Fish4Dogs discusses how its dog-friendly office policy has helped shape a mutually beneficial company culture for both employees and their pooches...

Demand for pet-friendly workplaces is increasing – over half of workers say they would consider switching jobs if it meant they could bring their pet to the workplace (55%), while 41% of 18 to 24-year-olds are actively looking for pet-friendly policies when job hunting.

But while bringing a dog to the office might sound the ultimate workplace perk, the reality is few employees have access to it. According to The Kennel Club, less than a third of dog owners are able to bring their dog to their workplace.

This isn’t the case for one Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire-based business. Fish4Dogs has been making nutritious fish-based food and treats for more than 15 years. And with the health and welfare of dogs at the heart of its business, the company has always welcomed man’s best friend into the workplace, not only benefitting the dogs, but the people too.

“We’ve noticed that for many people, the dogs bring a welcome relief during the working day,” Sarah Fowler, CEO of Fish4Dogs, commented. “At the very least, they are a reason for people to get out from behind their desks and into the fresh air with the dogs for the necessary ‘comfort breaks’.

“We also find that the dogs create a social opportunity – staff members from different teams walk together, so the dogs break down boundaries between teams effortlessly.”

The office's canine community started small, with two dogs belonging to the company's Finance Director, Lucy and Amber. As the business grew, so did the pack. Today, the Fish4Dogs office can have up to 11 dogs on its premises on any given day, all of whom are expected to be properly toilet trained and well behaved enough to work alongside their human colleagues.

But having a dog-friendly office isn't simply a case of opening the doors and letting the dogs roam free. Fish4Dogs has spent years working out what does (and doesn't) work when dogs and people share a workplace…

Give dogs their own space

Just as employees need somewhere to concentrate, dogs need somewhere they can retreat to when the office gets busy.At Fish4Dogs, every dog has its own bed beside or underneath its owner's desk. These provide a familiar, safe space where the dogs can settle down during the working day. The company has also used baby gates in the past to create a more contained area for individual dogs when needed.

Keep dogs exercised and give them regular breaks

A working day can be a long time for a dog to spend in one place. Owners should regularly take their dogs outside for exercise and toilet breaks, giving dogs the opportunity to get outside, interact and burn off some energy before returning to their beds.

Put it in writing

For businesses considering a dog-friendly policy, employers should set out their expectations from the beginning. A written policy will ensure the responsibility lays at the feet of the owner and avoids any scope for disagreements down the line. It's also an opportunity to establish some basic principles, such as dogs being housebroken and what to do if someone isn’t comfortable with dogs.

Be mindful of unsuitable areas

A dog-friendly office doesn't mean every part of a business needs to be dog-friendly. Safety and hygiene should always be paramount in a workplace, so areas like kitchens, toilets or dangerous areas, such as warehouses, should be out-of-bounds for four-legged friends. It’s also a good idea to establish dog-free zones where employees and visitors who don’t want to interact with office dogs. Afterall, a genuinely successful dog-friendly workplace has to work for everyone, including people who don't own dogs.

Make sure dogs are truly ready for the workplace

More often than not, the workplace is a louder and busier space than at home. So, an office may not be right environment for every dog, and both owners and employers need to acknowledge this and be responsible. That doesn't mean every dog needs to be perfectly behaved, mistakes are going to happen. But placing a highly reactive dog, for example, in a high-stress environmental should never happen, for the wellbeing of other dogs, employees, and that dog itself