Dogs in offices

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RANT: I do not understand how or why it became acceptable for people in office jobs to take dogs to work. A workplace is no place for pets. Get a dogsitter or don't have a pet or change job. I don't want their hounds near me i don't want their hairs on my office chair. Am I being unreasonable to think the starting position should be no animals in offices? Rant over.

More calmly, I have 2 reasons that I want to avoid dogs - a severe allergy plus a previous dog attack leaving me generally nervous and stressed around dogs. Work is aware of my allergy and now office returns are being discussed, some measures are in place to minimise my exposure.

But what if that weren't the case though and I just didn't like them? Is it for the individual to check if there are animals in the office before they accept the job? Or should employers disclose in job ads?

Of course I exclude guide dogs/hearing dogs or similar.

AIBU to think the default position should be no dogs in offices?

I used to work for a company that allowed dogs into the office, pride themselves on it and made it part of their 'look how quirky and cool are' marketing. I didn't much like it because it made the office smell (weren't allowed to open the windows due to insurance as well, which was great) and also they had a habit of barking when on the phone to a client.

Does the insurance cover this? As a child I was bitten by a dog and so I wonder what would happen if a child at a school was bitten by a school dog?

I love dogs, I have always had dogs, but I don't think it's appropriate in the work place. If so, then parents should be able to bring children in too if they don't have adequate childcare.

My daughter is a GP and occasionally her dog to work, although the receptionist tried to keep him with them rather than in her room. Patients generally loved it

How appalling of her, and an abuse of the power imbalance. I can guarantee lots of patients did not love it at all but did not feel like they could say so. What about any allergic or afraid patients, they can just fuck off?

Disgraceful behaviour from a GP and I would have made an official complaint.

Most schools round here now have therapy dogs and even in the hospital (pre covid) we had weekly visits to the wards with a therapy dog and even a therapy pony a few times a year. In 5 years we’ve never had a complaint but the excitement from staff and patients is absolutely a reason to keep doing it. I love it. If you don’t then just stay away from the animal.

A lot of 'young' firms have an office dog, it's a destressing mechanism

Not for people who are allergic to or dislike dogs. For them it's a stressing mechanism

@Stompythedinosaur

I think that if people don't like the dog policy of their workplace they are free to work somewhere else, just like if they didn't like the dress policy, annual leave policy, or anything else.

The attitude of "I don't like this so no one should be allowed to do it" is shitty and selfish.

As opposed to imposing your dog on a workplace when it doesn't belong their, which is the height of consideration

*there

Those ranting on about allergies, seriously get a grip (I say that as someone with severe allergies - never have I expected a child’s birthday party to not have balloons because I’m allergic to latex. I adapt and take meds to ensure others aren’t having to work around me.)

@Stompythedinosaur

A peanut butter sandwich could be detrimental to some people's health, but we don't ban them across the country just in case. Each workplace has to make reasonable adaptions to the people who work there.

If you hate dogs, are scared of dogs or are allergic to dogs I'd guess you wouldn't apply to work in a workplace where there are dogs!

Well peanuts can kill those suffering with allergies, and so many workplaces have a nut free policy, because funnily enough there are other foods people can eat. Just like there are other places people can put their dogs

This is why I hate OTT dog people - happy for humans to suffer with allergies and phobias as long as their fur baby has mummy around

I remember that when I was a child, our family GP had a bad tempered Scottie dog. I don't think (!) it was allowed in the consulting rooms, but it certainly mooched about in the waiting room. And they're not unknown in the more rural sorts of solicitors' offices.

I'd love to take our greyhound with me on the rare occasion I go into the office. He happily sleeps most of the day in the same room with me as I work at home.

For those who have severe allergies, do you also think that guide dogs shouldn’t be permitted in the office?

Guide dogs are obviously different. They are required by their owner to be around. Not the same as Geoff who doesn't wanna fork out for doggy daycare. And there'd be risk assessments involved whereby both parties can meet a happy medium - ie the allergy sufferers working in a different spaces totally different to anyone and everyone bringing their non-required dog in whenever it suits them

@TurquoiseDragon

I invariably find that actively disliking dogs is a sign of some much deeper character flaws, and such people usually turn out to be people I wouldn't want to spend much time with for other reasons, so if it put such people off applying for a position I'd be perfectly happy with that.

And I invariably find that people with this kind of attitude are the same twats who wander up after their dog has rushed over to me and say "he's only being friendly" while their dog is biting hard enough to draw blood through jeans.

I had stitches in my leg from this dog. As soon as the owner realised how bad it was, he'd scooped up the dog and rushed off.

So, you think dog owners are perfect? It's the dog owners who have the flaws, and the blinkers about their dog's behaviour.

You think I believe all dog owners are perfect? That's a huge leap from what I actually said - and a complete misrepresentation of my views.

I'm friends with plenty of people who like dogs but don't necessarily want one of their own, or are more cat people but don't dislike dogs - that sort of thing.

