understand the boundaries and find their place within your family ‘their pack’, the last thing they need is to be adopted only to be returned to the rescue 3 months later.

Max – our rescue dog

We adopted a German Shepherd from Jerry Greens Dog Rescue when he was 9 months old, Max had been born in the rescue as his mum was ‘dumped’ when she was pregnant. Max was very quickly adopted by someone when he was two months old (he was obviously a very cute puppy) but returned back to the rescue a few weeks later as he was getting ‘too big’. Max was toilet trained when we got him however he had no recall skills, would not walk on a lead, was an escape artist and liked to bark. We had no experience with dogs and muddled through those first few weeks – a bit like you do when you bring your first born child home for the first time. One of the first decisions was deciding where Max would sleep, downstairs was the first thought, then he cried at night so we moved him upstairs on the landing, then he moved into in our room and eventually my husband would come to bed at night and have to get Max out of his spot. This was our (my) first mistake, I treated Max like a baby, there were no boundaries he was literally allowed everywhere we were. Over time we did teach Max recall (when he felt like it) and occasionally he walked properly on the lead, however there were many times in the first few years we could quite gladly given up on him; like the time he pulled me over in a muddy puddle because he was trying to fight a black Labrador or the time he got into a field of sheep or the time I had to get into a river because he refused to come out; but you don’t give up on them just like you don’t give up on your children. Max was not perfect he had his issues especially with black dogs and work men in fluorescent coloured jackets but we learnt to understand his behaviour and either dealt with the issues or avoided situations and places we knew would be problematic. In the end we had Max for 10 years and I can honestly say that he was the most loyal, loving companion you could have; he knew how I was feeling and knew when I needed him. When I was pregnant he sat with me every time I threw up (and that was a lot!) and when I had Katy I would often find him curled up near her cot in the mornings. I honestly do believe if you can adopt a rescue dog (and get through it!) you will be rewarded with their undivided loyalty and devotion for the rest of their lives.

Floors for Paws donates 10% of EVERY SALE to the Dogs Trust.

View this short film, raising awareness of abandoned dogs.

Why an Office Dog is a Must Have Accessory

Allowing pets in the workplace has long been seen as key employee benefit; however recent studies prove that bringing your dog to work also has key benefits for the employer. A recent American study has proven that people who have dogs in the office are less stressed and overall employee absenteeism was reduced, the study also found that pets triggered workplace interactions that would not normally take place.

Key Benefits:

Employee Morale

Dogs have the ability to lift moods, improve happiness and reduce stress. All the benefits of owning a dog at home translate to one’s work when they have their companion by their side all day.

“Stress relief. My favourite thing about coming home after a long day at the office is being smothered by my dog,” shared Austin Wagner, 26 year-old Business Systems Analyst at SpareFoot, a self-storage unit search company. “It’s wonderful having my best friend at the office all day.”

Employee Collaboration

Dogs are a natural conversation starter in the office. Employees are more likely to approach each other when there is a dog nearby to break the ice. Further, some companies may find that the amount of workplace gossip can decrease when dogs are introduced, as employees would rather talk about the dogs than other employees.

Exercise For Employees

It can be so easy to get sucked into your work first thing in the morning and rarely come up for air, then realise at the end of the day that you’ve barely moved from your desk all day. Office dogs have the added benefit of forcing the owner to bring them outside and walk them.

“The added convenience of being able to take my furry friend out for their midday walk was a relief,” said Kathleen Osborne, Senior Account Executive at King+Company PR, a small boutique PR agency in Manhattan. “The best part was that he forced me to take a break and take a ten minute walk outside. Since I started my job nine months ago, I never really spent more than five minutes outside during the day unless it was jumping into a taxi for an event, meeting, or grabbing lunch next door.”

Time Flexibility

Many employees find themselves rushing out the door at the end of their shift to get home to let their dog out. For employees that have their dog at work, they can extend their hours until their work is done, rather than restricting their time. Kerri-Lynn McAllister, Chief Marketing Officer at Ratehub.ca, a Canadian financial comparison platform, shared her philosophy on time flexibility.

“At a startup, we tend to work long hours and we want to support our employees as much as possible. If that means allowing dogs to come to work, we want to be able to make sure our employees are happy and that we provide an environment where they can be the most productive.”

Financial Benefit For Employees

When you consider the cost of paying for benefits for each employee of a corporation, the total adds up fast. Offering the benefit of having their dog in the office saves employees money on dog daycare or dog walking services daily. It’s a major benefit for the employee that costs little for the company to provide.

Attract Top Talent

Millennials have been known to choose dog friendly companies over their competition when most other considerations are equal. This perk weighs heavy for the young adults whose dogs are treated much like children.

“For me, it easily outweighs all the free snacks and perks,” said Marcus LaRobardiere, 27 year-old Marketing Communications Manager at Bouncepad, a tablet case manufacturing company for businesses. “A lot of companies push the same company culture and employee perks messages as part of their recruiting process, but that’s not always a true differentiator. Being dog friendly gives businesses a chance to reach millennial dog owners, and in turn you get more productive and engaged employees.”

Tips to get your dog ‘ready for work’

1. Get your dog used to the commute. Many dogs travel perfectly happily on public transport buts it’s a good idea to introduce your pet slowly to this. Don’t jump in at rush hour choose quieter times until they are used to it.

2. Exercise your dog before you head into the office. A nice long walk will tire your pet out and help him relax in the new environment; of course they will need short walks and toilet breaks during the day but not quite as much attention if they have a run before and after work.

3. Make sure your office is dog-friendly. It’s a good idea to use a crate if your dog is a little unsettled with everything that is happening at first, this way they have their own safe space to retreat to when it all becomes a bit too much. Also remember they should always have access to water and any food items they are not allowed should be kept safely out the way.

4. Give them time out. Your dog may not be short of attention in the office (especially if you work with a lot of people) however this may become a little over whelming at times so again an area which is their ‘safe area’ is imperative. Make sure your co-workers when your dog is on his blanket or in his crate he doesn’t need to be disturbed.

5. Introduce them slowly. Start bringing your dog in for a few hours, then half a day, slowly build in to a full day so it’s not as over whelming for them (or for your co-workers!)

Of course there are potential drawbacks to having furry friends running around the office, such as accidents on the floor and scuffles with other dogs. Additionally there may be some noise problems with calls and meetings with clients. These can all be managed with well-trained dogs and aware employees. Perhaps the most important drawback is that dog friendly companies could miss out on top talent that does not like dogs or has allergies. Most dog friendly employers typically report that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.