The people have spoken.
We’re thrilled to share the news that the loveable Vincent from beauty brand Fluff has been crowned Australia’s Best Office Dog.
To celebrate the occasion, Scout visited the Fluff office in Fitzroy last week to present Vinnie with the coveted winner’s rosette and sash, as well as some goodies from Australia’s best fresh dog food 4Legs.
“He’s so happy – look at him!” said Catia Toniolo, Vincent’s owner and colleague, as he sat looking completely unimpressed with his new rosette.
The result was extremely close; of the thousands of votes that piled in over the past five weeks, the five-year-old German shepherd won by only 30 votes.
Check out the other finalists here.
“I really didn’t think he’d win,” says Toniolo. “I mean, we love him, but people usually like little fluffy things.”
Vinnie has been hanging out with Fluff since they moved into their space in October. He visits once or twice a week, and according to his colleagues has a calm temperament and an endearing personality.
“I think he does promote happiness, actually.” says Toniolo. “People sit on the floor with him when they need to take a break. He helps us all chill out a bit.
“And he likes to play guard dog, although he’s not very good at it. He’ll usually bark and sniff visitors a little to suss them out before letting them pass. Some people get a little scared of him because of his size, but he’s a good boy – he’s all bark and no bite.”
Vincent also plays office timekeeper, a role that helps the four Fluff employees maintain a healthy work–life balance.
“He just knows when it’s the end of the day – and he’ll howl to make sure everyone goes home on time.” says Toniolo.
It was this skill that appealed universally to the competition voters.
Voters were also impressed by his fluffiness, his intelligence, and his “charming good looks”. As Emily Dimmack put it: “Find me a better looking dog. Seriously.”
If Vinnie has inspired you to get an office dog, we highly recommend it. Studies have confirmed that dogs can have a positive effect on organisational commitment, can improve team cohesion, and might lower employee cortisol (the hormone brought on by stress) levels.
Not all dogs are suitable for the workplace, though; if your dog barks, isn’t toilet trained, or sheds a lot, best they stay at home. And before you bring your pooch into the office it’s best to check if any employees have allergies or related phobias.
Check out more of Vinnie’s workplace, Fluff here and on Instagram. If you haven’t heard of it, you will soon. It’s the new venture from frank body co-founder Erika Geraerts, and will launch its first make-up range late May.
Thanks to all those involved in Scout’s 2018 Australia’s Best Office Dog Competition, including all those who submitted entries, those who took the time to vote, our friends at 4Legs and, of course, the many great office pooches across the country doing their thing.
