[Infographic] 15 Reasons Why You Should Allow Dogs in the Office

Dogs are the best. Fact.

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Well, okay, opinion is pretty divided on that. But if you’ve ever seen the ability of an unassuming canine to bring a smile to the stressed, to melt the chilliest hearts, or to defuse an awkward social situation, you will at least be aware that there is much to be said for the power of dog.

Also read: 8 Reasons To Make Every Day ‘Bring Your Pet to Work Day’

But for some strange reason, when we leave our homes in the morning to head to our place of work, it has become custom to leave the hound at home and keep the office strictly for bipeds. Why do we insist on making it so difficult to be happy at work?

Indeed, there are plenty of great reasons to bring your dog in with you (once you’ve convinced your boss to raise their pointless embargo). For one thing, bringing your dog to the office rather than leaving it at home is likely to lower your stress levels – as was proven in a study by Virginia Commonwealth University. But it will also lower the stress levels of those colleagues who get to meet your dog, since they are more likely to offer to take a proper break to take pooch for a walk – getting exercise and fresh air instead of coffee and doughnuts.

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Dogs are pack animals and they encourage pack behavior in those who associate with them. A dog in an unsociable office introduces a talking point, and even build levels of trust and professional interaction – this was shown by a study at Central Michigan University.

And on a more general level, many companies are striving to offer their employees better work-life balance, rightly convinced by the idea that this is a healthy thing for individuals and for business. Allowing staff to bring their pooch to work, and to create that more homely, sociable feel in the office, can be good for everyone, and good for the books. All they need is some water, dog food and an occasional scratch on one of your breaks.

Dog people only really need one good reason to bring their pet to work, but if you want to work on convincing someone who’s not quite sure, you might want to check out this new infographic. Packed with scientifically-verified data on why your dog and those of your colleagues should be given pass cards to your building, it’s the first step in the direction of a warmer and, yes, fluffier atmosphere at work.