The Benefits of Pet-Friendly Workplaces: How to Make Your Office Pet-Friendly

Tip and Tricks for Having Dogs at Work

Some companies celebrate Bring Your Dog to Work Day on the Friday after Father’s Day in June—others celebrate pets at work every day (like Wellness Pet Company!). No matter whether you’re lucky enough to have office dogs (or even cats, fish or hermit crabs) around one day or all the days of the year, it’s important to make every person and pet involved as comfortable as possible.

5 Ways to Create a Pet-Friendly Office

Once you’ve checked on your office pet policy to see what’s fair game in your dog friendly workplace, it’s time to make your friendly dog feel as welcome at work as they would be at home. Here’s a few ways to do that when you bring your dog to work:

1. Establish designated doggy space at your desk to keep workplace pets comfy while you work with a special office dog bed and toys.

2. Set up pet-gated areas specifically for dogs at work to get in some play (ideally group play).

3. Fill up that water cooler! Ensure all the playful office puppies always have access to plenty of fresh water to gather ’round and stay hydrated.

4. Keep your pet-friendly work environment extra pet-friendly with a treasure trove of treats on hand for all those good boys and girls—and to keep them busy when you’re busy with meetings. (Try WHIMZEES^® by Wellness^® Dental Treats, Wellness^® Puppy Bites, Old Mother Hubbard^® by Wellness^® P-Nuttier crunchy biscuits and/or Old Mother Hubbard^® by Wellness^® Wholesome Indulgences!)

5. Make sure office pets have areas to walk, play and take bathroom breaks outside.

Have remote or hybrid members on the team? Their workplace pets may already have all the usual comforts of home, but that doesn’t mean they can’t join in the office pet fun—encourage team members to share photos of their pets at work (some teams even set up an entire Slack thread around it!) and welcome their furry, friendly presence on work video calls as well.

You might also have team members who are allergic or have a phobia of certain pets or breeds, so you’ll want to be mindful of their space and interaction to keep everyone happy and healthy in dog friendly offices.

Unleashing the Benefits of Pets in the Office

More Creativity: Whether on a walk or around the water cooler, having dogs at work can help spark collaboration among team members.

Better Communication: Pets in the workplace also open up more lines of communication in general, increasing social interaction both personally and professionally.

Increased Productivity: Companies that let you bring your dog to work have found that these furry canine co-workers not only boost paw-sitive morale, but also increase the activity and productivity of owners and others who work there.

Less Stress: Office dogs can help reduce stress and anxiety overall, benefitting the team’s mental health and wellbeing on a daily basis.

Increase Workplace Wellbeing With Office Pets

All in all, the benefits of pet-friendly offices make the work day that much better for all—the people, the pets and the bottom line. Being able to bring your dog to work is a perk in the initial recruitment of new team members, as well as their continued satisfaction and retention. And the hard-working pups feel the same way—enjoying the comfort of constant companionship, more exercise breaks throughout the day and reduced stress and anxiety (not to mention the extra snuggles from fellow team members). That makes for a happier, healthier workplace all-around.

From Our Pack to Yours: Wellies’ Recipes for Success When Working in Our Pet-Friendly Offices

“Play pen is a mustttt! WHIMZEES^® for when Sora’s being fussy during a meeting and I need him occupied for a few minutes.”

– Samantha Finneran, Dog Mom to Sora

“Stitch LOVES Old Mother Hubbard^® Puppy Mini treats and Old Mother Hubbard^® Wholesome Indulgences. We’re also obsessed with the Wild One brand! Leash, collar, poop bag and carry kit – All match!

– Franzi Schuster, Dog Mom to Stitch

“I definitely rely on giving Oliver the WHIMZEES^® dental chews to distract him when I am in a meeting! He seems to love them and it takes him a little while to chew them.”

– Miranda Blake, Dog Mom to Oliver