The people that say they dislike / hate dogs are the ones I avoid - I've always found them to be unpleasant people in many other ways (controlling their DP, for instance, or being a narc). Actively disliking dogs (or animals in general) is a red flag in my book.

if a dog is well behaved, comes into the office, sleeps on its bed and doesn’t get under anyone’s feet then what is the problem?

My DD is well behaved, quiet and if she came into an office environment she'd probably sit under the desk drawing all day.

So by that rule why can't I bring her to work with me?

Disclaimer: I don't agree with kids being brought to work either - though in exceptional one-off circumstances I'd understand it might have to be done, as unlike a dog you can't leave a 5yo at home.

@TurquoiseDragon

I invariably find that actively disliking dogs is a sign of some much deeper character flaws, and such people usually turn out to be people I wouldn't want to spend much time with for other reasons, so if it put such people off applying for a position I'd be perfectly happy with that.

And I invariably find that people with this kind of attitude are the same twats who wander up after their dog has rushed over to me and say "he's only being friendly" while their dog is biting hard enough to draw blood through jeans.

I had stitches in my leg from this dog. As soon as the owner realised how bad it was, he'd scooped up the dog and rushed off.

So, you think dog owners are perfect? It's the dog owners who have the flaws, and the blinkers about their dog's behaviour.

This is my experience too.

There's also something to be said for people who think you have "deep character flaws" of your like and dislikes don't match theirs 😂 oh the irony

I take inhalers, tablets and a spray just to manage everyday.
So for the ignorant individuals who think we are “ranting”about our allergies, this is what it takes for some people to manage.
And for me,I still had an asthma attack at work despite having taken all my daily meds.

@PaperbackRider

My daughter is a GP and occasionally her dog to work, although the receptionist tried to keep him with them rather than in her room. Patients generally loved it

How appalling of her, and an abuse of the power imbalance. I can guarantee lots of patients did not love it at all but did not feel like they could say so. What about any allergic or afraid patients, they can just fuck off?

Disgraceful behaviour from a GP and I would have made an official complaint.

Same.

Genuine question - why do some dog owners think everyone else should put up with their dog in a setting where you're working/getting medical attention etc?

@m0therofdragons

Those ranting on about allergies, seriously get a grip (I say that as someone with severe allergies - never have I expected a child’s birthday party to not have balloons because I’m allergic to latex. I adapt and take meds to ensure others aren’t having to work around me.)

But going into a part you expect balloons and can keep away from them. You are not at a children's party 40 hours per week either i presume? And for allergy sufferers just being in the same space as a dog can trigger symptoms.

The equivalent would be me rubbing a balloon up and down on you as you tried to do your work, and as your eyes streamed and face swelled me saying "GEt a GrIP"

The people that say they dislike / hate dogs are the ones I avoid

Personally that's fine by me as I do t want to be around people who hate humans, so at least we are on the same page

@FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop

if a dog is well behaved, comes into the office, sleeps on its bed and doesn’t get under anyone’s feet then what is the problem?

My DD is well behaved, quiet and if she came into an office environment she'd probably sit under the desk drawing all day.

So by that rule why can't I bring her to work with me?

Disclaimer: I don't agree with kids being brought to work either - though in exceptional one-off circumstances I'd understand it might have to be done, as unlike a dog you can't leave a 5yo at home.

You’re comparing dogs with children? I bet if a dog owner did that the howls of outrage would be heard for 100 miles.

We used to have a dogs policy but there were many restrictions to it. The dog had to be housetrained, it had to have the agreement of everyone else who would be sharing the office space, (If anyone wasn't comfortable then the dog wasn't allowed) You had to have a crate/cage to be able to shut the dog away and it wasn't allowed to cause disruption or be a nuisance. There was a 3 strike rule so if there were complaints about your dog then you would have the privilege taken away. It also had to be advertised that a dog was present in the office.

It worked really well to be honest and boosted morale amongst staff (However I work with ALOT of dog lovers so this may be why)

@Blossomtoes no. As I said in the post I don't agree with kids in the office either unless it's exceptional circumstances. I was making a point that just because someone/something is quiet it doesn't mean they belong in an office

The people that say they dislike / hate dogs are the ones I avoid

Good. Please do keep away, and your mutt too.

it had to have the agreement of everyone else who would be sharing the office space, (If anyone wasn't comfortable then the dog wasn't allowed)
And did everyone actually feel free to say so, or were they silent as they didn't want to be the one who stopped people from getting what they wanted? hardly a free choice.

A company I work with have dogs there all the time. The dogs are v sweet but they do occassionally wee or poo in our workspace (their owners office is in the same building and they accompany him when we are liaising for work), once one wee'd on my shoes!!
My colleague was asked to dog sit the other day and the dog was really distressed to be away from its owner, and was whining for the owner the whole time, and colleague could neither placate it, or get on with their own work sufficiently.

Are people taking dogs into the office because they don't want to leave them at home alone?