Office dogs

[ExhaustedMama68]

Does anyone else work in an office where people are allowed to bring their dogs along with them?

I’ve been in the same office for over 6 years and In the early days, one person was allowed to bring their dog on the odd day.

Now, as the company is growing and more new people are starting, they all seem to be bringing their dogs for various reasons - no care for them, want to save money on dog walkers etc.

My issue is that I’m actually terrified of dogs (which everyone in the office is aware of) and it’s becoming quite uncomfortable going to work each day and not knowing if there will be a dog or not.

I never bring my DC to work because my childcare has fallen through - I just make alternative arrangements?

WFH is unfortunately not an option.

We have dogs at work. I have my own dogs but leave them at home.
They are a complete pain in the arse if I’m honest. Barking if people move, one wees on the carpet, one bit someone and lives in a cage barking behind a door, they stink the staff room out, people spend more time bothered about the dogs than working.

Lots of them have developed behavioural issues too, fears, guarding behaviours and anxieties. I don’t think it’s actually good for the dogs at all. I watch mine fast asleep on our cameras and they are much more relaxed than the work ones.

Nothing would convince me that my dogs should come to work with me unless I worked in a field!

I wouldn't work somewhere where dogs (except legitimate guide dogs) were welcome. Nor should I have to.

I can just imagine a job centre review where I'm rejected for jobs on the basis that I don't want to share my workspace with pets. I'd probably be sanctioned by someone who owns a "fur baby" 🤢

Fortunately I work for a reasonable employer who wouldn't impose things like this on their staff, plus I can work from home so that's not my current reality.

Not dog phobic, just have no desire to be brushing dog hair off my clothes, being forced to be nice to them or dealing with their stench and slobber.

Who pays for all the additional cleaning? It must stink in any office that allows dogs in. It's absolutely awful and really bad for people with allergies or asthma, especially if not properly cleaned there will be hair and grease on all the carpets etc. Disgusting.
Dog owners that would do this are usually the same entitled ones that say such lovely things as 'it'll lick you to death' and 'only being friendly. Keep it under control and in your own space!! I would be complaining once I'd looked up all relevant employment and h&s rules relevant to your business. Ie if they ever serve food this would be a major issue.

I can just imagine a job centre review where I'm rejected for jobs on the basis that I don't want to share my workspace with pets. I'd probably be sanctioned by someone who owns a "fur baby

Yes. And not just offices. Also shops, including the sort you'd think wouldn't allow dogs in, like clothes shops.

Guide dogs aren't an issue, they are incredibly well trained and don't bother anyone.

I guess with the allergy issue you'd have to weigh it up and see if you could make it work, but if you couldn't keep them in different places, you'd have to prioritise your previous employee who was allergic and say no to the guide dog.

I suppose the real difficulty would be if an existing employee needed a guide dog - who'd be an employer!

But we're not talking about those incredibly rare occasions, we're talking about self-indulgent people who get a pet and feel the need to inflict it on others, but saying you don't like dogs in real life is akin to being a TERF and you can't say anything.

You can't legally say no to a service dog.

Guide dogs are totally different. I worked in an office with one once and it was fine. We never saw it unless it was being taken to the toilet.

Pet dogs are very very different

I don't think it's right for reasons listed already. People can't take their kids/cats/guinea pigs/great aunt in so why should dogs (assistance dogs excepted) be different DP mainly WFH but he sometimes has to go to the office in a different city and some people bring their dogs in.
I don't agree with people expecting their dog should be allowed anywhere they go. Like kids, well behaved dogs in pubs are ok but I don't want them wandering about while I'm trying to carry a round back from the bar. I've seen a couple near us who have a wonderful dog who they take to the pub. They walk it first and bring a blanket which they put on the floor, dog sleeps on it and they sit out the way so people don't bother the dog.

We had dogs at work too. And I just hated it.

Everything seemed to revolve around these dogs. Every morning they had to be taken round to wish everyone good morning and taken out for walks and special places found for their towels, toys, baskets and special dishes for their food and water.... During the winter there was always a smell of wet dog fur..

I was so happy when I left.

As my children were leaving their primary school, the HT/school was about to get "a school dog" . I'm not sure where it would reside for most of the day (I presumed the HT office) but I wondered about any staff who weren't keen/had allergies to dogs. Having had kids at the school for about 8 years it had never been a thing before so any existing staff would presumably not had "must be prepared to work with dogs present" in their contract!

I got covered in flea bites in an office where someone was allowed to bring a dog. I used to strip off my clothes as soon as I got in the front door and throw them in a boil wash.

Not quite the same but I work in a shop and when I first worked there hardly anyone would shop with a dog . Now there are multiple dogs everyday. I hate it when they bark or jump up at the counter. We now have a dog bowl of water outside and treats to give them. I'm the miserable cow who doesn't fuss over every dog that comes in.
Once there were some dogs barking and 2 children were really scared . They started crying and hiding behind their mum. The owner didn't apologise or take them out she just said "shame on you! " to the dogs (which had no effect on them at all!)
We've also had dogs weeing and pooping in the shop and staff have to clear it up which I definitely didn't sign up to!

When did I say this? The first dog didn’t come in to the office until almost a year after I started and it was never mentioned at interview stage or any other time after.

I wonder if given that there were not dogs when you started, and you have declared the issue you have with dogs, whether it could be argued that the company has a duty of care towards you and should make some adjustments. Your own office where dogs cannot enter, for example.

I am also not sure it is kind to the dogs as well.

In that case I wonder if Moony thinks the dog owners in your office should take their advice.

To be honest OP I think your being incredibly unreasonable! They knew the dog culture of the office when they took the job. If they didn't/ don't want to work in an environment without dogs then don't. Change jobs. But it's not ok for them to try and alter the culture of the business.

We've also had dogs weeing and pooping in the shop and staff have to clear it up which I definitely didn't sign up to!

This is definitely unreasonable!

My issue is that I’m actually terrified of dogs (which everyone in the office is aware of) and it’s becoming quite uncomfortable going to work each day and not knowing if there will be a dog or not.

If you're really that terrified, it's time to get therapy. YABU to continue in life with such a crippling fear for a common occurrence without taking ownership of it.

As a dog owner and an actual adult, this is a ridiculous comment. Fears are complex and it isn’t as simple as just getting (genuinely expensive) therapy for a fear.

people who are comparing it to children are BU though. My girls can and do lie in their bed for hours at a time whilst I’m working. I can’t get an email sent without either of my children heckling me for crafting/snacks/inane shit.

I think you must be able to if an existing employee has a serious allergy (not just one that makes them sneeze). You can't be expected to sack that employee.