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Dog's Life: Lifestyle
Think your daily commute is extreme? Then you may not have heard about two trips made by chemist, engineer and NASA astronaut Leland Melvin in 2008 and 2009: from Earth to the International Space Station and back. When it was time for his official portrait to be taken at Houston’s Johnson Space Center in 2009, Melvin was determined to have two of his biggest fans in the picture with him: his rescue dogs, Jake and Scout. Since NASA’s a dog-free workplace, getting them into the building required some fancy footwork. Once inside and dressed for the occasion in his orange spacesuit, Melvin was joyfully mobbed by his dogs, the photographer started shooting and the rest is viral history. Later, when asked about the photograph, Melvin said, “They were my boys. … It changed my life having those two dogs.” Read about Melvin’s inspirational career in his new memoir, Chasing Space, available in adult and young readers’ editions.
Culture: DogPatch
Any time Alexandra Horowitz releases a new book is cause for celebration here at Bark. We’ve been fans since her 2009 hit, Inside of a Dog, and have continued to follow her work as she uncovers new insights into our co-pilots’ internal lives and external behaviors.
In addition to teaching psychology, canine cognition and creative non-fiction at Barnard College, Columbia University, she also leads the college’s Dog Cognition Lab.
Her new book, Being a Dog, delves deeply into the primacy of dogs’ sense of smell, and we talk with her about what she found.
Bark: Has anyone studied why some dogs are better at smelling than others —is it genetic or is it drive?
Alexandra Horowitz: Everything I’ve seen points to drive being the major indicator of whether a dog will be good as a detection dog: drive to find the odor, to keep working when frustrated, to get to the reward (like a game with a tug toy) at the episode’s end.
This is not to say that breed is irrelevant: some breeds are naturally more driven to pursue an odor relentlessly, or are driven to do whatever it takes to get a game of toss with a tennis ball. And some dogs—like Bloodhounds and Beagles—have more olfactory cells in their noses and more equipment around their faces (long ears, drooly jowls) to help bring odors up the nose. They may smell odors at lower levels.
Curiously, though, the notion that certain breeds are inevitably better at detection work than others hasn’t been borne out. It’s tradition more than science.
B: I was once told by a woman who handles tracking Coon Hounds that dogs can show a preference for how they scent; talking about the same breed, she said some sniff the ground, while others prefer sniffing the air. Have you observed individual differences in the same breed in your research?
AH: Absolutely. Different dogs have different sniffing tactics; “on the air” or “on the ground” are the two ways dogs try to pursue a scent. Often, though, these are distinguished by task, not by dog—that is, if a dog is tracking a distant (old) scent, on the ground makes more sense; the odor is probably no longer in the air. But a dog trying to locate someone/something who has recently passed by will be air-scenting.
B: Can adult dogs can identify their littermates or their mother by smell?
AH: In theory, this would be trivially easy for dogs. All dogs have their own “signature scents” (as do we, to dogs), so there would be no trouble distinguishing dogs of one’s litter from other dogs. Now, the question of whether an adult dog who has been separated for years from her littermates/family can recognize them is a different question: it’s more about memory than about perceptual ability. Memory is fallible in humans, and it is fallible in dogs. We forget. So it’s quite possible that, even having known one’s family by scent, it would be later forgotten. (But there is also good reason to believe that a trace would remain—that distant memory one cannot quite place.)
B: While you note in your new book that puppies at the Working Dog Center at the University of Pennsylvania aren’t formally trained until a certain age, they do receive some kind of training, right?
AH: Yes, they are being “trained” to some degree: I think Dr. Otto and the Penn Working Dog Center trainers would agree when I say they are being trained to be good general-purpose working dogs. As I describe in my book, I saw dogs being put through their paces in lots of different (what were to them) games: find the missing person, find the hidden scent. They are being exposed to unusual sounds and environments and getting acclimated to them. They are learning the skills of detecting something, working with someone, and loving it. And they do.
B: Do working dogs get nose fatigue— do they reach a point at which they can no longer reliably follow a scent? If so, what do the pros do to work around that?
AH: The phenomenon of the nose no longer noticing an odor—adaptation —happens to us within minutes. Walk into a coffee shop, take in its familiar odors and a few minutes later, you might smell … almost nothing. The receptor cells in the nose that noticed the odor simply stopped responding after continued exposure.
The cells in the dog’s nose work similarly, but any dog employed as a detection dog is doing something different. Because they continue to sniff different areas of the odor “scene,” their noses won’t turn off to the smell. Tracking dogs are also known to simply lift their noses from the ground once in a while and sniff the air, as though to clear their noses.
On the other hand, working dogs certainly get fatigued from too much stimulation and too much exertion. Handlers know their dogs and will read their dogs’ responses to know when they need a break.
B: In the book K9 Scent Training by Resi Gerritsen and Ruud Haak (leading specialists in identification, tracking and detection-dogs), I read that female dogs are better at smelling than males. Did this also come up in your research? Any idea if the same can be said for our species?
AH: Gerritsen and Haak are great resources on detection-dog training and skills. I suspect their assessment comes directly from their own and other trainers’ experience with dogs. I don’t doubt it, though I don’t believe that the question has been formally tested. Interestingly, women are often said to be “better smellers” than men, and research does bear this out (on average, of course).
B: I’m quite curious about the canine visual sense vis-à-vis their olfactory sense, especially for dogs of the sporting breed. When our Wirehaired Pointer is out in the field, she seems to rely primarily on her sense of smell; sometimes a rabbit’s been sitting just a few feet from her, but she doesn’t see it, or even seem to smell it. Is it “I can’t smell it so I don’t see it”?
AH: As with us, dogs’ senses work together. Only for dogs, olfaction takes priority. From that point of view, you can imagine how vision might aid smelling: if a dog detects an odor on the breeze, she can then look up and try to locate, with her eyes, the source of that odor (and then head toward it for closer sniffing!). When I watched the dogs at the Penn Working Dog Center do a “person search” for people hidden in large PVC barrels in a large field, the dogs used vision to guide them while smelling: first, they followed their eyes to head toward the barrels, then followed their noses to identify which one held a person.
A dog who is sniffing in the grass to a hidden ball (or rabbit) that is perfectly “visible” to someone else nearby is simply using olfaction first. By sniffing in the whole area around the hidden object, she creates an on-the-fl y map of where the object is; the closer she gets, the stronger the odor is. Sometimes, dogs rely on that much longer than we would expect before bringing fuller attention to what they see to aid their search.
B: I’m trying to train one of my dogs, Charlie, to find the poop of his housemate Kit while we’re out in the park; he’s actually pretty good at it. I started doing this after I noticed that he likes to pee on her fresh poop, and only on hers. How would you recommend I boost his proficiency level? And why the peeing on it?
AH: “Find poop!” Great game. And lots of dogs would be pretty good at it. Since Charlie started doing this behavior on his own, clearly little shaping was needed. The only task is pairing it with a request (like “find poop”) and making him aware that what he’s doing—which to him is “following that interesting smell”—is something that’s also valuable to you, so he’ll do it whenever you ask. If he’s not doing it reliably, then he doesn’t see its value to you. Better rewards! More reliable rewards! (But you and every good behavior reader know that.) And, taking a cue from working-dog handlers, you could pair an “alert” behavior—sitting, barking and so forth—so that he tells you when he’s found it.
What I learned from Sam Wasser, who trains dogs to find wildlife scat, is that what’s often difficult in training in the field (and you’re always “in the field”!) is to know yourself if the dog has alerted on the right scat. Once they are confident of their dogs’ alert, and don’t accept partial alerts, handlers can reward only for the correct scat.
