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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About office dog

179 replies

onesupplied · 03/04/2017 20:16

Name changed as it's identifying.

I work in an open plan office. A new manager has recently started bringing her dog to work, which has free roam of the place.

My problem is that I hate dogs; in fact I am scared of them. I got bitten when I was a kid and have always been nervous around them. Aside from the fact that it makes me nervous, it smells, keeps nosing around in people's belongings and my colleagues think it's hilarious that I'm scared and keep mocking me.

It's a reasonably formal office with around 40 employees.

AIBU to think that the office is not a place for a dog?

OP posts:
bignamechangeroonie · 05/04/2017 10:23

I'm terrified of snakes but if someone wanted to bring their python to work and let it slither round the office I'd happily do a course of Cbt (paid for by the company)to get rid of my phobia.

I wonder if that's an option?

minipie · 05/04/2017 10:23

WTAF?

YANBU.

WeAllHaveWings · 05/04/2017 10:49

You need to tell them it's an issue for you and if nothing happens then formalise it. Make it it clear in writing to the relevant people and hr you are fearful of dogs and cannot work with the dog in the office. Your workplace has an obligation to ensure your health and well being in the workplace and if having a dog in the office causes you problems they need to address that.

Original poster
onesupplied · 05/04/2017 19:46

I have a couple of interviews lined up next week now. I don't think cbt is an option... it's not what I would call a phobia, more a very intense dislike/slightly afraid. I also don't see why I should have to have cbt just because a manager wants to bring her dog to work...

OP posts:
paxillin · 05/04/2017 20:34

I can understand you. Make sure to give them the reason for leaving in the leaving interview. Asking around if nobody minds only works if the dog bringer is the most junior team member. Otherwise some people might feel unable to say no, just like the OP.

OOAOML · 06/04/2017 09:56

I'm not terrified of dogs, but I don't particularly like them. And if someone don't want dog hair or slobber on me, and doesn't want to work in a place that smells of dog, I don't see why they should be expected to go through CBT to 'get over it'. I didn't bring my babies into work with me, why should people bring their dogs (assistance dogs are obviously another matter)?

I know that lots of dog owners understand that not everyone likes dogs, but some genuinely seem to not get this - I was on a very packed bus recently when someone got on with a large dog who then flailed its tail around, sniffed several people etc and although I didn't say anything it was probably obvious that I wasn't enjoying this and I was treated to the owner saying 'oh he's just being friendly, he wouldn't hurt anyone'. I wasn't remotely concerned he would hurt me, I just didn't want to be in contact with him. I would stop my children pawing at people, and I wouldn't assume that everyone thinks my children are wonderful and adorable, so why couldn't he?

FerdinandsRevenge · 06/04/2017 11:59

What if someone needs to visit the office who turns out to be allergic? Also it means they can't hire someone with a medical condition (allergies) which is discrimination

EineKleine · 06/04/2017 12:17

Good luck with your interviews, but it really shouldn't come to that. I do think it would be worth at least trying with your current workplace.

fruitlovingmonkey · 06/04/2017 12:30

Yabu. I'd rather work in an office with a dog than a human who dislike them.

RosyGold · 06/04/2017 12:38

I love dogs but this is just bloody ridiculous! I've never heard of this type of thing before!! People shouldn't be allowed to bring their animals to work, the same way I wouldn't rock up and dump my 17 month old kid to toddle around the office and irritate folk. YADNBU!!

user1475002412 · 06/04/2017 12:41

I worked in a large open plan office with a man who had a guide dog, a great big black labrador. This must have been the worst trainef guide dog ever. People would constantly muse about how this dog had passed its training.

It was obsessed with food and would constantly have its nose in peoples bags. It ate my lunch several times. Even hiding my back at the back of my desk it would somehow locate it. The poor owner was constantly having to re buy colleagues their lunch.

The dog often did great big stinking poos on the office carpet & the poor cleaners would have to come and clean it up.

The dog would constantly jump up at people and you would see the alarm on their face.

Mondays were really bad as dog would stink of fox shit (owner said it loved rolling in it,). The smell was so bad that people felt sick.

Genuinely wondered how this dog made it as a guide dog!

NeopreneMermaid · 06/04/2017 12:53

I would HATE this. I used to be terrified of dogs but this has evolved into strong dislike, especially the smell (God, the smell!). I also realise that you're in a tricky position to say you don't like it and not be singled out as the killjoy/whiners in their eyes.
I think you need to talk to your line manager and/or dog owner, stressing you don't like to make a fuss and understand the dog is popular but that you are very uncomfortable with it being near you. If they are still mocking you and not doing anything to help, they're not worth sticking around for.
I've had customers with dogs when I visit and most lose interest when I don't respond to them but there's one at the moment that constantly jumps up at me and sticks its nose in my crotch while the owner does nothing and thinks this is fine, even when I'm saying, "No!" And trying to push it away. I can't stand it.

