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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:
AmIAWeed · 22/01/2020 07:59

It's not the case in this instance but what if it's a service dog? You'd have no choice if someone new needed to bring the dog in, anyone with an allergy would need to work in an office where the dog can't enter.
Dogs know who are easy touches for fuss and food. A simple no and hand held up ✋ and the dog will soon learn, no need for all the drama

Cantdoleft · 22/01/2020 08:06
  • It's not the case in this instance but what if it's a service dog? You'd have no choice if someone new needed to bring the dog in, anyone with an allergy would need to work in an office where the dog can't enter. Dogs know who are easy touches for fuss and food. A simple no and hand held up ✋ and the dog will soon learn, no need for all the drama*

Very service dog I have ever seen is very well trained and wouldn’t ever jump up at anyone.
Happy little poodle cross things where you say no and the owner goes “ahhhh, he’s only being friendly, don’t be so mean” are a completely different proposition.

The owners love them, loads of other people think they are a badly trained pita

Circe32 · 22/01/2020 08:07

misspiggy19
I have a dog allergy and have to use an asthma inhaler to regulate my breathing and antihistamines to stop my eyes from streaming and other symptoms.
You must move in restricted circles Hmm

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Dogs
Christmaspug · 22/01/2020 08:13

I’ve got 2 dogs ,and I hate it when dog walkers let their dog jump up at me for a fuss ,the amount of time I’ve been left covered in mud all down my jeans ..I wouldn’t want my work clothes ruined either op

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 22/01/2020 08:15

Speaking from a dog training perspective - you need to make yourself really, really boring. If the dog jumps up at you or seeks attention, totally ignore it. They rapidly learn who it's worth attention seeking from and who is generally a bit of a soft touch.

Eat your lunch in a room away from the dog, so it can't beg.

Don't bother pushing the dog off, telling it no, or similar - that's all a form of the attention it's seeking, even if it is negative attention.

With regards to the slobber, however, if it's a breed with soft jowls (gundogs, mastiffs etc) and is splattering slobber when it shakes, there's nothing you, the dog or the owner can do about it - you'll be best off ditching the dry clean only suits.

TeeBee · 22/01/2020 08:27

Highly bloody unprofessional to bring a dog to work. It's a place of work, not for everyone to tolerate someone else's annoying pet because they cant be arsed to sort appropriate care. Where does it stop? People bringing their lonely grannies in? I have a dog and would bloody hate to have someone else's around me all day while I'm working.

Biancadelrioisback · 22/01/2020 08:29

I do love dogs, but I find office dogs a complete distraction.
I was never asked if I minded dogs but my boss always brings his dog to work. I think companies should mention this in the interview process.

Jeleste · 22/01/2020 08:31

@herpesfreesince03
This seems a bit extreme! I was diagnosed with dog hair allergy when we got our first family dog. I have hayfever as well, so with the dog around it just feels like mild hayfever all year round. My parents decided not to get rid of the dog because of a few sneezes.
I have 2 dogs myself now, had them since I moved out Grin
DS was diagnosed with the same allergy last year, so we now keep the dogs downstairs at all times. No more sleeping in bedrooms, which they didnt do all the time anyways. DS is fine to be around them and cuddle them, but i do vacuum downstairs 2-3x a day and i make sure DS doesnt leave his worn clothes in his room over night. His allergy is so mild, this way he doesnt have symptoms at all except the occasional sneeze when he burries his face in the dogs fur.

corduroyal · 22/01/2020 08:31

We have two large, well behaved dogs in my office. They lie around all day, I have no problem with them.

Then two colleagues each got little yappy dogs who wear dog clothes and have an endless variety of dog chew toys filled with peanut butter, they winkle into bags and jump and bark. Worst of all, their owners talk to them like babies all day.

I go to the office to get away from my babies! I think office dogs are like colleagues, if they interfere with your work then they shouldn't be there.

MaxAmount · 22/01/2020 08:43

YANBU - I love dogs - we take ours everywhere but I respect other people's desire to be free from dogs and just like I didn't let my kids disturb other people I don't let my dog either. Does your boss know that you are not keen on his dog approaching you?

Willow2017 · 22/01/2020 08:56

The boss us being unreasonable.
If he can't keep.his dog under control then it shouldn't be there. Nobody needs dog hair or slobber all over them at work.

People telling op she has to change to accomodate a bloody dog wtf? I love dogs but if I had to dress smartly for work and had to deal with that I would be mightily pissed off. Not exactly professional to have splattered slobber all over you when working is it? Nor is it acceptable to have to keep cleaning your work clothes to get rid of the stains and smell.

