Dogs are playing a more pivotal role in our everyday lives, with pet ownership on the rise and more support canines appearing in schools, courts and hospitals. Now they’re expanding their territory by taking over offices, with the United States taking the lead in dog-friendly workplaces. Reece Heather has been sniffing around trying to find out if the UK is keeping pace with the trend and living up to its reputation as a nation of dog lovers – and if Brits are bringing more pups to work, what this means for companies, employees and their four-legged co-workers.
[Header image: The office at charity Support Dogs.]
As strange as it is to imagine now, in the late ‘90s, Amazon was run from a single warehouse with less than 20 staff members. Among those employees was a Welsh corgi named Rufus.
Owned by a couple working at the company, Rufus wandered the halls begging workers for treats, attended (and snoozed during) meetings and his paw was pressed onto a keyboard to launch new websites.
His greatest contribution, however, was unleashing Amazon’s ever-growing, dog-friendly work culture. The marketplace giant took the ball and never stopped running in the decades since Rufus' reign, stating in 2024 that it has “more than 10,000 dogs registered to come to work at over 100 Amazon offices across the US and Australia.”
As it turns out, the UK isn’t letting its overseas cousins have all the furry fun. Last year, a survey by The Kennel Club found that 52% of Brits wanted to bring their dogs to work, and 50% were more likely to take a job that allowed dogs in the workplace.
UK dog ownership jumped from 23% in 2020 to 36% in 2024.
Dog-friendly offices may not be a new concept, but they have certainly increased significantly in recent years. A major factor driving this trend was the COVID-19 pandemic, when people in lockdown acquired pets to ease loneliness and take advantage of the increased time spent at home.
According to Statista, UK dog ownership jumped from 23% in 2020 to 36% in 2024. In addition, a 2021 Banfield Pet Hospital survey found that one in two senior managers planned to allow pets in the workplace as staff returned to the office – with 59% doing so due to staff requests.
It has become so popular, in fact, that “dog-friendly” is its own searchable category on Flexa, a job search platform aimed at providing transparency around workplace flexibility.
Flexa CEO Molly Johnson-Jones believes having pets around the office is the perfect antidote to the stress that comes from working life.
“We have a dog-friendly office policy for this reason and my own dog, Gruff, takes full advantage,” she said.
“But we made sure we had the support of the whole team before implementing the policy and made it clear to prospective talent that dogs can be a regular fixture in the office.”
One of Flexa’s members is 15below, a software company specialising in passenger communications for the travel industry. People Advisor Nisha Gee implemented a dog-friendly office when she and her partner were looking to have a dog.
“We were having to think, ‘How can we make this work realistically, financially, where we're both having to go into an office and we can't take the dog? Is it fair on that dog? Do we get a dog walker? What kind of temperament do they need to have? What age to be left that long?’
“As soon as we started having a dog-friendly office, it opened so many more doors for us.”
Nisha described how opening 15below’s doors to dogs also solved similar dilemmas for other employees, and how the office has become a much cheerier place with dogs around.
“They outwardly say that they're feeling much better. It has a positive effect for sure,” she said.
Data suggests that the 15below staff are not alone in having dogs improve their well-being. A study by Nationwide and the Human Animal Bond Research Institute found that 91% of dog-friendly office workers felt their workplace supported their mental well-being, as opposed to 53% in non-pet-friendly settings.
Some companies provide other perks for dog owners, too. Kylie McIntyre is the marketing manager at ProfitAbility, a company which creates business simulations and training programs to help organisations run more efficiently.
As well as allowing dogs on the premises, ProfitAbility also offers “paw-ternity leave,” which is just what it sounds like: parental leave for dog owners.
“The reason why I like it is there's a lot of people that don't have or want children, so they don't benefit from maternity and paternity leave,” Kylie said.
“But for some people, their pets are their family and their dependents. So, it's nice for paw-ternity leave to give them time to settle in a new family member.”
