Distraction City

[Phebe*DD]

I think I've mentioned that Phebe goes to work with me. Well, we recently moved our office and are now on a university campus. Today was her first full day in the new office and she pulled it off like a champ. My boss didn't even realize she was here until I had to leave my desk for a few minutes and she let out a single, medium-volume bark.

I didn't know if this would work as well as our old office, but in a lot of ways I think it's even better. There are lots of places to walk and all kinds of great distractions, people, bicycles, golf carts, marching bands and skateboards, to name a few. Here she is not quite 7 months old and she's walking calmly on lead across the campus, like she's been doing this forever.

So -- if you need a safe place to work your dog with distractions, try a college campus.

 

[BarbV]

You are very fortunate to be able to bring your dog to work! Do you not ever get complaints from allergy sufferers or people who are afraid of dogs? I would have thought so, given how public an environment it is.

 

[Lovely]

I'm so very jealous! I just graduated with an education degree in May. Even though there are NO jobs out there right now (even though I can teach both math and chemistry), I know better than to think I could call my boys 'class pets.' Maybe if I end up in another field, it will work out for me.

 

[danisgoat]

That's awesome! My husband works for our state college, and I am almost positive they would not allow him to bring our dogs to work!

 

[Phebe*DD]

There are a lot of buildings where I can't take her, but the building our office is in isn't one of them.

 

[Fergus]

Oh what a treat to take your dog to work! I'd love to be able to do that. Sounds like she's an angel there too.

 

[Chris]

So -- if you need a safe place to work your dog with distractions, try a college campus.

Layla often comes to work with me at our National Defense University campus. The students love her -- this year's batch all got to se her during a recent fire drill. She's off-leash all the time because she stays so close to me -- though once in a while she'll peep into a classroom as we walk down the hall.

 

[Crystal1]

Well, I'm jealous!! They have beautiful hiking paths all over our College area, but dogs are not allowed on any of it. In fact, I left the dog in the car, and ran into Administration to get a catalog. When I got back the parking police were there and gave me trouble for having the dog in the car. He insisted that the dog had to be left with food and water. I just agreed with him, so I wouldn't get a ticket and called the pound the next day--there is no such law. Dog had water but no food, because she only got fed twice a day.

 

[MissSuzie]

What a good girl Phebe is!

Meggie used to go to work with me in Florida. She would just lay under my desk and wait for the UPS man to bring her a treat. In the building next door there was a dentist who brought two shelties to work everyday. Meggie would go crazy at the window when they were outside, but that was the only time she made any noise at all. I work for a construction company, so the office was pretty laid back.

 

[Diana]

You're so lucky to be able to bring Phebe to work! I got to take Buffy once, when I was working on a Saturday. I figure that if I have to be in on a weekend then Buffy makes it better. She was actually really good, too! I took her to the dog park early in the morning, and she spent most of the day in her crate or exploring.

We've brought her to a college campus, too--Northwestern University is right by us. She was fine walking around campus in the summer, but she was pretty distracted when we brought her by when school was in session. Maybe she'll get better with time and practice...