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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About dogs in an office

99 replies

happymummyone · 06/08/2015 13:57

I'm not a dog lover. I've never met a dog I've liked. Some of you will probably say this is unreasonable enough on its own.

My question is, in an office, is it acceptable to bring a dog or dogs?

I I know it's ideal for dog lovers who work the 9-5 but don't want to leave their dog to pine at home but what about those that come to work and don't expect to have a dog pulling stuff out of our bins, slobbering on our lap or filling our noses with that dog smell that can be so unappealing to some?

What about those with allergies? Do they take an antihistamine and suck it up?

I'm not talking about service dogs here, they are beautifully trained, life giving animals.

Am I the only one that would rather not work with animals in the office?

OP posts:
tatumsfunkychicken · 06/08/2015 14:34

Yanbu. Totally inappropriate, imagine taking your baby to work and letting him crawl on the floor in between computer wires then dribble milk onto the laps of your colleagues. Issue the dogs their P45s!

lampygirl · 06/08/2015 14:35

Blistory where do you work? Sounds awesome.

I bring my Bernese to work some days. She sleeps. Everyone loves her. I always bring her if I'm going to be in on my own as I can at least talk to her, and if its a day when mine and DP's day's cross so she would otherwise have more than 4 hours at home alone.

Someone came here for a meeting the other week and bought their dog. That was adorable too. I think more workplaces should have pets.

Original poster
happymummyone · 06/08/2015 14:43

What about if someone didn't love your dog though? I know we dog avoiders are in a minority but at least someone in any office is bound to have an aversion to dogs. If you had a private office and shit the dog in there with you, fine, crack on, but an open plan office, three dogs, and someone who is on edge constantly because of it. I just don't think it's fair.

OP posts:
Blistory · 06/08/2015 14:47

It's my company so it's easy for me to say no to normal conventions. I spent my training years in a really stuffy corporate environment watching people getting frazzled trying to balance home and work and when the chance came for me to mix it up a bit, I realised that a member staff being absent or stressed about the odd breakdown in child care just wasn't worth it. Much easier to let them bring the child in and go home early if needed.

And to be honest, after a hellish morning in the office, it's nice to take ten minutes to have a random conversation with a four year old about whether you can walk on a rainbow or to bury your face into a doggy coat.

Lightbulbon · 06/08/2015 14:47

I've quit a job over this.

It shouldn't be allowed.

KitKat1985 · 06/08/2015 14:53

I like dogs but no, I don't think they should be in an office. They're a distraction, can be noisy and I just don't think it's very professional. YANBU.

Original poster
happymummyone · 06/08/2015 14:54

Well I'm just not able to work as well with dogs and kids around. Boss' stepson was allowed to bring a nerd gun into the office, was a real treat trying to talk to clients on the phone while being shot in the back of the head by foam darts. If you run your office like a crèche then their need to be rules. The boss likes to be all inclusive to everyone but it the first to complain when the adults talk amongst themselves or work Hasn't been as productive as he expected.

OP posts:
BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted · 06/08/2015 14:56

One of our clients occasionally brings her Bernese in with her. He's incredibly calm and well-behaved, if a bit drooly when there's food around. But that's my fault because I buy treats specially for him when I know he's going to be here. Everyone enjoys giving him a friendly pat when they're passing BUT we have lots of space so he's not in the way.

Blistory · 06/08/2015 14:58

There's a difference between relaxed and it being a free for all. We do have rules in place otherwise it would be chaos. A little respect, tolerance and courtesy is also needed but it works for us.

LavenderRain · 06/08/2015 15:01

At the school my friends grandson attends, the headmistress brings in her dog, all day every day. Apparently it's a docile old thing and the kids are allowed to go to the office and visit it, and it does 'story time' once a week Hmm

Tippytappytoes · 06/08/2015 15:16

I take my dog into work 2 days a week, I'm not the only one either. I work in an environment where it's encouraged. Although if someone in the building raised an objection I would leave him at home. I find a lot of the time when DDog is in, people pop in to spend time playing with/stroking him and chill out.

But he's a very well behaved dog (now anyway) and pretty much sleeps all day if left to his own devices.