Of course, not everyone working at such places will be comfortable around dogs, whether due to allergies, fears or personal preferences. Since ProfitAbility is also a member of Flexa, it champions flexibility in various ways, ensuring a positive work environment for all workers regardless of their comfort levels with dogs.
“We've had people in the team that don't like dogs, and so people just wouldn't bring their dogs into the office on the days that those team members will be there,” Kylie explained.
“Some people will come in once a week and others maybe four or five times a week. So, it’s just a case of keeping in touch with people.”
As with any company policy, there are guidelines to follow. Danny Anderson, Head of Fundraising at Support Dogs, explained the charity's procedure.
“We have staff undertake an assessment in terms of making sure the dog is healthy, had all its vaccinations done, is up to date with flea and worming treatments, is toilet trained, and it can be relaxed, calm and happy in an office environment,” Danny explained.
“You don't have to know that your dog is going to bite someone; the fact alone that it does makes you guilty of an offence.”
—Steve Foster, expert witness
Nisha described some additional rules for dog owners at 15below.
“They've got to agree that the dog is going to be kept near themselves or watched over by a colleague at all times. Stays off the furniture, tables and chairs,” she said.
“They can't be barky or disruptive. The owner has to come prepared with food, bowls, toys, leads. They must clean up after their dogs if there's any accidents. They should have a plan B in place if the dog's not happy. And the owner is responsible for any damage that's caused.”
There are legal risks to consider, too. For example, the Dangerous Dogs Act is a UK law concerning dog attacks and public safety. Steve Foster, a court-accredited expert in assessing dangerous behaviour in dogs, explained that the act applies in private spaces as well as public, meaning if a dog bites someone in the workplace, the owner may face legal action.
“In a private place, the only time it affects the outcome is if that person is a trespasser,” Steve said.
“The act is written in such a way that the offence is absolute. You don't have to know that your dog is going to bite someone; the fact alone that it does makes you guilty of an offence.”
Staff also need to be very aware that many of the everyday things we use at work can be hazardous or frightening for dogs – many of which we wouldn’t necessarily think about.
Nisha said that 15below has a metal spiral staircase that connects three floors, which dogs are banned from using for their own safety.
“There are gaps through the stairs and dogs could potentially slip through the railings on the side. It's better to use the external stairs.”
Lez Graham is an award-winning author and a member of the Canine and Feline Behaviour Association (CFBA), a prestigious UK organisation comprised of the most professional dog and cat behaviourists in the UK.
She explained that lifts can be scary for dogs who aren’t used to them, as the confined space and unnatural movement may unsettle them.
“They'll see the metal doors close, they'll see their reflection and then there'll be the movement under their feet,” she said.
When training a dog to use a lift, Lez said it is important to introduce them during quieter hours, when they aren’t crammed with people.
“Lure them in with a bit of food, have them walk in, get them to focus on you. You can make a game of it, but don’t make a fuss. Give them a treat for sitting nicely.”
Former police dog handler Gemma Pinkard is another member of the CFBA.
“Dogs don't feel secure on slippery floors – they tend to go up on their toes almost like a cat does,” she said.
Since the majority of dog-friendly workplaces are office based, owners must also be wary of stray cables – it's best to keep water bowls and young dogs (that may chew on them) away.
Gemma stated: “There are so many different things that you need to think of, which is why normally dogs need to go through training."
Environmental training is crucial in helping dogs become adaptive before entering an office. During her time at Hartpury University, Gemma took time to let her emotional support dog familiarise itself with its surroundings by going to campus when no one was around – and advised workers do the same around the office if they can.
Another essential training element is socialisation. CFBA member Sue Gilmore is the founder of Essex Dog Academy and has been working with dogs for over 20 years. She warned about the potential consequences of dogs going to work without being properly socialised.
“A dog might have been used to sitting under the owner's desk at home during lockdown, for instance. And if another dog comes up at work and the dog’s in the same position, it's going to defend its territory nine times out of ten,” she said.
