On any given day at our Seattle headquarters—outside of the COVID-19 pandemic—employees share workspace with as many as 7,000 dogs. At Amazon, bring-your-dog-to-work day is every day—a long-standing tradition that both Amazon employees and their four-legged friends enjoy.

A young golden retriever sits on the floor, looking up. His mouth is open, and he is surrounded by his blanket and chew toy.
Marshall, who is always up for a game of fetch or a walk around the office.
A brown and black dog looks up at the sky with its mouth wide open and tongue sticking out.
Rufus enjoying a sunny day in the Amazon dog park.
A golden retriever sits on the office floor surrounded by toys.
Sophie keeping watch over all her toys.
A grey and white dog looks up intently at the camera.
Jasper is known for his cuddles and intense laziness.
One big dog and one small dog lay next to each other on the office floor.
Bailey and Piper, hanging out.
A small, white, furry dog lays on the ground holding a toy.
Kodiak

“Having dogs in our workplace is an amazing treat. They make employees smile, and we’re proud this is such a uniquely Amazonian tradition," said Lara Hirschfield, our “Woof Pack” Manager. “Our employees love bringing their dogs to work and meeting their co-workers’ dogs.”

It all started with Rufus

“Amazon has been dog-friendly since Day 1,” said Hirschfield. “Our dogs add to the fun, dynamic energy of our workplace.” In the early days of Amazon.com, a husband and wife team brought their Welsh corgi, Rufus, to work with them, and he became a surprisingly productive part of the team. Employees would use Rufus’ paw to click the computer mouse to launch some of the earliest pages of Amazon.com.

A hand holds a positive film strip that contains a picture of a Welsh Corgi named Rufus, the first dog of Amazon. He is wearing a hat that says amazon.com.
Meet one of Amazon's first employees, a corgi named Rufus
Rufus' human parents remember life with Amazon's first canine staffer.
Read more

Rufus’ memory is still honored at Amazon: There are photos of him around the Puget Sound campus, and there’s even a building in South Lake Union that was named after the beloved corgi.

On a typical day, thousands of dogs follow in Rufus’ paw steps. Some of the popular pooches at the company include Lucy the Labrador, Sherriff a Golden-Aussie mix, and a Papillion named Martini. If you land on one of our error 404 pages, you’ll be introduced to some of the dogs that come to work with their owners regularly.

Dogs of Amazon - Bronx and Dory look at the camera
Dory and Bronx
A brown poodle sits in an office window, overlooking skyscrapers and a Seattle street. The dog is looking at the photographer.
Baker keeps an eye on downtown Seattle from his favorite window.
Two dogs sitting next to each other looking up.
Bruno and Indy waiting patiently for a treat.
Black and white furry dog leaning on top of a desk.
Bella is working hard or hardly working?
Dog in stocking cap.
Rae
A Leonberger dog looks to the left, with her mouth open, tongue out. She wears a collar and leash and is happily seated on an Amazonian, who sits on the floor.
Elsa visits with some of her office mates.
A small, brown dog sitting on an office chair.
Camden keeping a very important seat warm.

Perks for pups

In addition to hanging with their pet parents and getting fussed over by other Amazonians, there are plenty of fun things for dogs to do on campus. Reception desks in every office building stock dog treats and hand them out to any pooch who asks for one.

On the 17th floor of a building named Doppler, there’s a doggie deck—complete with a fake fire hydrant—where dogs can run around. The neighborhood has no shortage of poop bag stations, designated dog relief areas, and dog-friendly water fountains. In 2019, we opened a community off-leash dog park in the Denny Triangle neighborhood for employees and dogs in the community to enjoy—featuring rocks and other structures for dogs to play on.

Going beyond the campus

Our devotion to our four-legged friends doesn’t stop at making sure they're enjoying their time on campus. Last year, in Tempe, Arizona, more than 90 Amazon employees, volunteers, and retailers came out to support the Ohana Animal Rescue. After more than 480 volunteer hours, the team completed 100 percent of Ohana’s renovation wish list, including creating new “meet and greet” rooms, renovating their medical exam room, organizing a 1,000 square-foot thrift store, and more. Three of the volunteers even went home as the proud new parents of adopted dogs.

Bringing teammates together, one dog at a time

Having pets in the workplace has been found to lower stress and boost morale, but the benefits don't stop there. The dog-friendly policy also contributes to the company’s culture of collaboration. As Hirschfield said, “Dogs in the workplace are an unexpected mechanism for connection. I see employees meeting each other in our lobbies or elevators every day because of their dogs.”