More than half of U.S. households own a dog, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, and a growing share of those owners work remotely or in hybrid arrangements. For coworking operators, that overlap creates both a demand signal and a real operational question: can you welcome dogs without alienating members who would rather not share a hot desk with a Labrador? 

The answer is yes – but it takes more than a “pets welcome” sign on the door.  

Why Pet-Friendly Policy is a Membership Lever 

Dog owners who work from coworking spaces face a daily calculation. Leave the dog at home and deal with the guilt (and possibly a shredded couch), pay for daycare that runs $30 to $50 a day according to Vety, or find a workspace that solves the problem entirely. Spaces that solve it earn something hard to buy: loyalty. Members with dogs tend to stay longer because switching to a non-pet-friendly space reintroduces the exact problem they came to escape.

There is a community effect, too. Dogs become conversation starters between members who might otherwise never interact. That kind of organic connection is difficult to manufacture through networking events alone.

Getting the Policy Right 

A loose policy invites complaints. A rigid one discourages sign-ups. The operators doing this well land somewhere specific: clear, written, consistently enforced. 

Require proof of vaccinations at sign-up – not on the honor system. Designate pet-friendly zones, typically open-plan or lounge areas, and keep meeting rooms and phone booths pet-free. Set a size or temperament guideline, post it clearly and apply it to everyone. Stock basics near shared seating: water bowls, waste bags, a lint roller. None of this is expensive. Most of it is planning. 

The harder part is what happens when something goes wrong. A clear incident policy – who to notify, what constitutes a strike, when a pet is no longer welcome – protects both the operator and the members who followed the rules. Without it, one bad afternoon becomes a member relations problem. 

Whether to Charge for It  

Some spaces bundle dog access into premium memberships. Others charge a flat monthly pet fee. A few treat it as a free perk and absorb the minor additional cleaning costs. The right model depends on your market and your margins, but the decision should be intentional. If you’re adding cleaning rounds or replacing furniture faster, that cost needs a home in your pricing. 

What doesn’t work is leaving it vague. Members who bring dogs should know exactly what they’re paying and what’s expected. Members who don’t should know the policy is enforced. 

Managing the Admin Side 

A pet-friendly policy adds operational layers: tracking which members have pets on file, collecting vaccination records, applying pet fees correctly and flagging documents before they expire. Without a system, that work lands on whoever is at the front desk. 

Yardi Kube Suite lets operators attach custom member attributes – pet status, vaccination dates, expiry reminders – directly to member profiles. Pet fees apply automatically as line items on the right invoices. Expired records trigger reminders before they become a compliance gap. The policy stays enforceable without turning your staff into filing clerks.

Worth the Effort 

A pet-friendly policy won’t suit every space. If your members skew toward law firms and financial advisors taking client calls, a wandering spaniel is probably not the vibe. But for community-driven spaces targeting freelancers, startups and creative teams, pets can be a genuine differentiator – one that drives retention, builds culture and gives members a reason to pick your space over the one down the street. Just make sure you have enough lint rollers. 

Learn how Yardi Kube Suite helps coworking operators manage memberships, billing and community operations in one place.