I work in a small, laid-back office of about 12 people where several of my colleagues, including my bosses, bring their dogs to work. I love dogs and have had them most of my life, but the situation is becoming increasingly difficult for me.
The dogs are not large, but they’re loud and poorly behaved. One chews on cables (he was even electrocuted once, but fortunately, with only minor injuries). Two bark incessantly at people walking by or anyone entering the office. There’s also a puppy who wrestles constantly, and I’m worried I’ll trip over her. At one point, a consultant brought her dog to work, and it caused a fight.
I’m sensitive to noise, and the constant barking, growling, and general chaos—amplified by our concrete walls—triggered a panic attack once. I ended up crying in the bathroom for an hour. One dog, owned by my boss, has a particularly piercing bark. My boss is often on the phone and can’t stop the barking, leaving the rest of us to handle the dog. While my coworkers seem to love having the dogs around, it’s becoming unbearable for me. I’ve tried coping strategies like earplugs and podcasts, but I often need to collaborate and can’t always block out the noise. It’s getting to the point where I dread coming in.
How can I bring this up with my boss, a sensitive dog owner, without sounding like the office buzzkill? Or should I just accept that this is the culture here and focus on finding another job?
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