Why don't people take the dog out when they have a house viewing?

[RingFence]

It's really off putting! I hate walking viewing a house with a strange dog sniffing my ankles. Or jumping up at toddler DD, who gets scared and then has to be carried. Or yapping and snarling from the kitchen because I've asked the owner to shut it away.

Viewed one recently where the owner hadn't even bothered to pick up a dog poo in the garden. Toddler DD stepped in it We didn't notice until she left a trail of dog poo indoors. Owner tutted because of the floor, but I was so angry at the thought of having to clean dog poo off her shoes, having the smell in the car, disinfect them at home etc I just thought 'serve you right'. Why on earth would you not pick up after your dog when you're trying to sell your house??

Then there are the owners who say 'I'll just keep him in the living room' and sit holding the straining/growling/whimpering dog by its collar, so you have to rush that bit of the viewing.

We saw one house where the dog was in the garden, barking and growling. Owner said 'he's all right with people but he might jump up. Do you want to go in?' We declined and ruled out that house.

Why don't people take the dog out for a walk or get a friend/relative/neighbour to look after it for the half an hour it takes to view? We always book a time days in advance so it's not like it's short notice.

I’m confused as to why the owner or dog is there when you’re doing viewings? My mum is selling her house at the moment and has never once been in for a viewing - you can’t properly look around and be critical with the owner sitting there. This is the norm whenever I've bought or sold, well, unless the property is empty. Can be better even though a cringe because you can ask things the agent won't know about, ie, the neighbours.

I just knew that you would be one of those people who wouldn't buy a house without their toddlers approval. How ridiculous. Just leave the toddler with someone for half an hour.
I wouldn't want a toddler coming to a viewing at my house. In fact I'm not sure I would say yes to them coming in especially with my dog there. My dog is scared of toddlers who are unpredictable and try to hurt her.

Nostly home owners do the viewings themselves. Agents do it when the house is empty.

If I was to sell I would get the EA to do the viewings. Much better. I hated doing them when we last moved and also preferred to be shown around houses by an EA when viewing myself, I didn't have to fake politeness or risk offending the owner with the questions.

Worridmum, if that really happened you do have recourse to damages.

Parents ARE responsible for damage their kids do (and danage their pets do!)

Why did you just let her get away with it?

I’m confused as to why the owner or dog is there when you’re doing viewings?

In Scotland we don't really have estate agents. Everyone does their own house viewings.

Scotland do a lot of things re house buying differently don't they?

We are East Mids and out of probably 15 house viewings I've been to there was one done by the agent (no chain probate sale). It really isn't the norm here. We pay the EA typically 1% although one local agent do a flat fee of £1200 so not sure if that's cheaper than elsewhere to reflect it.

Have had some dreadful experiences - someone having their weekly shop delivered during a viewing is a low point only beaten by the messy bed that turned out to have their 25 year old hungover son asleep in it. When we viewed the house we now live in - third viewing, v serious about making an offer - the vendor had a lounge full of her teenager's mates in their dressing gowns.

Tbf some people don't want to sell eg in cases of divorce it may quite suit them to live in a mortgage free family home than get half the value of it upon selling.

The problem is the viewer doesn't know your dog is friendly. I keep a close eye on dogs around my toddler, as all owners say they're soft/won't hurt you. It only takes seconds for a dog to cause serious injury to a toddler. I can't focus on the house when I'm watching the dog. Once DD's seen the dog she wants to be carried, which is tiring and makes it hard to look around.

Lots of adults are nervous of dogs too and wouldn't appreciate being sniffed by a dog on arrival.

I think this might be an area thing. In my rural area, it would be most unusual for an adult to be nervous of a dog. But the point I think you are missing is that this is the owners house, not yours. You can ask for no dogs to be present before you go - and if this request is refused then you can decide not to visit. I'm sure most sellers want to do everything they can to increase the chance of a sale, but it remains the owner's prerogative. It's your decision to take a toddler - if you feel the risks are too high, find childcare, or ensure you only attend viewing without dogs present (but don't presume the sellers will automatically arrange this without you asking).

I am nervous of dogs because I have been bitten, I think that's true for a lot of adults with fear, not so much due to where they live.

I am nervous of dogs because I have been bitten, I think that's true for a lot of adults with fear, not so much due to where they live.

Not quite, I know plenty of people that have been bitten (including myself!) but because they have been brought up around dogs and have dogs in their life, they are able to compartmentalise the incident and not let it affect their relationship with dogs in general.

Surely you accept that it is a general truth that those nervous of dogs are more commonly found in town and suburbs? I'm not saying everyone in the country loves dogs, but it is a common finding.

I've heard it all now. Toddlers get a say in choosing a house? How times have changed.

I grew up with dogs. All through my childhood there were dogs, loads of them in the family. Never had a single incident, ever.
It happened about 15 years ago. My wariness of dogs started that day, and unfortunately my DS who was 2 or3 at the time saw it.

I don't let it affect me if I can help it.

Ok sparklingbrook but your isolated experience doesn't really change the point I was originally trying to make which was that people that live in the country are more likely to be 'dog friendly' than people living in towns/cities/suburbs.

Incidently, it is my experience that fear of all dogs tends to occur where exposure is limited because it is the inability to read body language and behaviour cues. Which is understandable. As the OP says, she would not be aware that my dog was friendly, even though he would be wagging his tail and looking relaxed.

Mind you it's never good to be too far the other way and assume all dogs are friendly! I was in the pub with my dog the other day, and the amount of kids that came marching up to pet him without asking was alarming!

I agree on that professor my children are so used to my lovely old retriever that they’ve no notion that dogs can be aggressive.

But yes, my dog has never been around for a viewing because it’s so unlikely to help!

I once saw a lovely house where they’d built a shed in the garden for a very stinky enormous dog (can’t remember the breed, lovely dog but v smelly) but it ran around after us - hard to concentrate on the house!

Yes, I agree that if you can see the dog in time to read the signs/cues it helps. This one ran at me from behind at speed as I walked on the pavement past it's house. I guess it was doing it's best guard dog duty to protect it's owners from the woman pushing a buggy along.

And I agree that is is alarming how many people encourage their DC to go and pat the dog's head etc. A certain amount of wariness is no bad thing.

Because it’s the dog’s house!

Maybe people should take their dogs to house viewings?

I could take Sparklingcat, see if she liked the garden and if the windowledges were acceptable for lookout points?

I mean it will be the pet's house too...

Yanbu

If they want to sell their house, then do everything to keep the dog out of the way.

We bought our current home from owners who had a dog. We brought our kids with us for the second viewing and they took the dog out once it was obvious my children were nervous.

Anyway. The dog also makes the house stink! Why have a reminder if you want to sell.

If someone does not want a dog there when they view they should advise the estate agent. Never mind if the seller thinks their dog is wonderful and would not hurt anyone.

Ive had someone bring their yappy pet dog on a viewing and would not leave it in the car and dont get me started on viewers who think it is ok to walk round with a take away coffee!

I wouldn't buy a house that had had a dog in it, even if we were going to totally redecorate. I don't think they should be kept in houses, they are animals and need to be outside or in a kennel.

So, I'd ask the EA first if there were dogs living there and if so not view the house. Plenty of houses without dogs are available.