Could your pooch be New Zealand's top office dog?

Lotti may be gambolling among the flowers but is valued by many as a friend in the office.

Pooches are reputed to be a man (or a woman's) best friend, but who would have thought they were a valued part of the workforce?

When it comes to perks in the workplace, bringing the family dog to work is one of them and a survey of 31 small to medium enterprises representing over 7000 employees by recruitment agency Frog Recruitment found 55 per cent regularly had canine visitors at work.

The survey marks the start of the search for New Zealand's 2016 Top Office Dog, with entries for the annual competition accepted until August 10.

"It's well documented that dogs in the workplace are good for wellbeing and motivation," says Frog Recruitment director Jane Kennelly.

"Within the broader context of the talent economy we have researched a range of factors that influence productivity and performance at work.

"Having dogs in the work environment can buffer the impact of stress during the workday for their owners and make the job more satisfying for those with whom they come into contact. There is definitely an increasing 'cool factor' of having a dog in the office" she said.

While survey participants from larger corporate organisations generally noted they were not allowed to bring dogs into the office, the practice was commonplace in smaller companies and creative industries such as advertising and media companies.

To enter your pooch into NZ's Top Office Dog competition, search the hashtag #nztopdog on Instagram and upload a photo, include the dog's name, business name and reason for nomination in the comments box.

A range of prizes is going to the top dogs.