Workers Are Used To Being Back In The Office But Their Dogs Aren’t

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people were able to work from home. For those with dogs, this was the ideal situation as their pets got to be with their owners 24/7. However, now people are heading back to their offices, and their dogs aren’t in a good place. Some people say their pets should be allowed to go with them to their workplace. Others are calling for more pet daycares. What is the ideal situation to keep owners and dogs happy and content? While this article refers to Spanish dog owners, the situation is the same all over the world

Return to the workplace affects people’s dogs

El Pais gives the example of Nuria Alonso, an administrative worker from Madrid. While returning to the workplace, she had to change her habits. Instead of rising at 7:30 am, she set the alarm for 6 am. This meant she could take her dog Sugus for a longer walk than normal to start the day.

However, the nervous poodle wasn’t fooled. When he found himself alone, he was devastated. When the family leaves the house, he spends his day crying and barking. Admittedly, Alonso says Sugus’ case is extreme, but other dog owners have similar problems.

Dogs tend to be social animals and love to be around their owners and other dogs. Being shut in a house or apartment for the entire working day badly affects them. This is apparently called separation anxiety disorder, which leads to pets breaking the furniture, or peeing in the house. Meanwhile, this is most common in certain breeds, including border collies, Labradors and German shepherds. However, following the pandemic, all species and ages of dogs are affected by separation anxiety disorder.

Pandemic dog

Speaking of Sugus, Alonso explained that he is a “pandemic dog,” as he spent the first months of his life in a house where people were always around. According to the National Association of Pet Food Manufacturers, Spain’s dog population increased by 38 percent during the lockdown. This led to many animals growing up in homes full of people. Some people took on a new pet for the company while stuck at home. Others got a dog for company, but also to take on the allowed dog walks during the pandemic.

In the Alonso home, they only went out to walk Sugus each day and to do grocery shopping weekly. Sugus was perfectly happy, as were many other dogs. Meanwhile, a study has been run by Applied Animal Behavior Science has indicated that 65 percent of people surveyed found their dogs experienced less stress during the pandemic In fact they were happier and played more.

Eventually, Alonso took Sugus to a dog trainer, Carmen Martinez, who believes the poodle’s case is paradigmatic. She said:

Teleworking has been a double-edged sword.

In our society, many dogs spend too many hours alone at home. This is a social species that tend to live in groups. Spending so many hours alone does not comply with their natural behavior patterns.

However, the confinement and remote work made some families go to the opposite extreme. The dogs were accompanied for many hours, but when they returned to the office, families started having problems with their pets.

Dogs in the workplace

Some companies allow dogs in the workplace. For instance, Arancha Naranjo in Extremadura alternates teleworking with days in the office The company she works for, Bungalow25, allows employees to take their dogs to the office. Naranjo said her dog, Margot, never suffered from separation anxiety. In fact, she admits they work long hours, and she would hate for Margot to be alone for so long.

It turns out the owner of the company, Julio Galvez, also has a dog, named Yogi, who struggles with spending time alone at home. Meanwhile, saying canines are part of the family, he finds allowing dogs in the office keeps his workers and gives them a better quality of life.

Reportedly some of the big tech companies, like Google, Amazon, Etsy and Squarespace allowed people’s pets in the office even before the pandemic. Moreover, other companies have begun to do the same in order to keep their workers.

Doggie daycare

Another option that is growing in popularity is to leave pets in daycare centers, just like people do with their children. Animal Solution is a pet nursery in Madrid and confirms that since the return to the “new normal” they have received an increase in requests.

The pet daycare is owned by Luis Sousa, a veterinarian with more than 30 years of experience. He said that pet nurseries have always existed, but in recent years, the sector has become more professional. Meanwhile, they have room for just over a dozen canines and recently, they have had to hang a “No Vacancy” sign several times.

In the case of Spain, 26 percent of households have a dog, which is one of the highest percentages in Europe. During the pandemic, owners became closer than ever with their pets, but returning to the office has separated them again.

Workers are now demanding measures to balance their home and work life, by asking companies to accept their pets in the office. Meanwhile, more pet daycares would be an ideal solution for everyone.