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Ask HN: Office merge. They have a pet policy. I'm scared of dogs. What can I do?

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Re: Ask HN: Office merge. They have a pet policy. I'm scared of dogs. What can I do?

#51

Post by rdtsc »

Don't know the reason for OP's dislike of dogs, but in some countries there are stray dogs running around, and they will attack people sometimes, especially children.

It happened to my cousin. His mom (my aunt) mentions that he started stuttering after that. And he is still very much afraid of dogs. People back there undertand that fear.

Here in US, it is more "Oh, don't be afraid of Fluffy, he's fine, just pet him". Telling them someone is afraid of them is just inviting ridicule. A co-worker I knew was just telling people he is alergic. He was from India, and figured we Americans understand alergies pretty well, so he said that explanation worked better than explaining his phobia.

Re: Ask HN: Office merge. They have a pet policy. I'm scared of dogs. What can I do?

#52

Post by DougN7 »

My wife used to be petrified of dogs, no exageration - she would freeze up. But she didn't want to pass that on to our kids so we got a dog. She will now never live without two dogs.

You don't know it yet, but dogs are, with almost no exceptions, wonderful, loving beings. All they want to do is be part of your pack and make you happy, and get love back.

This sounds like a great opportunity for you. Pick one dog. Learn it's name. Say hi to it. Pet it. It won't take long if you get to see it regularly. You be forever grateful you did.

Re: Ask HN: Office merge. They have a pet policy. I'm scared of dogs. What can I do?

#53

Post by ivanhoe »

Why not challenge your fears instead? I used to have a terrible fear of heights. Then I've got a really interesting job offer, but the office was on a high floor with really huge windows. For me that was a total horror, but I've got really pissed on myself for being so weak and in the moment of craziness I've took the job anyway. And the first few days were a real struggle to stay functional, I would use any excuse to go into the corridor just to come down a bit. But very quickly I just stopped paying attention. You just get used to it and you relax and all of the sudden the fear is gone. So I started pushing myself more and eventually I've now got to the point that I'm totally ok with heights, no discomfort anymore at all (I even did some paragliding lessons recently). That's the only way to overcome the phobias, to challenge them. And it really works, just take your time and do it step by step, on your own pace.

Re: Ask HN: Office merge. They have a pet policy. I'm scared of dogs. What can I do?

#55

Post by DanBC »

TillE wrote: post #35
throwawaydog wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This seems like pretty bad advice, considering my issue with dogs is feeling like I'm going to get bitten. Why would I bring that on myself on purpose.

Aggressive dogs are incredibly rare, especially if you're just ignoring them and not trying to interact. Here's what my city looks like: http://dogswaitinginberlin.tumblr.com/ Unleashed dogs everywhere . Never heard of it being a problem.

Dog bites in Berlin. http://www.claudia-haemmerling.de/2012/hundebisse-2012.pdf

700 people in a city of 3.5m feels like a tiny number. Although I don't know how badly these people were bitten. (Or if this list include attacks without bites).

Re: Ask HN: Office merge. They have a pet policy. I'm scared of dogs. What can I do?

#56

Post by GFK_of_xmaspast »

chris_7 wrote: post #34
fletchowns wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You have a very low threshold for what is considered gross. That's just the tip of the iceberg with pets! (and babies)

Neither of those noisy (distracting) things belong in an office, though. Offices are a place for focus.

What's wrong with bringing a baby to the office?

Re: Ask HN: Office merge. They have a pet policy. I'm scared of dogs. What can I do?

#57

Post by bashinator »

outworlder wrote: post #43
beachstartup wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 straig…

> 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 re…

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.

Re: Ask HN: Office merge. They have a pet policy. I'm scared of dogs. What can I do?

#58

Post by beachstartup »

outworlder wrote: post #43
beachstartup wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 straig…

> 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 re…

just carry some catnip in your pocket and you'll be the life of the cat-party everywhere you go.

Re: Ask HN: Office merge. They have a pet policy. I'm scared of dogs. What can I do?

#59

Post by xapata »

GFK_of_xmaspast wrote: post #56
chris_7 wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Neither of those noisy (distracting) things belong in an office, though. Offices are a place for focus.

What's wrong with bringing a baby to the office?

Babies sometimes cry loudly.

Re: Ask HN: Office merge. They have a pet policy. I'm scared of dogs. What can I do?

#60

Post by delecti »

Torgo wrote: post #49
delecti wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's true, but accommodating a phobia very well could be. It's not like OP has a phobia of keyboards.

I personally would draw the line at compelling other people's behavior, assuming it was not intentionally antagonistic.

I disagree. I think there are examples of compelling other people's behavior that can be reasonable accommodations. Providing a dog-free space (not necessarily the entire workplace) is reasonable. On the other hand, completely eliminating dogs from the company policy for one employee would not be reasonable.
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