As for his peeing on the poo, that’s a question I don’t think science has directly tackled. But we know that marking isn’t territorial in dogs; it seems to be information-leaving. It could be that a nice pile of stinky poo is a good place to leave your own mark.
B: Besides enrolling our dogs in nosework classes, what do you recommend that we do to tap into their world of smell and enrich their lives?
AH: Let them smell. If you live with a dog, start thinking about what the world is like from an olfactory point of view. Let them smell you (you are your scent, to your dog), let them smell each other (that’s how they find out who it is), and let them smell the world. Take walks for smelling (not just for peeing, or for exercise). The pleasure that comes from watching a dog snuffling down a path, nose to the ground and nose in the air, guided by nothing more than the filaments of odors that come his way, is to me unmatched.
Culture: Reviews
Run, Spot, Run
By Jessica Pierce (U of Chicago Press)
Bioethicist Jessica Pierce, whose book The Last Walk thoughtfully and honestly explored end-of-life care, dying and euthanasia for companion animals through her experience with her own much-loved dog, now takes on another sensitive subject. As in that book, in her new one she also addresses questions we rarely think about—or want to think about. Foremost among them is the morally ambiguous practice of keeping pets in the first place. Writing clearly, and clearly from the heart, she avoids academic jargon and provides us with reasons to really think about what we’re doing when we take animals into our lives.
The Pit Bull Life
By Deirdre Franklin and Linda Lombardi (The Countrymen Press)
A colorfully illustrated and thoughtful consideration of a type of dog who was once considered quintessentially American. Today, however, the words “Pit Bull” have become shorthand for something to be feared. The authors trace that transition and, continuing Franklin’s long-standing advocacy, inject the facts about these cheerful, resilient dogs into the national discussion. In doing so, they also provide a primer for Pit Bull owners, and potential owners.
Just Life
By Neil Abramson (Center Street)
In this novel, the author considers the balance between fear and compassion, and the ways politically expedient solutions threaten everyone. The story centers on a sanctuary for unwanted, abused and abandoned dogs in New York City and the veterinarian who operates it. When a dangerous and unknown virus spreads though their neighborhood, the sanctuary’s dogs are presumed to be the carriers, putting them and the people who protect them in even greater jeopardy. The pace is intense and the characters well drawn.
The Secret Language of Dogs
By Victoria Stilwell (Ten Speed Press)
In her new book, trainer Victoria Stilwell wants to help us understand what our dogs are telling us via their expressions, vocalizations and behaviors. A proponent of positive reinforcement training, Stilwell not only describes these various methods of communication but also, provides tips on ways to respond to them.
Farm Dogs
By Janet Vorwald Dohner (Storey Publishing)
An in-depth and beautifully illustrated breed guide to a hard-working class of dogs, Farm Dogs is hard to resist even if you live in a city apartment only big enough for a Chihuahua. In addition to familiar breeds such as the Jack Russell, German Shepherd and Border Collie, Dohner also discusses a number of more exotic types, including the Berger Picard, Mudi and the wildly dreadlocked Puli. She also offers pointers on puppy selection, adult rescue, socialization and training.
Home Alone—And Happy!
By Kate Mallatratt (Hubble & Hattie)
This highly illustrated book from the UK provides lots of good advice for preventing canine separation anxiety, which is far more challenging to fix than to avoid. The author, compassionately considering the subject through a dog’s eyes, suggests that teaching a dog how to be emotionally stable is more important than teaching him how to sit or heel. In this book, she shows us how to do it.
Dog's Life: Lifestyle
Good for you, your dog and business
In 2010 a study, headed by Christopher Honts, at Central Michigan University, found that the mere presence of a canine in the office could help make people collaborate more effectively. The researchers also showed that the staff who worked with a dog gave all their teammates higher scores for trust and team cohesion than those who worked in dog-free groups. And now a new study confirms what The Daily Show people said in a recent interview with The Bark, dogs are the greatest destressors for both dog owners and the dogless employees in their office, as well as collaborative “assistants.” This study was conducted by an aptly named investigator, Randolph Barker, PhD, professor of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business. The findings, published in March in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management, found that dogs do buffer the impact of stress during the workday for their owners and make the job more satisfying for those with whom they come into contact. “Dogs in the workplace can make a positive difference,” Barker said. He also concluded that “Pet presence may serve as a low-cost, wellness intervention readily available to many organizations and may enhance organizational satisfaction and perceptions of support. Of course, it is important to have policies in place to ensure only friendly, clean and well-behaved pets are present in the workplace.” (See the infographic on this topic created by the MBAPrograms.org)
The American Pet Products Association recently surveyed 50 companies that welcome pets and discovered:
1. Lower stress levels and less absenteeism than in pet-free offices;
2. Productivity and employee morale got a boost when canine companions joined the work force;
3. Employees were more willing to work overtime, thanks to the addition of pets in the workplace.
So if your company doesn’t have a dog-in-the-workplace policy and is, hopefully, considering developing one, the following tips can be used to help set up a successful dog-policy.
Culture: DogPatch
By the Numbers
Congratulate the canines in your household for showing up on earth at just the right time, because, compared to those dogs who lived 25 years ago, today’s dogs have many advantages.
1. Coercion training has been largely replaced by kinder, gentler positive methods. While not everyone is training with modern techniques, the trend continues to gain momentum. It is more effective and better for the relationship between dogs and people to teach dogs what to do and then reinforce them for being right—with toys, treats, play or affection—than to issue commands and deliver a leash pop or a shock in response to an incorrect response.
2. Behaviorists abound to help people with their dogs’ issues. Twenty-five years ago, it was more common to euthanize dogs for problems such as aggression, destructive chewing or repetitive behaviors than it is today. Now, many of these concerns can be resolved by working with a qualified animal behaviorist.
3. Options are plentiful for dogs who suffer pain due to injuries, arthritis or other medical causes. Acupuncture, while an ancient art, is relatively new on the scene for canine pain management, and the multitude of dog massage techniques, including TTouch, means that many dogs are relieved of pain rather than living with it or suffering from the side effects of medications.
4. It’s easier to travel with dogs now. More hotels accept dogs, and riding in the car is safer due to the use of crates and canine seat belts. Fewer dogs are left at home during family vacations and outings, and fewer are sliding around in the backs of vehicles.
5. Walking on-leash is a part of life for most dogs, and compared with 25 years ago, there are more relatively humane and effective options. It’s hard to imagine a dog who wouldn’t prefer a Gentle Leader, Snoot Loop, Halti or SENSEation harness to the choke chains that once were common.
6. Canine play is considered important in ways that were unheard of years ago. Play is widely viewed as critical for developing and maintaining good relationships between people and dogs, and as a result, more than ever, dogs are having fun with their people on a regular basis, and playing with better toys. The toy options are dizzying; from Kongs and Chewbers to Dogzillas and Nina Ottosson’s puzzle toys—the world of dog toys has moved well beyond balls and sticks!
7. Dog-centered activities are more numerous now. Agility, flyball, herding, tracking, lure coursing, rally-O and dog training classes as diverse as basic obedience and even tricks and games are common, as are “dog camps,” places where people and their dogs can enjoy such activities in the company of the like-minded.
