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Original poster

Boss' dog at work

80 replies

ElderAve · 21/01/2020 21:59

Boss has a very sweet medium sized dog that he often brings to work.

It stays with her in her office and is generally well behaved but does like to investigate people and will jump up a bit.

I'm not a dog person. I don't hate them but they're not something that's ever been part of my life and I'm not used to it.

Is it very unreasonable not to want a dog pawing at me and slobbering over my (dry clean) work suits when I'm in his office?

OP posts:
Original poster
ElderAve · 21/01/2020 22:00

I messed that up, boss is a he, dog is her.

OP posts:
FlaskMaster · 21/01/2020 22:03

Yanbu. However, as a dog person I have to say yabu a bit because awwww, it's a lovely dog! My working day would be improved a thousand fold if I had a lovely dog to pet in the office. Can you avoid the dog at all?

WhoWants2Know · 21/01/2020 22:06

Well, it's a tough situation. If you are honest and up front about not being comfortable with jumping/drooling, will you worry that the boss is secretly judging you for not being a dog person?

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Dogs
LimpidPools · 21/01/2020 22:07

You don't have to like it, but you do have to put up with it. Or go and find yourself a new job.

Jumping up is annoying, but I bet it doesn't really slobber on you.

Likethebattle · 21/01/2020 22:10

I miss my old office dog. It was the owners and was lovely.

Oliveo · 21/01/2020 22:13

Aw I like dogs too much for me to personally be annoyed by most things they do but can see how it would be annoying/ uncomfortable if you’re a bit frightened of them. Out of interest, what breed is she?

Original poster
ElderAve · 21/01/2020 22:19

Boss is already judging me for not being a dog person. He's very professional about it but I know he thinks I'd benefit from learning to love his dog Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
ElderAve · 21/01/2020 22:20

One of those pooddle crosses

OP posts:
Original poster
ElderAve · 21/01/2020 22:20

It does slobber. Yesterday it gave itself a good shake and I got a good shower

OP posts:
MamehaSan · 21/01/2020 22:25

Hell this would really piss me off. No problem if the dog minds its own business and leaves me alone, but jumping up, pawing and sobbering on me? No thank you very much Envy

JustGoodVibes · 21/01/2020 22:29

I feel your pain...
My boss also has an office dog, it barks constantly, begs for food at my desk every lunch time, licks itself LOUDLY, stinks the building out and gets under my feet when walking about. Angry

Wereallsquare · 21/01/2020 22:39

I am probably being unreasonable, but I just do not understand people who do not appreciate dogs. Dogs are pure joy! I wish I had a dog at work. So yes, I think YABVU. As PP said, you probably need to find another job.

Monny1 · 21/01/2020 22:42

You poor thing. I am not a dog person, l would absolutely hate that. What is wrong with some people, a dog doesn’t belong in a workplace environment unless you work in the vets or on a farm!

katielilly · 21/01/2020 22:42

I wonder how employees who have severe dog allergies manage when their boss suddenly decides to bring their pet dog into work?

Londonmummy66 · 21/01/2020 22:45

Explain to your boss that you would happily become a dog person if he pays your dry cleaning bills............

misspiggy19 · 21/01/2020 22:46

@katielilly

I can honestly say I have never come across a single person who has a dog allergy

saraclara · 21/01/2020 22:47

You're on a hiding to nothing if you say anything. People are even more defensive about their dogs than they are about their kids. Say anything even slightly critical about it being there and your career is over.

I'm not even joking. And I like dogs. But dog owners these days...

TheThingWithFeathers · 21/01/2020 22:52

I would hate this. I really don't like dogs and everywhere seems to be dog friendly these days. You can choose not to go into a cafe where dogs are allowed but you can't exactly choose not to go to work.

Pretenditsaplan · 21/01/2020 22:57

@misspiggy19 i have quite a severe dander allergy to any pet im not familar with. As in if i dont live with it or see it everyday i have problems. Id even have probles going on holiday for a week and coming back to my own pets with out having antihistimes for a few days. And its not oh i sneeze and my eyes water allergy its terrible hives and throat closing allergy. Even if i want to go to my normal pub these days i have to take precautions as theyre allowed in. If a dog was suddenly introduced out of no where at work id be in an ambulance if it acted how the op describes. Im a cat person personally but i do like dogs in a lets have a quick pet while my meds are working kind of way. I can no longer even take public transport as its gotten so bad before from owners letting dogs off leashes on buses (god knows why id be incredibly anxious theyd escape at the nest stop) and they come bounding up to you before youve even registered theres a dog on board.

katielilly · 21/01/2020 22:58

@misspiggy19
You're not serious surely?
One of my DC has a number of hospital diagnosed allergies, epipen carrier etc and allergy to dog saliva is one of their allergens. No fun when your whole face blows up like a balloon and you're wheezing.

lollybee1 · 21/01/2020 22:59

YANBU. That is disgusting having a dog near you all day.

Herpesfreesince03 · 21/01/2020 23:00

I got sacked on my second day of work after being attacked by the office poodle. The first time it went for me as soon as it spotted me (outside) at least 40 feet away, it was that aggressive it went for anyone it didn’t know. Luckily someone snatched it up before it got to me. The second day it saw me as soon as I walked into the office. I tried to ignore it until it latched onto my shin bone, I was screaming in pain and still trying my best not to hurt it to get it off (wanted to boot it). In the end instinct took over and I stamped on it to get it off. I hurt it quite badly and was sacked immediately. If it wasn’t so many years ago I’d have gone for a tribunal

KurriKurri · 21/01/2020 23:00

It's not that hard to teach a dog not to jump up - I think if you are going to take your dog into work you need to make sure he doesn't jump up at people. Especially if it is a big dog (I have a poodle JRT cross and he is very small - myfriend has lab/poodle crosses and they are big dogs)

Herpesfreesince03 · 21/01/2020 23:05

@misspiggy19 I have a dog allergy and I have a dog. I have to have 3x daily medication and eye drops to cope. My children are all miley allergic in that they can cope with the dog on the house, but can’t have physical contact with it (have to wear long pants constantly with it otherwise they’ll suffer from massive hives). My oh is even so more allergic he can have no physical contact, and his sinuses have swollen to the point where he’s not tasted food for nearly 3 years. What’s your point?

katielilly · 21/01/2020 23:08

@Herpesfreesince03
Your dog must be something special for you all to suffer like that.

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