What do you think about the logistics of taking your dog to work? Personally I think it could be a very chaotic situation. I also wonder whether people could actually convince their bosses that this is a good idea, but if you’re the boss then you could probably decide to take your dog to work.
Writers have the luxury of being able to have their trusted pets right there with them as they write their stories. Fido could be sitting on the floor next to wherever they write, or if it’s a small dog, it could sit in a lap. When we owned a dog, he often sat beside my chair in our office. Sadly I never thought to take a photo of the dog when he was nearby.
Take Your Dog to Work Day started in 1999 to celebrate people’s love for dogs and also to promote pet adoptions. In the United States around 63 million households own at least one dog. We’ve owned several dogs during our marriage. Pepper, our last dog, lived to be almost eighteen. He was adopted from the local animal shelter when we lived in Georgia. I never took him to my teaching job, but he certainly spent time lying on the floor beside my desk in our office while I wrote.
I was surprised when looked back over the books I’ve written and realized how many of the books have a dog somewhere in the story. I’m currently working on a Christmas novella that has a dog. Puppy Love and Christmas Cookies is part of my Happiness in Hallburg series. As you might guess from the titles, all the books feature a puppy. You can find out more about the series by clicking on the link.
These are the other books I have written that feature a dog.
A Match to Call Ours
A Family to Call Ours
A Baby to Call Ours
Hometown Hero
Would you consider taking a dog to work? How do you think the day would go?
I will give away an ebook copy of one of these dog books, winner’s choice, to one person who leaves a comment. I will draw the winning name on June 25, 2022 at 9PM MST.
“Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.”
Merrillee Whren is an award-winning author who writes inspirational romance. She is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award for best inspirational romance manuscript presented by Romance Writers of America. She has also been the recipient of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award and the Maggie Award for Excellence. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of thirty plus years, and has two grown daughters. She has lived in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Florida but now makes her home in the Arizona desert. When she’s not writing, she spends her free time playing tennis or walking while she does the plotting for her novels.
My mind boggles at the thought of taking our youngest giant Schnauzer (6 years old) to work. She barks (loudly) at any new noise, human or otherwise, and if she decides the human is ‘safe’ she then demands to be stroked, not briefly but endlessly. She thinks nothing of raising her paw to get attention and if that fails she has been known to put both front paws on a person’s lap and try and climb up. This is often accompanied by a pathetic whine and a ‘poor me’ expression.
She also likes to be top dog, growling if another animal comes near her perceived territory, although it usually stops at growls…
Definitely, it would not be a very productive day at a work!
Hi Merrillee! A smile worthy blog today. I also envision chaos if everyone who had a dog took their furry friends to work. Lots would depend on how well the dogs are trained and socialized and the work environment – office / factory, small business or large.
I volunteered at our local Red Cross chapter and the director’s dog came to work each day. He was being trained as a therapy dog. My granddaughter’s elementary school also has 2 therapy dogs that visit weekly. When my grandkids attended Oma’s Virtual Academy the family dog attended school 3 days a week. Ivy was our therapy dog.
A local independent bookstore Forever Books has Poppy the dog that goes to work each day. We all enjoy visiting and being greeted by Poppy. This avid reader enjoys reading books that include pets – an added dimension to the story. Best wishes.
It might work in some cases, but I agree it would probably be chaotic. Say you have twenty people working in an office and they each brought a dog…
welcome. what a fun post. I grew up with dogs. When I started a family we got a dog. But taking a dog to work day? Im sorry but I am laughing because I can see all the happenings going on with all those dogs and employees trying to work. No I suppose I would not do it. Plus I was a server for many years and LOL that just woulnt work too well. LOL If I win can I please read: A Baby to Call Ours
I can’t imagine taking a dog to work to any of the jobs I had out of the house! If everyone I worked with had done it, it would have been total chaos!! We had two dogs while I was growing up. We didn’t have good luck with dogs, though. I’d much rather have a cat, but don’t have one as I do NOT like cleaning litter boxes enough to have a cat! I do love animals in books, though!
