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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
earnshaw47 · 21/05/2021 19:07

i would not want dogs in the office and i dont see why they should be there, in no way is it acceptable

supperlover · 21/05/2021 19:16

When our children were at their small,3 teacher primary school in North Devon the infants teacher brought her King Charles Spaniel to school every day. He was very much a member of the class and a friend to the children. My children are all in their 40s now so it was a long time ago. No doubt wouldn't be allowed now! His owner was a fabulous teacher and the dog being in the classroom certainly didn't interfere with her teaching.

youvegottenminuteslynn · 21/05/2021 19:17

@supperlover

When our children were at their small,3 teacher primary school in North Devon the infants teacher brought her King Charles Spaniel to school every day. He was very much a member of the class and a friend to the children. My children are all in their 40s now so it was a long time ago. No doubt wouldn't be allowed now! His owner was a fabulous teacher and the dog being in the classroom certainly didn't interfere with her teaching.
What if some of the kids had dog allergies? Or was frightened of dogs after being attacked by one? That's all people are saying - not that it couldn't be lovely if everyone is on board with it, but that as a blanket policy it doesn't work unless you know people will feel able to say they aren't comfortable with it and that they would be listened to.
Daydrambeliever · 21/05/2021 19:23

Having dogs (not helping dogs) in schools and workplaces should be banned. Someone's right to parade their pet around doesn't trump potential allergies, trauma responses and cultural sensitivities. I bloody love dogs. I would be permanently attached to one if I could be.

Gabor · 21/05/2021 19:41

Omg OP I couldn't agree with you more. I personally have a real dislike for dogs never had good experiences with dogs and they make me very nervous and anxious. Of course guide dogs are fair enough although I will just avoid being in close proximity. Generally speaking it is completely inappropriate for dogs to be in an office. Whilst I except that there execptions I often find the dog owners fo not appreciate that not everyone likes dogs or feels comfortable around them.

I feel so strongly on this that when looking for a job and visiting the website of a company if it is made known that there is an office dog I simply do not apply. I really have seen dogs have a profile on company website which personally I think is odd. Mind at least it gives me a heads up.

GreyhoundG1rl · 21/05/2021 19:44

I really have seen dogs have a profile on company website which personally I think is odd.
I'd avoid those sort of gobshites on principle 😂. In and out of the workplace.

Barrequeen · 21/05/2021 19:45

My office allows dogs but there is no way I would subject them to my crazy cocker spaniel under any circumstances… my office stipulated well behaved dogs… I guess they are presuming it would be the type of dog that would sit under your desk all day!

MrsPumpkinPie · 21/05/2021 19:55

YANBU at all. I genuinely love dogs but am sick of the owners who presume everyone must love their dog. Especially those who flap about saying ‘oh no he’s really friendly’ as they’re jumping all over you. My sons are both autistic and need a degree of certainty and so I always say to owners, who are merrily calling out that their dogs are friendly that there are 4 mights... They might jump, they might lick, they might bark, they might bite. That’s 4 mights too many! Unpredictability whilst trying to work, that’s too much to ask anyone.

SallyB392 · 21/05/2021 20:02

I have a support dog, so we're I still working could automatically take my dog to the office. My dog is clean, never pees or poops on carpets, wouldn't dream of wandering around and would probably stay under the desk.

BUT, the challenge would be that she would be just as likely to affect someone with an allergy than any other dog, so how would this be balanced?

I suppose my question is, if we accept support dogs in the workplace, why would we not accept a well behaved pet dog?

For the record my ex husband used to take our huge, long haired Briard to work with him in Paris. That was nearly 40 years ago!

Tessabelle74 · 21/05/2021 20:04

I love dogs, but would hate working in an office with them as the smell would be awful! I only like how my dog smells

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 21/05/2021 20:06

@SallyB392 because one is needed and the other isn't.

In the (bit highly likely) event a support dog is needed in the office where there's an allergy sufferers, it would be very easy to reach a solution to this situation. All parties would presumably be understanding that they have to accommodate the other. If you let any old dogs in who are house trained but don't need to be there, how is that fair on the allergy sufferer?

Yourcatisnotsorry · 21/05/2021 20:49

Wtf?! I’ve never seen or heard of dogs in offices. I love animals but it’s entirely inappropriate. For the reasons you mention and many others. I can understand a tiny family run firm or a vets office or something but otherwise no.

