Working like a dog?
Is this expression based on how dogs are treated or on how hard they work?
I think it's more the former. If you are working like a dog, it's like being beaten into submission. "Working like a dog," as an expression, is akin to "it's a dog's life." Because otherwise, dogs don't work very hard, and most dogs lives are pretty darn good.
No matter that dog valorizers will surely disagree:
Some people have figured out that if you actually had to work only as hard as a dog, that might be a pretty good gig.
While others observe that no matter how "hard" they work physically, dogs are "on" or "available" 24/7.
Which is perhaps why we want to "let sleeping dogs lie." They might not work very hard but you don't want to interrupt them either; being grumpy is somehow related to working hard.
Most of us think bringing your dog to work would be great.
I would be in that camp, taking mine with me practically everywhere. While that's generally great, it's not without challenges; there are some things you can't or are reluctant to do and you have to always be thinking ahead about what to do with the dog. That said, I guess from an employer point of view I can see how it's a benefit to let employees bring their dogs to work; you are actually working "harder," with more focus, foresight, planning, etc. when you have your dog with you. And for sure you are more attentive to your colleagues and the general atmosphere in the workplace because people are always stopping by to pet the dog, and they say hello to you and smile. Having your dog at work makes you feel and act even more responsibly than you would otherwise.
Anyway, just for the record, I don't think dogs themselves work very hard, even on the availability scale. My Shih Tzu isn't terribly available. Like royalty, her idea of service is to some higher, public, universal purpose. Which in the workplace, seems to be just about the right attitude, for a dog.
Evidently, like other types of working folks, when times get lean, they can fall from grace, Shih Tzus reverting to their feral work ethic.
I think it's more the former. If you are working like a dog, it's like being beaten into submission. "Working like a dog," as an expression, is akin to "it's a dog's life." Because otherwise, dogs don't work very hard, and most dogs lives are pretty darn good.No matter that dog valorizers will surely disagree:
Some people have figured out that if you actually had to work only as hard as a dog, that might be a pretty good gig.
While others observe that no matter how "hard" they work physically, dogs are "on" or "available" 24/7.
Which is perhaps why we want to "let sleeping dogs lie." They might not work very hard but you don't want to interrupt them either; being grumpy is somehow related to working hard.
Most of us think bringing your dog to work would be great.
I would be in that camp, taking mine with me practically everywhere. While that's generally great, it's not without challenges; there are some things you can't or are reluctant to do and you have to always be thinking ahead about what to do with the dog. That said, I guess from an employer point of view I can see how it's a benefit to let employees bring their dogs to work; you are actually working "harder," with more focus, foresight, planning, etc. when you have your dog with you. And for sure you are more attentive to your colleagues and the general atmosphere in the workplace because people are always stopping by to pet the dog, and they say hello to you and smile. Having your dog at work makes you feel and act even more responsibly than you would otherwise.
Anyway, just for the record, I don't think dogs themselves work very hard, even on the availability scale. My Shih Tzu isn't terribly available. Like royalty, her idea of service is to some higher, public, universal purpose. Which in the workplace, seems to be just about the right attitude, for a dog.
Evidently, like other types of working folks, when times get lean, they can fall from grace, Shih Tzus reverting to their feral work ethic.
Labels: jobs, shih tzu, working dogs
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