Pups of PR – the industry’s secret weapon
For Bring Your Dog To Work Day (23 June 2017) we asked the PR community to send us pictures of their office pups.
It’s certainly been a wonderful week for my inbox as cute pup pics rolled in – who’d have known there were so many dogs in the industry!
Our four-legged friends are great for helping us to de-stress, breaking the ice during meetings and forcing us to get out of the office into the sunshine – no matter how busy we are.
Many of the dogs having their own Instagram pages and PRs have got creative by starring their pooches in promotional materials and client videos.
Here are 54 dogs (and 2 cats) from the big agencies through to small in-house PR teams across the UK.
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Company name: The Cult PR
Pup: Duke
Matt says “The best thing about having a dog in the office is that his ridiculous face, never-ending energy and quest for sausages doesn’t change, whether we’re in the middle of a client meeting, enduring the hell of end-of-month reports or VAT returns, or if we’re just hungover or knackered after a big event the night before. And, we also confess to having tactically taken him to new business pitches, because he has perfected the ‘hire us’ face that always seems to seal the deal. I’m fairly sure that most people at The Cult took the job here because they met Duke (he’s central to our recruitment process and attends every interview), and makes our social feeds at least 90% more interesting, so I’m not sure where we’d be without him…”
Charli says “He de-stresses the office, is an ace ice breaker in meetings, makes us laugh… but is rubbish on email. We’ve even used him on a few campaigns – most recently, he chased a giant T-Rex for a promotional video for Jurassic Kingdom.”
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Company name: Essential Communications
Pups and Mog: Bert (left), Kato (top) and *CAT ALERT* Smokey
Sam says “I’m a firm believer that every agency should have an office pet as they make us laugh when they do silly things, like to be cuddled which helps reduce stress and create a more relaxed vibe to what is often a very hectic environment. We have an office dog called Kato (a Doberman) and an office cat called Smokey, both of whom belong to me. Kato comes in every day with me and my team love having him around. He greets everyone in the morning, checks out their bags for sandwiches and then lies on his bed and sleeps until lunchtime when it’s time for walkies and another mooch around the team. Smokey doesn’t come in daily but when she does she likes to check everyone out and then decides which lap she’d like to sit on. Kato is a part of our team and shows his face on social media, features in our newsletters and has even been the focal point for our Christmas cards. I also encourage the team to bring their dogs into the office and we get regular visits from Bert the Corgie, who belongs to Mike, our Head of Digital and we’re hoping to get a visit from Bastien the sausage dog who belongs to James, our PR Account Manager, but we’re still trying to work out the best way to get him here as James has to travel right across London on the train and tube to get to us. We’re thinking a doggie rucksack might do the trick!”
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Company name: Skout PR
Pup: Stanley
Katherine says “The best part of having a dog in the office is always receiving a friendly welcome even on a Monday morning.”
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Company name: PR Agency One
Pup: Hugo
Hannah says “He boosts morale in the PR Agency One office and everyone loves having him around. He’s my dog but have been bringing him in to work since he was a baby, so he’s truly part of our PR family.”
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Company name: Sunny Bird PR
Pup: Louis
Lizzie says “We love Louis so much we added him to our Who We Are page on the website! We love having Louis in the office as he makes friends with clients’ dogs when they come in to visit for meetings (the clients not the dogs)”
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Company name: atom42
Pup: Arla
Kate says “I love having Arla in the office as it gives me a reason to make sure I get away from my desk every lunchtime for a walk in the park. It’s also a great stress buster to give her a cuddle after a tough meeting or tricky bit of analysis. She loves having forty friends she can pester for cuddles.”
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Company name: Clarity PR
Pups: Ainsley (left) and Bowery
Ashley says “Bowery is a 6 year old Boston Terrier who keeps Clarity’s New York office in stitches. It’s impossible not to giggle with this girl around, especially when she’s grunting like a little piglet or fast asleep snoring deeply! Clients love seeing Bowery too, and are always excited when she’s there to host their video chats. Having her around can also help break the ice with new or reserved clients.
