Pablo the office dog of Clerkenwell Films

As I walk into Clerkenwell Films’ offices for our meeting, I find a sign about casting in progress on the door and an actor waiting on the chairs in front of it. There is an intial qui pro quo as I ask for directions to a team member, and, assuming I am in for the audition, he tells me that if I wait by the door my name will be called. The misunderstanding is soon clarified and I discover that Clerkenwell Films takes up two floors and I am clearly at the wrong one. Behind the right door, there is Pablo running towards me with the sweetest face.

Pablo has been joining the crew at Clerkenwell Films since he was a few months old. Twice a week, he walks in after an on foot commute following his morning stroll, so his travel is never stressing. “Pablo is the most chilled out 16-month old Labradoodle you’re likely to meet. He’s really easy going and loves nothing more than sniffing around the park, playing with other dogs, and finding lost balls”, says Charlie, with whom Pablo often stays. Clerkenwell Films is a small company and Pablo is the only office dog, “So it suits us well”, adds Charlie.

Pablo is also known for…

Loving: Smaller dogs, sniffing, cuddles, balls of all shapes and sizes, playing tug of war, chilling out, running on the Heath.
Hating: Doesn’t hate anything, but is wary of people in uniforms or elaborate clothing/costumes
Funniest habit: Finding balls that aren’t visible to the naked eye – he will dig for them!
Most annoying habit: Couldn’t be annoying if he tried – though he can be a bit stubborn when he decides to be

A Labradoodle day at the office

During the photoshoot with Pablo, two teammates walk into the room where Pablo is working mastering his ‘stay’ command, and they sit on the couch while discussing over scripts and plots. To avoid a super spoiler of whatever series they may be talking about, I quietly lure Pablo out of the room and move to the open space area.

“Pablo likes to chill out in his owner’s office in the morning, but he always come out for a bit of affection from each of us. He’ll usually engage one of us in a bit of ‘fetch’ at some stage and then he’ll go back to napping or sniffing,” says Charlie. “Pablo has such a calming effect on the office. He acts as our communal stress ball. At some point everyone will wander over to him for a cuddle and a chat – he likes to plonk himself right in the middle of us to maximise affection. The only challenge is when he doesn’t come in for a week and we all miss him!”

Lunchtime and afternoon walks are a great diversion for Pablo too. “We’re lucky because St James’s Churchyard is just around the corner and there is a brilliant community of dog walkers there. Pablo has made friends with lots of dogs and I’ve had some great conversations with their owners. There is a dog-friendly café in the Churchyard and they always leave water out for the thirsty pooches. Pablo loves nothing more than spending half an hour sniffing through the terrain,” says Charlie.

Talking about lunch break trips to the park, Pablo developed a famous habit. “He went through a stage of bringing sticks back to the office after a lunchtime walk – they became bigger and bigger until we were nearly bringing full on branches back. He’d then sit and shred them to pieces,” laughs Charlie.