8. Compared with 25 years ago, dogs are welcome in more places. Many people take their dogs to work, and more shops and businesses are allowing dogs as guests. On a more fundamental level, more dogs are now living inside our homes rather than outside as before. This greater hospitality may stem from the biggest change of all over the last 25 years, which is that more than ever, dogs are now considered members of the family. The wholehearted inclusion of dogs in our families—a perspective once voiced only by the very brave or slightly quirky—has become a mainstream idea over the past quarter-century.
Then or now, perhaps one of the greatest things about being a dog is that the tendency to sit around with friends and bark about “the good old days” doesn’t exist. I like to think that for dogs, the “good old days” are happening right now.
Dog's Life: Lifestyle
Reading is a year-round pleasure but summer is particular seems to invite us to kick back, chill out and dive into the printed—or digital—page. Here are our candidates for your reading list, books we feel offer intriguing perspectives and tell good tales.
Non-FictionThe Underdogs: Children, Dogs, and the Power of Unconditional Love
Behind the scenes with a remarkable organization that trains dogs—some from shelters—for highly specialized work for young children with disabilities. Inspirational and absorbing.
By Melissa Fay Greene (Ecco)
Pit Bull: The Battle over an American Icon
This is a thoughtfully-researched book examining the history, stereotypes, fictional and societal worries surrounding a breed that was once considered an American icon.
By Bronwen Dickey (Alfred A. Knopf)
The Dog Merchants: Inside the Big Business of Breeders, Pet Stores, and Rescuers
This is a compelling investigation of the many ways that dogs come into our lives—keeping in mind how the financial transactions involved affect all dogs.
By Kim Kavin (Pegasus Books)
Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?
Noted ethologist shows us that animals are not only smarter but also engaged in different ways of thought we have only begun to understand. The importance of looking at other species through their own world-views.
By Frans de Waal (W.W. Norton & Company)
Heal: The Vital Role of Dogs in the Search for Cancer Cures
Looking at the correlation between human and animal healing and how finding a cure is important to both species.
Arlene Weintraub (ECW Press)
Dog Gone: A Lost Pet’s Extraordinary Journey and the Family Who Brought Him Home
A thoroughly engaging book about a lost dog’s journey and a family’s furious search to find him before it’s too late.
Pauls Toutonghi (Alfred A. Knopf)
Pets on the Couch: Neurotic Dogs Compulsive Cats, Anxious Birds, and the New Science of Animal Psychiatry
Noted veterinarian behaviorist breaks new ground with the practice of One Medicine, the recognition that humans and other animals share the same neurochemistry, and that our minds and emotions work in similar ways.
By Nicholas Dodman, DVM (Atria Books)
Memoir
Free Days with George: Learning Life’s Little Lessons from One Very Big Dog
An inspirational story about the healing power of animals, and about leaving the past behind to embrace love, hope and happiness.
By Colin Campbell (Doubleday)
FictionJust Life
A touching and dramatic story about saving animals in a no-kill shelter from a virulent virus. Some claim that dogs are the source but the veterinarian in charge of the shelter needs to prove this isn’t the case to save the animals.
By Neil Abramson (Center Street)
Stalking Ground: A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery
The second in a new mystery series about a small town policewoman and her K-9 partner. Realistic portrayal of how the two work together; plus good character development that includes a sympathetic veterinarian and his two young daughters.
Margaret Mizushima (Crooked Lane Books)
Young Readers
No Better Friend: A Man, a Dog, and Their Incredible True Story of Friendship and Survival in World War II
A young readers’ version of one of our 2015 picks. This is a compelling and well-researched book that does justice to the remarkable dog Judy and the men whose stories are told so effectively and poignantly. Theirs is truly one of the great sagas of WWII.
By Robert Weintraub (Little, Brown and Company)
Miss Moon: Wise Words from a Dog Governess
Elegant, charming and whimsical a story of a governess teaching 67 dogs and how she imparts 20 important lessons to her furry brood.
By Janet Hill (Tundra Books)
Picture Book (Ages 4 to 8)
Culture: Reviews
Finding hope and love with memorable shelter dogs
Photographer Traer Scott follows up her groundbreaking book Shelter Dogs with a new work of equal grace and sensitivity. The portraits in Finding Home not only showcase a collection of canines with indomitable character and spirit, they are also an eloquent plea for more adoptive families, and a tribute to all dogs everywhere. Published by Princeton Architectural Press, the book is scheduled for release in October.
I no longer believe there are truly bad dogs in the world … only misunderstood, lost and confused souls. I consider it my job to do everything in my power to get them a second chance. On tough days, I look at all of the dogs who have found amazing homes and use that as a gentle reminder to myself that what I do matters … even if only to one or two dogs, every once in a while. It’s not about saving them all—it’s about giving them fair shots and never losing compassion for these incredible and selfless creatures.
—Bethany Nassef, Dog Coordinator, Providence Animal Rescue League
The ASPCA reports that 35 percent of dogs entering shelters are adopted and 31 percent are euthanized.
For shelters, rescues and the dogs they house and care for, many factors go into determining rates of adoption versus euthanasia: geographic location, breed, history, temperament, legislation and, many times, just sheer dumb luck. Ultimately, all policies and politics aside, the reason that so many of the dogs in this book made it is because the groups that I worked with are highly effective.
While we should absolutely work to save the dogs who are right here right now, we should also think about how we can make truly lasting change. By supporting humane legislation, we will put laws in place to regulate and punish those people who will never care at all about dogs, and through community outreach and targeted humane education, we can reach new generations and create a future of people who do.
Take heart: it is working.
News: Guest Posts
This inforgraphic is a good reminder that we should consider our dogs when picking plants for both inside and out. According the ASPCA, their poison control hotline receives around 150,000 calls annually from pet owners needing assistance with possible poison-related emergencies. This inforgraphic is based on a list of toxic plants from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine's most common causes of emergency calls and Texas A&M ’s “Common Poisonous Plants and Plant Parts ”. The infographic gives you a break down of the risks to your dog (and cat!) and warning signs to look out for.
News: Editors
Compiled from Bark’s Best Places to Work
The following businesses understand the value of working in the company of dogs— whether it’s writing code, blowing glass or saving the environment … work is just better with a dog by your side. We’ve gathered together the most comprehensive list of dog- friendly workplaces in America, both large and small, covering 30 states. We salute these companies for working and playing hard, and valuing a belly-rub and as much as a balance sheet. (If you know a dog-friendly company we’ve missed, please add it in the comments)
Company: 3five, Inc.
Headquarters: Minneapolis, MN
Business type: Web/Mobile Design
Number of employees: 8
3five.com
Company: Advent Software
Headquarters: San Francisco, CA
Business type: Software
Number of employees: 1141
Dog-friendly notable: The company hosts dog-related event and "holistic health" classes for their pet owners.
advent.com
Company: Amazon
Headquarters: Seattle, WA
Business type: Online Retailer
Number of employees: 88,500
Dog-friendly notable: Dogs must remain on a leash unless it is behind a baby gate or in an office with a closed door.
amazon.com
Company: archer>malmo, inc.
