Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dogs in offices

721 replies

ApplePenPineapplePen · 19/05/2021 22:26

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
NiceGerbil · 21/05/2021 14:58

Enema?

What the hell?

You're saying she needs something shoved up her arse?

What is wrong with you?

tigger1001 · 21/05/2021 14:59

@redcandlelight

allergies can also develop or get worse over time.

what if an employee who was happywith pets in the office suddenly can't be in an enclosed spacd with them anymore?

This is an interesting point and has happened to me. My allergy to animals has definitely got worse the older I get. Cat hair has always bothered me but not dog hair until a few years ago. Same with horse hair - used to ride as a kid most weekends now can't touch one without a reaction.

Some dogs seem to give a bigger reaction than others too. And the reaction can last for a few hours once I'm away from the dog, so if someone brought a dog into work I might have a reaction for the rest of the day/ night.

GreyhoundG1rl · 21/05/2021 14:59

I suspect it was an alternative way of saying full of shit...

Serpenta · 21/05/2021 14:59

Very wise. Be aware that parrots can live for 70 years so committing to one is quite an undertaking.

crosstalk · 21/05/2021 15:56

My DDog used to occasionally come into work and was used as a comfort blanket by many. She was famed for one time when an exasperated manager in the open office rolled a failed proposal into a ball and threw it across the room. She patiently brought it back to him.

My DM had a central London office smothered in dogs.

No one would have brought them in if it had been a problem for others.

Now I'm looking again at fancy rats which I used to have some time ago ... like Just William, you can keep them in a pocket ... Or not.

Henrietta75 · 21/05/2021 16:36

Not a dog hater, just have allergies and dont really like pets.
Worked for a business man who kept 4 dogs and brought them to work to keep in his office. Of course the office then stunk constantly of dog shit and one day one of the juniors let an important business client into his horrible stinking office and started to gag. Considering he sat in there for hours he must of got used to the smell.
Another workplace the Owner / MD brought his dog into work everyday and it started to wander in the office. I started the same day as a temp and her coat had dropped on the floor and the dog decided to sleep on it. She screamed and walked out and they had to pay the dry cleaning bill or replacement coat (where it was chewed) I cant quite remember.

PaperbackRider · 21/05/2021 16:38

No one would have brought them in if it had been a problem for others

You don't know if its a problem for others, many wouldn't feel like they can say they have a problem.

youvegottenminuteslynn · 21/05/2021 16:42

@PaperbackRider

No one would have brought them in if it had been a problem for others

You don't know if its a problem for others, many wouldn't feel like they can say they have a problem.

Absolutely this, especially juniors.
GreyhoundG1rl · 21/05/2021 16:48

Like anyone's going to tell the MD they object to his dog.

youvegottenminuteslynn · 21/05/2021 16:52

@GreyhoundG1rl

Like anyone's going to tell the MD they object to his dog.
Exactly! I don't know why people on this thread can't just say yeah it's shitty and unfair for people who don't feel how I feel, but I like it / would like it so I'm not really bothered about other people in the office.
Wheresmybiscuit3 · 21/05/2021 17:03

I needed to rent an office for my business recently. I chose my office for many reasons but one was that it was dog friendly.

GreyhoundG1rl · 21/05/2021 17:16

That's nice.

wildchild554 · 21/05/2021 17:33

Never heard of this before. My childrens school has recently got a school dog, it was after first lockdown to help with childrens anxiety and it's also helping autistic kids too and has helped stop alot of major meltdowns from my son as they take him to him just at the beginning before they go full swing. They have been very careful in the breed they picked though and is better for those who are allergic to dogs and very friendly.

Rhayader · 21/05/2021 17:33

I love dogs and would love one in the office but I would never agree to it because they are not inclusive for certain religions and people can have allergies.

LouH1981 · 21/05/2021 17:49

I’m a dog groomer so I guess without them in my workplace I am out of a job! Personally I would LOVE it in an office environment (I used to work in an office) but I am sooo biased. I totally get where you are coming from - they aren’t for everyone.

