It’s an upscale clothing boutique with not a hair out of place — until I see a friendly, panting face greet me at the door. I can’t help but smile when I meet the happy Cavalier King Charles spaniel named Clementine.

One-year-old Clementine attends work alongside her owner Kim Kendall at St. Helena’s clothing boutique Pearl. “I feel really fortunate to be able to bring her here,” said Kendall.

Pearl owner Linda Allen also takes her Cavaliers Phoebe and Harry to work with her.

And they are not alone. Throughout St. Helena you will find dozens of these canine companions putting in a long day at work. Gone are days when they would anxiously await your return. Now, they return home with you after a “ruff” day at work.

Dog-gone stores

Just ask Calla Lilly Fine Linens and Gifts owner Beverly Caselli who has been taking her dogs to her St. Helena shop for over 25 years. She introduces me to her Silky terriers Jack and Justine, who seem to fit in perfectly with the posh décor. Caselli sees them as a part of the store.

“They were raised here,” Caselli said. “They are my back doorbell, they let me know when the delivery man, or anyone else is here.”

Besides the added security, Palladium Fine Jewelry co-owner Wayne Armstrong feels that there are many good reasons to bring dogs to work. He takes his Havanese dog, Sparky — which is short for “sparkling diamond” — to his store nearly every day.

“We feel that the dogs are a great icebreaker, and a dog can put a person at ease,” said Armstrong. “It is amazing how people really respond to the dogs, and they have a sixth sense about people.”

Perhaps the only issue is the canine love triangle between a few of the dogs. “In the afternoons Clementine will peer out the door, hoping to see Jasper (from Patina Estate & Fine Jewelry). She is in love with Jasper, and they have a thing going,” said Kendall.

Sparky is a bit jealous of Clementine’s affection for Jasper, but this does not appear to affect their friendship and brotherly bond.

In fact, Armstrong had glass double-dutch doors installed especially for Sparky and his brother Jasper, so they can peer out and see each other during the day. Sparky can even sense when closing time is near, and goes to the door to await Jasper.  

Still more dogs

There are dogs just about everywhere you look. You will meet the Labrador retriever Abby when you visit the pet supply store Fideaux, or you may see the French bulldog Olive primping in the Halo salon.

Johnny, the spunky Jack Russell terrier attends to customers at the salon and boutique Heaven and Earth.

West Highland terrier Chloe greets clients each day alongside her owner, Gale Morgan Lane, who owns St. Helena Real Estate.

“I love bringing Chloe to work, and she brings people into the store. She has a lot of dog friends around here, so she loves coming to work, too,” says Lane.

Good for business

And the number of dog-friendly work places is growing. About 20 percent of American companies allow dogs at work, reported CBS Evening News correspondent Richard Schlesinger recently.

So why are more and more canines in careers? The answer is simply this: Dogs reduce stress, and when you have happy dogs, you have happy employees, and that’s just good business.

The American Humane Association also reports that besides an increase in staff morale, the benefits include increased worker productivity, an increase in sales, and a decrease in crimes in stores where dogs are brought to work.  

That’s good news for shops and businesses around town, but it only confirms what people around here already seem to know.

“I just can’t imagine not having Jasper here,” says Patina co-owner Marcus Robbins as Jasper reclines on a glass case surrounding brilliant diamonds. “The dogs around town make everyone happy.”

Karen Buller Grimes lives in St. Helena and writes for food and wine newsletter localpairing.com. She has two Cavalier King Charles spaniels.