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Original poster

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

258 replies

RingFence · 11/02/2018 10:04

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 Angry 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.

OP posts:
MrsPreston11 · 12/02/2018 19:28

Horses (or dogs) for courses.

When we looked round this house there were two lovely dogs sleeping peacefully.

Made it seem even more like home to us as a house isn’t a home without a pet in our opinion.

Also. I was calmed that the animals were so calm and happy in the house. Made me think it had good “vibes” (yes. It’s stupid)

BunsyGirl · 12/02/2018 19:34

UgandanKnuckles...pathetic...to be admitted to hospital with breathing difficulties?!! What is it that you don’t understand about severe allergies?

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 12/02/2018 19:41

Are people really this uptight in every day life.

Must be exhausting.

UgandanKnuckles · 12/02/2018 19:42

@BunsyGirl, having allergies is not pathetic. Refusing to buy a house that an animal may have potentially previously live in is. But I'm sure that you knew that's what I meant.

ShiftyMcGifty · 12/02/2018 19:43

“Only to people who hate them. The smell can be appalling but I've asked several trusted people who don't own dogs if our house smells of dog and every one of them has said no.”

They lied.

I lie too. It’s usually asked by people whose clothes also have that unmistakable eau du wet doggy smell lingering about. You really can’t be honest.

RuskBaby · 12/02/2018 19:45

We went to view one house where the dogs were out but the garden was obviously their toilet and the smell was so bad it made your eyes water. Inside was perfectly fine and no smell at all.

TemptressofWaikiki · 12/02/2018 19:46

OP, you sound like a goady brat! Get over yourself!

adorkableme · 12/02/2018 19:48

YANBU. I’ve grown up with dogs around, have been bitten by one, and have even walked one, but they still make me nervous. They’re still animals and as much as dog owners can say their dog won’t do this or that, there is no guarantee. I’ve had enough dogs jump on me, lick my face, run at me and circle me and their owners just laugh and say “he/she likes you” when it is obvious I’m uncomfortable. Unfortunately for me, most dogs like me more than I like them. I also wouldn’t buy a home with a dog/dogs in it unless there wasn’t any carpet in sight and even then I would have it cleaned as throughly as possible.

A toddler and a dog are not the same thing. When we were selling our home, we didn’t mind when children were brought along (we have one and I was in my third trimester), Anything expensive and important was stored away regardless. If someone brought a dog I wouldn’t have been comfortable with it or impressed. A dog could decide to do a poo and I’d likely have to clean it up. Also, we were home during some of the viewings with the EA due to our schedule and those viewing were made aware of it. Most of the time, it was because the people viewing were late and we had just settled in thinking they came and gone especially if it was on the weekends. My tot was also around during some of them. He would watch to see who came in and then go back to what he was doing quietly. The couple who did buy our house did do a second viewing with their mom in tow so second viewings do happen.

CountFosco · 12/02/2018 19:53

When we were last viewing houses we saw 2 where they had dogs. One didn't smell of dog at all, the other stank really badly. I am sure the dog must have peed on the carpet it was such a strong smell. It did put me off, just like the smell of smoke put me off a house we viewed last week. It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me but at least you'd have to factor in a deep clean when you moved in.

RandomUsernameHere · 12/02/2018 19:54

We viewed a house once where the dog had been left on its own and the owners had gone out! It was a very sweet, well behaved dog but I thought it was weird that they left it at home for the viewing.

Turnocks34 · 12/02/2018 19:56

Doesn't bother me at all. We've just bought a house and the owner had a lovely, but very yappy little terrier. We gave it a stroke and then looked around without a second thought.

Didn't put us off in the slightest.

BunsyGirl · 12/02/2018 19:57

UgandanKnuckles...we once bought a house that had a dog in there previously. I was ill for weeks despite a deep clean. Never again...and I’m certainly not pathetic for avoiding being ill.

TopSop · 12/02/2018 20:06

We're trying to sell our house at the moment. Before every viewing we clear the garden of poops, open windows and burn essential oil to clear the air, and I vacate the house with both dogs (and kids) and we go for a long walk. That's what I will be doing for tomorrow afternoon's viewing even if it's raining!!!!

Bluelady · 12/02/2018 20:16

No they didn't lie. One friend in particular is famed for calling a spade a bloody shovel. She's been brutally honest about all sorts of things for as long as I've known her, she wouldn't know how to lie if you paid her.

Mycarsmellsoflavender · 12/02/2018 20:26

We didn't own a dog when we were house hunting ( although we do now) and I don't recall ever noticing a house smelling of dog. I do however remember a house stinking of cigarette smoke and with a filthy kitchen and huge number of empty spirits bottles lying about. DH wanted to try to get it for a knock down price but in the end we went for something ready to move into as DS was a baby.

Re the owners being about, I think as long as the house isn't empty, the owners have always been present. We usually went house hunting at the weekend though so maybe that's the difference. I prefer to speak to the owners directly rather than an estate agent.

jayne1976 · 12/02/2018 20:27

Sorry all those that think it’s fine - if a dog can sit quietly then yes, growling / licking / jumping / doesn’t stink to the heavens (I went to view a house and had to go quickly vacate and find the nearest drain) - then I hope you really wouldn’t expect your family members to behave like this should you have prospective viewers 😣

Yujismum · 12/02/2018 20:41

If you don’t like dogs you will be prejudiced no matter how wonderfully behaved a dog is. That’s fine, go away and find another property which suits you. Ever thought about the smell you might leave behind? I have been to several properties that stink, of people, not dogs. Properties I would struggle to want to move into.

BitOutOfPractice · 12/02/2018 20:46

Because dog owners often assume that everyone will love their dog as much as they do. Bit like parents of toddlers.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 12/02/2018 20:50

I don't think all dog owners think that people think their dogs are wonderful. Not if they're on MN anyway.

timeistight · 12/02/2018 21:00

I wouldn't be bothered by dogs, but I was told by our Estate Agents that we'd never sell the house unless I removed my rats from the living room!

user1489434024 · 12/02/2018 21:04

Urgh. It's the dogs home. It's not yours till you've bought it.

Why do viewers bring toddlers to viewings and get their sticky hands all over my clean home and not take their shoes off 🙄

pinkstripeycat · 12/02/2018 21:16

We viewed a house once that was so cluttered we couldn’t really see the size of any of the rooms properly. A small child followed us pushing and shoving past us the whole time and interrupting every time we tried to ask a question. The whole house smelt of curry they’d had that for tea. Washing up filling the sink, kitchen a mess. I would have NEVER thought we’d buy a house in this state but we did and once they’d moved out (and cleaned it beautifully) it was just the best house.

greendale17 · 12/02/2018 21:31

Dogs create a smelly, unrelaxing and unwelcome atmosphere.

^Biggest load of crap I have read on this thread

Geordie1944 · 12/02/2018 21:36

Simply register with the estate agent in advance what your requirements are: no dogs on the premises, no smell of a recent shit in the toilet [the vendors can bake it, after all], no sign of any kind of human occupancy.

Or you could get over yourself, stop being a precious bellend, and grow up.

BitOutOfPractice · 12/02/2018 21:42

Nobody who has a dog ever thinks their house smells. Not all of them do. But a lot do.

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