No matter what type of work you do, jobs these days tend to be pretty intense, with short deadlines and high expectations contributing to higher stress levels and unhappiness among employees. One great way to counter the negative effects of job stress is to allow dogs in the workplace. Dog-Friendly Workplaces have Happier Employees. New research from consumer group NimbleFins shows that employees in companies that allow dogs are in fact happier versus dog-free workplaces. Specifically, employees in dog-friendly workplaces rate their companies 0.5 point higher on a scale of 1 to 5, according to data gathered from Glassdoor. Stress is not only bad for your health, but it can also reduce productivity at work. This is because brains don’t work well when they’re stressed – brains are most productive when they’re energized but calm.
Interacting with a dog can actually reduce stress levels and facilitate a calmer, more productive state of mind from a neurological point of view. According to a report from Harvard Medical School interacting with a dog reduces mental stress, which researchers attribute to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. And petting a dog releases serotonin, which can help boost creativity. With Bring Your Dog to Work Day coming up on 21 June, NimbleFins wanted to find companies that are dog friendly all year long. After scouring job sites and rating companies, they identified over 70 companies that are dog friendly in the UK. From this batch, they selected the companies that both allow employees to bring dogs and have the best employee ratings: When dogs are allowed at work, they often become a highlight of the office. For example: - Mother London and Land Insight feature office dogs in videos - Netitude, Twinkl and Fidel have created Instagram accounts for their office dogs - Venture Stream has blogged about their dogs - Impero uses their office dogs to raise money for charity - Mother London even designed a company badge around the founders’ dogs. - In addition, Twinkl even takes care to ensure office dogs are healthy, allowing employees to bring pets as long as they’re “pawthorised” by checking they’re insured and up to date with their jabs. Even Large Employers are Dog Friendly UKFast, a hosting provider than employs more than 200 people, is one of the larger dog friendly companies. CEO Lawrence Jones said: “A year or two ago, we noticed a number of dogs joining us in the office from day to day. They were no trouble, and we quickly realised how much of an energy boost they brought. People light up when they see a pet sleeping under someone’s desk! Whilst it would be easy to assume that dogs become a huge distraction from the work that needs to be done, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that having them around improves people’s moods and boosts productivity.” If your employer is wary about allowing dogs into the workplace, just ask if they’d like less stressed, more creative employees. Source: thriveglobal.com Seaview Holiday Village in Cornwall has launched a new dog friendly bar complete with a special drinks’ menu designed to cater for their canine guests.
Four legged visitors can enjoy a nice refreshing pint of dog beer or a posh Pawsecco whilst lounging on comfy cushions complete with water bowls and treats. The new doggy den is a special area within the main entertainments and bar venue on the Bridge Leisure park located between Polperro and Looe. Visitors can enjoy an extensive range of human friendly food and drinks whilst their dogs enjoy their own bespoke catering. To make sure the doggy clientele feels right at home, the bar has been decorated with lots of doggy pictures and if they are celebrating a birthday, a special dog celebration cake can be provided. ‘Reading Dogs’ Scheme Launched at Schools to Boost Children’s Literacy and Communication Skills28/5/2019 An initiative which aims to help children with literacy and confidence issues through reading dogs is set to launch across south Wales following a successful pilot across four Welsh counties.
The Burns by Your Side scheme involves volunteers and their trained companion dogs visiting schools to sit with children who could benefit from improved reading and communication skills. There, the child will sit and read to the dog while the volunteer ensures the child’s and dog’s safety at all times. Burns by Your Side, a charity scheme operated by leading natural pet food provider and Kidwelly based firm, Burns Pet Nutrition. The tried and tested method helps children gain confidence in building their vocabulary and fluency by reading to a dog. Specially trained volunteers and their companions act as therapy dogs, alleviating anxiety and stress often experienced by children that struggle in certain educational settings. Research conducted at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) to measure the impact of bringing dogs into the classroom has revealed that children respond positively to the presence of dogs, looking forward to reading sessions, and feeling more motivated and enthusiastic about engaging with learning. The news follows Sir Anthony Seldon’s announcement at the Ultimate Wellbeing in Education Conference at Birmingham University where he said that every school should have a wellbeing dog. The leading educationalist spoke about how a classroom pet can reduce anxiety among young people and could be key to improving mental health in schools. With treats available on-board and a guide on travelling with your pets, this train line is leading the way in dog-friendly transport. A train operator is rolling out “pup-friendly provisions” to make it easier for dog owners to travel with their pets. East Midlands Trains will provide drinking bowls at a range of stations and canine treats aboard some trains, as well as putting together a guide to taking your dog on a train. The managing director of East Midlands Trains, said: “We welcome well-behaved pets on board and know there are plenty of advantages to travelling by train with your pet." Furthermore they have created "a handy guide and are launching brand new doggy provisions on selected routes so that your dog, you and all other passengers are as comfortable as possible when using our services.”
The guide includes advice about how to prepare a dog for a train journey, where they should sit on board and tips on interacting with other passengers. Dog treats – special canine doughnuts are available on all East Midlands Trains services to and from London St Pancras, while drinking bowls are available at 14 stations including Sheffield, Derby, Leicester, Nottingham and Chesterfield. Source: https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/east-midlands-trains-unveils-dogfriendly-services-38117370.html Pet owners contemplating a permanent move abroad should make six key considerations before relocating their furry friends.
Luggage transportation experts from My Baggage have revealed the cost of moving your dogs and cats abroad, along with five other essential considerations responsible pet owners should make. A spokesperson for My Baggage said: “Whether you’re making a permanent move abroad or you’re planning on exploring another continent and you’d love to take your canine companion along for the ride, taking your pet abroad isn’t always as simple as it sounds." “Before you even have the documentation you need to take your pet on a plane, for example, you’ll need to pay for health certificates, vaccinations, kennels and a microchip if they don’t already have one. “And once you’ve ticked all the boxes, jumped through all the hoops and actually got your pet onto different soil, some countries will require quarantining them for a length period of time – sometimes up to six months!” So if you're planning a trip away with your pet, long or short, this list is essential reading! Pet owners are being urged to put safety first and plan ahead when travelling with their animals. The motoring experts at LeaseCar.uk have compiled their advice for travelling with pets, with the top priority being to keep them and other passengers safe. The experts are urging owners to use suitable restraints including harnesses for dogs, pet guards for larger, active dogs and cages or carriers for smaller animals. Tim Alcock from LeaseCar.uk said: “These tips have been put together to help make the journey as easy as possible for both your animal and you." So take a look at this list to make sure you're fully informed on how to keep your pet safe whilst in the car: The people of Ludham have come together to find a solution to the problem of dog business not being disposed of properly around the village. By releasing stickers for black wheelie bins that indicate dog walkers can put bagged dog leavings in their bin it shows an active effort to clean up the streets, something which others should look into. This is what Ludham council had to say:
"We are proud to announce that the Ludham Community Initiative to help tackle dog poo is launched. If you live on a dog walking route and keep your black bin near the road, you can support us by putting this sticker on your bin... Thanks to all who have made this possible. It has the support of the Parish Council and NNDC. Let's make a difference and make Ludham a welcoming place for all, especially responsible dog owners." It's a simple idea which includes the whole community and makes a real difference to the village. Hopefully others will follow suit in their own ways... With summer around the corner and the sun starting to shine it's important to know the signs and precautions you can take to make sure your pooch is comfortable and cool. So here is some handy information from Vetsnow on how you can tell if your dog is showing the signs of heat stroke: Source: https://www.vets-now.com/
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