Gemma advised starting socialising a dog while it is still a puppy if possible, but it must at least be done before you even consider bringing your dog into a new environment.
“The dog's got to be comfortable being approached by lots of different people. Some dogs react differently to men, women, and a lot of dogs struggle with kids – because they're very animated and all their movements are quick, they frighten dogs. Sometimes dogs even react differently to different ethnicities.”
Lez also pointed out that socialisation does not amount to simply letting your dog play around with other dogs or people.
“It's about teaching your dog to be comfortable in its own skin around its own species,” she said.
“The best way to socialise a dog is to teach it to ignore everything other than the owner. So, when you go into a work environment, it's not wanting to go and play with all the other dogs.”
Since so many cafes now allow customers to bring their dogs, Lez advised owners take advantage of this as an opportunity to socialise dogs properly – and remember to bring a mat.
“At home, train it to settle down on the mat when you're watching the telly. Then you can just take the mat out with you when you go to a coffee shop, put it down and let your dog settle,” she explained.
“I would pretty much ban anybody from stroking your dog in the coffee shop because people come over and get all excited, and then the dog gets all excited. Then it starts expecting people to come over and stroke it, and you don't want that in a work environment.”
“Sedatives are no answer. Who wants a dog that is doped to the point where their character is gone?"
—Sue Gilmore, dog behaviourist
Regardless of how well trained your dog is, it is always important to be aware of signs of stress when your dog is in the workplace.
Sue said: “There are so many signs that dogs give off when they are in discomfort, yet most people don't notice them: restlessness, panting, drooling. They might be a bit vocal and possibly shaking. Their ears will go back, the tail goes between the legs.
“People go to the vet to get sedatives, but that's no answer. Who wants a dog that is doped to the point where their character is gone? If your dog's energetic by nature, would you want it to be otherwise?”
Lez added that if a dog is walking on a hard surface and leaves paw prints, it's very stressed.
To help keep your dog calm at the office, Gemma recommended exercise before starting your workday with a long walk or a run. She also said that regular breaks are crucial.
It is important to keep your dog occupied during work hours. Gemma and Sue recommended Kong toys, which you can put food in and freeze to keep dogs busy for hours.
Gemma also recommended Pet Remedy products, which come as sprays, diffusers and wipes. These contain ingredients such as Valerian oil, a natural remedy for anxiety, stress and sleep disorders in people and animals.
With so many varying breeds and personalities, many owners may wonder how compatible their dog is with a work environment.
Gemma was cautious about labelling any breed as categorically unsuited for the workplace, emphasising that any dog could potentially thrive with the right training. That said, she acknowledged that some breeds may generally adapt to office environments more naturally than others.
“Labradors are perfect because they're really easy to train, they've got a really nice temperament with people and they're quite happy to curl up in a bed and go to sleep for a couple of hours,” she said.
Lez pointed out a couple of breeds that may prove challenging in an office space.
“Frenchies like to talk to you; they've got this funny, little yodely voice and they can be quite vocal, so from that perspective it might be too distracting,” she said.
“Collies are really hyper; if people are moving around, if there's lights going on and off, then Collies are potentially not great because they are very sensitive to movement.”
Gemma and Sue also stated that high-energy working dogs, such as Malinois, may not be the best choice. Besides breed, Sue added that age can be a factor too; puppies need more exercise, so elderly dogs may adapt more easily.
For some, dogs in the workplace are not only beneficial – they are essential.
Dr Simon Gellar is a lecturer at the University of Kent who, for almost two years, had his German shepherd Wolf accompany him at all of his lectures. The criminology professor suffers from degenerative disc disease, a spine condition that causes him great pain each day.
“When you're talking to students, you have to guide discourse. It's difficult to do that when you're in pain and Wolf has helped me manage that,” he says.
Earlier this year, however, Simon was told that he could no longer bring Wolf on campus. Despite the dog attending classes for almost two years with no issues, the university’s health department suddenly started insisting that Wolf posed a serious threat to people’s safety.
