Nearly half (43%) of pet owners believe they should have the same privileges as parents

With January marking the peak season for job hunting, new research from Rover.com, the world’s largest online marketplace for loving pet care, has today revealed that more than a third (37%) of dog owners would refuse a job if it meant they couldn’t bring their pooch into the office.

The findings point to a paw-sitive trend in workplace expectations – with over a quarter (26%) claiming their workplace has become dog-friendly in the last 1-2 years, helping to reduce stress (65%), boost team morale (54%) and improve workplace atmosphere (50%). Going one step further, almost 1 in 4 (23%) said having dogs in the office has made it easier to get to know their colleagues on a more personal level – beating traditional icebreakers like team away days (30%) and company drinks (28%).

The research highlights a wider cultural shift in priorities, with a whopping 47% of owners now expecting dog-friendly policies as standard. And putting hounds over pounds, 29% of would be willing to take a pay cut to ensure their dog is welcomed at work, while 1 in 5 (20%) would even turn down their dream job if it didn’t accommodate for their furry friend.

It’s clear that for many, fur babies are more than just pets, with an astonishing 43% believing that pet owners should have the same privileges as parents. In fact, 17% of dog owners have turned down a job simply because it lacked dog-friendly policies, while 23% said the option to bring their dog to work is a top priority when job hunting—outranking perks like a company gym (6%), paid health care (18%), and a company canteen (10%).

A third (33%) of workplaces currently boast dog-friendly policies, with Coventry (57%) leading the pack. Close on Coventry’s tail is Newcastle (49%) who is also showing its love for workplace pups, followed by Brighton (47%).

Top 10 UK cities with dog-friendly workplaces:
Coventry (57%)
Newcastle (49%)
Brighton (47%)
Oxford (44%)
Leicester (40%)
Cambridge (39%)
Bristol (38%)
Sheffield (38%)
Belfast (36%)
London (37%)

Top 10 breeds that make the best ‘office dogs’:
Golden Retriever (13%)
Labrador Retriever (11%)
Cockapoo (8%)
Cocker Spaniel (6%)
Jack Russell Terrier (5%)
Dachshund (5%)
German Shepherd (5%)
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (5%)
French Bulldog (4%)
Border Collie (4%)

For those who already bring their dogs to work, more than 1 in 4 (27%) have playfully given their pups honorary job titles, with ‘Pawsitivity Maker’, ‘Chief Fun Operator’ and ‘CEO of Happiness and Cuddles’ among the list of examples.

However, while 62% of respondents say they would love to bring their dog into their workplace, over a third (34%) admit they wouldn’t feel comfortable bringing their pup into the office. Among the reasons given, 25% believe their dog would be too excitable, 16% say their dog requires better training, and 13% feel their dog would be too stressed in a busy office environment.

For those unable to bring their pup into the workplace, 35% rely on friends and family, while 36% use pet care services. Shockingly, a further 31% confessed to leaving their dogs alone during their working hours.