I bring my dog to work

[swamp]

Thoughts?  

[hoops902]

I think it depends entirely on how big your dog is, how well behaved, how energetic, how loud, etc.  It probably depends a lot on how others in the office view it (i.e.  much easier in a small office you run than a big corporate office where there is likely to be someone who has a problem with it).  Also matters what the alternative housing for your dog is (better than sitting in a crate, not as good as running around a huge yard all day).

[swamp]

She's 60 pounds and pretty chill.  Sometimes she gets a little excited when people come in and will bark, but generally she just walks up to people that come in and sits next to them and nudges them to be petted.   She only jumps on me.  

She will bark when I'm the only one here.  

My assistant loves her and shares lunch with her every day.  

If I didn't bring her, she would be home alone.  Not a problem most days since the kids would get home about 3:15, but it's soccer season, so we often don't get home until after 6.  

[TheOtherMe]

I worked at a clothing boutique as an accountant and the owner brought his dog every day.  

Because he was selling high end women's clothing and the dog was not all that well behaved, I didn't think it was appropriate.  He did and he was the owner.

I do think it affected his sales as he ended up going broke.  The dog, combined with the recession and his poor choices in the clothing line were all to blame.

[chiver78]

I wish I could. enjoy! 

[Deleted]

It's your office.  You're the boss.  Bring a pony if you want.  Or chickens.  I'd bring chickens.

[billisonboard]

I am very biased on this topic.  I work in an educational camp setting. I  had a Golden who i  thought was a positive addition to our work environment.  He would greet new arrivals but was quick to sense disinterest if that was displayed. He was content to just be, demanding no attention but was happy to receive it if offered. He understood boundaries (except when that one damn cook would entice him into the kitchen offering him food). He was missed by many when he passed. He is buried on site with a little headstone. 

Now my coworkers have a dog they bring to work. It is necessary for her to  be chained or shut in an office when guests are around. It is a battle to keep her out of the kitchen. She must be accompanied when she goes outside or will run off.  Of course since I had my dog there for years, I can't say much. 

[gs11rmb]

I really like dogs but if I walked into a room and a 60 lb dog started barking then I would be scared.  I have an aunt who is phobic about dogs and if that happened to her there's a good chance she'd collapse on the spot and start hyperventilating with a genuine panic attack.  So, I guess I think about her when I see dogs in places where they 'shouldn't' be seen.

On the other hand, I love to see office cats  .

[swamp]

Oct 2, 2019 9:24:58 GMT -5 gs11rmb said:

I really like dogs but if I walked into a room and a 60 lb dog started barking then I would be scared.  I have an aunt who is phobic about dogs and if that happened to her there's a good chance she'd collapse on the spot and start hyperventilating with a genuine panic attack.  So, I guess I think about her when I see dogs in places where they 'shouldn't' be seen.

On the other hand, I love to see office cats  .

My assistant is allergic to cats. 

[bean29]

My husband occasionally takes our dogs to his office. He locks them in a back room if they are there, and when they are there it is usually just for a few hours until his parents can pick them up.

I used to bring my dog to work with me on the weekend, but it is a large building and my Dog wanted to explore the building and would not settle down even if  I closed my office door with me & the dog alone in the office. I gave up after bringing him a few times. But if it is working out, I would 100% do it too.

[gs11rmb]

Oct 2, 2019 9:27:22 GMT -5 swamp said:

Oct 2, 2019 9:24:58 GMT -5 gs11rmb said:

I really like dogs but if I walked into a room and a 60 lb dog started barking then I would be scared.  I have an aunt who is phobic about dogs and if that happened to her there's a good chance she'd collapse on the spot and start hyperventilating with a genuine panic attack.  So, I guess I think about her when I see dogs in places where they 'shouldn't' be seen.

On the other hand, I love to see office cats  .

My assistant is allergic to cats. 

I'm very sorry for her .  As I said I do really like dogs but cats are sooooo much easier! 

[Deleted]

Yeah, there's a chance you could be losing clients that are phobic, or at minimum make them very uncomfortable, my son's stepmom is that way too.   But, if she's well behaved and business is good, I wouldn't let that stop me.  I'd totally bring a dog in your situation if I had one.  Dog is happier, you're happier, and I'm guessing more people that stop into your office are going to enjoy her presence than be turned off by it. 

[hoops902]

I'd be annoyed if a dog in our office was coming up to me nudging to be petted.  But you're in a small office and you're the boss, so it is what it is.  If your assistant is less productive because your dog wants pets every 5 minutes, then it really only impacts you (I assume it's not that often anyways, point being I'd be annoyed if my coworker was doing it and was causing me to  have to stop working to deal with their dog...in a small office where you're the boss any lost productivity is on you so the issue seems lessened).

[swamp]

she only bothers my assistant when she has food.  Because the dog knows she's a soft touch.  

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

TD used to bring Harpo to work.  However, he left him in his car (covered, underground parking garage).  Harpo was quite happy to hang out in his den until TD took a break to take him for a walk.  He usually got 2 quick walks and a long walk at lunch.  

Then Harpo discovered if he barked enough, someone would tell the receptionist, who would tell TD, then he’d get to see his person!  So it got to the point where he had to leave the mutt at home.  

