Dogs in the office

I don't like spiders (as an example) and I'd not be going to a spider friendly office, it'd be a no from me before starting

😂

I reckon this will purely depend on the dogs and owners and the office policy, rather than being something you can predict. As an example, my friends dog sits quietly in a corner, doesn't really like to greet people, not interested in my dog at all. My dog is a barmy labrador who absolutely loves all people and dogs. If it's an office full of quiet, aging, slightly anti social or very well trained dogs then you'll be happy as Larry. I would ask for an office visit/description of how it works and any rules they have in place on where dogs can go and how they should behave. Even if currently it's quiet dogs snoozing under their owners desks, if they don't have rules in place I guess nothing stops a newbie bringing a dog like mine, or for example if someone gets a puppy and brings it before it's fully trained (and even then teenage dogs can be really disobedient) - so it really depends what they allow for you to future proof it. You'll also have to take into account that most people there have chosen a dog friendly office, they'll like dogs, and you might find they really love dogs, so tricky explaining you don't like them and then still building happy relationships. If every time their dog says hello you look horrified they might not be your biggest fan (equally, I'm a dog owner and I get some people don't like them and don't wanna be sniffed but some dog people really can't get their heads around it and take it as a personal insult).
Speak to them first, but honestly, I don't like spiders (as an example) and I'd not be going to a spider friendly office, it'd be a no from me before starting

Because you would be. It's as simple as that. I haven't said ARE an arsehole for not liking the idea. But going by your responses to me here you definitely seem like you would start complaining after a while especially if it changed slightly and dogs where there more often than they've said 🤷‍♀️

I'm a dog person but spending my day with other people's is a definite nono. I would ask to visit the office on an average dog day and suss it out.

I'd love to work in a dog-friendly office.

I much prefer being around live animals than dead animals. Having to keep my food in a fridge where people have put dead animals and animals' bodily secretions is horrible but if I said this at work I'd be considered a madwoman!

@Merryoldgoat

Honestly, I"ve got two dogs and I don't get offended if people don't make a fuss over them.

I get that they can be annoying at times and when visitors come round I make sure they are not jumped up.

I've got dogs but would never take them into an office environment. I wouldn't want others dogs there either. Some people are afraid of dogs.

Obviously if you're not a dog fan, you won't have that 'plus point', but the point I was trying to make which got lost was that because they're dog friendly doesn't mean there would necessarily be dogs in every day and also that dogs vary hugely

Might be worth going for the interview and seeing what it's like. I've worked somewhere where dogs were allowed and there was very little take up. Of the three dogs that were ever brought in, one was well behaved and the other two were a nightmare. No one asked the two badly behaved ones to stop coming. It was so distracting trying to work with yapping. That being said, I really liked them all and it was nice to have a play on your coffee break

🙄 Because you would be an arsehole to complain, just as anyone would be to complain about something they where fully aware of before they starred any job. You say you have no intention of complaining, but I wonder how you will feel in 6 months time?

It was the highlight of the week when a dog was in the office where I used to work. My dog is a bathed every week, hypoallergenic curly thing who smells mostly of fabric conditioner from sleeping on my bed. That said, I didn't take him in because he literally has an opinion about everything and would drive everyone nuts.
I think that most people are aware of their dogs behaviours and wouldn't take them if they would be an arse (like mine). I do think though, that if you're joining a company with a culture of dog lovers, this job may not be for you. I think you should look somewhere that's a better personal fit for you.

This was suggested in our company in 2021.
I said if there were dogs in the office I would not be working there any longer and then it was put to a secret vote and it was agreed no dogs.
One person who had a 'covid dog' was a bit miffed but 🤷‍♀️. Everyone else took it on the chin.

I worked in an office where they hired a blind person (she had some peripheral vision but was registered legally blind) with a guide dog.

One employee complained as she was Muslim and dogs are considered unclean and she wouldn't work around one.

She was told nothing could be done - legally the guide dog overrode her religious beliefs. She tried to take the company to a tribunal stating religious discrimination but was told she'd lose.

She resigned in the end but she caused so much stress and bad feeling towards the blind employee who needed the dog to get around.

OP clearly isn't an arsehole. / gavel

Wow the world really has gone mad. How ridiculous. If it were me I wouldn’t even waste my time interviewing.

I take my dog to the office with me, she’s very well behaved and sleeps in her bed behind my desk. Everyone else enjoys having her there. We had a temp worker who was allergic to dogs but she worked in a different room and I made sure my dog didn’t ever go in there and stayed in her bed whenever she came into our room.
Consideration of owners will impact how much the dogs will bother you and unfortunately a lot of dog owners these days can be inconsiderate.
Though, they have dogs in the office and you don’t like dogs so it’s probably not the job for you anyway.

You haven't. But you have made it very clear it's not something you would like. I also haven't said that you would complain just that you would be an arsehole if you did, especially as you where aware from the outset. So why knowingly put yourself into a situation you won't be happy with and that would make you very unpopular if you tried to change it?

I love dogs and I still wouldn't want dogs in the office

Before I volunteered I worked all my life in gardens. There were always dogs in the gardens I worked in - mine, other gardeners and workers and the garden owners.

Dogs were welcome. Nobody was 'entitled'. The jobs were always done to everyone's satisfaction and the dogs were never any trouble.

You sound very inflexible and short on imagination about how happy workplaces might make for good outcomes for all.