Take your dog to work?

I have just observed a workman at the end of the street taking his dog into the front garden of the house he is working on. I wonder what will happen when the owner finds out. The owner does not like dogs. It is very unlikely that the workman has requested permission.

It seems to be a bit of a trend lately. I went past the house of the male couple I know a couple of days ago. They are having their fence partially replaced. Their own dogs were, naturally, shut away safely in their back garden. The workmen had a small dachshund tied to one of the fence posts. 

The dachshund barked and tried to chase me as I went past. On the way back it was just lying there until it saw me. Then it tried the same thing again. Someone had crossed the street twice to avoid it and muttered, "B.....dogs."

I felt sorry for the dog. It did not look happy.

This was not as bad as the dog I saw tied into the back of what we Downunderites call a "ute" - an open tray vehicle beloved of workmen. It was barking furiously at everyone and everything which went past. The workmen also had their radio going and seemed to be ignoring the dog completely. I avoided that dog by pedalling across the road and then back again. I did not trust the look of it. The bark was not a friendly one.

I mentioned this to someone I know and she took her children "the long way around" because they are wary of dogs. She also told me, "Did you know that H....(her next door neighbour) takes his dog to work? It goes to the office with him every day."

Really? I suppose H... can do that. He owns the business. I do wonder though what his staff think. Perhaps they are all mad keen dog lovers? 

I like dogs but not enough to ever want to own one. Nevertheless I will talk to dogs I meet. They seem to respond. Yes, I always ask permission if it is a dog I have not met before but some of the local dogs know me well enough that their owners know they need to stop so the dog can, in its own way, say "hello".  There are some very nice dogs among them.

But there is only one of those dogs I would think of taking to work. It is a "service" dog. It belongs to a woman with extreme anxiety issues. The dog takes her for a walk along the same route at the same time every day. It does not matter what the weather is like they do the same thing.  I said "the dog takes her for a walk" and this is just what happens. The dog appears to be very, very aware of her needs. He watches her constantly, ready to move on or wait as needed. The woman does not go to work but the dog has been trained to go everywhere with her. It could "go to work" if needed just as a guide dog will go to work. They are working dogs.

But most dogs are not working dogs and tying them up in the belief that they might be happier "going to work" with their owners is not something that makes me feel comfortable. This is the problem with owning a dog. They are not self-sufficient like cats.