Communicating my concerns about colleague’s dogs

The Basics

7 Mar

Communicating my concerns about colleague’s dogs

There are lots of benefits to having dogs in the workplace, even for people who don’t have dogs themselves. These can include perceived stress reduction, increased work engagement, and a warmer and more social workplace environment.

But we understand that welcoming dogs into your workplace might be a big change, and not something everyone will be comfortable with straight away. If you’ve got any concerns, here’s our advice to help you feel happy and safe if your colleagues bring their dogs to work.

Communication with your dog-friendly colleagues

Great workplaces are based on mutual respect and good communication. If you prefer a dog-free experience at work (for any reason) it’s important to communicate that to your colleagues — approaching them from a place of understanding will help you both find a solution that everyone can be happy with.

The people in your office who have dogs at home will now be delighted they can bring their best friend to work. Not having to worry about how long their dog is alone at home will likely help them be more productive and settled at work, so bear in mind how important this may be to them.

Here are some tips for starting this conversation.

Empathise with their situation and respect their bond with their dog.

For example: “Hi [colleague], I’m sure you are really happy to be able to bring [dog’s name] to work with you!

Make a clear request for boundaries. You could suggest setting up a dog-free zone in the office.

For example: "As much as I will enjoy seeing them around, I would really appreciate it if we could set some boundaries. Would you mind making sure that [dog’s name] keeps some distance from me and my working area?”

You don’t need to explain why you prefer not to have dogs in your working area, but if you are comfortable doing so it may help your dog-loving colleagues understand where you’re coming from.

For example:

“I have an allergy which unfortunately means I can’t be too close to dogs without having a bad reaction. This could really interfere with my work. Can we make this area of the office a dog-free zone?”

“I understand your dog is very important to you, but I am not comfortable around dogs, so do you mind keeping me in mind when you and [dog’s name] are moving about the office?”

If you don’t feel confident speaking with your colleagues yourself, ask to speak in confidence with your line manager or your HR team. If your worries are health-related, speak to someone in your workplace’s Health and Safety team.

Keeping your area dog-free

Having established some boundaries, now you can make a few adjustments to your workspace that will help you keep your area dog-free.

Put up a friendly reminder sign on your desk or door to help remind colleagues where they shouldn’t take their dog. For example, “Please keep this area dog-free”
If possible, use the layout of your working space to your advantage. Can you keep doors closed, or create some barrier between you and your colleague’s dog? Could you ask your manager or facilities team to create a dog free area, or consider re-arranging people’s working spaces to accommodate this?

If your work practices hybrid working, could you arrange a schedule with your dog-friendly colleagues that would help you avoid working near dogs?
Avoid keeping snacks or your lunch at your desk if there are dogs around, as their sensitive noses will pick up on your tasty treats and it could attract them to your area!
If you run or cycle to work and change when you get in, a dog could be really attracted to your sweaty socks! Make sure workout clothes are locked away, or put sweaty clothing in an airtight bag.

Managing allergies

There’s nothing worse than trying to work when something has set off your allergies! With this in mind, here are some tips to help reduce any discomfort if your colleagues are bringing dogs into your workplace:

Stick to dog-free areas
Wash your hands often
Avoid rubbing your eyes or touching your face as much as possible
Keep your area clean — keep some disinfectant wipes handy and regularly wipe down your workspace

Ask your manager if your workplace will provide HEPA air filters
If you regularly take antihistamines for your allergies, keep them close at hand, but locked away and out of reach of pooches!
If your allergies are severe, inform your line manager and your Health and Safety team, and seek professional advice from your doctor.

Avoiding unwanted interactions

Make sure that your colleague’s dog always has the choice and freedom to move away from any interaction. Give them plenty of space.
Never disturb a resting or sleeping dog. A sleeping dog may seem more approachable, but just like us, dogs need their own space, and should be left to relax when they choose to.
Don’t disturb a dog when they’re eating or playing by themselves. No one likes to be disturbed when eating their favourite meal!

If a dog takes something of yours, ask their owner to retrieve it for you instead of trying to take it back yourself.
If you need to pass a dog, stay calm and walk slowly and confidently. A dog is less likely to react to you if you confidently ignore them!
Take some time to learn about dog body language. If a dog looks at all anxious or uncomfortable then it’s best to leave them alone. Make sure you can spot the signs so you can avoid a dog who wants to be left alone.

Managing problems

We hope that your canine colleagues will always be very well behaved while at work, but sometimes accidents do happen. Even the best behaved dog might get over-excited and forget their manners sometimes. Here are some tips to help you manage if little problems arise.

If you notice your colleague’s dog has toileted in the office, let them know straight away so they can clean it up. If there is a wet floor sign in your office, pop it up beside the problem to make sure no one accidentally walks in it.
If a dog is barking, ask your colleague to take them out for a while to settle them down.
If a dog is begging, whining or attempting to jump up, its usually best to ignore them (if it’s safe to do so). If a dog is doing something you don’t like, don’t address them, as your attention might exacerbate the behaviour. Staying calm will help de-escalate any problems.

If you have on-going problems with a dog in your office, raise it with your line-manager who will be able to speak with your colleague and address the issues.
Always stay calm and be respectful when addressing issues with your colleagues. Remember they love their canine companion, and they may feel defensive if you raise concerns about their dog’s behaviour. Try to keep the conversation positive and non-accusatory.
Behaviour issues should only ever be dealt with by the dog’s main caregiver. Attempting to reprimand a dog yourself could escalate problems and lead to injury.