ProudAS · 06/08/2015 15:29

Sounds like a serious safety hazard to me if dogs are running loose, tripping people up, chewing whatever they can get their mouths on etc - not to mention those staff with allergies or phobias

Hellochicken · 06/08/2015 15:49

No I think its unreasonable to have dogs in an office. Even with no allergies etc.

Theycallmemellowjello · 06/08/2015 16:21

Oh happymummy yanbu and your situation sounds awful. Don't know what you could do if they're all doglovers, I really sympathise.

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 06/08/2015 16:38

I think it sounds a bit off. They should make it very clear at interview that the dogs will be around - although it'd be shit to have to turn down an otherwise good job because you didn't want to work with dogs in the room. I wouldn't mind cats or quiet dogs who sat still, but the situation you describe sounds very difficult. What would they have done if you had arrived on day 1 and you had a serious allergy or phobia?

My dog used to go to work with DH, but it was in a pub and DH was the boss. DDog spent some time asleep in his bed in the office and some sitting on a bar stool being patted and given Guinness by the regulars.

CatthiefKeith · 06/08/2015 16:53

I bring my dog to work most days, the boss brings his every day. We are all animal lovers though.

It is a bit unprofessional, but hey, he offered and she prefers sleeping under my desk all day to being home alone so who am I to argue?

Stratter5 · 06/08/2015 17:30

The old headmaster at DD2's school used to bring his dog to school every day, the dog was much loved, and a huge part of the school. He is very much missed, as is the old headmaster, who was lovely and a real character.

Dogs in offices are bliss, provided they're relatively well behaved.

MovingStress · 06/08/2015 17:34

Depends on the office and who works in / visits in, but I think a dog is a sign of a great office to work in!

whois · 06/08/2015 18:12

I think it's fine as long as the dogs are well behaved, it's not a 'client facing' professional role where this would be frowned upon, and it's made clear at interview there are dogs.

I like it in oubs where there is a big old sleepy dog there with the manager :-)

dixiechick1975 · 06/08/2015 18:19

Yanbu. I did take over from a partially sighted colleague once who had a lovely guide dog called shadow. All the clients used to be disappointed and ask where the dog was. He was the only one happy on a Monday morning used to run up and down the office. Office was covered in dog hair though which didn't mix well with dark work clothes.

StillFrankie · 06/08/2015 18:28

If its not an assistance dog, then YANBU

If you mean ANY dog, including assistance dogs then YABU

I have an assistance dog, non shedding, nevertheless if someone had an issue with my dog that's their problem not mine.

I've been asked to move desks and offices, I refuse. I can't change my disability, but the allergy sufferer can take anti-histamines etc. Its not life limiting, doesn't stop them from leaving the house, cooking etc.

Some may argue both are covered by the equalities act but as an equalities expert I can tell you that I'd win.

crustsaway · 06/08/2015 18:31

They're a damn nuisance at the best of times, so no, its not acceptable.

maybebabybee · 06/08/2015 18:33

I would love to have an office dog. Would make it worth coming to work!

Greyhorses · 06/08/2015 18:35

My dogs come to work with me, as do everyone else's including the bosses two. It makes my day 100 times nicer and everyone who works there is warned about it before they start so they can choose to work elsewhere if they wish!

StillFrankie · 06/08/2015 18:37

sorry posted before finishing - I have successfully taken legal action against my current employer due to colleagues having issue with my dog, expecting ME to be the one to move desks/offices instead of them doing it.

They were trying to change my job role to avoid an allergic colleague (and it wasn't a life threatening allergy either, she even patted my dog on occasion!)

also another colleague afraid of dogs, screeching like a banshee whenever we passed her - again she could have been the one to move desks/offices. Why should it be me?

Its horrible when you have an assistance dog and people show absolutely NO empathy whatsoever. It took a long time for relations within that office to recover. I'm now in a different job and office but that was MY choice and many years afterwards. the company changed their policies and staff training as a result of the very expensive legal action I took.

So in summary, if the hatred of dogs in offices amongst posters on here applies also to assistance dogs, try to at least keep it to yourselves and consider yourselves lucky.