Canines, culture and creativity
This is probably the fluffiest article ever on Mumbrella.
Office dogs.
What, if anything, does having a pooch on the premises add to company culture? Does man’s best friend contribute to the creative process? Or do they, much like procurement types, tend to bark at people and shit on everything?
My dog pops in to work from time to time, but only on quiet days where I’m mostly at my desk, he gets very anxious if I’m out of sight for too long. Mostly he just sleeps or hangs out on my lap – the picture of decorum.
The idea of dogs at work is fine so long as they know when to ‘go’ and they don’t frighten or disturb other employees.
But if it’s ok for one is it ok for a dozen dogs to turn up each day? That’s when things start getting difficult – and smelly.
I liked this – ‘Fired: Laurie the pooch’
We have two pooches in the office and can’t live them without them. Moey and Maxi provide great stress relief, light entertainment and loads of laughter. We love them to bits. They even feature on our website!
This is Bessie The Holla Agency Doggo. She’s at the Agency every day & has done for 5 years … everyone loves her 🙂
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=474911419220843&set=a.152812354764086.31547.138123322899656&type=1&theater
Great idea.
Wilson the wonder dog comes into Text100’s offices on a regular basis. He spins around and jumps up and down when I say “lets go to work”. he loves sleeping in the server room (warm….) and adds a smile to everyone’s face when he strutts in. Here’s an article from Wilson and piccie of our chief canince officer on our blog
http://text100sydney.com.au/chief-canine-officer/
At Evergreen we have been dog friendly since day one and they have they own section on the website. We supply pigs ears for our fur family and mention on all job adverts that you must love dogs to get an interview.
http://www.evergreenam.com.au/evergreen-team/
Whilst applauding your article and the benefits of having pets in the workplace, I feel I should point out that RSPCA Qld did not supply a Brisbane radio station with 100 puppies to console staff about to be hit with bad rating figures! We did bring in a number of adult dogs for a lunch get together and this was to promote the benefits of adopting your pet from the RSPCA. Just thought I should clear this up!
I once worked at an agency which purported to being dog friendly – right down to featuring ‘office dogs’ on every page of their website… I never saw one dog in the office in the whole time I worked there! False advertising perhaps?
Love having dogs at work but what do you do when there’s 20+ dog owners who all want to bring their dogs in? If you say yes to one, it’s hard to justify saying no to another. Who decides who’s pup gets precidence? It’s a canine-conumdrum!
I’ve been to a few firms now that have dogs on the premise. They come running up and barking as soon as I entered. It was quite an unpleasant experience to not be able just to walk in and be stuck at a door not moving because these dogs just bark non stop. Each time the person who greeted me at the door told me that the dog doesn’t bite. I told them that that’s what the owner of the dog who bit me said as well.
It may be all cute and quirky to have dogs, but it can be off putting to clients and a distraction to employees. I imagine that at each of these places there are a few workers who probably find it unpleasant but can’t say anything lest they be seen as an animal hater, or worse, someone who isn’t quirky!
Seriously though, what is with having a cat hanging out in the office microwave? There’s no way I’d be putting my 2 min noodles in there for lunch…
Tuffy at New Republique is a little legend… Very fond of an Organic Scone!
At ruby Cha Cha we have Rufus the black staffy as our brand mascot. Originally In The Sydney office he has now moved to the London office.. Kota the Jack Russell fills in for him in Sydney occasionally. Rufus has his own caricature and business card as does Kota. Rufus features heavily in all our branding and adds so many intangible benefits to our brand and work life
Tess – the Ridgy – loves to come to work with me and there is only 2 to 4 people here and she happily sits under my desk most of the day. . . till someone comes out to have a pat or give her a good old scratch.
Get to go for a walk over in Fawkner Park each day too.
Having a dog is def a perk in the office (even if she gets car sick on the way here!!)
What a lovely, feel-good article and pics. More of this please 🙂
This is Ripley, in the process of helping me oversee the tricky final stages of the design process.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/615932_10151261909104328_1506563151_o.jpg