4 ms·

If you don't want to work around dogs, your employer should accommodate that. But it's also worth considering that it sounds like you have a phobia, and phobias

If you don't want to work around dogs, your employer should accommodate that. But it's also worth considering that it sounds like you have a phobia, and phobias are a curable condition. It would help you going forward if you weren't afraid of dogs. If getting bitten by a dog in the workplace was a significant risk, your employer's insurance would not allow them to put dogs in the workplace. A psychologist could help you with this issue, if you want help.

hartator 10y ago
It can be that the person doesn't like dogs because it's kind of gross. Smell your hand after petting one. I like dogs though.
- fletchowns 10y ago
  You have a very low threshold for what is considered gross. That's just the tip of the iceberg with pets! (and babies)
  - chris_7 10y ago
    Neither of those noisy (distracting) things belong in an office, though. Offices are a place for focus.
    - sliverstorm 10y ago
      Haven't had an office dog, but shop dogs are usually wonderful- sweet, quiet, unobtrusive, and pleasant to have around. Not all dogs are like that, of course
    - GFK_of_xmaspast 10y ago
      What's wrong with bringing a baby to the office?
      - xapata 10y ago
        Babies sometimes cry loudly.
- outworlder 10y ago
  I used to think that too. Until I got my own. While there are breed variations and some seem to have a skin that's oilier than most, actual bad smell is a sign that something is wrong. As in humans, it is usually due to poor hygiene, with poor oral health being the biggest culprit (dogs use the mouth to scratch, remove things from fur, lick themselves, etc). Skin conditions are rather common, some can smell really bad. Even if it is something as benign as whatever the dog acne equivalent is. Localized smell usually means the dog found something interesting, to his sense of smell, and rubbed itself on it. Of course, some owners are just too lazy to bathe their dogs, even once a month.
beachstartup 10y ago
i like all sorts of dogs, i have a rescue dog, i'm a dog person. big, small, pure, mutt, rescue, whatever. i love them all. but there's absolutely no way i would suggest, or insinuate, that someone with a fear of dogs (phobia or otherwise), get "help", or even have to worry about the remote possibility of dealing with dogs in any office environment that doesn't have "veterinarian" in the description. it's just straight up ridiculous. i'm highly allergic to cats, even though i like them in general. if i had to deal with cats in an office i'd quit on the spot and probably not quietly.
- outworlder 10y ago
  > but there's absolutely no way i would suggest, or insinuate, that someone with a fear of dogs (phobia or otherwise), get "help", or even have to worry about the remote possibility of dealing with dogs in any office environment that doesn't have "veterinarian" in the description. Sure, they shouldn't be required to get help in order to keep their job. That would be ridiculous. However, addressing the phobia would really be helpful. Better yet, learning how to handle dogs is a useful skill to have, even more so if you don't like them. Now, can anyone give me tips on handling cats? I can't read their body language and I always feel I'm going to get scratched suddenly.
  - sliverstorm 10y ago
    Let the cat approach you. Avoid the belly. Stick to the head & ears for wary cats. Offer your crooked finger/knuckle for them to rub their cheek on or smell.
  - bashinator 10y ago
    Cats and dogs have virtually opposite body language. Cats greet by going face to face. Dogs, uh, kind of greet on the opposite end. If a cat is friendly or neutral, gradually moving your face closer to theirs is friendly body language. Cat purrs sound to a dog like growling. Meows sound to a dog like prey. The easiest way to not get scratched by a cat is to leave it alone. If you want cat to like you more quickly, seriously get a recording of purring on your iphone and play it. Cats like to be scratched between the ears and eyes, and like to be petted on the nape of the neck. Anywhere else, you might get scratched.
outworlder 10y ago
For me, the biggest cure to (admittedly, mild) phobia was my significant other getting a dog (miniature schnauzer-like). In my case, I big component of my fear was due to just not understanding their behavior. After living with one for almost 3 years, I've basically lost whatever fear I had. I was fine(ish!) around small dogs, but got really scared of big ones. Now I just don't care what breed or size it is, I can just read their body language.
- beachstartup 10y ago
  just look at it like this: most humans are dog-autistic.