Headquaters: Memphis, TN
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 160
archermalmo.com
Company: Assembly of Dog
Headquarters: Seattle, WA
Business type: Dog Daycare / Boarding
Number of employees: 4
Dog-friendly notable: Employees dogs board for free and receive treats and poo bags.
assemblyofdogseattle.com
Company: Autodesk
Headquarters: San Francisco, CA
Business type: Software
Number of employees: 7000
Dog-friendly notable: Autodesk offers pet insurance as a benefit, and dog ID tags.
autodesk.com
Company: Average Joes Entertainment
Headquaters: Nashville, TN
Business type: Record Label
Number of employees: 25
averagejoesent.com
Company: Ben & Jerry's
Headquarters: South Burlington, VT
Business type: Ice Cream Manufacturer
Number of employees: 110
Dog-friendly notable: Approximately 110 human employees and roughly 15 to 20 dogs
benjerry.com
Company: Big Communications
Headquarters: Birmingham, AL
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 43
Dog-friendly notable: Milk bones, dog beds and Frosty Paws aplenty.
bigcom.com
Company: Big Foot Media
Headquaters: Chicago, IL
Business type: Media/Video Production
Number of employees: 5
bigfootcreates.com
Company: Big Spaceship
Headquarters: Brooklyn, NY
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 62
Dog-friendly notable: Office dogs have professional photos taken for website feature.
bigspaceship.com
Company: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
Headquarters: Grand Rapids, MI
Business type: Floor Care Products Manufacturer
Number of employees: 2000
Dog-friendly notable: Pet Spot, is their pet-friendly facility featuring work stations, conference area, indoor kennels, dog bathing station and play area.
bissell.com
Company: Bitly
Headquaters: New York, NY
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 65
bitly.com
Company: Boa Technology
Headquarters: Denver, CO
Business type: Technology
Number of employees: 72
Dog-friendly notable: Hosts dog-friendly events and pet health/wellness programs.
boatechnology.com
Company: Boly:Welch
Headquarters: Portland, OR
Business type: Consulting
Number of employees: 32
Dog-friendly notable: Longstanding relationship with the Oregon Humane Society through volunteerism and in-kind support.
bolywelch.com
Company: Bomber Industries
Headquaters: Silverthorne, CO
Business type: Retailer
Number of employees: 4
bomberonline.com
Company: Bravo! Vail
Headquaters: Vail, CO
Business type: Music Service
Number of employees: 15
bravovail.org
Company: Build-A-Bear-Workshop
Headquarters: St. Louis, MO
Business type: Toy Manufacturer
Number of employees: 4,250
Dog-friendly notable: Featured on Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For list.
buildabear.com
Company: Bulkley West
Headquarters: Seattle, WA
Business type: Manufacturers Representative Group
Number of employees: 5
Dog-friendly notable: Current staff/dog ratio: 5 employees and 8 dogs
bulkleyassociates.com
Company: Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners
Headquarters: Sausalito, CA
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 150
Dog-friendly notable: Listed on Outside magazine's 50 Best Companies to Work, their day includes a daily group dog walk.
bssp.com
Company: Camp Bow Wow of Bridgewater
Headquarters: Bridgewater, NJ
Business type: Dog Daycare / Boarding
Number of employees: 45
Dog-friendly notable: Provide free daycare, discounted boarding/training/grooming.
campbowwow.com/bridgewater
Company: Canine Detection and Inspection Services
Headquarters: La Grange, IL
Business type: Inspection Services
Number of employees: 10
Dog-friendly notable: All dogs have full health coverage and an abundance of toys/treats/snuggles.
canineinspection.com
Company: Cape Art Tiles
Headquaters: Truro, MA
Business type: Print Manufacturing
Number of employees: 6
capearttiles.com
Company: Carnation Corners
Headquarters: Carnation, WA
Business type: Retail
Number of employees: 4
Dog-friendly notable: Treats for all.
carnationcorners.com
Company: CattleDog Publishing
Headquaters: Davis, CA
Business type: Publishing
Number of employees: 6
droshophiayin.com
Company: Century Box
Headquarters: Methuen, MA
Business type: Folding Carton Manufacturer
Number of employees: 120
Dog-friendly notable: Employs a dog walker while the pooches are on-site.
centurybox.com
Company: Certified Wildlife Friendly
Headquarters: Bainbridge Island, WA
Business type: Non-Profit
Number of employees: 4
Dog-friendly notable: Closes office for annual ski day and summer outings—including dogs on cross country skiing and summer adventure (paddling, hiking or biking).
wildlifefriendly.org
Company: Chehalem Wines
Headquarters: Newberg, OR
Business type: Winery/Distillery/Brewery
Number of employees: 14
Dog-friendly notable: Grassy one-acre fenced-in dog area next to the winery provides room for playing and socializing.
chehalemwines.com
Company: Chuck Latham Associates
Headquarters: San Diego CA
Business type: Pet Products Broker
Number of employees: 50
Dog-friendly notable: Pets get to test and taste products from companies represented.
clareps.com
Company: Clif Bar & Company
Headquarters: Emeryville, CA
Business type: Manufacturer of Food
Number of employees: 350
Dog-friendly notable: Large off-leash area, VPI pet insurance discount, unlimited paid time-off to volunteer for animal causes. Included on Outside's Best Places to Work list in 2010.
clifbar.com
Company: Country Walkers
Headquarters: Waterbury, VT
Business type: Tour Operator
Number of employees: 23
cwadventure.com
Company: Cram Crew
Headquaters: Houston, TX
Business type: Education
Number of employees: 50
cramcrew.com
Company: Culver Brand Design
Headquaters: Milwaukee, WI
Business type: Design Agency
Number of employees: 18
culverbd.com
Company: Dean Insurance Agency
Headquaters: Altamonte Spring, FL
Business type: Insurance
Number of employees: 4
dogbitequote.com
Company: Delphic Digital
Headquaters: Philadelphia, PA
Business type: Digital Agency
Number of employees: 42
delphicdigital.com
Company: Diamond Creek Pet Retreat & The Canine Sports Center
Headquarters: Goshen, CT
Business type: Dog Training
Number of employees: 15
Dog-friendly notable: Outdoor exercise area for on and off-leash activity, dog treadmill when weather is bad, numerous treats.
caninesportscenter.com
Company: Doggyloot
Headquarters: Chicago, IL
Business type: Online Retailer
Number of employees: 15
Dog-friendly notable: Copious amounts of samples, chews, treats, toys and doggy accessories.
doggyloot.com
Company: dogIDs
Headquaters: Fargo, ND
Business type: Retailer
Number of employees: 11
dogids.com
Company: Dogster/SAY Media
Headquarters: San Francisco, CA
Business type: Entertainment
Number of employees: 300
Dog-friendly notable: Poop bags and treats aplenty. Brings together visiting children and dogs for added fun.
dogster.com
Company: Dogtopia
Headquarters: North Bethesda, MD
Business type: Dog Daycare / Boarding
Number of employees: 84
Dog-friendly notable: Complimentary dog daycare services, discounts on boarding and retail products.
dogdaycare.com
Company: DogTrekker
Headquarters: San Rafael, CA
Business type: Travel Directory / Online Services
dogtrekker.com
Company: Dogwise
Headquarters: Wenatchee, WA
Business type: Book Publisher
Number of employees: 9
Dog-friendly notable: Dogs encouraged to try new products—toys and treats.
dogwise.com
Company: Etsy
Headquarters: Brooklyn, NY
Business type: Online Retailer
Number of employees: 200
Dog-friendly notable: Since its start in 2005, the craft marketplace site Etsy has been a dog friendly office.
etsy.com
Company: Flathead Spay & Neuter Task Force
Headquaters: Columbia Falls, MT
Business type: Veterinary
Number of employees: 30
fsntf.org
Company: Fluent City
Headquaters: Brooklyn, NY
Business type: Education
Number of employees: 8
fluentcity.com
Company: Found Animals
Headquarters: Los Angeles, CA
Business type: Non-Profit
Number of employees: 40
Dog-friendly notable: Dog food/treats aplenty. Ample time allotted to employees for walks/playtime with pets.