The Equality Act 2010 ensures that individuals with disabilities have the right to access public places and services with their assistance dogs. However, the health department believed that Wolf was not providing a specific service to Simon relative to his condition.
“They didn't see a specific task being performed by Wolf in the environment. So, for example, an assistance dog typically would do something like open doors for people who need them,” he said.
Simon said his situation is both mental and physical, with Wolf’s presence alleviating the stress and anxiety caused by his condition. Stroking his dog is a coping strategy when he is overwhelmed.
“When you're in pain, you constrict and you have to find a way to release that,” he explained.
“They can't conceptualise the idea that something effectively intangible from their perspective can be mitigated through the tactile response of an animal.”
“I can't even begin to tell you from a personal level what my dogs mean to me and the effect they have on my everyday life.”
—Gemma Pinkard, dog behaviourist
Wolf’s absence also upset Simon’s students. Second-year Maddie Sanderson started a petition to reverse the decision, which has gathered over 16,000 signatures.
The change even affected Wolf himself who, until his sudden ban, had been attending university since he was a puppy. He developed several unexpected behaviours, such as barking at a higher pitch and trying to block Simon from leaving for work.
“He's become a bit more destructive,” Simon said.
“When I came back from work, he smashed some stuff up and he chewed stuff out of frustration because it was a break of routine.”
When he’s teaching, Simon still looks around the room for Wolf out of habit, even though he’s not there.
“I don't know what to do without him, really.”
As a victim of post-traumatic stress disorder, Gemma always had an emotional support dog accompanying her during her time studying at Hartpury.
“When I was stressed or didn't feel great, I’d go down to my van between my lessons and I’d let my dogs out,” she said.
For Gemma, letting her dogs run free in the nearby farmlands always gave her a much-needed boost of serotonin (commonly referred to as the “feel-good hormone”).
“It made me feel a lot better. I couldn't have done my degree otherwise,” she said.
“I just don't feel safe around lots of people. Busy areas with lots going on, I can't cope with it. But if I've got my dog, it stops the adrenaline. It takes the edge off, and it makes me feel like I can achieve more because I feel safer.
“I can't even begin to tell you from a personal level what my dogs mean to me and the effect they have on my everyday life. I wouldn’t be able to do anything. I would not be here if I didn't have my dogs.”
While the UK is on the right track with opening more doors to dogs, Gemma believes there is much more work to be done.
“America is way ahead of where we are,” she said.
“It's not big enough in this country. I don't think we do enough to accommodate having dogs in the workplace.”
“Conditions that aren't visible may have solutions that aren't necessarily what we would see as conventional.”
—Dr Simon Gellar, University of Kent professor
Gemma believes that having more research established would raise awareness for employers of all the benefits that dogs can bring to a workplace. She says it would also benefit those who are already practicing dog-friendly policies as it would help educate workers on how to accommodate dogs properly.
“I think there needs to be more consideration. It needs to be more publicised. There needs to be scientific studies done where you could look at dogs going into a different range of environments,” she said.
The UK also does not yet officially recognise emotional support animals. This has been a great barrier for Simon, with his only option of registering Wolf as an assistance dog being denied.
He believes there needs to be more discourse in understanding conditions that that have a stigma attached, and being more open about trying new approaches.
“They manifest in a variety of ways that are beyond the typical way we understand,” Simon said.
“Conditions that aren't visible may have solutions that aren't necessarily what we would see as conventional.”
Despite the challenges ahead, the growth of our dog-friendly culture is already fetching widespread approval. Our cuddly companions are more than just a delightful distraction – they are playing a vital role in enhancing our collective well-being and fostering a more positive workplace culture. They are reducing stress, boosting morale and providing comfort to those navigating physical, mental and emotional challenges.
The idea of bringing dogs to work is much like adopting a dog in the first place: It’s a lot simpler on paper, there are many complications to consider and the preparations may demand lots of time and patience. Yet every loving dog owner will tell you the same thing.
It’s worth it.