hartator 10y ago

It can be that the person doesn't like dogs because it's kind of gross. Smell your hand after petting one. I like dogs though.

fletchowns 10y ago
You have a very low threshold for what is considered gross. That's just the tip of the iceberg with pets! (and babies)
- chris_7 10y ago
  Neither of those noisy (distracting) things belong in an office, though. Offices are a place for focus.
  - sliverstorm 10y ago
    Haven't had an office dog, but shop dogs are usually wonderful- sweet, quiet, unobtrusive, and pleasant to have around. Not all dogs are like that, of course
  - GFK_of_xmaspast 10y ago
    What's wrong with bringing a baby to the office?
    - xapata 10y ago
      Babies sometimes cry loudly.
outworlder 10y ago
I used to think that too. Until I got my own. While there are breed variations and some seem to have a skin that's oilier than most, actual bad smell is a sign that something is wrong. As in humans, it is usually due to poor hygiene, with poor oral health being the biggest culprit (dogs use the mouth to scratch, remove things from fur, lick themselves, etc). Skin conditions are rather common, some can smell really bad. Even if it is something as benign as whatever the dog acne equivalent is. Localized smell usually means the dog found something interesting, to his sense of smell, and rubbed itself on it. Of course, some owners are just too lazy to bathe their dogs, even once a month.

beachstartup 10y ago

i like all sorts of dogs, i have a rescue dog, i'm a dog person. big, small, pure, mutt, rescue, whatever. i love them all. but there's absolutely no way i would suggest, or insinuate, that someone with a fear of dogs (phobia or otherwise), get "help", or even have to worry about the remote possibility of dealing with dogs in any office environment that doesn't have "veterinarian" in the description. it's just straight up ridiculous. i'm highly allergic to cats, even though i like them in general. if i had to deal with cats in an office i'd quit on the spot and probably not quietly.

outworlder 10y ago
> but there's absolutely no way i would suggest, or insinuate, that someone with a fear of dogs (phobia or otherwise), get "help", or even have to worry about the remote possibility of dealing with dogs in any office environment that doesn't have "veterinarian" in the description. Sure, they shouldn't be required to get help in order to keep their job. That would be ridiculous. However, addressing the phobia would really be helpful. Better yet, learning how to handle dogs is a useful skill to have, even more so if you don't like them. Now, can anyone give me tips on handling cats? I can't read their body language and I always feel I'm going to get scratched suddenly.
- sliverstorm 10y ago
  Let the cat approach you. Avoid the belly. Stick to the head & ears for wary cats. Offer your crooked finger/knuckle for them to rub their cheek on or smell.
- bashinator 10y ago
  Cats and dogs have virtually opposite body language. Cats greet by going face to face. Dogs, uh, kind of greet on the opposite end. If a cat is friendly or neutral, gradually moving your face closer to theirs is friendly body language. Cat purrs sound to a dog like growling. Meows sound to a dog like prey. The easiest way to not get scratched by a cat is to leave it alone. If you want cat to like you more quickly, seriously get a recording of purring on your iphone and play it. Cats like to be scratched between the ears and eyes, and like to be petted on the nape of the neck. Anywhere else, you might get scratched.

outworlder 10y ago

For me, the biggest cure to (admittedly, mild) phobia was my significant other getting a dog (miniature schnauzer-like). In my case, I big component of my fear was due to just not understanding their behavior. After living with one for almost 3 years, I've basically lost whatever fear I had. I was fine(ish!) around small dogs, but got really scared of big ones. Now I just don't care what breed or size it is, I can just read their body language.

beachstartup 10y ago
just look at it like this: most humans are dog-autistic.