# If you're going to bring your dog into the office, you can't really expect other people to watch it. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 1, 2009, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-bring-your-dog-into-the-office-you-cant-really-expect-other-people-to-watch-it/519632 "2009-12-01T22:14:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-bring-your-dog-into-the-office-you-cant-really-expect-other-people-to-watch-it/519632/41 "2009-12-02T21:59:00Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > When my sister worked for PetSmart corporate, every Friday you were allowed to bring your dog (or cat, although that was rare) to work. If you had a puppy or a dog with separation anxiety, you were allowed to bring them any time. Living in the office you could keep reptiles, snakes, birds, fish or rodents. Apparently it worked out fine for everyone. > > Replacements, Ltd. is a company that buys and sells replacement pieces for china, silver and glassware. All their employees, even those working in the warehouse, are allowed to have their dogs at work. > > StG I bet they have a no bulls rule though. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-bring-your-dog-into-the-office-you-cant-really-expect-other-people-to-watch-it/519632/42 "2009-12-02T22:21:46Z")
Since the dog was found inside, is anyone else wondering if employee B didn’t, perhaps, make up the story about the dog going outside to raise the consciousness of employee A? Is employee A still out looking, Skald? Did you leave her a note saying that you have the dog, or are you giving her ample opportunity to look? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-bring-your-dog-into-the-office-you-cant-really-expect-other-people-to-watch-it/519632/43 "2009-12-02T23:11:27Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > Since the dog was found inside, is anyone else wondering if employee B didn’t, perhaps, make up the story about the dog going outside to raise the consciousness of employee A? Is employee A still out looking, Skald? Did you leave her a note saying that you have the dog, or are you giving her ample opportunity to look? This all happened yesterday. The dog is long since returned to her owner. And for the entirely unimportant record, I don’t think my colleague who saw the dog exit the building is either lying or guilty of any wrongdoing. As I understand it, she saw the dog heading for the doorway to the stairs out of the corner of her eye while doing something else, and it didn’t register to her what was happening till it was too late do to anything. she was busy. Anyway, the dog is back with her owner. I don’t know that either of the two principals in this tale made a complaint about the other, but the Big Boss hasn’t said anything to me about it so I’m thinking ot. ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-bring-your-dog-into-the-office-you-cant-really-expect-other-people-to-watch-it/519632/44 "2009-12-02T23:28:40Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Not really, to me its pretty much irrelevant how much of a tool A is when a living creature is involved. Personally I would probably have stopped the dog from escaping through the external door, and then escorted it back to A for suitable (but given my personality) very mild scolding on how she should be more careful with the mutt. Again, just because A is a tool, doesn’t mean I want the dog wandering the streets or getting run down. > > If I had been watching A complain to B that the dog should have been stopped I would have sided with B and scolded A… (am I screwed up or what?) I don’t think that’s screwed up at all. I would have called A out on bringing the dog in but violating the policy and failing to watch it and I would have called B out for being a lowlifed prick. ---
**Author:** ![Monstera\_deliciosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monstera_deliciosa/32/109_2.png) [@Monstera\_deliciosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstera_deliciosa)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-bring-your-dog-into-the-office-you-cant-really-expect-other-people-to-watch-it/519632/45 "2009-12-03T02:03:46Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > That doesn’t seem like a good idea to me. My husband is violently allergic to anything with fur - it puts the onus on him as an employee to protest about a workplace that will make him sick, instead of the workplace assuming that there will be allergic people (since animal allergies are extremely common) and not allowing it in the first place. But don’t you guys have cats? How does he deal at home? ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-bring-your-dog-into-the-office-you-cant-really-expect-other-people-to-watch-it/519632/46 "2009-12-03T02:52:41Z")
I’m just amazed at animals being allowed in the workplace. What happens if the thing bites one of the workers? Or pisses on the lunch room fridge? ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-bring-your-dog-into-the-office-you-cant-really-expect-other-people-to-watch-it/519632/47 "2009-12-03T06:48:09Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > What if B had a dog phobia or dislike of dogs? I can be around dogs, but I don’t particularly like them. I certainly wouldn’t just go and grab an unfamiliar dog’s collar to prevent it from going out a door, or hold the door shut while a large dog is pawing/pushing at it. **I would tell the owner ASAP,** but I wouldn’t feel any particular need to put myself at any risk of injury or discomfort to protect someone else’s dog. (Bolding mine) - then where’s the issue? Of course there’s always going to be exceptions and validations and variaitions based on the exact circumstances - as a general rule though, what I said. Those that aren’t afraid of dogs aren’t excepted from my expectation that they act because some people are afraid of dogs. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-bring-your-dog-into-the-office-you-cant-really-expect-other-people-to-watch-it/519632/48 "2009-12-03T08:44:19Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > What if B had a dog phobia or dislike of dogs? I can be around dogs, but I don’t particularly like them. I certainly wouldn’t just go and grab an unfamiliar dog’s collar to prevent it from going out a door, or hold the door shut while a large dog is pawing/pushing at it. I would tell the owner ASAP, but I wouldn’t feel any particular need to put myself at any risk of injury or discomfort to protect someone else’s dog. Actually, if you don’t particularly like dogs, it’s a very good idea to avoid grabbing a strange dog’s collar. You probably aren’t very good at reading canine body language, and if you don’t recognize the warning signs a dog might be giving off, you could get mauled. I think it’s incredibly rude to expect co-workers to petsit. Either you can keep the dog under your control in most cases, or you can’t. If you can, and the workplace permits it, then having your dog with you is OK. But if you can’t keep your dog (or kid) under control, it doesn’t belong in the office. Make other arrangements. And be aware that some people are, indeed, sensitive or allergic to little Tinkerbell. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-bring-your-dog-into-the-office-you-cant-really-expect-other-people-to-watch-it/519632/49 "2009-12-03T18:04:37Z")
Rude aside, I think it’s just _risky_ to expect my co-workers to protect my dog. I doubt they’d be any good at it. Protecting the welfare of my family members is _my_ business, but it’s also _important_ business – too important to expect random hirelings to do well. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-bring-your-dog-into-the-office-you-cant-really-expect-other-people-to-watch-it/519632/50 "2009-12-03T19:45:14Z")
> [@Monstera\_deliciosa](#): > > But don’t you guys have cats? How does he deal at home? We do have two cats - he has gotten somewhat acclimatized to the familiar furballs, but we still have to work at having cats in the house (no carpets, cats not allowed in the bedroom, sweeping frequently, etc.) and he is still stuffed up and sneezing/wheezing all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-bring-your-dog-into-the-office-you-cant-really-expect-other-people-to-watch-it/519632/51 "2009-12-03T19:56:11Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > The Replacement Ltd. one sounds like a terrible idea, though. In general animals should not be at the workplace, and doubly so if you are selling replacement glassware and china. I have seen what a too-enthusiastic Lab tail can do. Considering this guy went from his garage to one of (if not _the_) largest china stores in the world, all in the span of a few short years, I’d say he has a pretty good handle on how to run his business. It’s a store the size of multiple football fields, with most of the inventory out of reach of a dog. On top of that, I’ve never seen one in the showroom. Well, maybe a cat. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-bring-your-dog-into-the-office-you-cant-really-expect-other-people-to-watch-it/519632/52 "2009-12-03T20:17:43Z")
Here’s my take on this, and I am a certified Dog Person. If Employee A is stupid and irresponsible enough to allow her dog to wander off unsupervised, then she, IMHO, does not deserve to keep a pet. Should said unaccompanied dog wander into my space or within my reach, I will confiscate the dog and give it a new home where it will be properly trained and supervised, or left at home on a nice comfy dog bed with a peanut butter Kong toy to keep it happy all day. I’ve acquired a couple of cats that way. You don’t claim it or appear to be taking care of it? Fine, it’s my pet now. There are no bad dogs; only bad owners. If you are a responsible pet owner and demonstrate your willingness to care for your animal(s) and see to their safety in terms of supervision, then there is no need for me to be in the position of choosing to steal your pet. Fortunately, my pet confiscation policy does not apply to other people’s children. I will scold other people’s children if they are out of control in public and disturbing other people while the parents blithely do nothing – and I will take the heat for it from the parents who refuse to set limits for their kids. But I will not take the damn kids home and keep them. I much prefer four-legged housemates. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-bring-your-dog-into-the-office-you-cant-really-expect-other-people-to-watch-it/519632/53 "2009-12-03T20:32:23Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Agreed. There are some unusual offices where this might not be completely out of place, but those places are extraordinarily rare. Dogs don’t belong at the office. At Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael nearly every office has a dog, sometimes guiide puppies and sometimes pet dogs. When we were raising guide puppies I frequently brought them to work for socialization, but they always stayed in my office on a tiedown underneath my desk. Letting a dog roam loose is stupid. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-bring-your-dog-into-the-office-you-cant-really-expect-other-people-to-watch-it/519632/54 "2009-12-03T20:55:26Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Considering this guy went from his garage to one of (if not _the_) largest china stores in the world, all in the span of a few short years, I’d say he has a pretty good handle on how to run his business. It’s a store the size of multiple football fields, with most of the inventory out of reach of a dog. > > On top of that, I’ve never seen one in the showroom. Well, maybe a cat. I could see a teacup dog, but anything else would be like a dog in a china shop. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-bring-your-dog-into-the-office-you-cant-really-expect-other-people-to-watch-it/519632/55 "2009-12-03T20:57:24Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > At Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael nearly every office has a dog, sometimes guiide puppies and sometimes pet dogs. And some of those are working or getting ojt. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-bring-your-dog-into-the-office-you-cant-really-expect-other-people-to-watch-it/519632/56 "2009-12-03T21:10:47Z")
[Here’s a pic](http://www.replacements.com/misc/pet2work.htm) of the Replacements folks and their dogs. I see goldens, labs, and aussie, a border collie and other not-so-small dogs. StG ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-bring-your-dog-into-the-office-you-cant-really-expect-other-people-to-watch-it/519632/57 "2009-12-03T21:20:27Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > I’m just amazed at animals being allowed in the workplace. What happens if the thing bites one of the workers? Or pisses on the lunch room fridge? “Murray! Get-the-copier, Murray…! Get-the-copier, Murray…!” _TH-WACK!_ “Good dog.” ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-bring-your-dog-into-the-office-you-cant-really-expect-other-people-to-watch-it/519632/58 "2009-12-03T21:24:30Z")
If your dog pees on the carpet in my office, I’m rubbing YOUR nose in it. Until it bleeds. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-bring-your-dog-into-the-office-you-cant-really-expect-other-people-to-watch-it/519632/59 "2009-12-04T04:23:34Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > Here’s my take on this, and I am a certified Dog Person. > > If Employee A is stupid and irresponsible enough to allow her dog to wander off unsupervised, then she, IMHO, does not deserve to keep a pet. Should said unaccompanied dog wander into my space or within my reach, I will confiscate the dog and give it a new home where it will be properly trained and supervised, or left at home on a nice comfy dog bed with a peanut butter Kong toy to keep it happy all day. > > I’ve acquired a couple of cats that way. You don’t claim it or appear to be taking care of it? Fine, it’s my pet now. There are no bad dogs; only bad owners. If you are a responsible pet owner and demonstrate your willingness to care for your animal(s) and see to their safety in terms of supervision, then there is no need for me to be in the position of choosing to steal your pet. > > Fortunately, my pet confiscation policy does not apply to other people’s children. I will scold other people’s children if they are out of control in public and disturbing other people while the parents blithely do nothing – and I will take the heat for it from the parents who refuse to set limits for their kids. But I will not take the damn kids home and keep them. I much prefer four-legged housemates. Good god…self righteous much? Nice to see that at least someone is perfect and never slips up [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-bring-your-dog-into-the-office-you-cant-really-expect-other-people-to-watch-it/519632.md?page=2)