Daydrambeliever · 21/05/2021 20:50

I suppose my question is, if we accept support dogs in the workplace, why would we not accept a well behaved pet dog?

Because one is a need and one is a want. And once you let one lovely pet dog into the office, do you allow everyone who has a dog, cat, rabbit, boa constrictor to bring their pet too. Allergies are only one reason not to allow pets into the workplace. Some people have been traumatised by dogs, some people have autism, some Muslim people I know will cross the street rather than encounter a dog. Why should any of these people be denied the right to work comfortably.

Hobbitytoes · 21/05/2021 21:34

YANBU. I have a dog phobia. I wouldn't be able to go to work. Our office had a bring your dog to work day as apparently they relieve stress so I worked from home. I would have to work from home permanently as there's no way I could take the chance of a dog being in the office. Unless my colleagues were happy for me to scream or go into a state of blind panic if the dog was even to look in my direction.

Toothpaste123 · 21/05/2021 21:40

I've had two bosses who brought in their dogs.. I'm a cat person 🙄 And one if the dogs absolutely stank. Not a fan.. If I can't bring my kid/cat why dog!?!

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 21/05/2021 21:50

Dogs absolutely do not belong in the office. Some people are allergic to dogs and some people just don't like them.....and that's fair enough!

PeachyPeachTrees · 21/05/2021 21:56

I worked at a place in London a few years back and a member of staff used to bring her dog to work. It was well behaved and I don't have a problem with dogs generally but...
me and my collegues worked in the basement with no windows or aircon and wanted the street level back door open for air in the summer. She was on the first floor with the boss and a few others with windows open and feel fine and would insist on having the door closed so the dog wouldn't get out. She said it would be cruel to have him on a lead. Basically the needs of a dog was put above the needs of a whole group of people downstairs working in awful conditions. I did eventually leave and this was one of the reasons.

GreyhoundG1rl · 21/05/2021 22:02

Basically the needs of a dog was put above the needs of a whole group of people downstairs working in awful conditions. I did eventually leave and this was one of the reasons.
Shock. How was she allowed to get away with that? Shame on them.

sandy541 · 21/05/2021 22:08

Just asked the dog how he feels about being stuck in an office all day.

Dogs in offices
GreyhoundG1rl · 21/05/2021 22:11

Is that your home office? What a beauty!

blueangel19 · 21/05/2021 22:12

I would love if I could take my dog to the office. Poor doggies left alone all day. Nothing wrong is they behave and are not smelly.

GreyhoundG1rl · 21/05/2021 22:14

Poor doggies left alone all day
Owner choice to have a dog. Everyone else should not have that choice made for them.

KateTheEighth · 21/05/2021 22:32

My dog comes to the office with me

It's my office. I own it and rent out desk space to 6 other people. It is surrounded by open green space

4 of the people who rent desks from me have dogs and often bring them in

NiceGerbil · 21/05/2021 22:32

This thread is probably a lot about lockdown dogs isn't it.

If your dog will be alone all day you sort something out to address that.

You don't what. Take it in on the tube, bring it in the lift to a high floor on a high rise, and clog up the space for people who can't use the stairs in an evacuation.

The idea many have that you can't expect all offices to fit all people. And if you don't like the culture then leave. Is what women and other groups have been faced with for ages. It's not the same no. But people are saying it as a blanket thing. The culture is what it is. If you don't like it then get another job. Yay!

Internetio · 21/05/2021 22:35

My dog comes to work with me most of the time when I’m in the office 😬 small workforce of tech bods, I have my own office. I checked with the team prior to getting the dog whether anyone would prefer to not have an office dog. He is adored and referred to as the ‘honorary deputy operational manager’ and has his job title on a plaque (his christmas gift from the managing partner) on his little hideaway den in my office, he is regularly requested to accompany staff on walks and one remote member of staff specifically asks to speak to him on zoom 🙄 he also knows that every staff member has treats for him and goes for a daily wander to see everyone and I often have to go in search at home time and find him curled up with our research director.

If someone objected to his presence he would stay at home without an issue as DH wfh even before covid.

Depends on the culture, for us work is not a chore, we enjoy going to work, it’s relaxed and we do fun stuff, a little fluffball in the office is seen as a bonus as most staff are not in a position to have a pet themselves (mostly young staff renting so not permitted) we don’t have external visitors though, I can imagine that would make a difference.