foundanimals.org
Company: Frenchie Winery
Headquarters: St. Helena, CA
Business type: Winery/Distillery/Brewery
Number of employees: 50
Dog-friendly notable: For every bottle of Frenchie wine sold, $1 was donated to the ASPCA foundation to support animal rights.
frenchiewinery.com
Company: Freshpet
Headquarters: Secaucus, NJ
Business type: Pet Food Manufacturer
freshpet.com
Company: Fueled
Headquarters: New York City, NY
Business type: App Design
Number of employees: 30
Dog-friendly notable: Dogs welcome in the office at all times, doggy toys/food available.
fueled.com
Company: Giraffe Marketing
Headquarters: Durango, CO
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 4
Dog-friendly notable: All outdoor events include dogs and in company cars, a canine co-pilots encouraged.
giraffemktg.com
Company: Glassy Baby
Headquarters: San Francisco, CA
Business type: Glass Blowing
glassybaby.com
Company: Google
Headquarters: Mountain View. CA
Business type: Web Search Engine
Number of employees: 20,000+ (Mountain View)
google.com
Company: Grassroots solutions, inc
Headquarters: Minneapolis, MN
Business type: Consulting
Number of employees: 40
Dog-friendly notable: Treats, toys, cozy sleeping areas provided.
grassrootssolutions.com
Company: Halmoni
Headquarters: Oakland, CA
Business type: Retail
Number of employees: 5
halmoni.net
Company: Harbors Home Health & Hospice
Headquaters: Hoquiam, WA
Business type: Home Care
Number of employees: 48
Company: Healthwise
Headquarters: Boise, ID
Business type: Health Information Provider
Number of employees: 210
Dog-friendly notable: Dogs have played a part in its culture from the first day, thanks to Healthwise’s dog-loving CEO, Don Kemper, who currently shares his office with a Bulldog mix named Tuba
healthwise.org
Company: Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
Headquarters: Bellevue, WA
Business type: Insurance
Number of employees: 30
Dog-friendly notable: Discount on pet insurance, healthy snacks, former vet technicians on staff.
healthypawspetinsurance.com
Company: Helen's Salon
Headquarters: Claremore, OK
Business type: Beauty & Cosmetics
Number of employees: 4
Company: HelloSociety
Headquaters: Santa Monica, CA
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 22
hellosociety.com
Company: Humane Society of the United States
Headquarters: Washington, DC
Business type: Non-Profit
Number of employees: 623
Dog-friendly notable: Employees reimbursed for pet care expenses incurred due to work-related travel. Discounts on pet insurance. Flexible visits permitted for vet appointment, vacation leave or other needs.
humanesociety.org
Company: Hydro Flask
Headquaters: Bend, OR
Business type: Manufacturer
Number of employees: 34
hydroflask.com
Company: Ideapark
Headquarters: Minneapolis, MN
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 26
Dog-friendly notable: Full treat jar in the kitchen and a smattering of beds around the office.
ideapark.com
Company: IMC
Headquaters: Holmdel, NJ
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 15
imc-nj.com
Company: IMRE
Headquarters: Baltimore, MD
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 83
imre.com
Company: InsightSquared
Headquaters: Cambridge, MA
Business type: Software
Number of employees: 105
insightsquared.com
Company: Integrated Benefit Consultants
Headquarters: Rolling Hills Estates, CA
Business type: Insurance
Number of employees: 6
Dog-friendly notable: Pet insurance is provided as part of our employee benefits.
ibenefitconsult.com
Company: Intent Media
Headquarters: New York City, NY
Business type: Technology
intentmedia.com
Company: Jaime Ellsworth Studio
Headquaters: Friday Harbor, WA
Business type: Arts
Number of employees: 4
jaimeellsworth.com
Company: Jersey Printing Associates
Headquarters: Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Business type: Print Manufacturing
Number of employees: 26
jerseyprinting.com
Company: Joliet Slammers
Headquaters: Joliet, IL
Business type: Baseball
Number of employees: 300
jolietslammers.com
Company: Jones Soda
Headquarters: Seattle, WA
Business type: Manufacturer of Soda
Number of employees: 20
jonessoda.com
Company: Justia
Headquarters: Mountain View, CA
Business type: Legal Portal / Online Services
Number of employees: 80
Dog-friendly notable: Dogs roam free, attend meetings, go on walks, offered treats and special birthday celebration.
justia.com
Company: Justuno
Headquaters: San Francisco, CA
Business type: Software
Number of employees: 9
justuno.com
Company: JVST USA LLC.
Headquaters: San Francisco, CA
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 7
jvst.us
Company: K9 Country Club & Training Academy
Headquarters: Bulverde, TX
Business type: Dog Daycare / Boarding
Number of employees: 12
Dog-friendly notable: Employees gets access to the Beach Club, discounts on grooming, doggie daycare. Offer field trips with their dogs.
k9countryclub.net
Company: Karmaloop
Headquarters: Boston, MA
Business type: Online Retailer
Number of employees: 200
karmaloop.com
Company: Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc.
Headquarters: Indianapolis, IN
Business type: Non-Profit
Number of employees: 21
Dog-friendly notable: Office dogs sit in on staff meetings, hang out with the employees and play outside.
kibi.org
Company: Keiler
Headquarters: Farmington, CT
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 46
Dog-friendly notable: Incorporated “Puppy Policy” into employee handbook—allowing dogs to accompany their owners into the office on any given day of the week.
keiler.com
Company: Kiosked Ltd
Headquaters: Los Angeles, CA
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 45
kiosked.com
Company: Klutz
Headquarters: Palo Alto, CA
Business type: Gaming
Number of employees: 43
klutz.com
Company: KolbeCo
Headquarters: O'Fallon, MO
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 7
Dog-friendly notable: 5th year of producing an annual donation drive—Frills For Furbabies—to support local animal shelter Stray Rescue of St. Louis.
kolbeco.net
Company: Kriser's
Headquarters: Chicago, IL
Business type: Pet Food Manufacturer
krisers.com
Company: Kyjen
Headquarters: Centennial, CO
Business type: Pet Food Manufacturer
Number of employees: 26
Dog-friendly notable: Dogs are a vital part of the creation of Kyjen products. Regular company outings with dogs.
shop.kyjen.com
Company: Larson Family Winery
Headquarters: Sonoma, CA
Business type: Winery/Distillery/Brewery
Number of employees: 20
Dog-friendly notable: Provides dogs 100 acres of land and vineyards with a creek to roam and explore.
larsonfamilywinery.com
Company: Law Offices of Daniel F. Brookman
Headquarters: Santa Monica, CA
Business type: Law Firm
Number of employees: 5
Dog-friendly notable: Offers leashes, water dishes, treats and toys for all the dogs, plus daily dog walk breaks.
danielbrookmanlaw.com
Company: Le Chateau Pet Resort
Headquaters: Amarillo, TX
Business type: Pet Resort
Number of employees: 24
lechateaupetresort.com
Company: LeashLocket, Ltd./AEI
Headquarters: Denver, CO
Business type: Pet Product Manufacturer
Number of employees: 8
Dog-friendly notable: Office features plenty of dog beds, treats, chews and toys, plus time for dog walking.
leashlocket.com
Company: Liftopia
Headquarters: San Francisco, CA
Business type: Online Retailer
Number of employees: 35
Dog-friendly notable: Dog toys, dog beds aplenty.
