Dog came to our house viewing

[Memberberry]

Our estate agent brought a potential buyer round to view our house today who turned up with their dog. I saw them on the front door ring camera carry it in to our house but when I checked the back garden camera I could see it walking on our carpet!

We have a 5 year old and a 5 month old and it walked all over where the boys play (luckily most of their things were put away for the visit) and the estate agent knows this.

The dog also was carried into their bedroom and held above our baby’s cot.

if this hadn’t annoyed me enough when asked about it the estate agent lied and said the dog was carried the whole time. When I told her we can see it on the ring she said she’d make a note that no pets would be allowed on future viewings and that’s it ok as the dog didn’t go to the toilet in our garden.

I don’t think I’m being unreasonable but just wanted to gauge opinions before I speak to the agent properly tomorrow and whether that’s normal behaviour or is as bizarre as I think it is.

Our dog waited in the car - luckily our car is climate controlled for the dog - we were buying a house in a different town to the one we live in - we couldn't leave the dog behind

Dog lover here too and I would be furious if anyone did that and then miss cheeky liar estate agent lies about it. There would be a rocket of an email sent to her manager tomorrow morning, and yes tell them you want the carpets deep cleaned, and after that dump them as estate agents

This is totally unacceptable. And to add insult to injury, the estate agent lied. I'd be putting in a formal complaint and remove your listing from their agency.

Very weird, I have a dog and I would never take him to a house viewing, it's just obviously not ok!

@Memberberry I have a dog and even I don’t allow dogs I don’t know I to my house.
YABU.

my god id hit the roof!!

dog person here! but nope not on house viewings!!! how utterly batshit!

I knew someone who didn't buy a house they were interested in because the dog wouldn't go in.

Even my dog who lives in my house isn't in my house when potential viewers come round. Let alone a potential viewer bringing their own!

I have to ask..... why did you need to take your dog to house viewings?

Surely you could have left at home or in the car outside?

I’d consider getting a new agent and sacking this lot. They lied to you.
and who brings a DOG to view a house?
unacceptable 😡

But why bring your dog at all? It takes 10 minutes to view a house. And probably the owners feel bad about saying no. But really trailing a dog through every room in the house is ridiculous. Even lots of people who own dogs don't let them upstairs

I’d sack off the estate agent for lying about it. You shouldn’t need to refer to camera footage to get the truth out of someone you trusted to have access to your home.

How sure are you that the EA was being truthful when they said several homeowners didn't mind? I honestly have no idea why you'd think its appropriate to even ask to be honest, its not your home and you don't know these people 😳

We were viewing in locations that required a day trip from our place so couldn't leave the dog alone all day – we would have had to leave with a sitter or dog walker (which we would have done if the owner said no dogs at all at the viewing, but as they mostly said it was okay we took the dog with us and went for some lovely walks after the viewings.)

No, not OK to take your dog into someone's house without their permission. That should be the default from the estate agent, not that you have to 'opt out' of random eventualities.

I'd complain that they allowed the dog in at all, that they lied about it being carried, that they didn't apologise when you initialy contacted them about it, and that they seem to think 'well it didn't piss or shit on your stuff' (which presumably was complete luck if it went in the garden!) is an acceptable level of care / service.

Crikey, the “dogs everywhere” trend is getting a bit much now!

I wouldn’t be happy about this OP, suppose your family had fur allergies , or even worse, the dog had an ‘accident?’
Wh6 are people so damn entitled nowadays?

We went for brunch on Saturday, in town, and the restaurant/lounge bar has recently gone dog-friendly. I don’t particularly mind, I have a large daft dog myself, but she stays home on guard (asleep) when we’re out.

Our meal and conversation was constantly interrupted by a black Labrador under a table who just barked and barked. To be honest, he looked fed-up, as he had no room and was in amongst a load of legs, but nobody talked to him or tried to quieten him, he was just ignored. What’s the point of taking him in there?
Poor dog, shoved under the table out of the way.

I wonder if there will be a gradual backlash against this dogs everywhere trend. It certainly made us want to avoid this place in future.

Yanbu at all. It's disrespectful.

Even if you had your own dog, it doesn't matter. You don't allow a dog at a house viewing fgs!

Not ok generally. But I think (if agreed in advance) I’d be fine with one of those tiny toy dogs that sit in handbags and don’t walk anywhere

I adore dogs, but it wouldn't enter my head to take one when viewing a house.

My first thought was what if the current owner and occupiers of the home had allergies.

I do have to say that I wouldn't be bothered if someone came to view my house and brought their dog, but that is because I have a dog and don't have allergies.

Very certain - in several cases, the homeowners were there and fussed over the dog. The EA had definitely spoken to them (and also told us beforehand when one owner requested the dog stay outside). As I said, I in no way condone turning up unannounced with a dog or the EA behaviour in the OP

Part of a growing culture here to take dogs absolutely anywhere no matter how unsuitable and unnecessary it is .

YANBU and the estate agent should be replaced because they’ve shown themselves as deceptive, foolish and inconsiderate.

As others have said your family could’ve had allergies for all they know.

And what if there was an accident? fair enough they’d have cleaned it up but it’s still gross 🤢

I have dogs but I would not find this acceptable.

From a selling perspective: my dogs would not like to return home and find that a strange dog had been on their territory.

As a buyer: I certainly wouldn't take my dog/dogs to a viewing. The vendors could have dog allergy or have left their cats in the house or have territorial dogs of their own.

I would be inclined to change agents because I find it unprofessional that you were not even asked about this before the viewing took place.

It doesn't altogether surprise me though, a lot of people do take their dogs to inappropriate places these days.

My dog who obviously lives in my house wasn't even allowed to stay in when I had a viewing. The lying would piss me off. I'd lose any trust.

Ridiculous - YANBU OP. I roll my eyes a bit at a lot of the “poor me, too many dogs are now allowed in cafe/museum/shops” type threads on here - because everyone has a choice whether to give those establishments their patronage (and clearly those places feel they need the extra income from people with dogs!). But your own home? Your home, your choice to keep it pet free - if you aren’t locked into a contract with these agents or it expires soon, I’d tell them to sling their hook! (and find an agent who doesn’t need to be told the obvious- that you have to ASK before you take an animal into somebody’s home 🤦‍♀️).

I have a dog and I still think this is completely unacceptable, even more so that they lied about it

My husband and I had to have our dog with us for one viewing and so we took it in turns, with one of us standing outside with the dog while the other looked around. Would never dream of bringing her in (and she's a low-shedding, good natured hound!)