Need to Work Harder? Get a Doggie Office Mate

There's Take Your Dog to Work Day, but it probably wouldn't take much to convince many dog owners to bring their pups to their workplace the other 364 days of the year, too. Now scientists have proven that there's good reason for furry office mates to be there: productivity.

According to The Economist, researchers at Central Michigan University found in a set of experiments that office groups with a dog worked more like a team than those without a mascot. The workers also felt more trusting, cohesive and collaborative toward their colleagues than those lacking a canine companion.

"People tend to approach dogs before they are willing to approach another person," Scott Kolbe, owner of KolbeCo Marketing Resources, told AOL Jobs. "It breaks the ice for new people walking in the door, and helps to alleviate tension if conflict arises between coworkers."

Katie Stinchon, senior account executive at Teak Media Communications in South Boston, Mass. says her Australian shepherd Murphy, who happily commutes to the PR firm with her (photo at right), is not only a stress reducer, but is apt lay at the desk of whichever coworker is having the most taxing day. And the company's dog-friendly policy allows her to work longer hours without worry and saves her $280 a month for a dog walker.

This all goes to prove that dogs are man's best friends, and they're also worker bees' best buddies, too.

Photo courtesy of Katie Stinchon.