Dog-friendly offices allow employees to bring their pets to work. The trend has become particularly popular since the COVID-19 pandemic, when many people turned to pets for companionship. Now that many workers are returning to the office, some are even taking their furry friends with them.
A dog-friendly office policy can benefit the workplace as a whole, improving team morale, reducing stress, and increasing productivity and engagement. Considering the Rover study, it can even attract new recruits.
If you’re considering welcoming dogs to your office, this guide will explain everything you need to know. We’ll walk you through the key considerations and steps to creating a well-balanced, dog-friendly office policy.
Before introducing a dog-friendly policy, ensure your office environment accommodates dogs. Here are the main factors to consider:
If you rent or lease a commercial office, you’ll need to check with the landlord or property manager whether dogs are allowed.
Do you have enough office space for dogs to move freely and comfortably? There should be plenty of room to walk around, play, eat, and take a well-deserved nap during the day.
Remember that there’ll probably be a mixture of breeds, so your workplace needs to accommodate dogs of all sizes.
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You should also assess the surrounding area. Just like humans, dogs need regular exercise and bathroom breaks, so ensure they have convenient access to outdoor spaces while at the office.
It’s also helpful to have supermarkets nearby so owners can quickly and easily buy dog food, treats, and other essentials if needed.
Not everyone is comfortable around dogs. So, before proceeding with a dog-friendly office policy, you should communicate openly with your teams and ensure they support the idea. You should also find out if anyone has any dog allergies or phobias.
Keep in mind that you can’t please everyone. The aim is to create a balanced and respectful policy that accommodates all employees, regardless of whether they’re dog owners.
Next, set the ground rules for your dog-friendly office policy. These will ensure a safe and functional space for both staff and pets.
The policy should be fair and, therefore, open to all employees. However, you may wish to apply restrictions on factors like dog size or behaviour.
For instance, it’s reasonable only to allow house-trained dogs at work. Otherwise, poorly behaved dogs could distract staff, diminish productivity, and damage office property.
All dog owners should provide proof of vaccination and flea treatment. This will ensure that the dogs visiting the office are free from contagious illnesses that could otherwise spread to other dogs, employees, and employees’ homes.
To keep on top of health and safety rules, it’s best to ask dog owners to provide an up-to-date health history for their pets every year.
You may also want to establish supervision rules. Consider whether there are any situations where dogs must be on a leash or supervised by their owner. Perhaps when you have external visitors or when there are lots of dogs in the office at the same time.
Additionally, identify any office zones where dogs are prohibited, such as kitchens, meeting rooms, or areas with expensive equipment.
It’s a good idea to label prohibited areas. For instance, if dogs aren’t allowed in meeting rooms, simply place a ‘pet-free zone’ sticker on the door. This will remove any confusion about where dogs can and can’t go and make it easy for everyone, including new joiners, to identify restricted areas when they bring their pets to work.
Likewise, specify where employees can socialise with dogs, such as communal spaces, desks, or private outdoor areas.
Create explicit rules around owners’ responsibilities. Employees who bring their dogs to work should understand that they are always responsible for their behaviour and well-being.
This includes tidying up after them, ensuring they keep away from pet-free zones, ensuring they don’t disturb others, and that they're safe and cared for while in the office.
Finally, a dog-friendly office policy should include a complaints process to ensure all employees feel safe and comfortable at work. This will give people clear instructions on how to raise any issues or concerns they might have about dogs in the workplace.
Depending on the problem, it might be best for the employee to speak to the owner in the first instance. The next stage could be to contact HR before filing a formal complaint. Define the individual steps and assign a point of contact who can handle complaints and answer employee queries.
The next step is to adjust the office and ensure safety and comfort for staff and dogs. Start by preparing dog-friendly areas with pet beds, water bowls, and waste disposal facilities. You may also want to have dog treats and toys to hand.
If any parts of the office are unsafe for dogs, you will need to pet-proof them. Remove hazardous items, secure loose cables, and install pet gates if needed.
Remember that you’re preparing the office for staff and clients, too. So, supply cleaning materials like anti-bacterial wipes and surface sprays to maintain a clean and sanitary environment.