liftopia.com
Company: LocalResponse
Headquarters: New York, NY
Business type: Advertising Network
Number of employees: 25
localresponse.com
Company: Lovely
Headquarters: San Francisco, CA
Business type: Rental Listing / Online Services
Number of employees: 15
Dog-friendly notable: Outdoor and indoor space for dogs—indoor facilities offers bean bags and lounge chairs to share with employees.
livelovely.com
Company: Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards
Headquarters: Solvang, CA
Business type: Winery/Distillery/Brewery
Number of employees: 34
Dog-friendly notable: Company dogs have been featured in winery promotion photos.
llwine.com
Company: Madison House Assisted Living Residence
Headquarters: Cortez, CO
Business type: Assisted Living Residence
Number of employees: 17
seniorhousingoptions.org
Company: Marcus Thomas LLC
Headquarters: Cleveland, OH
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 150
Dog-friendly notable: All the meeting rooms are named after their dogs.
marcusthomas.com
Company: Martinez Animal Hospital
Headquarters: Martinez, CA
Business type: Veterinary Hospital
Number of employees: 17
martinezanimalhospital.com
Company: mcgarrybowen
Headquaters: New York, NY
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 600
mcgarrybowen.com
Company: Midland School
Headquarters: Los Olivos, CA
Business type: School
Number of employees: 24
Dog-friendly notable: 2,864 acres of open space to frolic, dogs live in dorms with students, integrated into study and work life.
midland-school.org
Company: Milton M. Muraski DDS Inc.
Headquarters: Hilo, HI
Business type: Dental Office
Number of employees: 7
Dog-friendly notable: Office dog(s) provide love and relaxation for patients and staff.
drmurasaki.com
Company: Ministry of Supply
Headquaters: Boston, MA
Business type: Retailer
Number of employees: 10
ministryofsupply.com
Company: Momofuku Milk Bar
Headquarters: New York City, NY
Business type: Bakery
Number of employees: 89
Dog-friendly notable: Daily dog walks with employees, plus occasional baked treat extraordinaire.
milkbarstore.com
Company: Morristown Deli
Headquarters: Morristown, NJ
Business type: Restaurant
Number of employees: 20
Dog-friendly notable: Active supporter of local shelters and rescue organizations.
facebook.com/morristowndeli
Company: Motivators
Headquaters: New York, NY
Business type: Distributor
Number of employees: 60
motivators.com
Company: Mrs. Grossman's Sticker Factory
Headquarters: Petaluma, CA
Business type: Factory and Store
Number of employees: 100
Dog-friendly notable: Outside kennels for factory workers dogs, office dogs accompany their owners.
mrsgrossmans.com
Company: Natural Habitat Adventures
Headquarters: Boulder, CO
Business type: Wildlife Safaris
Number of employees: 36
Dog-friendly notable: Dog treat stations throughout the office, extensive open space for walks/runs.
nathab.com
Company: Nebo Agency
Headquarters: Atlanta, GA
Business type: Web/Mobile Design
Number of employees: 45
neboagency.com
Company: Neff Associates
Headquarters: Philadelphia, PA
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 12
neffassociates.com
Company: NORTH
Headquaters: Portland, OR
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 30
north.com
Company: Now What
Headquaters: New York, NY
Business type: Strategy/Research
Number of employees: 30
nowwhat.com
Company: O.H.S.O. Eatery & nanoBrewery
Headquarters: Phoenix, AZ
Business type: Winery/Distillery/Brewery
Number of employees: 65
Dog-friendly notable: Homemade dog treats to all guests, sponsors fundraisers benefitting dogs.
ohsobrewery.com
Company: ODEL PLC
Headquarters: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Business type: Clothing
Number of employees: 200
Dog-friendly notable: Sponsors adoption programs, rescue and treatment plus education programs aiding street dogs.
odel.lk
Company: Ogden Contract Interiors, Inc.
Headquaters: San Francisco, CA
Business type: Contractor
Number of employees: 25
ocisf.com
Company: Ombud
Headquarters: Denver, CO
Business type: Software
Number of employees: 10
Dog-friendly notable: Monthly grooming, daily runs/walks by dog walker, dog pantry, dog picnics, visits to Dog Adventure Park.
ombud.com
Company: Onestop Internet
Headquarters: Compton, CA
Business type: Technology
Number of employees: 220
Dog-friendly notable: Doggie breaks, treats and playtime.
onestop.com
Company: OverGo Studio
Headquaters: Southport, NC
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 10
overgostudio.com
Company: Page One Web Solutions
Headquaters: Portland, ME
Business type: Web Development
Number of employees: 18
pageonewebsolutions.com
Company: Palantir Technologies
Headquaters: Palo Alto, CA
Business type: Software Company
Number of employees: 750
palantir.com
Company: Paula's Choice
Headquarters: Seattle, WA
Business type: Beauty & Cosmetics
Dog-friendly notable: Offers discount pet insurance.
paulaschoice.com
Company: Paws
Headquarters: Tucson, AZ
Business type: Veterinary Hospital
Number of employees: 20
Dog-friendly notable: Provides free pet training, free pet food once a month and underwater treadmill.
pawstucson.com
Company: Peskind Law Firm
Headquarters: St. Charles, IL
Business type: Law Firm
peskindlaw.com
Company: Pet Sitters International (PSI)
Headquarters: King, NC
Business type: Association
Number of employees: 14
Dog-friendly notable: Provides annual $50 veterinary-care reimbursement, annual Hungry Bowl™ Pet Food Drive and an Annual Take Your Dog To Work Day® celebration.
petsit.com
Company: PetPeople
Headquarters: Hilliard, OH
Business type: Pet Supplies Retailer
Number of employees: 11
Dog-friendly notable: Offers employee discounts, store dog uniforms for in store/event dogs, discounted vet visits.
petpeoplestores.com
Company: Peterson Milla Hooks Advertising
Headquaters: Minneapolis, MN
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 65
pmhadv.com
Company: Pose
Headquarters: Santa Monica, CA
Business type: Technology
Number of employees: 14
Dog-friendly notable: Employees take turns walking and playing with whichever dogs are present.
pose.com
Company: Possible
Headquarters: Seattle, WA
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 1500
Dog-friendly notable: Dog owners alias to share info or schedule play time in office. Large chalk mural in the main lobby showcases 11 office pups.
possible.com
Company: PrintingForLess.com
Headquarters: Livingston, MT
Business type: Print Manufacturing
Number of employees: 170
Dog-friendly notable: Ample outdoor space for the dogs to run and exercise.
printingforless.com
Company: Procter & Gamble
Headquarters: Cincinnati, OH
Business type: Pet Food Manufacturer
Number of employees: 358
Dog-friendly notable: Provides free pet food to employees up to 400 lbs. annually; 5% discount on pet insurance.
iams.com eukanuba.com
Company: Qualey Granite & Quartz
Headquarters: Veazie, ME
Business type: Counter Top Fabricator
Number of employees: 18
Dog-friendly notable: Provides 2 fenced acres for play and recreation. Dogs have full run of the office, including quiet spots.
qualeygranite.com
Company: Radio Systems Corporation
Headquaters: Knoxville, TN
Business type: Manufacturer
Number of employees: 627
petsafe.net
Company: RE/MAX Results So Co
Headquarters: Saint Louis, MO
Business type: Real Estate
Number of employees: 30
Dog-friendly notable: Open door pet policy at all times.
facebook.com/remaxresultssoco
Company: RedRover
Headquarters: Sacramento, CA
Business type: Non-Profit
Number of employees: 14
Dog-friendly notable: Offers annual veterinary allowance associated with emergency care to eligible employees.
redrover.org
Company: Replacements, Ltd.
