Benefits and risks of staff-owned dogs in small animal clinics: perspectives of employees that bring their dog to work.

Many veterinary staff are dog owners, and the opportunity to bring their dog to work may influence their choice of workplace. This qualitative study assessed the benefits and risks for employees who bring their dogs to work in small animal clinics and aimed to develop guidelines to maximize benefits and minimize risks. The study explored the perspectives of employees at four small animal clinics in Switzerland who brought their own dogs to work. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using an interview guide informed by an ecological model encompassing individual, social, community, and societal aspects. In total, 29 interviews were conducted across various job roles and analyzed. Perceived benefits were consistent across the four clinics, whereas the associated risks varied according to organizational structures. Common benefits for the dog-owning staff included reduced stress, increased social interaction, and improved work-life balance. Identified risks included added stress due to care demands of the dog, additional cleaning demands, potential disease transmission, distractions, and organizational challenges related to spatial arrangements for staff-owned dogs. These findings informed the development of practical guidelines for managing staff-owned dogs in the workplace. Key recommendations include clear and consistent communication of rules, the provision of suitable spaces, and structured integration of dogs into the workplace. From a dog-owner perspective, the opportunity to bring dogs to work has the potential to be an important contributor to employee well-being in veterinary settings. The implementation of formalized guidelines may help to create a positive environment for staff, staff-owned dogs, and employers.