Additionally, it’s worth considering pet business insurance. This covers essentials like:
· Public liability
· Accidents and injuries
· Office equipment
· Legal expenses
Pet owners should have personal policies for their pets, but in the event of damages or accidents in the office, your property and employees may not be protected. Pet business insurance protects your employees, their pets, and any guests visiting your workplace with their dogs.
Lastly, you may want to provide staff training sessions in preparation for a dog-friendly office policy. This is an excellent opportunity to educate your teams on best practices for a pet-friendly workplace and ensure everyone feels confident about working with dogs.
Before implementing a dog-friendly office policy, do a trial run to identify and solve potential issues. A day or two should be plenty for a thorough trial, although you may want to dedicate more time to this if you have larger teams or a mixture of remote and office-based employees who attend the office on different days.
Be sure to announce the trial to staff beforehand and maintain open communication. Ask everyone (including non-dog owners) for feedback during and after the trial to fine-tune the permanent dog-friendly office policy and ensure all employees and pets are happy with the setup.
The final step is to formally enforce the dog-friendly office policy. It should be in written format and distributed to all employees through multiple channels, such as by email or your company intranet.
Then, store it in a central and easily accessible location for employees to refer to at any time.
Remember to regularly revisit and update the policy to action feedback and ensure a positive experience for employees and their pets.
So, why should you consider introducing a dog-friendly office policy? Let’s explore some of the most significant benefits for employees and employers.
Pets in the workplace are an excellent mood and energy booster. Employees can enjoy some playtime, take dogs out for a walk, or simply reward them with a treat to take a brief break from work and re-energise. These are all simple but effective ways to foster a happy and productive team.
A Ciphr survey asked 1,238 UK adults about their stress levels, and over 70% identified at least one source of stress at work.
Work, in general, was the biggest overall cause of stress for 40% of respondents. When asked for specific contributors, 35% said they struggle with high workload pressures.
Stress is a prevalent issue for many, and you might be surprised how much dogs in the workplace can help. Research has shown that quality time with pets helps reduce cortisol, the stress hormone. Simply being around them, petting them, and talking to them can significantly reduce stress, anxiety, and burnout.
You don’t often find people who don’t like dogs. In the workplace, they can help employees find common ground, serve as a conversation piece or ice breaker, and make it easier for people to get to know each other. Long-term, this creates strong, confident teams.
Job seekers are no longer just looking at salaries when searching for a new role. They consider the broader perks and benefits, including dog-friendly office policies. In some cases, their absence is even a deal-breaker.
A recent survey by the pet-sitting platform Rover discovered that nearly half (47%) of dog owners expect dog-friendly policies as standard. 20% said they’d even turn down a dream job if it couldn’t accommodate their pet.
Therefore, pet-friendly workplaces can benefit from a larger pool of candidates and gain a competitive advantage when recruiting.
Dogs in the office can make an enormous difference to clients and customers visiting your office. They can boost your brand image, make a lasting first impression, and create a positive experience.
This is something we know first-hand at 71-75. We asked one of our tenants, Divine Cresswell, how she feels about our serviced offices being dog-friendly. She said:
“I love that our office is dog-friendly—it makes the whole place feel more relaxed and fun! Having dogs around lifts everyone’s mood, helps reduce stress, and gets people chatting. It just creates a really warm and welcoming vibe. Plus, having the option to bring my own dog in means I don’t have to worry about leaving him at home, which makes everyone happy!”
A dog-friendly office policy can foster a happier and healthier company culture. Pets are well-known to increase positivity and encourage team bonding and productivity. They can even reduce staff turnover and strengthen your brand image.
Are you considering making your office dog-friendly? Simply follow the steps outlined above to implement a balanced and effective policy.
Alternatively, give a dog-friendly office a try here at 71-75. Choose between our modern serviced offices or fully equipped meeting rooms and enjoy the benefits of bringing your beloved pooch to work. Book a tour to see how our dog-friendly spaces work, or contact our team on 0203 148 8770.