Headquarters: Greensboro, NC
Business type: Retail
Number of employees: 450
replacements.com
Company: Road Rebel Entertainment Touring Logistics
Headquarters: San Diego, CA
Business type: Travel and Logistics
Number of employees: 50
Dog-friendly notable: Features a "pup commissioner" as well as a dog committee to promote a happy, healthy, puppy environment.
road-rebel.com
Company: Rover.com
Headquarters: Seattle, WA
Business type: Sitter Listings / Online Services
Number of employees: 30
Dog-friendly notable: Provides communal dog treats and pet clean-up supplies, plus walk breaks.
rover.com
Company: RSA FILMS
Headquarters: West Hollywood, CA
Business type: Production Company
Number of employees: 50
Dog-friendly notable: Treats plus mobile dog grooming service visits once every three weeks.
rsafilms.com
Company: Ruffwear
Headquarters: Bend, OR
Business type: Dog Product Manufacturer
Number of employees: 25
Dog-friendly notable: Supports positive feelings dogs bring to the office environment.
ruffwear.com
Company: S/Nipped
Headquarters: Coos Bay, OR
Business type: Non-Profit
Number of employees: 5
Dog-friendly notable: Offers medical services and products to employees and board members at cost.
snippedandspayed.webs.com
Company: Sam Simon Foundation
Headquaters: Malibu, CA
Business type: Dog Training / Non-Profit
Number of employees: 8
samsimonfoundation.org
Company: Service Dog Project
Headquarters: Ipswich, MA
Business type: Dog Training / Non-Profit
servicedogproject.org
Company: Sevnthsin
Headquarters: Minneapolis, MN
Business type: Web/Mobile Design
Number of employees: 8
Dog-friendly notable: Community doggy water dish and several doggy beds for naps.
sevnthsin.com
Company: Scream Agency
Headquaters: Denver, CO
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 6
screamagency.com
Company: Small Dog Electronics
Headquarters: Waitsfield, VT
Business type: Retail
Number of employees: 30
Dog-friendly notable: Insurance for dogs of all full time employees.
smalldog.com
Company: Small Girls PR
Headquaters: Brooklyn, NY
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 14
smallgirlspr.com
Company: SoundCloud
Headquaters: San Francisco, CA
Business type: Music Service
Number of employees: 18
soundcloud.com
Company: SpareFoot
Headquarters: Austin, TX
Business type: Technology
Number of employees: 90
Dog-friendly notable: Dog snacks aplenty. Employees keep track of pets on official Puppy Calendar.
sparefoot.com
Company: Sports Basement
Headquarters: San Francisco, CA
Business type: Outdoor Retailer
sportsbasement.com
Company: Springbox Digital Partners
Headquaters: Austin, TX
Business type: Digital Media
Number of employees: 45
springbox.com
Company: StackMob, Inc.
Headquarters: San Francisco, CA
Business type: Technology
Number of employees: 28
Dog-friendly notable: Provides free doggie daycare, belly rubs, treats.
stackmob.com
Company: Summit Contractors Group
Headquarters: Jacksonville, FL
Business type: Construction
Number of employees: 60
Dog-friendly notable: Fenced-in playground, full interaction with clients and other employees.
summitcontractors.com
Company: SUP ATX
Headquarters: Austin, TX
Business type: Retail
Number of employees: 32
Dog-friendly notable: Complimentary meet-up group for people and their dogs for instructions on how to paddle board.
supatx.com
Company: Swift
Headquaters: Portland, OR
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 85
swift.co
Company: Swift Collective
Headquarters: Portland, OR
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 23
Dog-friendly notable: Dogs are welcome at everyone's desk and in every meeting.
swiftcollective.com
Company: SwiftTest
Headquarters: Santa Clara, CA
Business type: Software
Number of employees: 65
Dog-friendly notable: Employees take dogs for walks, include them in meetings, play fetch.
swifttest.com
Company: Synapse Product Development
Headquarters: Seattle, WA
Business type: Product Development
Number of employees: 165
Dog-friendly notable: Dog club promotes dog events, plus Dog Faces directory on a wiki, dog resources and information.
synapse.com
Company: Tassel Depot
Headquarters: Deerfield Beach, FL
Business type: Manufacturing
Number of employees: 16
Dog-friendly notable: Promotes a home-like welcome to dogs.
tasseldepot.com
Company: theAmplify
Headquaters: Culver City, CA
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 10
theamplify.com
Company: The Clymb
Headquarters: Portland, OR
Business type: Outdoor Retailer
Number of employees: 108
theclymb.com
Company: The Glenn Group
Headquarters: Reno, NV
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 40
Dog-friendly notable: 4th annual “Dog Mob & Fair” benefits pet-approved organizations, including The Shakespeare Animal Fund and The Animal Foundation. Annual bring your dog to work event and party hosted at their offices.
theglenngroup.com
Company: The Golden Paw
Headquarters: San Diego, CA
Business type: Pet Resort
Number of employees: 18
Dog-friendly notable: Access to doggie day care, free overnight lodging and discounts on grooming/retail/food.
thegoldenpaw.net
Company: The Honest Kitchen
Headquarters: San Diego, CA
Business type: Pet Food Manufacturer
Number of employees: 26
Dog-friendly notable: The "co-woofers" receive discounted pet insurance, frequent pet trainers, nutritionists, birthday celebrations.
thehonestkitchen.com
Company: The Nerdery
Headquarters: Minneapolis, MN
Business type: Interactive Design
Number of employees: 450
Dog-friendly notable: Weekly "dog frolics unleashed in the Nerditorium."
nerdery.com
Company: The Squires Group, Inc.
Headquarters: Annapolis, MD
Business type: Consulting
Number of employees: 25
Dog-friendly notable: Fido-friendly, stress easing workplace featured on a local ABC News Channel.
squiresgroup.com
Company: The Watering Bowl
Headquaters: St. Louis, MO
Business type: Doggy Day Care
Number of employees: 36
thewateringbowl.com
Company: Tito's Handmade Vodka
Headquarters: Austin, TX
Business type: Winery/Distillery/Brewery
Number of employees: 60
Dog-friendly notable: Web launch to fundraise for national low cost spay neuter called "Vodkafordogpeople.com"
titosvodka.com
Company: Tomlinson's Feed & Pets
Headquarters: Austin, TX
Business type: Pet Supplies Retailer
Number of employees: 60
Dog-friendly notable: Treats, socialization, and entertainment aplenty.
tomlinsons.com
Company: TrainingPeaks
Headquarters: Boulder, CO
Business type: Software
Number of employees: 48
trainingpeaks.com
Company: Treats Unleashed
Headquarters: St. Louis, MO
Business type: Pet Food Manufacturer
Dog-friendly notable: Pet amenities feature the 'Barking Lot' and the 'Woof Top Dog Run' for their dogs to play.
treats-unleashed.com
Company: Trupanion
Headquarters: Seattle, WA
Business type: Pet Insurance
Number of employees: 250
Dog-friendly notable: Full-time dog walking service with option for trips to the dog park, pet bereavement day, baby gates and tethers at every cubicle pod, pet insurance, official pet team to oversee the pet policy.
trupanion.com
Company: Vaughn building
Headquaters: Austin, TX
Business type: Real Estate
Number of employees: 6
Company: Vision 360 Design
Headquarters: Dallas, TX
Business type: Hospitality Design
Number of employees: 10
Dog-friendly notable: Website dogs claim positions of Head of HR, Security, and Public Relations Representative. Company provides doggie treats, walks, babysitting, birthday parties, and photo shoots.
vision360design.com
Company: WAKA Kickball & Social Sports
Business type: Social Sports
Number of employees: 150
Dog-friendly notable: All employees work out of their home offices, thus pet-friendly.
kickball.com
Company: Wasabi Rabbit
Headquaters: New York, NY
Business type: Advertising/Marketing
Number of employees: 17
wasabirabbit.com
Company: Wild Goose Chase, Inc.
