Frog Recruitment opens annual Top Office Dog competition

Monday, 25 February 2019

2019 sees new categories and the very first conference for dogs that work

Now in its fourth year, the search for the country’s top canine colleagues started this week, with the revered title of New Zealand’s Top Office Dog at stake.

The competition was established in 2015 by leading recruitment agency, Frog Recruitment, after their research highlighted the impressive impact a four-legged friend can have in the workplace.

It is well documented that allowing pets, particularly dogs, into the office helps their owners, but it also brings positive benefits to the workplace. Our poochie colleagues have been shown to improve morale, reduce absenteeism and stress-related illnesses, and help with improving employees’ mental health,” says Frog Recruitment director Jane Kennelly.

Intrigued by the benefits of paw-power, the Frog and Conferenz team creates this nationwide feel-good competition, which sees around 400,000 people engaged with it through social media channels.

For 2019, two new categories have been added to lineup. NZ Top Dog-With-A Job and People’s Choice have been added to the NZ Top Office Dog Award. Judging will be undertaken by sponsors Hills Pet Food, Frog Recruitment and Conferenz along with a celebrity judge – and this year the winners will be announced at the unique, globally first- ever ‘Top Office Dogs Conference’. To create an event of high quality, creativity and with conference bells and doggie-whistles, Frog is thrilled to be partnering with Conferenz to ensure the event hits the mark.

Held at the Ellerslie Event Centre on 14 March, the NZ Top Office Dogs Conference; ‘A Dog’s Breakfast’ to host canines of all breeds to celebrate their contribution to our wellbeing both inside and outside the workplace. The event will start at 7.00am and run until 9.00am and is raising funds for the Saving Hope Foundation, an organisation dedicated to saving abused dogs.

Labour list MP Priyanca Radhakrishnan, who owns two rescue dogs, will speak at the event. “We like the wellbeing message that the government is promoting to New Zealanders, and considering Parliament is now a dog-friendly place thanks to Speaker Trevor Mallard and his canine friends, we are thrilled Priyanca can join us,” says Jane.

Ruby the courier dog is the current reigning NZ Top Office Dog. The Shih Tzu ‘works’ at Auckland’s Deadline Express Couriers and took out the award from 172 other canines. Ruby’s owner and managing director of Deadline Express, Jenny Callagher, says that Ruby simply lifts morale and is “totally worth the smiles and cuddles she gives”.

“Everyone in the office believes Ruby’s entertaining personality and calming presence has provided relief from the urgent, often stressful nature of our work.”

Entries are now open for dogs across New Zealand to be nominated for this year’s awards. To enter NZ Top Office Dog awards, visit www.topofficedog.co.nz and complete two short steps.

This year’s prize package includes a coveted NZ Top Office Dog trophy for each award, Animates vouchers, one year’s supply of Simparica Flea Treatment courtesy of Zoetis and doggles.

Conference Tickets are $20.00 per dog. Humans are free. Conference proceeds go to Saving Hope Foundation.

ENDS

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