When you enter Gun Dog Supply in Mathiston, one of the first things you notice is a big brown dog named Wrinkles.
Wrinkles is comfortable there on the floor, at his master Drew Blackwell’s desk. In this large room of office cubicles, many have a dog bed beside the chair.
GDS is primarily a mail order supply company for hunting dogs and law enforcement dogs. It supplies e-collars, hunting and training supplies for pointers, retrievers, and hounds and beagles, containment systems, tracking systems, dog training collars, tracking collars and more. The company relocated to Mathiston’s empty Red Kap plant a year ago.
When GDS moved from Starkville to Mathiston, it went from an 18,000-square-foot building to a 73,000-square-foot space. “And very little of it is empty now,” says Michael Freed, human resources supervisor and general counsel for GDS.
Because the business is dog centered, allowing dogs into the office place was logical. And even though the staff feels like family, company rules have to be followed.
Dogs must be current on vaccinations and must be supervised at all times. They have to be kept on a leash to and from employees’ cars and cannot be aggressive and/or overly disruptive. Employees must clean up after their dogs and a dog waste station is provided outside.
“When you’re a dog supply company, it makes perfect sense to have dogs onsite. Plus, it’s a great stress reliever. If you’re having a bad day or you’re stressed out, petting a dog or puppy sure does help — they’re great listeners,” Freed explained.
Employee perk
Emily Edwards works in customer service and is used to people stopping by her desk. They’re not usually there to talk to her, though, they are there to visit with her dog, Huck.
“I say Huck is a person in a poodle suit,” Edwards laughs. “He is unlike any other dog I’ve ever had; he’s smart and people from all departments come to see him. Everybody loves him.”
Huck is a 4-year-old white standard poodle, weighing in at about 90 pounds. And while Huck isn’t the only dog “employed” at GDS, he’s definitely one of the best trained; he’s mastered over 20 commands.
“I love my job and it’s a nice plus to be able to bring Huck with me,” Edwards smiles. She grooms the dog herself, having installed a larger walk-in shower in her home to make it easier. Right now, Huck is growing out his mohawk.
Boosts morale
Nick Bell of Starkville has a mixed breed named Rey that he says looks like a cross between maybe a lab and a greyhound. Bell didn’t have Rey when he started work with GDS 2½ years ago. He found her through a rescue program in Starkville called Small Mercies Animal Rescue that fosters pets until they find a home.
A year a half later Rey is comfortable coming to work every day and enjoying being with her owner. Dogs and owners get a 15-minute break each morning and afternoon, and have a warehouse room where they can play. Sometimes they play outside, too. Rey is the fastest dog there and has even been featured in training videos. Her ears and stance indicate an almost constant state of alertness.
Bell thinks having the dogs at the workplace boosts morale. “If you’re having a bad day, a little time with one of the dogs can make you feel better. They’re great companions.” Rey is 30-35 pounds and knows the names of the canine friends. One of her favorites is Butters.
Bell asks Rey if she wants to see Butters; her ears rise and she starts looking at the door, tail wagging, expecting a little play time with her friend.
Butters is a full-blooded lab, about 6 months old. “I’ve been bringing her to work since I got her,” said owner Bert Currie. Butters has a kennel under his desk and can retreat for a nap when she gets tired. She is one of the younger employees.
“When you can spend more time with your dog it is easier to train the dog,” Currie explained.
Dogs have their own play area where they can be off leash and socialize.
Freed says the 55-employee operation is primarily mail or internet order now but one of its goals is to manufacture products. One is Bizzy Beds, a dog bed designed to mimic the shape of the burrow a dog makes for sleeping.
“Customer service will always be at the forefront of what we do,” Freed says. And by the looks of the canines on duty there, GDS is leading the field.
