Hannah reflects on why dogs are our best friends at home (and sometimes at work!)
Besides my daughter, I’m also mum to a two-year old Aussie labradoodle, Buckaroo (or as we call him, Bucky). Aussie doodles were engineered for their companionable qualities – ‘cobberdogs’ were bred quite literally to be the perfect best mate and many find careers as assistance dogs. My partner is disabled, and it was important to us to find a furry friend who would be equally great with all members of the family. In theory, Bucky is also hypoallergenic (although ironically, allergic to himself) and highly trainable. So far, he’s mastered the art of very, very gentle treat-taking (having learned that rough sausage-stealing doesn’t ultimately work out very well for him). Lead walking is less advanced; he is buoyed by his own enthusiasm, as he hasn’t learned his own strength. On the whole though, he’s a very relaxed kind of guy and makes the ‘pawfect’ companion whenever I’m working from home.
I try to walk him before my workday starts, which clears my mind and gets the blood and creative juices flowing; and of course, if you’re not a dog-lover this is a great mindful activity to do solo as well. After a stretch, Bucky is pretty chilled – although he genuinely feels that all incoming envelopes and packages (and all those who deliver them) are a massive intrusion, and don’t get him started on window cleaners! Sometimes this gets him relegated, particularly if I’m expecting important calls or meetings, but if the audience is right (and curiosity gets the better of him) he’ll sometimes put in an on-screen appearance.
Some people find time spent working away from the office isolating, but Bucky makes sure this is never the case for me. At selected intervals, Bucky will seek me out at my computer for enforced hugs. Unrestricted by any concerns about personal space, his nose will appear in my armpit, and he’s learned to flick my arm around him when he decides we’re both overdue some TLC. Of course, this is something only a furry co-worker can provide (and would raise all sorts of problems if human colleagues attempted to take the same tack!)
The benefits of pets in reducing stress are widely acknowledged. When I stroke Buckaroo, I can definitely feel the ‘warm and fuzzies’, also known as Oxytocin, travelling up my arm, and research suggests it also lowers the stress hormone Cortisol. He’s like a furry little cheerleader reminding me that whatever I may be juggling, he’s by my side. Dogs just like Buckaroo are increasingly trained to support neurodiverse children and adults, with organisations like Dogs for Autism noting their therapeutic ability to mitigate and de-escalate stress and anxiety. Of course, Buckaroo has his own special ways of increasing cortisol too at times, which he pairs with an ‘I didn’t do it’ facial expression that would melt the sternest of souls, but he definitely keeps me grounded. For me, those moments of connection offer emotional reward that helps me focus.
As a behaviour expert (humans, usually), I love his little quirks. Many people project human behaviour onto their pets (and my occasional dog ventriloquism suggests I’m no different), but it’s also fascinating to watch how he tries to impose doggy pecking order and pack mentality ideas onto his human family. Pavlov’s dogs are often mentioned in texts on behaviour and an interesting read for anyone interested in behavioural science (human and animal!) is ‘Behave’ by Robert Sapolsky.
What if you’re not an animal person (thank you for reading to the end if that’s the case!) or it’s not practical to keep a pet, let alone take it to work? Checking in on each other is definitely something we can learn from Buckaroo. In the office, giving someone impromptu praise or offering them a cup of tea can be as good as a waggy tail for showing care and appreciation. How can you be more Buckaroo today? Drop me a line for a natter with your ideas.