Dog owners dream of a world where they can take their pet everywhere, including to work. But did you know that allowing dogs in your office can benefit your company too?

Office Dogs: the benefits

1. Better Work Environment

Happy pets can create a warmer, more welcoming atmosphere in your workplace. Whether you’re an employee or just a visitor, most people get a mood boost from interacting with dogs.

2. More Social Interaction between Employees

Having at least one dog roaming the office can improve relationships and communication among co-workers. The dog becomes a topic to talk about, laugh about or even bond over to create a more collaborative space and better team building.

3. Lower Stress Levels

Office dogs are known to reduce stress for employees. Studies show that engaging with dogs can stimulate the release of oxytocin, the “feel-good” hormone that helps us feel less stressed or anxious. A few moments spent with a dog during the day can go a long way! A short doggy-break is good for our mental health and can help us focus better.

4. Attract and Retain Top Talents

Pet-friendly policies help attract potential hires who value a company's commitment to work-life balance and employee well-being. Allowing employees to bring their dogs to the office is also an excellent way to increase job satisfaction, which, in turn, helps reduce staff turnover and fosters long-term employee loyalty.

5. Saves Time and Money for Employees

Another unsuspected benefit is that employees who bring their dogs to work don’t have to pay for dog-sitting and they don’t have to rush home during their lunch break to let their dog out. Instead, they can spend their break on an unhurried walk near the office, a great way to clear the mind!

6. Boosts Productivity

These perks of having office dogs all have one key thing in common: they boost productivity. When employees are happy and comfortable at work, they are more motivated and work better.

How to Make Office Dogs Comfortable and Safe

Having dogs in the office doesn’t just benefit humans, it’s great for dogs too: they get more potty breaks, more socialization, more enrichment, and less time alone at home.

However, to make sure it’s a positive experience for everyone, there are some key things we do in our offices at Axaeco!

1. Provide Basic Needs

The dogs always have access to fresh water and comfortable beds. There is a patch of grass right outside the office for toileting, and the dogs can be taken for walks during lunch breaks.

2. Create a Comfortable Space

Dogs need to spend most of their day resting, which is why it’s important to create a calm environment with minimal noise disruption. Their resting areas should be located away from high-traffic areas, and employees shouldn’t constantly interact with them. If the dogs are interested, toys and chews can be offered, though watch out for resource guarding behaviours. Another important consideration is the temperature in your office: dogs may need sweaters or cooling vests if the temperature is out of their comfort zone.

3. Build Trust between Dogs and Employees

It’s important to create an environment of respect and understanding towards dogs. Here at Axaeco we give a lot of focus to dog-human relations: every employee is trained to recognize when a dog wants interaction and how to check that a dog is happy to be petted. Making sure that employees understand a dog’s needs helps prevent uncomfortable or even risky situations.

4. Advocate for the Dogs

We also make sure to advocate for our office dogs when new people come to visit. For example, in the Axaeco offices, Kyoko will happily welcome everyone, while Sokka is slightly nervous around some men. In his case, we keep Sokka on a leash at the opposite end of the open space so he can observe from a distance. We also have a separate room where he can relax with a treat during meetings if need be!

We also decided to invest in small signs that can be attached to a dog’s collar or harness which are instantly understandable. So Sokka’s sign has a hand with a line through it to show that he doesn’t like to be petted. Office dogs can be a wonderful experience for everyone involved, but their needs and preferences as individuals in their own right have to be respected.

5. Continuous Training

We keep treats available to reinforce good behaviour at work: such as calmness, no jumping up at visitors and sitting and staying in their place when needed. These behaviours are regularly practised but not necessarily strictly enforced as we have the physical space to accommodate different canine and human needs.

It should be remembered that participating in office life offers great socialization for some dogs, but for others it can be too stimulating or overwhelming. If the office environment becomes too much for the dog, it’s best to leave the dog at home until they can safely and happily enjoy the experience.

Challenges to Consider When Bringing Dogs to the Office

Despite the numerous benefits of welcoming dogs into the office, businesses need also to bear in mind certain potential challenges:

1. Employee Concerns

Some employees might feel that having dogs in the office is unprofessional, unclean or unsafe and it’s important to consider everyone’s feelings and opinions. While in many cases it’s possible to find a compromise, maybe by reconfiguring the office space, it’s essential that employees have the final say when it comes to their comfort in the workplace.

2. Managing Multiple Dogs

Another challenge is the number of dogs. Having too many dogs can become unmanageable, especially in the beginning when they are unfamiliar with one another. Potential solutions could be creating a rota system to limit the number of dogs in the office at any one time, organizing the workspace to provide separate areas for each dog, or giving employees the opportunity to walk their dogs together to help them get used to each other.

3. Cleanliness and Hygiene

One key concern when introducing dogs at the office is the amount of extra cleaning involved. If your cleaning services are outsourced, you may need to consider the additional cost of increasing cleaning hours.

4. Ensuring Proper Training and Health

Finally, there needs to be mutual trust and respect between management and employees:  dogs should be parasite-free and have basic training, such as potty training and the ability to relax in new environments. Management can choose to establish specific guidelines, especially for bigger companies, but employees also have a responsibility to apply critical thinking regarding their dog’s behaviours and physical condition before deciding to bring them to the office.

Conclusion

Office dogs can be a fantastic addition to any workplace, boosting employee satisfaction, improving relationships, and even aiding productivity. However, careful planning and consideration are necessary to create a safe, comfortable environment for employees and dogs alike. With some dedication and commitment from all parties, office dogs can truly make work a more enjoyable and productive experience for everyone.