Most coworking establishments have their own, unique personalities and many of these benefit from being “dog-friendly”.

45% to 60% of remote workers own dogs. 75% of them prefer staying home with their pets over commuting to the office. In addition, 47% of employees now view pet-friendly benefits as a high priority when choosing where to work. 

Quantifying how allowing dogs (or pets in general) enhances your community is certainly not precise, but we have a significant number of members who would not be in our spaces if we didn’t welcome their dogs.

It’s a calculation each coworking space needs to make. Are there more potential members out there who have dogs they’d like to bring to work than there are members and potential members that, for some reason, cannot work around dogs? You probably already have a pretty good idea where on the spectrum your spaces fall.

9 Guidelines for Creating a Dog-friendly Coworking Space

A dog-friendly coworking space can’t be a free-for-all with dogs running everywhere. Coworking space operators need to set clear expectations with dog owners. Here are some basic guidelines:‍

1. The dog has to get along with other dogs and people

No one wants an aggressive dog in a coworking space.

2. The dog must be clean and potty trained

This one speaks for itself. Smelly, messy dogs are a no-go.

3. No barking in the coworking space

For a member trying to concentrate, in a meeting with a client, or on an important call, the sound of a dog barking in the background is definitely not going to work.

4. Dogs can’t be left in the space unattended

Dogs are expected to be with their owners—not allowed to roam freely in the space, and not left in the space while the owner is off-site. As one Community Manager said, “Dogs belong with their member; they need to be inseparable in the space.”

5. Make sure everyone feels safe

Some people are afraid of dogs. Avoid putting anyone in an uncomfortable situation. If you have members who are afraid of dogs, require that dogs in the coworking space are on-leash at all times, unless they’re in a private office.

6. Provide water bowls for dogs

Members will likely bring their own bowls, but having a bowl in the space signals that it’s a dog-friendly environment and helps keep the resident pups hydrated.

7. Require members to clean up after their dog

If an area is marked, it’s more likely that even a well-trained dog will mark on it again. Have a no-marking spray handy, in case of an accident. If the accident requires additional cleaning by the cleaning crew, the member is charged accordingly.

8. Provide doggy treats

Many Community Managers keep doggy treats at the front desk. When a dog arrives, they are made to feel welcome. It does wonders for sales to their owners, too!‍

9. Put it in Writing‍

‍Be sure your dog policies are in writing. Go over them with a new member during your new member orientation. When you’re running a comfortable, membership-driven space, it is so important to make expectations clear, concise and understood.

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Note

Dog-friendly coworking spaces aren’t for everyone. Some people would just rather not be around dogs. You may limit your clientele by having a dog-friendly space. but it has seldom been an issue. One Center Manager we interviewed said:

A dog-friendly space might turn away a small percentage of potential members, but the amount of people it helps retain vastly outweighs any negative impact.