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People are happier and work harder when there’s a dog in the office

Three scientific studies prove the benefits of office dogs.

The humble canine has long been considered ‘man’s best friend’, and it appears science has proven that dogs not only provide unconditional love and loyalty for their owners, but they can also reduce stress and make people more productive at work.

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A recent study conducted by the Virginia Commonwealth University found that people who bring their dogs to work had higher levels of job satisfaction and a more positive perception of their employer. The same study also discovered that people who bring their dogs to work experience lower levels of stress throughout the day, and could be more productive than those without dogs by their side.

Another study published by Central Michigan University reports that having a companion dog during work meetings can improve employee emotions, communication and cooperation. Dogs are a social lubricant. When work teams are first formed, it often takes a while for people to get comfortable with each other,” says Central Michigan University psychology professor Stephen Colarelli. “But having a dog in the room seems to put people more at ease.”

“having a dog in the room seems to put people more at ease.” Psychology professor Stephen Colarelli

A third study published in 2017 called Dogs in the Workplace: A Review of the Benefits and Potential Challenges reported that, given the long work hours, increasing job demands and high-stress environments of today’s workforce, dog-friendly work-settings mitigate these stressors and can manifest lower rates of absenteeism, higher work-morale and productivity.

Now, all you have to do is persuade your boss!

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Love dogs, but down own one yourself? Watch the video below to find out how you can dogshare a pet!

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