Kurgo, a Massachusetts-based startup that makes dog travel gear and accessories, has recently gone viral thanks to its innovative dog friendly workplace for company policies. Every Kurgo employee is allowed to bring their dog to work, and the workplace is specifically designed to accommodate their 4-legged friends.

The offices have numerous dog-friendly amenities including a low water fountain, fake grass, indoor play areas, toy baskets, easy-clean floors, chairs at dog-petting height, a dog-biscuit-stocked kitchen and even a dog slide.

Employees can walk their dogs at lunch time, and no one has to worry about their pet being left alone at home. Kurgo co-founder Kitter Spater has noticed great benefits from making his office space dog-friendly, and he hopes the practice will catch on – check out Spater’s hashtag #dogsallowed on Instagram to see other businesses that are opening their doors to canine friends.  

Why Should You Consider Making Your Workplace Furry-Friendly?

Because studies show that employees who are allowed to bring their pets to work experience lower stress levels, higher levels of job satisfaction, increased productivity, higher morale and increased co-worker cooperation. According to Spater, “the office dogs help us to be more collaborative and focused…

But probably the most important benefit of being a dog-friendly office is the levity and humour they bring. It’s hard to be stressed or take things too seriously with dogs running around and snoring under your desk.” Other pet-friendly companies out there include Google (their Sydney office has a resident pet parrot!), Ben & Jerry’s, Amazon and Klutz.

Things To Consider Before You Open Your Doors To The Wider Animal Community

Before you jump on the #dogsallowed (or the more general #petsallowed) bandwagon, it is important that you lay down the ground rules and prepare your workplace in advance. Before letting pets into your workplace, you need to:

  • Chat to your employees and see how they feel about having pets wandering around the office!
  • Make sure that you have a ‘pet-free’ zone for employees who are allergic to, or uncomfortable around, pets
  • Define acceptable and unacceptable pet behaviour
  • Define which pets are allowed
  • Provide basic pet necessities including water, snacks and waste solutions (i.e. self-cleaning litter boxes)
  • Make sure that you abide by any legal regulations that apply to your state or country

If you have a soft spot for pets and would like to see you employees performing at their best, making the dogs allowed transition might be worth it! What do you think? Would you like a dog friendly workplace?