The furry icebreaker: Architecture firm Founder Andrew Vinci on canine colleague Victor the whippet

Today is International Dog Day, and nothing quite captures the joy of this celebration like a wagging tail, nose kisses, and gentle nudges when your dog spots your food.

Dogs, along with other animals, bring a sense of serenity wherever they go. This is one reason why many people take their pets to the office.

Various studies have shown that having a dog at work improves morale, relieves stress and burnout, and generally enhances employees’ experience in the workplace. Research from Washington State University indicates that interacting with dogs boosts cognitive functions such as thinking, planning, memory, and concentration, ultimately leading to greater employee efficiency.

This has certainly been the case for Andrew Vinci, Founder of Vinci Architects, and his whippet, Victor.

In comments to MaltaCEOs.mt, Perit Vinci shared how he adopted Victor, the office dog, when he was just four months old.

When asked why he brought his companion to the office, Perit Vinci explained that due to his long working hours, he “would never have gotten a dog just to leave him at home” waiting for his return.

Perit Vinci added that choosing the right office dog “definitely adds a positive vibe to the office.”

Cheekily, he remarked that, despite their athletic appearance and speed, it’s “very difficult” to describe how lazy whippets are. “This makes them very adaptable to environments without continuous access to open spaces, such as apartments and, of course, offices,” he continued.

For Victor, experiencing the hustle and bustle of the office is an ordinary part of everyday life, and as long as he gets his long evening walks, he remains a happy and easy-going dog.

Dogs also have the ability to create connections between people. A study from Virginia Commonwealth University found that when dogs are present in the office, employees tend to get to know each other better and engage in more conversations. While these conversations often revolve around the dog, they serve as a foundation for building work relationships.

This has certainly been true for Victor, whose charm attracts everyone who steps into the office, from employees to clients.

“People enjoy playing with him, taking him out for a short walk, and he’s a great icebreaker with new clients. He’s definitely one of the team,” Perit Vinci concludes.