The owners of a Nottinghamshire cleaning firm are calling on firms to allow staff to take their dogs to work with them.
Mike and Jackie Clark know first hand the benefits of having your pooch in the office with you.
Max, their eight-year-old Cocker Spaniel, has been going to work with them every day since he was a puppy.
"It would not be the same at work without him," said Mike. "He helps to bring a smile to everyone's face at any point during the day."
The couple run A&G ChemDry corr in Cotgrave, which specialises in cleaning carpets, rugs and upholstery.
Max even has his own chair in the office, where he spends a large majority of his day snoozing.
He may not get involved in the practical side of the business, but Mike said he is an invaluable member of the team.
Mike, 66, said: "The dogs we had before came to work with us and Max has been no exception.
"He is so well behaved. The staff really appreciate him being there. He is an ever present. If we are there, he is there.
"We are hearing more and more about people having dogs in their work place. I think it is great and other bosses should consider it.
"From our point of view, our children have grown up, so he like our child now."
Jackie added: "When we have visitors to the office they ask if they can see Max. They ask to see him ahead of speaking to us.
"Max will go to get one of his toys and take it to them."
The couple, who live in Plumtree, have run the business since the mid-1990s and have always had their dogs with them.
Jackie added: "We just would not be without them. Our dogs go everywhere with us."
The couple are not the first to call for bosses at all businesses to allow dogs in the workplace.
Studies have been done which have demonstrated that pooches can help to reduce stress and make people's jobs more satisfying.
One such study of 75 staff was included in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management.
The researchers suggested access to dogs boosted morale and reduced stress levels, whether people had access to their own pets or other people's.
Professor Randolph Barker, lead researcher at Virginia Commonwealth University in the US, said: "The employees as a whole had higher job satisfaction than industry norms."