The newest addition to the Clari-family is 14 week-old Miniature Schnauzer Ainsley, who has started visiting the London office to meet the team and bring smiles all around. While Ainsley is still new to the team, everyone is very excited to have her around more often to share cuddles, playtime and just bring a generally adorable and calming presence into the office. She brings a vibrancy with her and is a great boost to morale.
Got 5 minutes? Play with a puppy!”
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Company name: This Is Publicity
Pup: Worley
Jasmin says “Our office dog is a one-year old French Bulldog, Worley. We love taking her to client meetings, especially in London as there are so many dog-lovers in the city who can’t commit to getting one of their own and so really look forward to us bringing her in. She acts as a real ice-breaker and immediately puts everyone at ease. On a daily basis, just having her around while we work is great for wellbeing and reducing stress, plus needing to take her out for a walk forces us outside in the fresh air which helps boost concentration.”
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Company name: ADPR
Pups: Luna (front) and Chester
Zak says “They are great company! Although they don’t say much, it’s very therapeutic to have a cuddle every now and again, and dogs just make a stressful day seem not-so-stressful really, don’t they?”
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Company name: Sapphires Model Management
Pup: Lady Dolly
Neely says “We have my dog Lady Dolly at the agency every day and she is an integral part of the company. She is so popular with the models and she is always appearing on their social media which is great for me. My Little Lady Dolly is also occasionally used for test shoots. She has appeared in a short film and is known as our official mascot. She has even been to one or two meetings at clients premises.”
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Company name: Travel PR
Pup: Buddy
Mischa says “Buddy is fully-grown (2 years old) and weighs 3 kilos. My favourite part of having him in the office is how he sleeps on my shoulder whilst I’m working.”
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Company name: Bio-Synergy
Pup: Leo
Daniel says “Leo has been working since he was 10 weeks old, now 3 years.”
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Company name: Spotty Dog Communications
Pups: Zac (left) and Nelson
Jo says “Our dogs are definitely part of the team as they put a smile on our faces every day and give us a chance to stretch our legs whilst we brainstorm creative ideas at lunchtime. Zac and Nelson are also paw-some product testers for some of our clients and they love coming to work to see the Spotty pack because it means there are more laps for them to sit on, and we enjoy it because we get to play fetch and tug-of-war in the office!”
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Company name: Smoking Gun PR
Pup: Fudge
Jess says “We have an office dog called Fudge who is just the sweetest little Yorkshire Terrier – see the heart-melting p-roof.”
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Company name: Big Bark PR
Pup: Milu
Alex says “No matter how stressful your day might be he always has a smiling face and waggy tail. He spends much time upside down waiting for his tummy to be stroked, we have yet to teach him to answer the phone, but he can detect a courier delivery long before they’ve reached the door.”
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Company name: Magenta Associates
Pup: Kipper
Xenia says “Despite occasional moments of madness (alerting us to the postman’s arrival), Kipper is a calming and positive influence in the Magenta office. She gives us a great excuse to take a break from the screen every now and then, whether it is for a spot of fetch, a belly rub, or a walk outside. Visitors love her and she always gives them a very warm welcome!”
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Company name: Jori White PR
Pups: Kip (left) and Rocket
Suzy says “We love having our fur babies in the office as it is therapy when stressed and they love to brainstorm creative ideas with us, dig deep into the bins every lunchtime and occasionally file newspapers for us (rip them apart!).”
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Company name: Liz Lean PR
Pup: Bryher
Alice says “We love Bryher! Our favourite part of having an office dog is we get to walk her sometimes in our lunch breaks along the beach which helps us balance our busy PR schedule with a bit of mindfulness.”
