Can I bring my dog to my leased yoga studio?

Dogs love Yoga

We love a dog in the workplace. But once you’ve signed a commercial lease agreement and absent a super chill landlord, it can be near impossible to renegotiate the terms that you agreed to. That’s why catching the ‘NO ANIMALS’ clause before you lock yourself and your business into a lease agreement is key to realizing your animal-friendly business dreams.

Think Before you Sign

It’s common to see a standard lease that largely favours the landlord’s interests, ‘no animals’ clause included. Don’t be quick to sign. Instead, take some time to think about the entirety of your lease. Does it offer certain benefits that are of little or no value to your business? What are you willing to offer in exchange for having the ‘no animals clause’ changed? It’s not all or nothing: maybe you’ll craft a term allowing a maximum of two dogs in the space at a time. Or maybe you wish only for your own dog to occupy the space with you. 

Be Proactive

So, communicate with your future landlord about the importance of animal-positive vibes to your heart-leading business and be prepared to negotiate. If your landlord needs a little convincing, be ready with a low to medium stakes offer and the specifics of what you’re requesting.

Protect Yourself

Once you get your landlord’s approval, don’t forget to think about including a term covering animals on your waiver of liability. And remember that you don’t have to agree to a lease that doesn’t align with your values. If an animal-inclusive space is at the heart of your heart-leading business, look for the people and places that will help make that happen!

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