Hi, yes I would , our pup does pretty good, so I would take him.
I don’t have a dog but if I did I wouldn’t take it to work it would be too chaotic.
Your Puppy Love series is so fun – I’m glad you’re writing another installment! The only pet-friendly job I’ve ever had has been SAHM and, more recently, author. We are currently down to one cat from two cats and a dog only 13 months ago. :'( But Coonie is always nearby when I’m writing, curled up at my feet or behind my neck if the chair allows it! She also loves “crashing” the StoryChats podcast.
I’d love to have another dog and have it at work. Sometimes dogs are an asset in the workplace like a friend who is a massage therapist his dog Bruce loves to greet the patients and be spoilt by them. It relaxes everyone. It depends on the dogs size and temperament. If they need space and attention maybe work isn’t the best place for them to flourish.
Hi Jeannette,
I can just hear all the dogs barking. I agree it wouldn’t be a very productive work day.
Hi Renate,
I have encountered several therapy dogs in training. I was in the grocery store one day when the lady next to me in produce had a dog with her. She was training him. I also met a man in the post office who was training a dog for the hearing impaired.
Hi Beth,
Yes, I do believe it is a recipe for chaos.
Hi Lori,
My imagination goes to an office setting with a lot of dogs, which might be managed, but I can’t imagine the bad stuff that could happen at a restaurant.
Hi Trudy,
We didn’t have good luck with dogs in the beginning either. We had two that got hit by cars because they ran away. We had another dog that bit one of our kids so we had to get rid of it, but finally we got a good one. Pepper did have his challenges, but he lived to be almost 18.
Hi Alicia,
If dogs are well-trained, it could work. I took Pepper to obedience school, but he failed. Or maybe it was the owner who failed. I think obedience school is as much for the owner as the dog.
Hi Kendra,
I agree. Too many things could go wrong.
Hi Valerie,
Thanks. We had two cats and a dog at one time. The last cat we had used to like to sit on front of my monitor. That could be troubling at times.
Hi Dianne,
I think one dog in the work place wouldn’t be so bad. Multiple dogs could make things crazy.
Not sure it’ll work lol
I’ve met Officer Lance at work recently (German Shepperd). But it was one dog, I can’t imagine if everyone brings their pets – too much excitement, no work done lol
Well, my husband is kind in the business where he has dogs at work….he’s a front desk supervisor at a resort hotel that’s also pet friendly. So in a way, he has dogs at work, lol! Some are well behaved, or shy, or super friendly, and I’m sure the occasional dog that does not do well around others. I think my husband likes to meet the dogs more than the people :-D Also, my son works at a indoor dog park, so he’s around dogs on his shift. He says it can be crazy chaos…lol!
I’m not so sure about bringing your pets to work unless they were well behaved. But I still can’t imagine doing that!
No need to enter me Merrillee as I’ve read your books…..which are very good by the way. I enjoy dogs in stories, they add their own personalities to the mix.
Hi Trixi,
Thanks so much for the kind words. It is interesting that both your husband and your son are involved in work that includes dogs.
I am disabled so that would not be an option for me. When I was still working, I could not imagine taking my dog to work. I could be on a phone call with a client, but my dog would need to go out not to mention the barking that could occur in the workplace. I think I would come home with a big headache. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
no, don’t have one
Hi Debra,
Yes, I think a day at work with dogs would end in a headache.
I could easily bring mine puppy to work due to being a stay at home mom.
I know here some do take their dog to work on take your dog to work day. there are some that it works for some not. Like the Vet’s, but the local paper normally do it and other smaller places. For me if they are loose I would be avoiding the places unless contained as I have a fear of dogs. The one at the Vet’s is a small one and tends to be behind the counter so thats not an issue.
I work mostly from home so I take my dog to work every day :). I like places where dogs ate present, but the dog has to have been trained to behave and be chill, otherwise I think it’s just a distraction and a stressful experience.
Love your covers! I think some universities have the local shelter take some dogs to where the students are studying during finals. :)