A recent study published by Virginia Commonwealth University found that individuals who work for companies that allow dogs are less stressed. We have seen this first hand over the past 17 years. Companies can benefit from allowing dogs in the workplace as long as a few best practices are respected:

- Employees are more productive. Employees often spend most of their day sitting, and this is the case with our company. A study found that using software to ask employees to take some short breaks to walk around resulted in work being more accurate and in employees being more productive. Dogs are a much better alternative to software since they are a more natural way to remind employees that they need to take a short break and be active. Besides, dogs have a positive effect on the morale of everyone.



- Dogs help everyone be more creative. A workplace where dogs are allowed provides employees with an atmosphere that really feels different and innovative. People will be more likely to challenge themselves to think outside of the box in this kind of atmosphere. Taking frequent breaks to interact with the dogs and be active results in less stress and higher productivity since the human brain needs some frequent breaks in order to come up with more creative solutions. Studies have also found that interacting with pets could reduce depression and cause serotonin to be released in the brain. We have definitely observed this phenomenon at PFL.

The President of the United States gets to bring his dog to work everyday. Barak Obama and his dog Bo (Photo: via whitehouse/flickr)

- Dogs provide everyone with an occasion to interact with each other. Having a dog in the workplace allows everyone to naturally gather around the dog. This helps creates a positive environment and people will be more likely to interact with each other.

- Pets are good for the health and result in fewer sick days. A lot of studies, some of them available on WedMD, have found that being a pet owner has a positive effect on one's health. The American Human Association has found that being around dogs helps reduce cortisol levels, which can be beneficial for individuals who are stressed or depressed. A doctor letter for emotional support animal can mean that a person is entitled to bring their dog to the workplace. 

- Dogs are a great way to reduce stress. Things can get stressful at work and dogs will become a natural source of comfort. It has been our experience that having dogs around the workplace results in higher employee satisfaction and reduces stress.

Companies such as Amazon and Ben and Jerry's have adopted this policy as well. Ever company that has adopted this policy has had a positive experience. It is important to set a few limits to make sure that everyone benefits from allowing dogs in the work place. We do not allow dogs that can display aggressive behaviors or that would be disruptive for any other reasons. Dogs need to be potty trained, shouldn't have fleas or any other contagious health problem. We do not allow dogs that bark continuously. The owner of the dog is responsible for cleaning both inside and outside. We do not let dogs inside of the manufacturing area or in the child care are and do not allow cats at all.

We also require employees to sign a waiver and get apporved by management before bringing their dog to work. We make sure that everyone understand that being around dogs is not something everyone want to experience, since some visitors or employees might suffer from allergies or simply not enjoy being around dogs.

It is possible to create the ideal workplace where employees and dogs can coexist in a positive atmosphere. You should think about adopting this policy to boost morale, reduce stress and create a more innovative atmosphere!