8 tips for training the perfect office dog

In the latest episode of our podcast, we interviewed Carly Strife, one of the co-founders of Bark, the company behind BarkBox (you can check it out at the bottom of this post). Bark’s Manhattan office is dog friendly, which means that everyone is on the same page about making sure that the dogs are comfortable there. Trying to turn your dog into a cubicle companion? Here are some ways you can train your dog to be the perfect workplace pet.

1. Feed your dog at work

Dogs are constantly making associations — that’s a big part of what learning is about! So, if you want your dog to like a new place, it’s a good idea to help her make good associations with the place by pairing it with something she already likes, like mealtime. If you get in the habit of feeding your dog her breakfast at work, she might be particularly keen on getting to work, which might help you get there with alacrity, too. Make sure that you feed your dog in a spot where other dogs will not bother her while she is eating.

2. Give meals in slow food bowls

Rather than feeding in a bowl, I suggest making workplace mealtime last longer by giving meals in a toy like the Northmate Green Feeder. I always recommend feeding in toys, as I think it’s helpful to give a dog a kind of “job” to do while eating; dogs like to work, and I’d rather they satiate that “need a job” itch at mealtime rather than channeling that energy into jobs they hire themselves for, like chasing the UPS man. While there are lots of good “work to eat” toys out there, I like toys like the aforementioned Northmate for offices because a dog won’t usually make a big mess while eating from it, you can use it with either wet or dry food, and it’s easy to wash and store.

3. Make sure your dog has a “sticky” spot

I think it’s great that the offices at Bark have desks that can accommodate crates or dog beds under them or on them. It’s definitely wise to have a spot where your dog can chill and feel safe, with you nearby. In addition to their bed or crate, I suggest having a small blanket or mat on which your dog can learn to chill. The benefit of something light and portable is that you can bring it to the conference room for a meeting, or to a colleagues’ desk. You can “condition” your to like being on this spot simply by feeding meals on it. The benefit of it being small and portable is that you can bring it home and practice with it there, too.

4. Keep your dog on a long leash

This point might be controversial in some workspaces, but, for safety’s sake, I caution against dogs free roaming in offices. At Bark, most of the dogs aren’t kept on leash… and one did nearly follow me from the bullpen into elevator when I left. Unless you have your dog in a private or semi-private area where there is a door or some other kind of barrier between the dog and the elevator or front door, I think it’s wise to have your dog tethered. A long tether will give him lots of space and freedom (or as much as you want him to have). I suggest something lightweight so that it isn’t burdensome. If your dog has a tendency to chew his leash, you can have a lightweight metal leash at its end.

5. Use a remote feeder

There are only a thousand reasons why I’m obsessed with the Treat & Train, which is a remote-controlled treat dispenser. I highly recommend it for a dog who is hanging out under a desk in a crate. If there are multiple dogs in an office, I suggest having it in or atop a dog’s crate so that it can’t be accessed by multiple dogs, as there is less of a likelihood of resource guarding if your dog isn’t worried about any other dog taking his food. I suggest having two remotes, one on you, and then one velcro’d by the front door or elevator along with instructions that anyone entering the office should push its button, triggering it to dispense a few

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