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Company name: Kindred Agency
Pup: Batman
Ellie says “He is an 18 month old Frenchie, and our Director of Cuddles at the agency. He is a frequent fixture on the Kindred Instagram – chairing meetings, attending pitches and wearing festive outfits. He’s massively hyperactive, and seems to believe that the giant exercise balls favoured by our health-conscious colleagues are all his personal play things – which has led to quite a few close shaves as he crashes them into our photocopier!”
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Company name: JAMpr
Pup: Maurice
Jaime says “We’re a small team at JAM so it’s a really fast-paced, hard-working environment. Maurice, our office Frenchie, helps to ease any stress and tension. He brings a welcome distraction when you’re stuck staring at a problem or have writer’s block. Our clients love Maurice. He’s a great talking point, especially when it comes to new business meetings. Plus he’s so calm and friendly that everybody who meets him falls in love with him. He helps out with the recycling – he loves to crush any cardboard boxes that come into the office. He’s also a big fan of litter picking on his lunch break.”
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Company name: Furniture Choice
Pup: Elvis
Becky says “Elvis the border terrier has been working here at Furniture Choice since 2008. It’s great having him here in the office, he’s so friendly and makes everyone smile. He even takes a few calls when we’re extra busy.”
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Company name: Falcon PR
Pup: Pip
Aby says “I work from home so he’s the perfect colleague, always in a good mood, full of energy, never late and totally trustworthy (though he does tend to hog the biccies)”
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Company name: ING
Pup: Iggy
Leanne says “Iggy is an icebreaker for visitors to the office; you’ll often see clients or journalists pause and instinctively bend down to greet her. She’s also a relaxing presence for the team. It’s a fast paced environment and so being able to take time out to give her a pat or play can make a big difference to the day.”
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Company name: Glass Digital
Pups: Lucy (front) and Rocky
Jonathan says “Research shows that pets can help people destress, so having one around the office can do wonders for morale and productivity”
Melissa says “Having dogs in the office makes you smile. Rocky always walks up with a wag in his tail to welcome you into the office and Lucy is always up for a cuddle.”
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Company name: Nobull
Pup: Monty
Liz says “Best part of having Monty is his laid back vibe even when we’re all frantic. He likes to lay upside down in the middle of the room during his visits.”
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Company name: Heady Communications
Pup: Charlie
Sue says “Charlie has taught me patience – a six-month old rescue when I got him, he had a few behavioural issues that have only been overcome over some time… and with a lot of patience! Always a useful skill in the work place! He gets me away from my desk several times a day for walks – a great way to give my eyes a rest from the computer screen & switch off for a few minutes or more.”
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Company name: Energy PR
Pup: Teal
Verity says “Teal comes into Energy PR HQ every Friday. We all love having her around, she’s quite a calming influence and spends most of the day snoozing underneath people’s desks – or on the sofa. She’s great at letting us know when the postman’s arrived and she’s usually quite vocal on conference calls.”
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Company name: Hornby Whitefoot PR
Pups: Piglet (left) Pugsley (middle) and Sherlock Bones
Kimberley says “The dogs have been part of the team for seven years and have even joined in a few meetings (or mainly snored throughout them) which has helped us to gain a handful of pet clients over the years! The best bit of having them working alongside us would be the fact that no matter how hectic your day might be, or how stressful things get, you can also look to them for a reminder that not everything is awful! Guaranteed to put a smile on your face!”
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Company name: TopLine Comms
Pup: Devon
Tom says “Clients love being greeted by her when they arrive at the office – makes a good talking point and ice breaker for new prospects too. We use her in our marketing materials for this reason. Our dog is a de-stress method for the team We tend to attract animal-lovers to work for us, which is a good thing – so acts as a sort of screening method for new candidates. And a good way for screening potential new clients. When you spill your lunch on the floor you don’t have to clean it up. People get to take her for walks during their lunch breaks which is fun (and provides us with endless anecdotes of cheeky behaviour)”
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Company name: Fourth Day PR
Pup: Tess
Sapphire says “We love having Tess with us at Fourth Day because she provides just the right mix of entertainment and cuddles – the office is certainly a quieter when she’s not here! She’s also great at getting the Fourth Day team up, out and moving. With a lunchtime walk necessary for her to say hello to all her doggy pals in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, who are we to get in the way of her social schedule?”
