Dogs in the office

Our office is dog friendly. The big boss has a dog. I have never seen more than one at a time. They are all well behaved and stay out of the way. Except mine. He is a barky nightmare. My colleagues all find it funny and ask when I am next taking him in.
I would ask how common it is and if offered the job make a decision on that info. I don’t see what else you can do.

Just dig a little more (politely) about how it's managed and ask for an office tour if possible. It's like a lot of work environment things - the implementation is important and what is a plus for some is neutral or negative for others. Consider the layout of the office in addition to how many dogs and how often.

I use a service dog and my job frequently has me visiting client offices, so it's hard for me to miss the number of offices that do have poorly-managed dog policies. There are also plenty who handle it well and it's a neutral thing for non-dog people and a positive for those who like being able to take a break and rub some dog ears.

And service dogs are obviously different than pets, but FWIW my dog does get to take breaks from his job and socialize in designated locations (inside and outside) when we're in our own office. There's usually a little line of people waiting to take their own break with him... I've long accepted that my four-legged shadow is always going to be more popular in the office than I am.

I am a dog person, but I still don't want to work around other people's dogs.

I worked in a shared working space where dogs were welcome. I loved the dog next door, as she was really well trained and did everything on command, immediately. But there was a totally useless dog owner who had a horrible dog they couldn't be arsed to train - it barked and growled and stalked people and it was obvious it was going to bite me at some point. I asked the owner twice to please keep the dog on a lead and she refused the first time and grudgingly put it on a lead after I asked a second time, but only when she saw I was working that particular day. She felt very hard done by and seemed completely oblivious to the fact that it was her inability to train her dog that was the problem.

I worked with a person who was blind and had a service dog. It laid under his desk and caused no issues.

Ive never worked in an office where anyone could bring their dogs.

If it’s not for you then politely decline the interview.

I’m 40s and would love this! But I find stroking a dog to be quite calming. But I get this wouldn’t be everyone's cup of tea.

People who say this don’t seem to realise that for many of us, having animals around makes it MORE stressful.

I wouldn’t work at a company that allowed dogs in the office - beyond ridiculous and often just an excuse for the CEO to not pay for doggy day care. I’m allergic, it would be awful.

I am not a dog owner and I know that there are nuances to every answer... pre COVID, people owned dogs and lots of those people worked in offices and didn't bring them in. What did they do?

I have a dog, but I think it’s totally unnecessary to have dogs in the office.

All this dogs every fucking where is really annoying

We probably have a dog in the office maybe 1-2 times a week. Both belong to staff that have their own office so mostly stay by their owner. One is a really lovely old girl though and she definitely knows who her fans are! She’ll pop round in the morning and before home time to say a quick hello to her favourites, she’ll happily bypass those that don’t usually pay her attention

I worked somewhere where initially there were no dogs, then people started bringing them in when the manager - who would have stopped it - was away.
i am allergic but basically no one cared that I was made ill, so I left.

I wish we were allowed dogs - or any animals in the office - amazing for stress

It's clearly not the job for you I'd cancel the interview

Lots of dogs in my office. I pay them no attention
I have surmised that only people with placid well.behaved dogs bring them in. They seem to sleep a lot

I'm a dog lover and would love to work in such a place, but understand not everyone does. I like the above though obviously even this is only good if you like dogs.

I love dogs but I can only imagine the complaints if we had them in the office and not fair to those who may have an allergy. I have a dog walker for my office days

We have a dog in the office, she sleeps all day and is no bother.

I wouldn’t work in a doggy office. No way. 🤢

This company odviously feels it is and are happy to have dogs in their office. Her not liking dogs in the office isn't their concern either 🤷‍♀️

The company have made it very clear. The job isn't for you. You won't be happy and you would be an arsehole to go in and try to change the way they run their office.

My pet panther has separation anxiety, shall I bring it in ?

A dog’s “anxiety” is not the employer’s concern.

I worked somewhere once where a colleague brought his very big dog in - the dog was so calm and gentle I swear it became a therapy dog (did for me at stressful times anyway and took the stress levels down remarkably)

No from me. I couldn’t do it. I just don’t like dogs and I’m not comfortable around them. I’m not a bad person otherwise lol