I can honestly say I have never come across a single person who has a dog allergy
Oh well they must not exist then so that's that cleared up!

AgnusandMagnus · 22/01/2020 08:59

If the boss owns the company then it's time to either find a new job or get over it. He's not being unreasonable having his dog with him and you aren't being unreasonable for not liking it.

MalingeringMary · 22/01/2020 09:37

Those saying he's not unreasonable to have his dog with him... It's a bloody workplace! Where you, you know, go to work! If course it's bloody unreasonable to have a bloody dog there. What if it was a cat? Or a budgie? Or a pet snake? Would a pet snake be reasonable? They don't bark like dogs, I don't know anyone with a snake allergy... Where does it end? Pet Llama... Is that acceptable?

Honestly do not understand why dogs get let off by do many people. At the end of the day, it's an animal that can't pick up its own shit, therefore shouldn't be in the workplace.

Sadiee88 · 22/01/2020 09:42

I would LOVE this Grin
Some people are scared of dogs... awkward one with your boss though!

I’ve got a Lab, but I get an allergy when i go to an indoor dog park - not sure from which dog either!

Dogs weeing in bags ... 😳🤢unsure about that lol

Willow2017 · 22/01/2020 10:17

He's not being unreasonable having his dog with him
Anyone who thinks people should put up.with thier dog jumping up.at them and slobbering all over them is unreasonable.
Train your damm dog or don't take it to work. Work is not the local park there is a time and place for dogs.
People are there to work not fend of annoying dogs.

If dog was well behaved there would be no problem as long as everyone was ok around dogs. You can't just make a blanket decision and expect people to suck it up.

Daenerys77 · 22/01/2020 10:18

Do you have children (preferably noisy and not toilet trained)? Insist on bringing them to work and see how your boss reacts.

VenusClapTrap · 22/01/2020 10:23

Yanbu. I’d be out of there, looking for a new job. An office saturated with dog smell would be enough for me.

DollyDaydreamss · 22/01/2020 10:27

@herpesfreesince03 (helluva user name btw) why the bloody hell would you put up with that? Your whole family ill because of a choice you're making. Now that IS barking mad.... some people

And as for the one who can't possibly imagine that someone might have an allergy to dogs. Dear god

OP - I love dogs and I'd like to have one in the office if I worked in an office! However YANBU because, well, they don't really belong in an office do they? It seems rather unsociable of your boss to inflict his pet on you all

Meruem · 22/01/2020 10:31

It sounds to me from your OP that the dog is jumping and slobbering while you're in the bosses office? In which case it's a bit hard to do a firm "no" right in front of them. That's the problem with a lot of dog owners, they think everyone should love their dog as much as they do. I'm not a dog person at all and somehow they always seem to gravitate to me! I hate doing the whole petting thing but I have to sometimes. However I couldn't be dealing with this in the office. I'm afraid I'd have to be looking for another job.

whiteroseredrose · 22/01/2020 12:28

This is the sort of thing that should be covered at interview.

Don't apply for a job at Google in California. Anyone can bring their dog to work there. We had a tour in 2014 and there were dogs everywhere. They even had a cafe named after a dog.

It would be a selling point for me but not for everyone.

Willow2017 · 22/01/2020 13:03

I think saying at an interview "I sometimes bring my dog to work. I will let it jump up on you and cover you in slobber. Wouldn't be a selling point for many people!

AmIAWeed · 22/01/2020 13:55

@Cantdoleft I've met plenty of unruly assistance dogs, having worked at a charity for people with disabilities I have met more than the average but I promise you there are untrained owners out there resulting in untrained assistance dogs.
I agree a dog jumping up isnt ok, but other posters saying dogs should never be allowed in a work environment are wrong, they absolutely have their place.

Original poster
ElderAve · 22/01/2020 17:27

I was there first for those who asked.

Bringing the dog to work was supposed to be a temporary measure because of stuff going on at home but it;s been such a "success" there doesn't seem to be any prospect of it ending.

I can't replace my whole work wardrobe because the boss is bringing a dog.

OP posts:
FrenchFancie · 22/01/2020 18:02

I don’t like dogs. There I’ve said it.
They smell, they bark and jump up and frighten me. They put mud and slobber and god only knows what on my clothes. They do not belong in an office.

Ylvamoon · 22/01/2020 18:10

Grin I love dogs and I used to bring mine to work - his official job title was "Human Relations Officer". He made a stressful environment more relaxed. He knew who needed a cuddle or who didn't like him. He made people bond over lunchtime walks. He made us all laugh with his little quiks. We all enjoyed down time by playing with him. He helped the shy person find their confidence... And so much more! Yes he was my dog and I am terribly biased - but having an office dog is brilliant!