Many people leave the radio on for their pets when they go to work. But they may not have to do that June 23. It’s National Take Your Dog to Work Day, and a new study out of Central Michigan University, suggests that should be every day.
The study put several groups of strangers together to solve a problem. The purpose was to see how communication and behavior changed when a dog is in the room.
Stephen Colarelli is a professor of psychology at CMU.
“The presence of a dog might help serve as a social lubricant in that situation, and decrease the time that it would take for people to feel comfortable with one another.”
Colarelli said the study showed people seem more comfortable with one another when a dog is in the room.
“People tended to like one another or display behaviors or words in their conversations that indicated they liked one another more than in the group where there was no dog present. People behaved more cooperatively, and they were more likely to show small signs of affection towards one another.”
Colarelli said his work was part of a more general study showing people are typically more relaxed when nature, animals or plants, is incorporated into the workplace.