The Benefits of Dogs in the Office

by Mark Donaghy

At the start of the pandemic in 2020, expecting to be working from home for a few weeks, we saw this as a great opportunity to get a dog and settle them into our lives. This had been a pipe dream for us for many years and we had been put off by the logistics of how to care for him while my partner and I were both at work all day. Little did we know what we were in for with the pandemic and we would actually be working from home for a couple of years as opposed to a couple of weeks.

In early 2023, following an office refurbishment, and with the confidence that post-pandemic normality was resuming, we decided it was the time to start to a flexible working environment in the office to give staff the option to return to the office.  Along with that came the opportunity to bring a pet with us.

Starting the process slowly, with a couple of half days in the office, Zebo quickly settled into office life and enjoys the added socialisation, as well as the numerous additional treats.

For the office, it has been a great addition and while we are all working very hard managing various projects, an office dog really promotes a calm, relaxed and social working environment and helps to reduce anxiety and stress levels. This is very important particularly within the architecture studio to ensure we can maintain a creative mindset and make good design decisions. This is essential in a time when we have become much more aware of the importance of maintaining good physical and mental wellbeing to avoid becoming burnt out and run down.

A pet-friendly workplace helps improve staff satisfaction, increase work ethic and has a positive and motivating effect. Clients, consultants and contractors who visit the office generally enjoy being welcomed by Zebo, which promotes a positive atmosphere and a great way to start meetings.

 The benefits are not just for the team, as Zebo himself enjoys the variety of either being at home or in the office and helps with his socialisation and stimulation.

Having Princess Street Gardens right on our door step is also a great resource for an easy lunchtime walk for a runaround for Zebo and to clear my head half way thorough our working day. Whilst they do come with responsibilities, the benefit for both pet and owner are numerous and something I would encourage everyone to consider.