FamilySpartan · 06/04/2017 13:09

I feel so bad for you OP that you feel like you have no choice but to leave. Best of luck with your interviews. I hope you end up in a working environment that's more professional.

Insomnibrat · 06/04/2017 14:09

This is unprofessional of the Manager imo, the dog and it's care should be her responsibility not everyone else's problem.
I'm not scared of dogs and i'd never do wrong by one but I absolutely detest them. Honestly, i'll be 'nice' if one comes over but I think too many dog owners think their snookums are adorable to everyone. Not to me, the smell, look and sound of dogs make me feel physically sick.
I also hate it when I go in a pub and I'm quite happy having a drink then the landlord's dog comes running out from behind the bar. It makes me shudder. Ugh. Rational or not, I don't think I'm the only person who feels like this around dogs.

Insomnibrat · 06/04/2017 14:10

In fact, even the word 'dog' makes me feel a bit ill.

MiscellaneousAssortment · 06/04/2017 14:46

From your posts it's becoming clear that it's not just the dog in the office which is the problem, it's the lack of reporting structure, ability to be heard fairly and professionally, and a general status & power thing going on which means the important person gets to impose her wishes and ill thought out desires without bothering about anyone else!

One thing I've learnt through FAR too many years working is that if you find yourself aligned against a company culture, don't waste your time, energy and heart ache trying to change it. Company cultures are strongly engrained and if you don't fit in with the unwritten rules, hierarchies and ways of being, you have two options... either accepting it, or leaving. Trying to make change happen from a position of weakness is bloody impossible (!). By 'weakness' I mean if you're not more/as senior, if the group has already identified you as different and are leaving you out (vs different being cool or everyone running along together).

No matter how right you are, how fair it is, and sadly, how legal or illegal the practices are, you'll make yourself miserable and run into more difficulties / barriers by trying to change something so enduring yet also amorphous and hard to pin down.

JaniceBattersby · 06/04/2017 14:54

Problem is madcatsforever, that it's becoming increasingly difficult in this country to say you don't like dogs. Look at the OP. She doesn't want to work with a dog in the office and she's been told here to get CBT. Utterly ridiculous.

People on here regularly say that they don't trust people who don't like animals, that there must be something wrong with people who are not keen on dogs etc...

I don't like dogs. But if one of my colleagues asked to bring a puppy to work I can just imagine the scenario. Everyone would be really excited, fussing over th dog etc, saying how great it was. Then I'd have to pipe up that no, actually I didn't like dogs and wasn't prepared to work with one. It's really difficult to go against the whole office.

Dogs are not appropriate for office environments.

MiscellaneousAssortment · 06/04/2017 14:56

Ps I love dogs and would be very happy to meet one in the office ... but it's unprofessional to have one plonked in your office space without prior arrangement or agreement. It's not appropriate to impose this situation on others whilst ignoring and worse, laughing at your fears ffs! It's a very common response to dogs and should be anticipated and mitigated. It's also very unprofessional for this person to let the dog run round whilst she gets to work undisturbed in her office!

maddiemookins16mum · 06/04/2017 14:58

The big boss owner of a company I worked for used to bring his two massive beasts in to work every Friday. They slobbered everywhere, stuck their noses up people (as dogs do), barked loudly, would steal things like bags, food from desks etc. The boss man thought it was hilarious, we all just thought it made him a bigger knobster than normal.
YANBU.

Crickeycrumbsblimey · 06/04/2017 15:15

Have you said anything to anyone about not wanting the dog there?

I wouldn't want an animal brought into my office either but no one would know that if I didn't say.

Throwing it out of her office though - selfish madam and highly unprofessional!

SuperPug · 06/04/2017 15:23

Also love dogs but I don't think this is appropriate re: genuine fear of dogs, allergies etc. You have a right to feel safe in your own work environment.

Horsemad · 07/04/2017 07:20

Great post MiscellaneousAssortment. So, so true.

ForalltheSaints · 08/04/2017 20:54

If you are successful and get a new job, once you have left, please come and tell us the name of the company. If by some chance I do business with them I will boycott them in future.

RandomDent · 08/04/2017 21:04

I'm not fussed on dogs, or any pets really. But who wants to be known as the weirdo that doesn't like animals? "Checking we are all ok with this", it would be very hard to say no.

(actually I do like animals, but free ones)

Rawr · 08/04/2017 21:16

Yeah, bringing a dog to work is weird- but are you really willing to go look for a new job instead of facing your fears? A fear of dogs is irrational. It's a lot different than a fear of snakes and spiders, dogs are unavoidable in urban neighbourhoods, unless you live in the middle of nowhere Australia then you don't have to worry about the odd snake/spider.

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