Four Paws on the Job: A Day at Work with a Service Dog in Training

Every June, "Take Your Dog to Work Day" gives pet lovers a reason to share their four-legged companions with coworkers. But for the volunteers at Service Dogs Alabama, bringing a dog to work isn’t just a novelty—it’s part of the job. Whether the dog is learning to become a service dog or a facility dog, these experiences in real-world workspaces are vital to their development.

Just checking my emails…

mostly fan mail.

Our volunteers come from all walks of life: educators, accountants, college students, and sports professionals. What unites them is a shared goal—to help a young dog grow into a calm, focused, and confident partner.

Workplaces come with a full menu of sights, sounds, and distractions. One volunteer described her dog adjusting to life in an elementary school: loud announcements, bells ringing, students running, stairs, fire drills, and a steady stream of curious children. "It was a lot at first," she said, "but the dog took it all in stride." Another volunteer mentioned the seemingly simple but essential milestone of riding in an elevator: "It was scary at first, but now it's nothing."

Every office needs a nap consultant. 💤

At a busy accounting firm, one dog learned to ignore the alluring smells of a break room and stay composed in high-stakes meetings. During one particularly emotional client meeting, the dog, trained to stay under the table, sensed the client’s distress and gently placed her head in the woman's lap. When the client calmed, the dog quietly returned to her place. "That moment reminded me how intuitive these dogs can be," her handler said.

College campuses and sports stadiums bring another level of unpredictability: scoreboard buzzers, loud music, cheering fans, and even passing trains. "You never know what they’ll encounter at work," said one volunteer who works for a minor league baseball team. Her pups learn to settle under a desk, ignore distractions, and watch her calmly as she runs to make a quick copy or grab a file. "It actually got to the point where my pup would wait and not move a muscle until I returned. That kind of focus and patience is incredible at such a young age."

Just reviewing the game stats,

someone’s gotta manage the team treats.

Across all these experiences, volunteers agree: taking a service dog in training to work teaches the dog to feel safe and confident in any environment. It also transforms the workplace. "He puts a smile on everyone’s face he meets and makes our school feel more like home," said a principal. Others reported that coworkers are more excited to see the dog than them, and that the dog's presence creates a calm, positive atmosphere.

Classroom assistants reporting for duty,

—quiet, calm, and totally adorable.

These dogs aren’t just learning basic obedience—they’re practicing how to behave with grace in stressful, noisy, and busy environments. They’re watching people, reading moods, and developing the emotional intelligence that makes them more than just pets.

When asked what they’ve learned from this experience, volunteers mentioned patience, awareness, and respect for the dog’s job. "They model forgiveness, loyalty, and unconditional love," said one. Another said, "I've learned it’s not just about training a dog to behave—it's about helping them feel secure and confident no matter what’s going on."

On this Take Your Dog to Work Day, we celebrate the volunteers who are shaping the next generation of service dogs by bringing them along for the ride. Their workplaces have become classrooms for some of the most important lessons these dogs will ever learn.

Ready to bring more paws to your profession?
Whether you're considering a facility dog for your school or business, or you're just curious about how these incredible dogs work alongside humans, we’d love to connect!

Learn more about volunteering Volunteer — Service Dogs Alabama, or supporting our mission Donate — Service Dogs Alabama.
Let’s make every workday a little more wag-worthy.