June 2019
Friday 21st June was a first in DJS Research history. It was the day the doggies came to the office – and what a totally pawfect day it was too!
Employees from all departments were given the opportunity to bring in their four-legged friends for a day of board meetings, walkies and canine shenanigans.
As well as offering a unique day for staff to come together, it also offered another opportunity to raise a few pounds for our Charity of the Year, the Thomas Theyer Foundation.
Why bring the dogs to work?
It is well acknowledged that being around animals can offer many positive benefits to people, with a number of scientific studies concluding that being in the presence of pets can reduce stress levels and improve wellbeing. Not only that, working alongside your beloved pooch can give a boost to morale, increase job satisfaction and even team cooperation.
After the initial idea of bringing your dog to work was posed to DJS humans, it soon became clear that there was not going to be a slow uptake. As more (and more!) dog owners expressed their UTTER JOY! and signed their pooch up, soon followed guidelines for the day, along with a jam-packed agenda including time at the DJS doggy photo-booth, lunchtime walkies up to the local pub and a glitzy afternoon awards ceremony to reward the top dogs across a number of categories.
But it wasn't all play and no work when the day arrived. In between activities, DJS dogs could cosy up in their beds for a much-needed snooze while their owners cracked on with their projects.
"After the responses to my initial email started to roll in, with photos attached of pugs, spaniels, poodles (you name it!) – there was a brief moment were I thought: 'what have we done? This is going to be mayhem!", recalls DJS managing director, Danny Sims.
"The response was just incredible and before long there were 12 dogs signed up, an agenda for the day, as well as the offer for staff to work from home if they wanted to."
"Also Angel and Pumpkin (the mother and daughter duo) took the office by storm….by literally doing nothing and just standing staring at the door. Again, some very unimpressed pooches."
One thing that was perhaps surprising, was how well the dogs settled, and how happy they were to just relax beside their owners when there was (real) work to be done. But were there any office romances or personailty clashes among the new canine workforce?
"Olivia and Ruby took a real shine to each other and kissed for a good few minutes," said Claire. "Olivia then shouted at Marlowe for going near her bone (naughty diva pug!). Poor Marlowe."
"She also thought she was the new MD and barked at Danny as well, oops!"
Despite trying to oust the boss, Olivia the pug ended the day on a high scooping the award for 'Most Obedient' dog in the DJS doggy awards.
'Best day ever'
The feedback from staff was hugely positive, with Research Manager, Gayle Higginson calling it "the best day in the office, ever!".
Conner, who works in the DJS CATI unit and owns Buster the Boxer who won the award for the 'Waggiest Tail', said of the day:
"I thought it was amazing,"
"It lifted the spirits in the office and I think it was a good thing for the company as I mixed and spoke to lots of people from the different departments, who I’d never spoken to before."
So, is it likely that DJS Doggy day will be returning one day soon for more canine capers?
"It was absolutely brilliant," said MD Danny, "I think everybody thoroughly enjoyed it and it is definitely something we will look to do again in the future."
DJS DOGGY AWARDS 2019 - Who won what...
Although we had to choose winners, all the dogs who came along were absolute winners. Huge thanks to Olivia, Oscar, Jake, Ruby, Marlowe, Lil, Pumpkin, Angel, Bertie, Tod, Buster and Bear.
Come and see us again soon!
Meet some of the pups...
Name: Buster
Age: just turned 5!
Breed: Pure Pedigree Boxer
Likes: Stealing other dogs' toys, cuddles, cheese (any cheese), long walks and meeting other dogs!
Dislike: Giving the toy back to its rightful owner. His other dislikes are being told not to do something, and being woken up from his after-walk naps
Highlight of Day: Buster's highlight was definitely meeting all of the other dogs and their owners, especially Matt Couling. Whenever Matt came out of the Data support office Buster’s tail wagged like mad and he was bouncing around everywhere
Name: Cuthbertson (Bertie)
Age:3 (and a bit!)
Breed: English Springer Spaniel (Born in Glasgow!)
Category won for: Dog You'd Most Like to Take Home
Likes: Food, Ball, Sticks, Girls of the dog variety
Dislikes Motorbikes, Fireworks and Soap
Highlight of Day: Meeting his new friend, Bear the Cocker Poo
Name: Jake
Age: 6
Breed: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Category: Most Appealing Eyes
Likes: Toast, nobody is allowed toast without giving Jake some
Dislikes: When his younger brother Louis, the Pug puppy, bites his tail
Highlight of Day: Jumping up on the boardroom table and taking ownership of the meeting
Name: Oscar
Age: 3
Breed: Irish Setter
Category won for: Most Handsome
Likes: Tennis Balls & Gravy Bones
Dislikes: Salad
Highlight of Day: Aside from winning Most Handsome Dog, the highlight would be the slightly muddy dog walk with all his new friends!
Name: Tod
Age: 3
Breed: Springer Spaniel
Category won for: People's Choice Award / Dog of the Day
Likes: Treats, walks and cuddles
Dislikes: When we leave him on this own
Highlight of Day: Getting a lot of attention!! Also the walk to the fox which he very much enjoyed – as well as winning the treats :)
Name: Olivia
Age: 2
Breed: Pug
Category won for: Most Obedient
Likes: Sleeping, eating sheep poo and wrestling
Dislikes: Being told what to do!
Highlight of Day: Loved meeting a bunch of new friends, especially enjoyed walking all over the boardroom table...
Watch the video here:
