Pups on the payroll: 15 dogs you’ll meet working in South Australian businesses
They’re unbeaten employees of the month, they have job titles and one has even received a written warning. Meet the pooches working a 9-to-5 at SA businesses.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Who let the dogs out … and let them head to the office?
Man’s best friend has long ruled the home but more than ever they are clocking in at workplaces, demanding belly rubs and treats.
And some South Australian businesses are not just allowing dogs in the office, they’re incorporating them into their core work culture.
These working dogs have job titles, like senior barketing manager or chief entertainer, and they do incredibly important jobs, such as creating calm therapy settings or keeping the community safe.
But they’re not always good boys and girls.
A rescued dog employed as a meeter and greeter is on his final written warning for “sleeping too much” on duty and a travel agent pooch upstaged the Prime Minister during his recent visit to The Parade.
But we still think these 15 pups on the payroll at SA businesses and are paws-down winning employee of the month.
Do you know a hardworking working dog who we’ve missed? Email rahul.dhakan@news.com.au
Eddie the travel agent
Business: Travel Associates
Location: Norwood
Breed: Australian cobberdog
He won The Advertiser Cutest Dog competition in 2019, he’s greeted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese but during his day job, Eddie is a “valued member” of Travel Associates Norwood.
Business owner Krystal Pemberton said the “loud” Australian cobberdog’s popularity was not limited to the shop, he had become a local community dog.
Mrs Pemberton said the five-year-old brought joy and positive vibes to the office.
“Locals come to visit him at the shop with treats. And people who are not customers would come to Norwood just to see Eddie,” she said.
“Eddie sits in the front watching everybody go and it’s nice seeing children and people walk past the office and instantly he would bring a smile to their faces.”
Blue the shark museum meeter and greeter
Business: Rodney Fox Shark Museum and Learning Centre
Location: Mile End
Breed: Australian cattle dog
Blue, a four-legged tour guide at the Rodney Fox Shark Museum and Learning Centre was rescued by the team leader Chloe Williams when he was six months old.
The “meeter and greeter” received a final written warning in February because he urinated on the Rodney Fox sign, but has otherwise been an “invaluable member” of the museum for two years.
Ms Williams said the three-year-old Australian cattle dog works Monday to Friday and puts big smiles on visitors’ faces.
“He goes up to everyone for a cuddle, be it elderly, people with disabilities or children,” she said.
“As soon as someone comes through the door, he greets them.
“Shark museum sometimes can be overwhelming, but he gives comfort to everyone and everyone loves him.”
Chelsea the speech therapy dog
Business: Chat Well Allied Health
Location: Greenacres
Breed: Brown and white border collie
It can be tough to get children to want to do speech therapy but Chat Well Allied Health director Liza Zhang said kids wanted to visit her clinic because of Chelsea.
“In a serious environment where we are working with children with disabilities, she calms everyone down and brings tremendous joy,” Ms Zhang said.
“She’s very free around the clinic so she does whatever she wants. She walks around, she comes into meetings.
“She would roll around, say hi to everyone, and throw the ball in our team meetings.”
Ms Zhang said if Chelsea wanted to go into a room with a closed door, she would put her head against the door and jump to say, “let me in”.
Winnie the real estate boss
Business: Ray White Mount Gambier
Location: Mount Gambier
Breed: Golden cocker spaniel
Winnie is “boss” at Ray White Mount Gambier and the only staff member allowed to sleep in the office.
Owner Tahlia Gabrielli said the “pooch staff member” – a five year old golden cocker spaniel – loved looking out from the front window and gave her agency a point of difference.
“Winnie always makes you put a smile on your face and she is truly part of the family,” Ms Gabrielli said.
“She is the focus of our office, always centre of attention, and it also helps the business.”
Ms Gabrielli said she was inspired by her previous workplace, which also had a dog.
“After that experience, I decided if I ever was to have an office of my own, that I was definitely going to have an office dog,” she said.
PD Bomber the copper
Business: South Australian Police
Location: Adelaide
Breed: German shepherd
Following his father PD Ruger’s legacy, three-year-old PD Bomber plays an important role fighting crime.
He was bred interstate and selected to join SAPOL Dog Operations Unit’s puppy development program as a 10-week-old in August 2021.
Now he supports frontline patrols and various units make the community safer, just like his dad, who retired as the 2018 winner of the Australasian police dog trials in New Zealand.
Dog handler Sargeant Simon Rosenhahn said when not at work, PD Bomber loved to play in the backyard with retired police dog, PD Ben.
“He is trained in tracking, searching open areas and buildings, obedience, agility and criminal apprehension techniques,” he said.
“PD Bomber still has a lot of development and training ahead of him but it is hoped that he will follow in his dad’s paw-prints.”
Otis the senior barketing manager
Business: Ambition Social
Location: Stepney
Breed: Miniature schnauzer
Three-year-old “affection monster” Otis holds the title of “senior barketing manager” at Stephney social media management firm Ambition Soical.
“He plays a huge part in our marketing and features heavily in our social media posts,” director Ineke Clark said.
“Anyone who knows the company knows Otis.”
Ms Clark considers Otis a “great little companion” who helps lift her mood during stressful times in the office.
“He would demand affection throughout the day and would come over and tap me on the leg if he wanted attention,” she said.
Oscar the book shop PR dog
Business: O’Connell’s Bookshop
Location: Adelaide
Breed: Whippet
O’Connell’s Bookshop shop mascot was named after the famous Irish poet and writer Oscar Wilde.
Oscar Whippet has been in charge of “public relations for the bookshop” for more than 10 years.
“He liaises with our customers in such a way that makes them feel welcomed and makes them want to come back,” owner Ben O’Connell said.
“He walks around the shop, greets customers and sort of will occasionally go and sit with them.”
And if you ask the boss, the canine employee is “an absolute joy” to work with.
“If team members are having a bit of a challenging day, they can sort of recharge by getting the good energy and positivity that Oscar gives,” he said.
“He is great for our staff and our customers’ mental health and wellbeing.”
Gatsby the Gluttony boss
Business: Gluttony Arts Venue Hub
Location: Adelaide
Breed: Dalmatian
Among all the dogs doing a hard days work in the Adelaide CBD’s Gluttony Arts Venue Hub office is a dalmatian named Gatsby otherwise know as “the boss”.
Director Elena Kirschbaum said Gatsby kept an eye on the other dogs who all played a role in providing a “quick moment of stress relief”.
“His resolve only breaks when someone is eating a carrot he thinks should be his,” she said.
“After a big meeting or phone call a quick game of fetch or a cuddle and a pat refreshes me to get back to work.”
Team member Gemma Winter said it took a while to warm up “the boss”.
“But once he does he is the sweetest unless you have food, in which case he’s your best friend immediately,” she said.
Gerald the salon doorman
Business: Salon 7 Hair Studio
Location: Mount Gambier
Breed: Mini groodle
At 15, Gerald is a veteran team member at Mount Gambier’s Salon 7 Hair Studio where he has served as a “doorman” for more than a decade.
“He walked into this salon as a baby and it was like it was meant to be,” salon owner Janene Lightbody said.
Ms Lightbody said the four-legged staff member took responsibility for greeting everyone who came through the door and sitting on clients’s laps.
“My dog makes a huge difference in the business, he gets all the hellos and hugs before us,” she said.
“I’ve actually had some people ring up and say, ‘is the dog going to be there?’.
“Everyone is going to miss him when he’s not here.”
Maple the website designer
Business: Lightbulb Digital
Location: Adelaide
Breed: Groodle
Two year old Maple can be found performing “light duties” and lying around at a website design firm Lightbulb Digital.
“She is an icebreaker who without bothering anyone, creates a friendly place to work and steals clients hearts,” director Morgan Martin-Skerm said.
Mr Martin-Skerm said the “pretty chilled” pooch also tried to regularly find team member’s lunch in the office.
Ralphy the chief entertainer
Business: DogRidge Winery
Location: McLaren Flat
Breed: Lagotto
His title is “chief entertainer” and Ralphy helps pick the grapes and makes sure everything runs smoothly at McLaren Flat’s DogRidge Winery.
Cellar door manager Chris Read said Ralphy was fond of humans and been hard at work for eight years.
“He just loves to give everyone company and he tries to entertain our customer too,” he said.
The lagotto has become an “inseparable” part of the cellar door and vineyards but can be found curled up under the desk during hot days.
Bruce the real estate agent
Business: Gary J Smith Real Estate
Location: Plympton
Breed: Tenterfield, jack russell cross Maltese
Bruce is the “most popular staff member” at Gary J Smith Real Estate Plympton.
Manager Deane Goodwin said the office pooch had been in the real estate game for seven years and had been there for the challenging ups and downs of the job.
“We sell and rent real estate, quite often clients see our dog Bruce and would say, ‘where do I sign up’?” Ms Goodwin said.
“When staff are stressed they just chat to Bruce or he’ll sit with them and they’ll pat his belly, he likes his belly rubs.”
Ms Goodwin said Bruce used to turn around, give a high-five, shake, lay down, and rollover but had become “old” and a “bit grumpy”.
“He’s still got about four or five desks where people have got treats so he does his rounds every morning and gets his treats,” she said.
Honey the pilates instructor
Business: Pivotal Physiotherapy and Pilates
Location: North Adelaide
Breed: Maltese Shih tzu
Honey joined the Pivotal Physiotherapy and Pilates office when she was 12 weeks old and weighed under a kilo.
“Honey is the light of our lives and keeps us all laughing and smiling at work,” operations manager Jo Altman said.
“Ever since, customers absolutely loved having her around and they want to cuddle her and say hello.
“She’s more popular than the staff if she’s not here, customers always ask, ‘where’s the dog?’.
“Especially clients that may be going through traumatic things like injuries and trauma, she helps make those people smile.”
Harper the public relations superstar
Business: Kooky Events
Location: Adelaide City
Breed: Staffy cross
A four months old “trainee” Harper is a “little public relations superstar” at Kooky Events.
“She’s my little office buddy, she is really important for office wellbeing,” events manager Cristina Nazar said.
“I find having a dog around is relaxing to have, you can vent to her and she can listen to you with no judgment.”
Shelby the cafe therapy dog
Business: Meeting Place MV
Location: McLaren Vale
Breed: Kelpie
Shelby, a rescued kelpie from McLaren Vale, plays a vital role in helping people with a disability step behind the cafe counter at Meeting Place MV and develop social, job and life skills.
“Her main role is to come into the room and allow our new and potential clients to become comfortable through her presence,” director Mark Potter said.
“And then she’s always here when they return for their training, to win their heart with her kind presence and encouragement.”
She’s been in the job four years, and Dr Potter said Shelby had a dedicated spot in the office but was regularly found on the pavement enjoying the sunshine.
“She would often suggest that some of our clients ham and cheese toasts should be given to her,” he said.
Join the conversation
Albo ditches flood-hit NQ to take taxpayer jet to Labor fundraiser
The Prime Minister left flood-ravaged North Queensland to attend a Labor fundraising dinner in Brisbane, using his taxpayer-funded jet for a trip that lasted just six hours.
Read more
Beyond thunderdust: Whyalla’s steel future appears apocalyptic
The Whyalla Visitor Information Centre runs three tours a week at the city’s steel works. The Advertiser bought a ticket to go behind the scenes as its future again dominates the headlines.
Read more