The Dog Safe Workplace – a unique business

In 2014 we started the company under PET First Aid & Training by 2016 we started out on our own offering training programs to a wide variety of organisations.

We started researching dog bite numbers, locations, age groups, sex, cost both financial and psychological. In 2005 ACC reported 4,250 dog bites by 2019 it had increased to over 14,000. 2020 was a bit of an anomaly as many bites went unreported.

We spoke to companies where dog bites have become a huge Health & Safety risk and many where struggling to understand how to combat the issue. We put together a team

We work with companies to reduce the risk of dog bites when their workers have to enter properties where dogs may be present, Director Joanna Clough explains

of adult educators, canine behaviourists and dog trainers to develop a course that explains why dogs do what they do.

We then looked at what the customer required, what their staff do when they are entering properties. Are they going into the house or just the yard? What are they carrying with them? How long are they going to be on the property? What are they doing while they are on the property? Is it

If you would like any more information or you would like to discuss your options please contact us on: jo@dogsafeworkplace.com 0508 DOG SAFE +64 27 737244 a delivery or will they be there for a prolonged period of time. When we have all of the information we then customise the course to suit their requirements.

We offer the training either Face-2-Face (NZ only) or Online. The online course has a series of questions that must be answered correctly and once completed they receive a certificate.

The programme is comprehensive and covers a multitude of topics including • Warning signs - both obvious and subtle • Increased agitation • Pre-entrance signs of dog activity • Recognising a potentially dangerous situation • The do’s and do not’s of interaction • How to remove themselves in the safest manner

The most important thing is that it makes a difference.

Mark Benson from Wells Instrument & Electrical, one of our first clients, says “we have seen a dramatic decrease in dog bites since instigating the training program”. In fact it has been a whopping 86% decrease.

As a dog lover and owner everything we are doing is a win-win. The owners, the companies and the dogs themselves all win when we understand canine body language.