Caroline stood near the checkout counter at downtown Bend’s Gypsy Soul, a clothing boutique. When a customer began rifling through hanging dresses, she sprung into action, sniffing at her ankles. Not too concerned, Alissa Guthrie, 38, extended her hand and petted the gray and white Mal-Shi.

“Hi! How are you doing?” Guthrie said, talking to the toy-sized pup. Caroline quaked with delight and whipped her feathery tail. “Crazy, crazy, crazy!” Guthrie said. “I love dogs.”

If it seems like encountering a dog or cat at businesses is becoming more common, it’s not you; it’s a fact. Nationwide, 8 percent of workplaces allow employees to bring pets to work, according to a 2015 Society for Human Resource Management survey. That’s an increase of 3 percentage points from 2013.

Bend businesses, at least downtown, may be ahead of the curve on this. Rod Porsche, the executive director of the Downtown Bend Business Association, estimates 25 percent of downtown businesses allow employees to bring their dogs, excluding restaurants.

Local retail shop owners and employees have found bringing their pet to work has multiple benefits. Pet owners don’t have to worry about their dog or cat being at home alone, being around customers helps socialize dogs and animals entertain children who tag along with their parents on shopping excursions.

Danae DeSpain, Gypsy Soul co-owner, has two dogs she brings to her shop. She said her shop dogs are a part of the fabric of the store.

Porsche said at least two of his co-workers bring their dogs to work every day.

“I can’t give you specifics, but anecdotally, I can tell you it’s a huge thing in downtown Bend,” he said, mentioning how nearby Drake Park facilitates quick walks and potty breaks throughout the day. Porsche also pointed out how shop dogs boost their owners’ morale.

“I think there is something to the fact that it’s getting harder and harder to keep quality employees. One way to make them happier — instead of paying them more money — is to allow them to have their pets with them during the day,” Porsche said. “If they’re just as productive with their pet, then it’s all good.”

Kelli Brooks, who has lived in Bend for 20 years, kept her Yorkshire terrier, Ruby, as a shop dog at her now-shuttered store At The Beach.

“I definitely have seen more dogs. It’s not just Bend, but so many places are so dog-friendly,” said Brooks, who is the marketing and events coordinator at the Downtown Bend Business Association. “Dogs are like family, and you don’t want to leave them home. I know there are people who don’t like dogs or want them in shops, but a lot of people find them welcoming — they break the ice.”

Downtown businesses that have shop dogs include Local Joe, Bendy Dog, Cowgirl Cash and Karen Bandy Studio. Diverging from the others, Wabi Sabi keeps a shop cat.

Brooks makes another point: Shop pets tend to be cleaner.

“Most owners don’t want their dogs shedding on their merchandise,” Brooks said. “They’re usually better groomed than others.”

At Gypsy Soul, Kingston, DeSpain’s Cavalier King Charles spaniel, had just been bathed and brushed.

DeSpain rescued her dogs from a situation where the previous owner never let the dogs outdoors. As a result, she has worked to socialize them — something that happens organically at the store.

Customers seem to enjoy the experience, too.

Kelley Deines had popped into Gypsy Soul while in town visiting her sister. The 32-year-old from Kansas said shop dogs aren’t common in her home state.

“I think it’s good; the dogs are inviting,” Deines said while Caroline gave her a sniff. Deines said she doesn’t mind dogs so long as when she’s at a restaurant a strange one doesn’t hop into her lap and begin eating her food.

In downtown Bend, pets are free to accompany their owners into any store that welcomes them. Dog-friendly locations are marked by stainless steel water bowls stationed in front of a business: the universal symbol. DeSpain said a customer brings a dog in about every other day. Sometimes they bring their dogs by just to say hello.

Darcie DeSpain, the co-owner of Gypsy Soul and Danae’s mother, said the dogs contribute to an enjoyable work environment — she can’t recall any clashes among canines. She has been bringing Baby, her 5-year-old Yorkiepoo, to work since she rescued her 3½ years ago. Baby was skittish around people but has warmed to human interaction.

“Being in the store has been good for Baby. She used to be scared of people; now they come around to see her,” she said.

Sagebrush Cycles mechanic Gary Crosswhite, 31, has brought his black-and-tan Queensland heeler to his wrenching gig since he adopted her 2½ years ago; Annie’s now around 4.

Crosswhite said the pro-dog policy was established by the owner and the manager who bring in their huskies. “Their dogs don’t like being at the shop as much as Annie,” Crosswhite said.

One day recently, Annie discovered a red plastic axle cap, which she clicked between her teeth when she wasn’t dropping it in front of — or placing it delicately on the foot of — any number of employees and customers she hoped would lob it across the floor so she could scamper after it.

“Any bike shop that’s any good has a shop dog,” said Brian Park, a Rocky Mountain Bicycles sales representative who was visiting the store.

“She’s great with customers’ kids,” Crosswhite said, describing how she’ll keep the kids entertained while he helps their parents onto a new mountain bike.

Crosswhite found Annie at BrightSide Animal Center in Redmond. He said she would be miserable if he had to keep her at home during shifts. Like the DeSpains’ dogs, Annie’s consistent mingling with dog-loving customers has allowed her to shed her social anxiety, Crosswhite said.

“When (the rescue center employee) first brought Annie to meet me, she was trying to climb up into her lap; she was afraid of strangers, and she hid under the chair,” Crosswhite said. He couldn’t earn her trust in the first meeting. After bringing her home, he said she slowly imprinted on him. Now Annie follows him everywhere and happily interacts with 15 to 50 people a day.

He added, “She’s just not afraid anymore.”

— Reporter: 541-617-7816, pmadsen@bendbulletin.com