This year, National Take your Dog to Work Day will take place on Friday June 20th. The tradition was first established in the UK in 1996, and has been gaining popularity in recent years. Several companies allow well-behaved pets to accompany their owners to work regularly, and at demoMedia we have joined the ranks among Google and Amazon (with regard to their pet policies).

Enter Loki, the demoMedia office dog. Loki, a three and a half year old Bichon Frisé, technically belongs to demoMedia’s founder, Cem, but in the office we all like to think of him as everyone’s pet. He spends the majority of his days during the work week lounging in different corners of the demoMedia office and allowing members of the demoMedia team to coo over him and feed him treats. His presence has proven to significantly lower our general stress levels (as studies have proven pets in the office can). But we have found that he serves another valuable purpose– vetting potential new partnerships.

As an agency, we like to have a friendly earnest relationship with all of our clients, and Loki’s presence helps to set that precedent from the moment they walk in the door. With Loki acting as our unofficial office greeter, he automatically creates a friendly atmosphere for anyone who pays us a visit. We also use him as a way to break the ice during interviews and meetings– his presence helps to cut the tension and formality of a first-time meeting, making people feel more comfortable in our office.

While we have found having an office dog to lift the general mood, there are several concerns that some people might have with bringing a pet along to the workplace. We have an office full of animal lovers and Loki’s small size and temperament are perfect for our office (plus he doesn’t shed and is hypoallergenic). Of course you should clear it with your co-workers before you bring your pet into work with you – but we highly recommend considering it. There are several benefits of bringing your dog to the office in terms of improving health and morale, but also for fostering strong and friendly relationships with people external to your organization. Bottom line: Loki is good for business.