Should dogs be allowed in the office?

[TheRodent]

I rent office space for my freelance work. It is relatively cheap as it is a space that I share with two other people. My three children came to look at the office space when I first started renting and they just popped in for five minutes and then left. One of my so called colleagues reported me for bringing them into work, I never found out who. The trouble is that one of the people who shares my office has started bringing her dog in. He barks most of the time and has taken a dislike to me. He growls and bares his teeth and jumps up at me whenever I come in. The other day he had to be restrained as he wouldn't let me go out of the door. His owner implies that it is all my fault as I smell of cats, I have one, well groomed cat. She also says that I have no right to complain as I brought my children in. Apart from the fact my children only made one short visit and dog comes in every day, none of my children barks non stop, growls and bares their teeth at people and they don't jump up at them either. People from other offices in the building have complained about the barking but the people running the offices have taken no action. I have not been back to office since this took place and I am trying to work from home again in the meantime. This is not a dogs Vs cats rant. Any advice?

Find somewhere else to work and stop paying rent immediately. Or set a deadline and make it clear that it is a breach of your rental agreement if the dog continues to come in.

I doubt permission to bring dogs in is within the terms of your contract with the building owner.

Well behaved dogs - possibly.
But only if everybody can take their dogs in and nobody is dog allergic.

Have worked somewhere where the boss took her dog in every day and one poor staff member spent her time trying not to have an asthma attack. The dog was lovely but no thought about anyone else, and it was clear she was the only one who could bring their dog to work.

In your situation I'd be finding a different office space and letting the owners know why.

It's ridiculous and vile, the world has gone mad. Hope you get it sorted OP. Pets have no place in any office (or shop, cafe, restaurant etc).

How long are you tied in for?
Leave as soon as you can (might let you break the lease early due to this) and go elsewhere. Co-working spaces tend to be cheaper than office space.

If the building is dog friendly, there is usually a pet policy and something about pet behaviour. Report to the office manager/landlord because it's their responsibility to ensure the building safe.

Personally I have no problem with dogs in the office but it fully lands on the owners shoulders. They need to take them out regularly for walks, ensure they are well behaved and quiet and not bothering everyone else.

The office space is for working, not for pets, children, babies etc etc. And that includes popping in.

People who think they're the exception to the rule totally piss me off with the havoc they cause.

Dogs shouldn’t be allowed in the office. You never know who might have an allergy or be frightened of them.

Not that fucking dog, that’s for sure!

I would take a different approach - Dogs shouldn't be allowed in the office because you are there to WORK not pet sit.

It's completely inappropriate.

I couldn't agree more. Some dog owners just think their dog is so special - it's not. It's an animal. It shouldn't be in a place of work.
(With the obvious exceptions of course).

Lots of them 🤷‍♀️

Whether they should be allowed or not is another matter of course, but it's becoming increasingly common.

I’d be looking for somewhere else - she sounds like a twat and I wouldn’t want to share a space with her or her dog. Surely the landlord can do something? They’ll lose rent as probably no-one else will want the space for long.

I don't really understand why.
It seems very selfish. I would hate it.

I disagree with this.
Nothing wrong with family popping in every now and then as long as they don't disrupt other people who are working.

That's the problem, they invariably do.

Sound really difficult. My workplace doesn’t allow dogs but every so often it gets ‘explored’ and I dread someone saying yes.

Are there any free units currently? Could you get a friend to pretend to check one out but decline, telling the landlord it’s because of the dog?

No dogs at work is a basic principle .... never. What you did or didn't do is a separate issue. Complain, complain complain and then complain again.

Dog owner is BU but this situation seems unlikely to improve. Rent a new space and check that the contract stipulates no dogs. Also check this with the landlord or agent and get confirmation in writing. Don't take in your kids this time.

Someone bringing a new baby into the office to show them off, or kids who come into the office once a term 5 minutes before the end of the day to meet mum/dad is an entirely different scenario to someone bringing in an animal every day.

@KateDelRick well, because lots of people love their dogs and don't want to leave them at home all day or pay for daycare if there's a free alternative, I guess 🤷‍♀️

I totally get it's not for everyone and don't think it should be the default but it obviously works for some people.

I love dogs. I have a dog. I would not want to work in an office that has dogs in it. An office is for working in.

The dog sounds appalling and what sort of person complains about a parent briefly showing their children their office?

OP you say people from other offices have complained but have you?
You complained to the dog owner but have you complained to however you rent from?
Look at your lease agreement. I can’t imagine that you signed but to work with an aggressive, noisy dog who prevented you from leaving.
Advise them you will not be paying rent u til the situation is resolved.

I take mine to a cafe I sometimes work from, here curls up beside me and I think that’s fine, someone else brought their dog through and he whined at it until they found a table a little way away, I was ready to leave if he carried on. This is totally out of order. She needs to leave him at home or pay for a private office.

Tell them that if their dog bites/attacks you'll report it and have it put down. Also contact the landlord and tell them that given the behaviour of the dog who is liable if it attacks you and does their insurance cover any claims for it. That might stop them bringing it in or move the landlord to it

My do worked somewhere where dogs were allowed in the office so long as they had dog/pet insurance which included public liability insurance of over £million