If you love Fridays, you’re abut to love them even more. Because National Fun At Work Day falls on the last Friday of every January— and it’s nearly here!

Whether you work at home or in an office, there’s no wrong way to celebrate this unofficial holiday.

“The more, the merrier” is a cardinal rule when it comes to having fun at work. And if your employer is pet-friendly, even better!

But before you bring your new furry coworker in, make sure you’re prepared. Keep reading to learn how to make sure everyone has a blast this National Fun At Work Day.

Check With Your Dog

The most important person you’ll need to check in with isn’t a person at all: it’s your dog. The point of National Fun At Work Day is for everyone to have a great time, and that includes all the four-legged partygoers.

Before you bring your dog into work, make sure your dog will be able to handle it. Ask yourself these questions:

• Does my dog enjoy being in public places?
• Does my dog handle noise and lots of activity well?
• Is my dog friendly towards strangers and new people?
• Is my dog friendly towards other dogs?

If you can’t confidently answer “yes” to all of these questions, it may not be a great idea for you to bring your dog to work.

Similarly, taking your pup to work probably isn’t a good idea if they become anxious or aggressive easily. There will be a lot of sensory information for them to take in, and they may be initially overwhelmed.

Even if your office is usually calm or quiet, there’s no guarantee it will stay that way. This is especially true on a holiday, when people may be more excitable than usual.

If you’re unsure about how your dog will react, try taking them to other public places. The park, pet-friendly cafes, and the pet store are three examples.

All of these places will have new smells, new people, and potentially new dogs. You’ll be able to see how your dog reacts to each of these.

From there, you can gauge whether or not they’d enjoy going to work with you.

Check With Your Coworkers

Even if your office is pet-friendly, check in with the coworkers you interact with on a daily basis. Ask them if they’re okay with your dog coming into work.

Some of them may be fine with it, while others might appreciate it if you keep your distance for the holiday.

There may be a variety of reasons they don’t want to be around a dog, including:

• They or someone in their household is allergic to dogs
• They are afraid of dogs or dislike being around dogs

They may also have a personal reason for not wanting to be around dogs that they’re not comfortable with disclosing. If this is the case, respect their decision and don’t push for an explanation.

If any of your coworkers have a service dog, it’s also best to talk with them about the potential impact of bring another canine around.

Your dog may inadvertently distract their service dog or prevent it from performing its job. This is frustrating at best and can be life-threatening at worst.

 Dog-Proof Your Office

If all of your coworkers are fine with you bringing your dog to work, that’s great! To make sure your furry best friend has the best time possible, you’ll need to make some minor adjustments.

In other words, it’s time to dog-proof your work space. Check out the list below to make sure you’ve got everything ready:

• Remove plants, markers, and any other potentially toxic items
• Hide electrical cords, wires, etc. so that your dog can access them
• Make sure choking hazards are secured out of paw’s reach
• Move objects as far away as possible from the edge of your desk
• Lock or firmly close all drawers, filing cabinets, etc.
• Get rid of any food, especially treats that aren’t pet-safe

It’s also a good idea to make sure you can keep your dog in or close to your workspace. If you have an office with a door, this is easy; simply close the door or bring a gate to put up. In case you don’t have that luxury, bring a short leash you can secure to your desk or keep hold of.

Make sure to have a backup plan in case your dog becomes overwhelmed. Are you prepared to take your dog home? If you can’t leave work, are you prepared to keep your dog separated from everyone else?

You won’t be able to control what other people’s dogs do, but you can control how you handle your own dog. Consider the different ways your dog might react once in the office and be prepared.

Bring A Doggy Bag

It’s unlikely your office is already equipped to handle animals. (If you work at a vet’s office or zoo, we digress.) So to make sure your pup will be as comfortable as possible, you’ll need to bring a doggy bag with all the essentials.

When you take your dog to work, make sure you bring along:

• Bowls for water, food, and/or treats
• Toys and activities to keep them entertained
• A strong collar, leash, and muzzle
• Poop bags for bathroom breaks
• Paper towels and disinfectant for accidents
• A baby gate if you have an office with a door
• A portable kennel or similar enclosure

You’ll also need to bring along bottles of water if water isn’t readily available in the office. Likewise, you’ll need to bring your dog’s food if your office hours overlap with their meal time.

Some of these items are absolutely necessary, such as bowls and toys. Others are in case of an emergency, such as the muzzle and disinfectant. All of them are important to make sure everyone stays happy and safe.

Be Mentally Prepared

Now that your dog, coworkers, and office are prepared, it’s your turn. You need to be mentally prepared for the realities of bringing your dog to work.

Though it will surely be fun, it also comes with additional responsibilities.

• Take your dog out for regular bathroom breaks, preferably once every hour
• Be prepared for barking or mischief at the worst times (especially during a call)
• Plan to secure or have someone watch your dog when you’re in the bathroom
• Don’t let the puppy eyes fool you while you’re eating lunch

If you have meetings that day, you’ll also need to decide what you want to do with Fido during those times.

Practical details are less fun to consider than all the partying you’re planning for you and your dog. But even so, they’re just as important.

Handling all the details of National Fun At Work Day before it actually begins will let you and your pooch focus on what matters most: having a great time.