A Doggone Good Time!

Being that this is only my second blog post ever, I have to admit, it’s a little intimidating. Where do I pull my inspiration from?  I decided to write about something that would ease my mind.  No, I am not going to write about vacationing in Hawaii. Maybe I’ll save that for a future blog post?

I’ve had an interest in dogs ever since I was a kid.  Throughout my life, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have a dog in my household.  In the past, I’ve had a Golden Retriever-Sheltie mix, a Terrier mix, and a Rottweiler.

Before working for Metaverse Mod Squad, I looked into companies that allow dogs in the workplace.  The only ones I was aware of at the time were Google and REI (at their corporate headquarters).  After interviewing some employees who work at these companies, I was even more hyped up to work for a company that was dog-friendly. They all had a lot of good things to say and positive experiences to share about having dogs in their work environment.  In my entire working career, I have never worked for a place that allowed me to have my dog with me while I was working.  That is, until now!  Since I work remotely, I can be at work and have my faithful companion sitting right next to me.  On top of that, Metaverse Mod Squad allows dogs at the physical offices.  Amy Pritchard said that she once walked in and there were more kids and dogs than staffers.

My furry friend is a rescued dog—a Dachshund-Lab mix.  Don’t ask me how that happened.  Maybe there was a step ladder involved??  OK, OK… I won’t go any further.  Here is a drawing of my dog, which my wife sketched from a picture for one of her art classes.  It also happens to be my Basecamp profile picture.  Be sure to read an amusing blog post about profile pictures written by Amy Pritchard. 😀

There are many benefits I experience from having my favorite friend with me during work.  Here are some of them:

• Increases morale
• Decreases stress
• Inspires creativity
• Promotes productivity
• Encourages walking breaks to boost energy
• Keeps things fun and interesting

I really enjoyed this article and video titled “Dogs at Work: A Perk That Pays Off”.

Of course, a not-so-well-behaved dog can be a distraction at the workplace.  Another article points out things to consider when having dogs at the workplace.  Despite some of the cons that could arise, having a well-behaved dog at the office can be very beneficial.  So next time you see your dog, give him or her some attention and you’ll surely find it rewarding!

Isaac Wong