Friday is National Take Your Dog To Work Day, in what the Humane Society of Missouri calls a canine-themed casual Friday.

Marketing Manager Angela Smith tells us that taking your dog to work is good for you.

“There are absolutely health benefits to having pets at work,” Smith said in an interview.

“It’s been proven that pets in the workplace increase productivity, help to reduce blood pressure, and just boost office morale overall.”

But Smith says you should probably check with your boss first.

“Some employers don’t allow it just due to allergies of other people in the office, out of respect for them,” she says, “but others, especially smaller businesses and employers, are all too happy to have the dogs come in just for that one day.”

If you’re going to bring your dog to work on Friday, Smith says you should “prep your pup,” and “canine-proof” your cubicle. She says you want to make sure that they’re going to be well-behaved for that day, and that you have plenty of supplies.

“You want to have a nice bowl of water for them, pack their food, make sure you have a leash for them, and that they’re on their very best behavior. You also may want to bring a blanket that they can lay down on, and some treats that maybe some of your co-workers can give them. And you want to make sure you canine-proof your cubicle if you have one. So be careful of loose cords or important papers they might chew up and anything else they might get into.”

As you might expect, some dogs should not be brought to work.

“If you have a dog that doesn’t get along with other dogs, that maybe isn’t the friendliest with people, or just gets stressed out or anxious when it has to travel, it’s probably best to leave that dog at home.

This is the 18th anniversary of the first “Take Your Dog To Work Day.” The event was created by Pet Sitters International as a way to celebrate the companionship we have with dogs, and to encourage adoption from animal shelters and breed rescues.