Dog at work problem

[Ninjasquirrel]

My boss rescued a dog a while ago and brings her to work. This dog was severely abused by its previous owner and is a corgi mix. I didnt mind her when I first started, in fact I saw it as a means to potentially bring my own rescue into work once she had been properly socialized. Only now...this dog is impeding on my ability to work. She literally RUNS at me and jumps when I try to approach my bosses desk. Ive tried the hands up and no attention approach but she has since begun to bite my ankles. Ive informed my boss of this but I have seen no change. They just yell at her (negative attention) and then she stops until my next approach. Its not that the jumping was a problem...its the biting. I dont want to upset my boss but I really feel he should keep her at home until she is properly socialized. Any recommendations as to handle this?

 

[tigger19687]

As she runs at you pull up your leg so her face hits your foot.
Same approach as putting your knee up when a large dog jumps- it hits them in the chest and they start to learn that it is no fun any more.

Also you could have your boss start with a very short leash (2 feet) attached to one corner of the room or on the other side of his chair. Let the dog get used to people coming in and out. It needs to learn that this is ok to let people in. Boss need to tell dog that it is ok when people come in.
And bring her a treat BEFORE she gets to the bosses desk, as in 1st thing as they enter work.

If this has been going on for over a few weeks it will be hard to train the dog unless it is a constant training................... and from your story it does NOT sound like your boss is going to do anything.

You need to talk to your boss, explain that if it can't be trained then they can come get stuff from Your desk.

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

As she runs at you pull up your leg so her face hits your foot.
Same approach as putting your knee up when a large dog jumps- it hits them in the chest and they start to learn that it is no fun any more.

Also you could have your boss start with a very short leash (2 feet) attached to one corner of the room or on the other side of his chair. Let the dog get used to people coming in and out. It needs to learn that this is ok to let people in. Boss need to tell dog that it is ok when people come in.
And bring her a treat BEFORE she gets to the bosses desk, as in 1st thing as they enter work.

If this has been going on for over a few weeks it will be hard to train the dog unless it is a constant training................... and from your story it does NOT sound like your boss is going to do anything.

You need to talk to your boss, explain that if it can't be trained then they can come get stuff from Your desk.

The thing is is that she (the dog) only acts this way ON leash. Off leash she will come right up to my desk and be calm. The leash stresses her out but we get deliveries and for some reason she hates the delivery people. She used to be allowed to roam freely in the shop but she bit a delivery guy once and she now has to be tied up. I'll try the treat suggestion but if this continues I might have to just speak up and complain. Right now the biting is only little nips but if she doesnt learn she could progress downward

 

[bobbi-j]

The thing is is that she (the dog) only acts this way ON leash. Off leash she will come right up to my desk and be calm. The leash stresses her out but we get deliveries and for some reason she hates the delivery people. She used to be allowed to roam freely in the shop but she bit a delivery guy once and she now has to be tied up. I'll try the treat suggestion but if this continues I might have to just speak up and complain. Right now the biting is only little nips but if she doesnt learn she could progress downward

A bigger bite might get expensive for your boss if you need medical attention.

 

[Sally PB]

She used to be allowed to roam freely in the shop but she bit a delivery guy once

And nothing was done about that? This is a big problem, just waiting to happen.

A bigger bite might get expensive for your boss if you need medical attention.

Or if the dog bites someone who feels like making a lawsuit out of it.

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

And nothing was done about that? This is a big problem, just waiting to happen.

Or if the dog bites someone who feels like making a lawsuit out of it.

The thing that was done about it was to put her on a leash. Whenever she runs at me they just yell at her and then she walks away. They've tried tying her further back in the shop but if I go back there to get supplies it happens again. By the end of the work day she is calm and leaves me alone. I really dont want to deny my boss his dog in the workplace but I might have to ask she be kept only in his cubicle. I'm not afraid of her but it gets to be really annoying when she runs full speed at me around the corner and jumps on me. The most annoying is when I try to walk away from her and she starts nipping my ankles. She only does this with me. Idk why she desires my attention so much and Ive tried to give her positive reinforcement by petting her when she stays off me but if I stop petting her she starts jumping up again. And its not my dog so I'm not emotionally invested in training her. Either way I'm torn because to me its like telling someone they cant bring their child to work with them (although he did do that last week AND the kid had strep throat. I didnt complain but I thought it was inconsiderate)

 

[Sally PB]

Leash or not, if the dog bites someone, there could be a lawsuit. Just because someone may feel like it. Because, this is America, and people get sued for less than that.

On occasion, I have taken my dog to work. If my dog had ever bit anyone, I expect I would have been fired on the spot. It sucks it's your boss, so you have less to say about it.

IMHO, bringing your kid with strep throat in to work is inexcusable. I think your boss is way out of line. I'm sorry you have to deal with this.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Is this boss the owner of the company?

Is there an HR department?

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

Is this boss the owner of the company?

Is there an HR department?

Its a small business so my boss is the grandson of the owners. I'm the only true employee because everyone else is related. As such it puts me in a tough spot whether or not to open my mouth about it being an issue. I like my job and I like working for them. They are very nice people. But my boss is a year younger than me and kinda a self centered person. Hes friendly enough that you can over look it but his inconsiderate-ness comes to a point of annoyance. His grandparents have told him frequently to take the dog to obedience school and have told him "he needs to do something about that dog" but he doesnt. The grandparents yell at the dog everytime it jumps at me and Ive told my boss shes been biting me. He just says to ignore her and "you know as well as I do that giving her attention will only encourage her". Sometimes I think its the other way around because the more the owners yell at him the less he does

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

Leash or not, if the dog bites someone, there could be a lawsuit. Just because someone may feel like it. Because, this is America, and people get sued for less than that.

On occasion, I have taken my dog to work. If my dog had ever bit anyone, I expect I would have been fired on the spot. It sucks it's your boss, so you have less to say about it.

IMHO, bringing your kid with strep throat in to work is inexcusable. I think your boss is way out of line. I'm sorry you have to deal with this.

I agree with you on that. I understand that the kid has to be with you because they cant be in school but that just means YOU should stay home. If you wouldnt go to work because you're sick you shouldnt be bringing in your sick kids. On top of that he tried to call off yesterday because he said now that he has strep throat. He doesnt though. Instead he was out drinking on st pattys day because the kids had a sitter and just partied too hard.