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Company name: Kiss Communications
Pup: Ralph
Alex says “The best part of having Ralph in the office is that although he is usually inquisitive and lively, giving us all a nice distraction from work, he can also be a stern taskmaster and whip us into shape when necessary. He’s on Instagram so it’s a bit like having a celebrity in our midst…”
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Company name: W Communications
Pup: Harley
Sophie says “Harley is W’s very own CMO, chief moral officer. He keeps the teams’ spirits high and motivated through the workday. Honestly, how could anyone resist that face?!”
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Company name: AxiCom
Pup: Cooper
Laura says “My dog Cooper ‘Coops’ is now an important part of AxiCom life. I think it’s safe to say that everyone’s favourite part about having him here is that he instantly makes people smile and creates a really relaxed vibe in the office.”
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Company name: Cobb PR
Pup: Maisie Coob
Victoria says “Maisie Cobb is our resident Head of Security at Cobb HQ. Not only is she the friendliest receptionist we could have, she also ensures that we get regular fresh air and exercise as we take it in turns to walk her at lunchtime!”
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Company name: KOR Communications
Pups: Pip (left) and Buster
Arianne says “Our office newshounds are the official welcoming committee at KOR Communications HQ! They’re in our office almost every day and we love having them here, making sure the office is a great place to work or visit.”
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Company name: Browser Media
Pup: Ruby
Victoria says “Ruby is a Hungarian Vizsla with a wonderful personality. And not only is she absolutely adorable, she’s also a great source of entertainment. We love having her here because she makes us laugh, particularly when she does her rolling about on the floor routine before she is taken out for her walks.”
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Company name: Mobas
Pup: Charlie
Nicola says “he is so well behaved until the moment there is any food left around.
Our favourite part of having a dog in the office is that he always appreciates a cuddle.”
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Company name: The Blurt Foundation
Pup: Winston
Jayne says “Winston is the muse for some of the prints in our shop.
My favourite part of having a dog in the office is that he keeps my feet warm in the Winter and alerts me of any deliveries (I’m deaf in one ear and so that’s super useful!).”
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Company name: Stefania Evans
Pup: Barnaby
Stefania says “I am glad to introduce you to Barnaby my best ever work colleague. We never argue, he snoozes while I do the hard work, doesn’t expect me to bring him coffee and generally keeps quiet, apart from barking at the occasional visitor while I am on the phone.”
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Company name: Heaven Publicity
Pup: Arthur
Rosie says “Our favourite part of having Arthur in the office is the fact he makes us leave our desks at lunchtime and have a decent walk – which is wonderful when the sun’s out!”
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Company name: Midnight Communications
Pup: Vince
Flo says “Having Vince around is a great stress reliever – he’s a little cutie pie that brightens up our day! He belongs to our MD, Caraline Brown.
He’s also an official member of the team”
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Company name: Splendid Communications
Pups: Poppy (left) and Crumble
Laura says “Having an office dog is great for improving morale, encouraging breaks and giving us an excuse to exercise. Though ultimately, the best part of having TWO office dogs is watching them greet each other every morning as if they’ve not seen each other in about 10 years.”
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Company name: KIS Finance
Pup: Lottie
Alan says “Lottie will be 6 in September and can’t remember when she last missed a day at work. She is no trouble at all, spends most of the day watching what is going on or sleeping. She just loves being with us.”
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Company name: Stone Junction
Pup: Georgie
Kirsty says “Our favourite thing about having Georgie as part of the Stone Junction family is how cool he makes us look. He’s also starred in a couple of videos for our clients!”
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Company name: Andrea Sexton PR
Mog: *CAT ALERT* Binky
Andrea says “We have an office cat – Binky! So relaxing, especially nice on your lap when you are writing.”
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