A therapy dog can do wonders for the workplace; boosting employee morale, productivity, improving work relationships and generally helping to create a healthier and happier workforce. 

A main goal of our Workplace Wellness Programs is to enable a connection between employees and the therapy dogs, encouraging staff to take a break from their duties and give their mind and bodies a rest. 

The therapeutic effects of dogs at work 

It’s not just about breaking up the day – there are some amazing therapeutic advantages to dogs in the workplace. Studies have shown that the act of petting an animal lowers the galvanic skin response (an indicator of fear, stress or anxiety) and helps to release the body’s ‘happy hormones’ – dopamine and oxytocin. 

Improving both physical and mental health, Oxytocin reduces stress and blood pressure.  Dopamine is a natural mood booster, helping you to feel positive, happy and comforted. As the stress diminishes, employees can feel a greater sense of productivity. Given their therapeutic effects, therapy dogs can also help employees feel more resilient when dealing with stress and stressful situations.

Therapy dogs can help put employees at ease as they are non-judgemental, they provide a sense of acceptance and can lift the mood with laughter. There are also cognitive advantages to therapy dogs, with the presence of a dog helping to stimulate memory and problem solving in the workplace. A therapy dog will also help a workplace feel warm and less sterile – which can be very beneficial for employees. 

Bringing employees together 

Businesses can spend countless hours and expense on planning and implementing team-building activities that aren’t always successful.  In many cases, staff feel they can’t relate to other team members and have a lack of shared interests. 

Therapy dogs not only positively affect individual employees, they also help to foster deeper connections between employees.  Our Workplace Wellness Program sessions are designed to encourage positive workplace communication. 

Coming together to interact with a dog in the workplace will help generate conversations and connections that might not have normally taken place. People that wouldn’t usually speak to each other will have the opportunity to talk about their dogs or other pets or connect over other shared experiences and stories. 

Social interactions encourage employees to get to know each other a bit better, form friendships and as a result, operate more effectively as a team.

Getting the most out of your therapy dog session 

We want to make sure that all employees get as much out of the experience as possible, which is why we will tailor a program specific to your needs. 

Our Workplace Wellness Programs start by setting employer and employee goals, and creating programs around individual needs and requirements. As part of our risk assessment, we will ask about your employees’ personalities to find out if anyone is worried about dogs. 

With access to different breeds, it is important to pick therapy dogs based on the collective energy of the group itself; and the goals and objectives set. Our gift in personality-matching ensures our clients get the most out of their sessions and program at large. 

If you’d like to work on your employee enrichment please get in touch.