Dogs in offices

[ApplePenPineapplePen]

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?

@PeachyPeachTrees

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.

As already mentioned I think you could have had a case for constructive dismissal there. Unbelievable. Sorry to hear what you were subjected to.

i admit that i am not a dog lover, if i worked in an office then i would not be happy if dogs appeared, its a place of work for goodness sake

My hairdresser brings her dog to the salon - he's adorable.

My ex-hairdresser did too. And whilst the dogs were lovely, they were a distraction so she took ages to do my hair.

And I know that's not always the case. I've been in places where the dogs lie quietly or just come over and sniff you then retreat to their beds after a friendly pat, all good. But at the hairdressers I used to come out feeling tense because the dogs would run around the place. My new hairdresser also has a dog but he doesn't bring it to the salon as he admits it's too much of a distraction.

I had to move barbers for my DSs for this very reason. I couldn't sit whilst two dogs stared at me.

@Hobbitytoes

I had to move barbers for my DSs for this very reason. I couldn't sit whilst two dogs stared at me.

Staring is bad isn't it!😂

It is when you are terrified of dogs, yes.

I pay to have children's hair cut. If I wanted to attend doggy day care then I would pay for such services.

I think this dog owner thing isn’t really about dog but more about some humans just having no sense of the world around them and where they are in it. There seems to be a creeping sense of entitlement without consideration in the world these days. I think I’m a pretty tolerant person and as I say I like dogs but I just don’t like when owners thrust their pet onto me and expect me to be as invested as they are. You wouldn’t insist someone has coffee because it’s your preference when they’ve always drunk tea. It’s that sort of mentality like they are trying to justify their own life choices by insisting you do as they do.

@Voluptuagoodshag

I think this dog owner thing isn’t really about dog but more about some humans just having no sense of the world around them and where they are in it. There seems to be a creeping sense of entitlement without consideration in the world these days. I think I’m a pretty tolerant person and as I say I like dogs but I just don’t like when owners thrust their pet onto me and expect me to be as invested as they are. You wouldn’t insist someone has coffee because it’s your preference when they’ve always drunk tea. It’s that sort of mentality like they are trying to justify their own life choices by insisting you do as they do.

Nodding along, this makes a lot of sense.

You wouldn’t insist someone has coffee because it’s your preference when they’ve always drunk tea. It’s that sort of mentality like they are trying to justify their own life choices by insisting you do as they do.

Tbh what I've seen on this thread is the people opposed to dog friendly offices insisting everyone must follow their preferences. I don't think anyone has suggested enforcing a dog friendly policy where it isn't wanted.

Live and let live!

For those talking about dogs on buses and trains etc - how do you think other countries do it? It is very very common for dogs to be on the trams etc in Berlin and other European cities.

I'd only want to work in an office where dogs were allowed

Tbh what I've seen on this thread is the people opposed to dog friendly offices insisting everyone must follow their preferences.

I think what most people are pointing out to the very entitled dog lovers is the difference between a need (where there is no room for preference) and a want. There is a clear NEED to ensure workplaces are accessible for those with physical or mental reactions to dogs. There is not a clear NEED for anyone (except those using helping dogs) to take their dogs to work. This is a want. Wants don't (or at least really ll shouldn't) trump needs.

@Daydrambeliever My office has five people in it and nine dogs ranging from terrier to St Bernard. If the farm workers, gardeners, game keepers etc... come into the office to do some work there are more dogs. I just can’t fathom why if you were allergic to dogs you’d want to work somewhere like this. At interview surely you’d say, actually this isn’t for me.

@iGetPipAndWork

Ugh. I actually love dogs and had a dog for 14 years.

But no - unless they're very well trained (like guide dogs for example) I could think of nothing worse. A sleepy trained greyhound in the corner doing nowt - maybe, a cocker poo who is not trained and bored stupid omg carnage.

I agree with you up to a point. Obviously some dogs have to be allowed (guide) and some are no trouble (sleepy greyhound), but...

I detest dogs. Absolutely hate them. I hate the smell, the hairs, the slobbering. I hate them touching me. I hate them jumping on me. I hate their noise. I hate the pressure to fawn all over the disgusting creatures. I hate the fact that I have to be constantly on guard that I am not going to be attacked (I use that word in the widest sense, and accept that if it happens it's likely to be an attack of totally unwanted contact, not bites, but I am still wary of being bitten.)

As an aside - why on earth should I put up with YOUR DOG doing what it just did when it would be sexual assault if another human being did that to me (forcing their face into my crotch)?

It is bad enough having to spend time with people you hate if you're unfortunate enough to work with others, but their dogs as well. HELL.

And just to be clear - I have posted the above for one reason and one reason only. Because so many dog owners appear to me to be totally oblivious to the feelings of others - total lack of empathy, total entitlement. It disgusts me.

When you take your dog for a walk please assume that anyone you walk past is like me. I am on edge, and I am preparing myself to kick the dog as hard as I can in the head if it attacks me. That is what I am thinking, and I don't like that you have put me in that position.

I have never kicked a dog in the head yet and suspect I never will, but I am ready.

DH and I were once on holiday in Italy, we’d gone into a church where a mass was in progress and a little old lady asked us if we’d mind holding her dog’s lead while she went up for communion!

@Internetio

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.

How sure can you be that there isn't someone who is deeply uncomfortable, but feels (for whatever reason) that they should keep it to themselves? Maybe they are worried about being disadvantaged at work if they kick up a fuss? Maybe they just feel that they don't have the moral right to veto a dog when they can see others are fine with it?

Another problem with dogs in the office. It's all part of a disgusting extreme-capitalist plot to erode the boundaries between work and home life. "Look, we're so cool and friendly here in the office, you really should stay here 14 hours a day... in fact why not sleep on one of the beanbags and do 18 hours day?"

It’s a different situation, isn’t it? I guess it depends on how much the employer values that person how far they’d accommodate them. I think most people would say that if an aspect of your job changes and you don’t like it you either suck it up or leave. But because a section of MN is obsessively anti dog, it will never accept that this is just a policy like any other.

I definitely think women should suck it up and leave if an aspect of the job changes - maybe if the company decides to eliminate all single sex toilets and changing facilities? #sarcasm

No, whilst there has to be some give and take surely the starting point should be to make places of work as accessible to all?

And another thing...has anyone considered the potential for racist discrimination? There are cultures where contact with dogs are religiously not allowed, for example.
Are we all ok with telling people from particular cultures or religions that they are not welcome in the workplace because your dogs are more important?

VERY good point. I am not in favour of religious exemptions, but if we have them then surely any dog friendly office is basically an anti-muslim office.

This thread is hilarious 😂