Headquarters: La Grange, IL
Business type: Wildlife Management
Number of employees: 32
Dog-friendly notable: Full health insurance package as well as all the toys, treats, vitamins, and nutritional supplements aplenty.
wildgoosechasers.com
Company: Winchester House
Headquarters: Libertyville, IL
Business type: Long Term Care/Rehabilitation
Number of employees: 100
winchesterhouse.com
Company: Wolf Conservation Center
Headquarters: South Salem, NY
Business type: Non-Profit
Number of employees: 5
Dog-friendly notable: Staff dogs can accompany employees/volunteers on trips — modeling for the online store or as an impromptu therapy dog on a visit to a local center for people with developmental disabilities.
nywolf.org
Company: Working Dogs for Conservation
Headquarters: Bozeman, MT
Business type: Non-Profit
Number of employees: 6
Dog-friendly notable: Offers working dogs the opportunity to be happier, healthier dogs and contributing better scientific data while bonding with handler. Dogs get a full retirement when their working career is over.
workingdogsforconservation.org
Company: Wyatt Technology Corporation
Headquarters: Santa Barbara, CA
Business type: Scientific Instrument Manufacturer
Number of employees: 102
wyatt.com
Company: Zynga
Headquarters: San Francisco, CA
Business type: Gaming
Number of employees: 1757
Dog-friendly notable: The company pays a portion of pet insurance, offers a rooftop play area and hosts a professional photo-shoot on annual Puppy Love day.
company.zynga.com
Culture: DogPatch
The comic book of the year is a dog story for the ages.
Great comic books are pretty common these days. Saga, a family drama set in space, is winning raves and readers. Batman 66 has picked up where the Adam West series left off, bringing back campy Batman for a new generation. Afterlife with Archie is a genuinely terrifying mashup of Archie Andrews and the gang with zombies. There’s a wealth of exciting work in comics, from self-published web comics to Marvel, DC and Image.
But when the time came to name the best single issue of a comic book published in 2013, both the Eisner Awards and the Harvey Awards (named for comics legends Will Eisner and Harvey Kurtzman) selected the same one: Hawkeye 11, otherwise known as the Pizza Dog issue. This incredible piece of art—written by Matt Fraction, illustrated and lettered by David Aja, and colored by Matt Hollingsworth—wowed the comic book world. It’s also an issue every dog lover would enjoy, offering a remarkable level of insight into our best pals.
Hawkeye has been raved about since its first issue, which also introduced Pizza Dog. “Pizza Dog” is the nickname for the pooch who was named Arrow when he was owned by the “Tracksuit Draculas,” a group of gangsters who menace the residents of Hawkeye’s building. Hawkeye saved Arrow—literally, taking the poor dog to the vet after he was hit by a car—and renamed him Lucky after adoption. Just like other superheroes and adopted dogs, Pizza Dog has several names.
Unlike comic book pets of the past—such as Krypto the Super-Dog and Ace the Bat-Hound—Lucky isn’t a superpet, and Hawkeye isn’t really a superhero comic. Hawkeye (Clint Barton) is a member of the Avengers, but he’s just a regular guy who shoots arrows really well. He’s no god like Thor or super soldier like Captain America. Hawkeye takes advantage of Barton’s status as a regular guy by following his life during his off-hours, when he’s not being an Avenger fighting for the fate of the world. The result is the superhero equivalent of an indie comic, both in terms of the everyday, relatable content and the art influenced by independent comics legend Chris Ware.
The story of Pizza Dog fits right into this already off-kilter Marvel Comic. Hawkeye 11—titled “Pizza Is My Life”—is told entirely from the point of view of Lucky, as Fraction and Aja make readers experience what Lucky sees, hears and (especially) smells. As we all know, dogs live in a world of smells that puts our puny noses to shame. Aja’s art depicts Lucky’s smell-based world through pictograms. For example, when Hawkeye meets with a police officer who is investigating the murder of neighbor Grills, we see Lucky’s mental flow charts for both characters. Little images of a cop car, a gun and the crime scene are linked to the cop. For Hawkeye, there are pictures of beer bottles and a figure getting out of bed—a very subtle way of suggesting that Hawkeye had a few beers last night, just got out of bed, hasn’t showered and smells like it. Similar smell maps exist for other characters (such as Kate Bishop, who is also called Hawkeye) and the whole building, showing Lucky’s internal map of his world.
Like a lot of great ideas, this issue started as a joke. As Aja recounts in Comic Book Resources, he was talking to Fraction and editor Steve Wacker and said “[M]aybe we should draw one issue from the dog’s point of view and I can draw it like how a dog sees. It was a joke. Suddenly, Steve and Matt said yes, let’s do it.” Aja planned to use the dog issue to catch up on deadlines, thinking it would be an easy issue for him: heavy on text, light on illustrations. As it evolved, it became the exact opposite, and Aja ended up doing even more work than usual, including the lettering. Remember the Far Side comic where Gary Larson showed how dogs hear English as a bunch of gibberish plus a few select words, like their names? That’s the same approach taken by Aja. He wrote in the dialogue, then erased the words that would be Greek to a dog, figuring it would be easier to do that himself than to explain it to Hawkeye letterer Chris Eliopoulos.
Lettering tricks and pictograms aside, Aja’s skill in drawing the body language of dogs is astounding. Every issue of Hawkeye is impressive, as Aja brings a far more humorous, human feel than can be found in most superhero comics. You can tell he obviously has a dog or has been around dogs. Aja captures Lucky’s curiosity, anger, happiness, sleepiness, sadness and shock perfectly as our hero dog investigates Grills’ murder, falls in love with a neighbor dog, barks at his abusive former owners and lives up to his nickname of Pizza Dog by rummaging through the trash for a blessed slice.
The commitment to portraying Lucky’s world also extends to the colors. Via email, colorist Hollingsworth told me, “The issue was approached entirely differently from any other comic. It was colored using only the color range that dogs see. So, I always had a reference image open that showed that range and stuck to that, which is basically yellow and blue to blue violet—so, sort of a two-color palette. That was Matt Fraction’s idea.”
Hollingsworth also took the opportunity to have a little extra fun with this unusual issue: “At the time that I was coloring it, I perpetuated a hoax on Facebook and Twitter. I faked up an image of some goggles and posted that picture. I live in Croatia, and I wrote that these had been made for me by Nikola Tesla’s great-great grandson. Tesla lived in Croatia at certain points of his life, and I said that his descendent had made these goggles for me which replicated dog-vision colors, and that I was wearing them the entire time I was coloring the issue. Everybody was taken in by this for about one day, and they were retweeting it. Funny.” Even without magic goggles, Hollingsworth’s colors are impressive.
So if you’re looking for the perfect gift for one of the dog people in your life, hunt down Hawkeye 11—or, even better, the collection Hawkeye, Vol. 2: Little Hits, which includes the Pizza Dog issue.
They say you don’t need a cape to be hero. Pizza Dog proves that statement applies to hero dogs too.
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