Toomuchtrouble4me · 21/05/2021 17:51

[quote FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop]@NiceGerbil in my school teachers can bring their dogs to work on a specific day each term. They go in the classrooms with them for lessons (providing no children in the class have allergies) go out with them on lunchtime duty etc.

Everyone (but me) goes mad for it. But from what I can see all that happens is

  • no pupils learn anything as they're too busy pissing around with the dogs
  • someone inevitably dumps their dog in the staff room because their next lesson a child is allergic, or they are popping out to town for lunch
  • at least one dog shits or pisses which is a lovely smell to greet the next teacher and class
  • everyone remembers that I don't like dogs, which in the modern world equates me with being the leader in a Russian gulag, so I get the piss taken out of me (which inevitably leads to tension as I will literally say "not everyone has to like your mutt") [/quote]
I think you wrote this for me. Last term pre Covid we had a cat wander in daily because our head fed it, kids named it and it was generally disruptive. I don’t like cats and I don’t go to school to be with animals.
TheDiddlyGang · 21/05/2021 17:54

they are not inclusive for certain religions

I really wish people would stop saying this.
The only two religions that I know of that some believe discourage the keeping of dogs; Islam and Judaism.

I don’t know much about Judaism but plenty of Muslims have pet dogs.

Pet dogs are not haram (forbidden) in Islam but Muslims are supposed to wash any body part that has been touched by dog saliva.

The Qur’an clearly states all animals are part of Allah’s creation and ‘It thus becomes our duty to protect, employ with dignity, and promote the well-being of any animal in our care. In this way, we are expressing our thankfulness to Allah (swt) for His blessings in a practical manner’ and ‘It is a duty upon every human being to respect Allah’s creation. If we ill treat any of His creation, we will be questioned about it on the Day of Judgment’

Turkey is a predominantly Muslim country and are well known for providing veterinary care, food and water for the stray dogs.

The common view that ‘muslims hate dogs’ is both inaccurate and really harmful.
We already have a big problem with islamophobia in this country.

Do not feed it with inaccurate information.

Bertiebiscuit · 21/05/2021 18:28

Not OK - it's a workplace and should have health and safety rules and regs - a dog must be a no no

cherish123 · 21/05/2021 18:40

I agree with you. I have a lovely quiet non-smelly dog but would appreciate some people wouldn't want her at work. I spend 20-odd years petrified of dogs.

Coquohvan · 21/05/2021 18:45

My workplace allows dogs in with their owners as most staff have a dog. Some of them have beds behind reception and snore away very loudly. People that come in love to see them here.
All potential staff are told that animals are a must in our workplace and none negotiable.

It’s my practice I’m a vet 😀

wooo69 · 21/05/2021 18:45

It was talked about at my office a few years ago and of course all the dog owners thought it was a great idea.
If it had gone ahead I would have had to leave or I would have spent my entire working day sneezing and watery eyes.
There were many objections similar to mine and there was a huge divide between those with dogs and those without but I’m glad which side won.

Mary54 · 21/05/2021 18:48

When I ran a business, I had my dog in the office every day and one of my part time employees also brought hers in. Never had any problems and everyone was fond of them. Obviously, there could have been problems with untrained dogs but that applies wherever they are. Applicants and other visitors were always met at the door by at least one dog so they knew to go elsewhere if they didn’t like them.

Sadsiblingatsea · 21/05/2021 18:50

I love having a dog in the office. You don’t have to be near it. Try to be a bit more easy going OP.

HairyHocks · 21/05/2021 19:00

It depends on the dog, but since you couldn't possibly have every dog in a large office, i would say no - and I say that as a dog person.

I have had dogs that would have been chilled out, sleep under the desk sort of dogs. I've also had dogs that would have been a nightmare.

Jaxhog · 21/05/2021 19:02

I've visited and worked in a number of offices that allowed dogs. Without exception, they all smelled heavily of dog. Not in a good way. Trying to run a workshop with dogs yapping outside the door wasn't great either.