spottydog communications, an award-winning PR and communications agency in Birmingham, has been named one of Rover’s ‘Best Dog-Friendly Companies of 2021’. 
Rover, the world’s largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers, has awarded the Brum company — which is the only PR agency to feature in the list — a top spot based on a number of factors, including pet-friendly policies, in-office pup amenities, and more.
The clue’s in the name, but having a bring-your-dog-to-work policy is not a new concept to spottydog communications. In fact, four-legged friends have been an integral part of the PR business since its launch in 2010.
Founder and CEO, Rachel Roberts, comments: “spottydog communications was founded over a decade ago with a simple mission: to create job opportunities for talented people, who want to deliver best of breed work. A big part of being able to achieve that mission is creating a vibrant and exciting workplace culture that maximises team engagement, and that’s why our furry friends have been part of our story from day one.
“Being named one of Rover’s Best Dog-Friendly Companies of 2021 is a great accolade for us to hold. Everything we do at spottydog is centred around our people, and we are an agency routed in an agile approach that bends to the demands and needs of a diverse workforce and unleashing our four-legged friends in the office is a huge part of the fun hardworking culture we have built.”
spottydog communications’ commitment to its four-legged friends goes beyond its resident office dogs — it also has an extensive portfolio of pet brands to whom they provide PR and social support. Recently, the agency has provided pro-bono (or should we say ‘pro-bone-o’?!) support to local Midlands charity, Birmingham Dogs Home, helping the organisation to promote its ‘Healing Hearts’ campaign.
Create your own dog-friendly office space
And, now their agency has been officially declared as having the pup factor, spottydog communications is sharing top tips on how to create a dog-friendly office…
Create a dog-friendly space
Businesses will need to kit their office out with pup provisions to get the space canine-ready. This includes having water bowls dotted around the office and plenty of poo bags to hand.
It’s important to set up a dedicated quiet space for dogs, so investing in dog beds and placing them away from the hustle and bustle of the office will allow pups to have some chill-out time.
Stocking up on dog treats and toys is also a nice touch to help keep the pups happy and entertained throughout the day and ease them into meeting new people. When it comes to treats, be sure to check with your colleagues if their dogs have any food sensitivities or allergies prior to giving them out.
Dedicate someone to dog duty
Let’s face it: dogs require lots of care and attention — something which may be difficult to give during a busy workday. While every dog parent should be responsible for their own pup, it can be useful to task an employee with ‘dog duty’ for periods when owners are particularly stacked. This would include ensuring that all the water bowls are filled up, any accidents are cleaned up, and that dogs get taken out for a walk/toileted in case their owners are busy.
If there is a particularly important meeting or call, the person on dog duty can look after the dogs and make sure they don’t cause any disturbance — although we can all agree that a cute pup face can make a meeting so much better!
Take advantage of walkies
Office dogs do wonders for our workplace wellbeing, and one way to make the most of this is to use their daily walks as an opportunity to unwind and refresh. A new initiative at spottydog is encouraging every team member to buddy up with someone and step away from their desk to go on a ‘Walk and Talk’ with their office dog in tow. Whether you’re discussing a work problem, mulling over some creative ideas, or simply fancy a non-work-related chat, scheduling some time for ‘walkies’ is a great way to incorporate dogs seamlessly into your working day.
If you’d like to discover more about spottydog communications, visit here.
To see Rover’s full shortlist, visit here.