Other employees brought their dogs into the office building.  It was too much for Harpo when TD tried it.  Harpo go anxious.

[mollyanna58]

I brought my dog to my small office when she was going through cancer treatments.  Most visitors did not object.  If someone did object, I put her in a different room.

[thyme4change]

I've worked in the animal industry for most of my career. There are always dogs at work. Some are great, some aren't.

[wvugurl26]

I'm sure pets are not allowed in my office.

We do have various Homeland Security dogs around. The usual black lab will come up to be petted. I find him to be a great stress relief. They only hang out in the common areas or their office so no disruptions to work.

The others I wouldn't pet without asking. And I probably wouldn't even ask. The lab roams freely off leash, carrying his toy.

I can see benefits and pitfalls of bringing them in. I'd be fine but I don't have a fear or allergies.

[andi9899]

Oct 2, 2019 9:13:50 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

I wish I could. enjoy! 

Same! Macy's a bit unruly however and it would never work. I'm totally jealous though.

[debthaven]

My university has a program where employees can volunteer to train future service dogs. (They do the socialization training, not the specific training which comes later and is done by professionals.) So we often have 3-4 labs/goldens at school. The employees keep their dog for 16 months.

They stay in the common areas or in their person's office, I've never seen one in a classroom but maybe they go there too. School gets very crowded and loud which is the point.

They also have a weekly training session in the courtyard but I've never seen it since I'm not there on those days. It's fun to see them progress from pulling puppy to super well-trained. One of my teacher colleagues is planning to do it so I'll probably find out more about it. 

[weltschmerz]

I love it when people bring their dogs to work. There's a fishmonger here whose black lab is always at the store. I stop by to play with the dog, and I usually end up buying something. The dog is draw to quite a few people. Everyone knows her.

[weltschmerz]

The receptionist at work would sometimes bring her rescued puppy mill miniature poodle. The patients loved it. That would be the only thing that would get some of them out of their rooms.

[swamp]

Oct 2, 2019 13:16:19 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

I love it when people bring their dogs to work. There's a fishmonger here whose black lab is always at the store. I stop by to play with the dog, and I usually end up buying something. The dog is draw to quite a few people. Everyone knows her.

My dog is a cross between a black lab and a golden retriever, so she looks like a black golden retriever.   She's very friendly looking.   

[saveinla]

My boss brings his dog to work and I get my weekly fix of cute and adoring.

[haapai]

I have no well-articulated thoughts, just envy. 

. 

I wish that I worked in an environment that allowed me to bring my dog to work.

I also wish that I still had the tentative, submissive, and non-smelly, touch-seeking dog that I once had.  He would have been such a hit at any workplace and he would have enjoyed it so much.  The dog that I currently own (who looks just the same) can be quite aggressive about seeking touch and is kinda smelly and tear-stained.  He might not be such a hit,  He could be a pest and if there are any other dogs around, he would be quite unhappy and possibly poorly-behaved. 

As much as I love my dog and we both think that everyone else should love him, bringing your pet to work remains a bit of a perk of being the boss/owner.   Some dogs will enrich a workplace.  Sometimes the same dog will remind others that they don't have the rank to bring their furbaby to work. 

[justme]

Shame on you! All of you!!!





How did you make it to the 25th post with no demand for doggy photos!! Bonus points if sitting at a desk. 

[Deleted]

The alternative school has a therapy dog, who is utterly amazing.  When these kids get anxious or angry, they take her for a walk.  

However, there was a puppy that the principal was training to do something similar.  Bella was a PITA.  She nipped at your ankles and was always underfoot.  She almost tripped me a couple of times.  Everyone thought that was funny.  I think the kids loved Bella because she misbehaved if that makes sense.

I wonder what happened to Bella.  She wasn't around the last time I went over there for a meeting.  Amazing Dog was.

[Tiny]

As a customer, I'm generally ok with well behaved critters at a place of business.   

I shopped at a family owned jewelry store when the Shop Cats and Shop Cockatoo roamed free.  Ok, the Cockatoo hung out on his elaborate perch area  and the Shop Cats sprawled on top of the jewelry cases - especially if a light was on (heat).      

There was another jewelry store with two  retired greyhounds as Shop Dogs. .    

I've never met a badly behaved Shop Critter - who's explicit job was Shop Critter. 

I think it might be different when people bringing their "critter" to work.   OK,  As long as the animal is calm and takes "no, I don't want to pet you" for an answer it's all good. 

[Lizard Queen]

Last winter, I temped in the accounting office for a big, well-known company. They are pet advocates, and allow employees to bring their dogs in with them to the office. They were remodeling their main office at the time, and built in a doggie drinking fountain as part of the remodel.

One lady brought her dog in every day, but it was a bit of a pain in the ass. The boss lady brought in her much more chill dog about half the time. For a couple days, someone brought in their Burmese mountain puppy, who was already enormous and adorable, but liked to wander a bit. We were in a satellite office, so that was plenty for our section.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I've never been able to take my dog to work.  DH took Charlotte to work with him after picking her up from the doggy hotel.  He said she was super mellow, didn't leave his desk the entire time.  He said he wouldn't mind bringing her more often.   His boss brings in her dogs every once and awhile too.