I know it's not just our builder who does this, it's actually a common thing, and I'm just wondering what you think of tradies bringing their dogs to building sites? Why on earth can't they just leave them at home?

We're currently building a granny flat, and our builder brings his dog most days. Aside from the fact that she chases our cat and torments our dog, she leaves reminders on the lawn.

I'm not going to say anything, because I live in a small town and in the grand scheme of things it's not the end of the world. Just annoying.

Friends were building recently and two of the tradies brought dogs who fought incessantly

So WDYT of tradies who bring their own dog onsite? And can you shed any light on why the y do it?

God help them if they bought a dog onto my property without asking and then didn't even bother cleaning up after it.

How rude!

It wouldn't bother me especially as long as they asked first (we have cats, but they're indoor only). I'd expect them to pick up after their dog too.

I think it's quite sweet when tradies take their dog everywhere. As long as they've had the okay I can't see the problem with it.

It's annoying isn't it? The builders across the road did it and as it's a new house with no fencing, the dog wandering around the neighbourhood.

I think it's nice they want to take their dog, and it's great for the dog but they need to check it's ok and definitely clean up after them.

I would expect them to ask the owner of the building site first. If you have a small child, or other pets, then I think it should be pretty obvious its not appropriate. But each to their own...

And at the very least Id be asking the builder to clean up after the dog - just like if he was at a park...

I worked for a company managing tradie contractors. We had to ask one of the crews to refrain from taking his pet goat to sites...

I think our boys would just LOVE having a playmate. Wouldn't bother me as long as the dog wasn't aggressive.

I would love it as I am obsessed by dogs. I don't have a cat though.... Guess that would be fairly annoying.

I wouldn't have cared during the construction of our house as it was in a new section of the suburb and we obviously werent living there and there was no garden or neighbours etc just lots of dirt and other builders.

If the dog was well behaved and permission was sought before hand I wouldn't care. I also wouldn't care if the dog came along but was happy to sit in the back of the ute. My uncles dog goes most places with him (she is the farms working dog) however she is very well behaved and happy to sit in the ute while he works (he is a farrier though so bit different to a tradie.)

If it was winding up my dog and chasing my cat, or running around the neighbour being a menance I would ask them not to bring the dog back.

I hate dogs so I would forbid it. I also have a child who is allergic to dogs so it isn't on. End of story. Presumptuous gits who need to get back to the job they were hired for imho.

I honestly don't know why they do it, but I know DP plans on doing it once he finishes his apprenticeship and gets a dog (German Shepherd is his plan).

He's an electrician (well, apprentice), and one of his workmates used to take his own dog along with him too.

I think usually though, he only did it on commercial sites... not domestic.

My DH is a tradie and often does work on large properties. He asks the owners if he can take his dog out for a run around, she loves it!! He has never done it on suburban blocks though.

Tradies bring their dogs onsite to guard their equipment and tools. For this reason a tradies dog is actually able to be claimed for tax reasons. Leaving it at home doesn't have the same effect

That being said- they should most definitely clean up after them!!!

I don't really know where I got this idea but I have always thought that tradies take their dogs to work with them to act as a sort of guard dog for the tools in the back of their utes. Maybe that is where the idea of taking a dog with them started and it has evolved to the point that a lot of tradies do this? Or maybe I made that up in my head

How annoying for you and your poor pets though.

Many years ago when I was a kid my Mum sold something in the trading post and the guy that bought it brought his dog along when he came to pick it up. The item required some dissembling and whilst he was doing it his dog got into our guinea pig cage and killed one of our little guinea pigs We were all so upset but the man was absolutely devastated and even cried. We ended up feeling bad for him!

That's hilarious! The things you learn on EB...

I just remembered another one - our pool man in Melbourne used to bring his dog when he was testing the water etc and she would often go for a quick dip

Most tradies I've ever had working outside have bought their pooches. None have asked permission - and they should have. All the dogs have had a wonderful time on the property and I kept my cats indoors and the chooks locked up. My tamed wild kangaroos though were too frightened to come down to their feeding stations.

To their credit, they have been well mannered dogs (other than wanting to chase, which is natural) and both myself and my kids played with all of them as we are not dog owners (anymore) and its a novelty to have a happy dog around.

Our own Bullmastiff years ago used to steal tradie lunches and slobber all over them so sometimes you get your own back.

I find tradies have the most obedient dogs.

They are usually well trained and used to being out and about and doing what they're told.

I'd have no problem with it as long as they cleaned up after them.

Oh, I would not be happy. Can you keep your cat in while he's there, if you're not going to ask him to leave the dog at home - I understand about the small town thing. I know you shouldn't have to, but what if he chases the cat on to the road or bites... That's really rude to bring a dog into another person's yard without asking. Plenty of people are scared of dogs...

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Well they will just have to keep track of their own tools and prove any loss that happens at our place while our reno is going on because there is no way in hell a dog is coming on my property.

Yeah I wouldn't like it either but I'm not a fan of dogs. I have had a tradie bring his dog once and I was passive agressively unhappy about it but I was out of the house that day and it was a one day job.

It is for exactly this reason that I don't see it as a problem. If you are uncomfortable with it, speak to them and ask them to have the dog stay in the car/tray.

IMO it is quite common so it is you who should be the one to bring it up if you have a problem with it.

I do think they should clean up after them aswell.

It wouldn't bother me, I'd much prefer to see a dog out and about with their owner than trapped at home all alone

When we were renovating a couple of the tradies did it with no problems, but then one of them who was installing the lights let his dog into my house and it followed him around while he worked - now that I had a problem with (and told him so)

That's definitely NOT the case here. I live in a tiny town where the only crime occurs when someone's letter box gets knocked over (or something equally boring).

That's definitely NOT the case here. I live in a tiny town where the only crime occurs when someone's letter box gets knocked over (or something equally boring).

He he, me too. Trees getting knocked down in front of our cemetery was front page news.

Lisa

We had new garage doors installed a few months ago, the bloke had his dog in tow, but was most obedient, had a bit of a wander around when they first got there, but then sat on the back of his ute for the rest of the time watching him work, our cats were locked up as we had just moved and they were still stressed.
Years ago we had a fencer working on our block, we have a beautiful smithfield blue heeler,(he was tied up while the fence was getting built) he bought his female dog so she could breed with him...

The dogs aren't just for companionship they are also to help protect their tools. They should control them and clean up after them though - that would sh*t me!

You would be surprised! It's generally other trades people that steal their tools too!

if it's onsite as opposed to in the ute tray or whatever it either needs to be supervised or tied up. I've never seen one allowed to do what you've described, I think that's unprofessional and unacceptable on the part of the tradie/s in question.

Not cleaning up after them is revolting, I don't understand why you can't tell them to clean up after their dogs? Small town or not, that's just the decent thing to do!

I love dogs so I love it when the occasional tradie has bought their dog with them, although we have 2 others so sometimes it's a juggling act trying to have them all behave. I think as well as protecting their tools, it's a companion thing, they're on the road a lot and on their own a lot, I love how they have their best mate with them

I wish I could take one of my dogs to work, he'd love being given so much attention every day, he'd sit under my desk and adore it... the other one, not so much

As long as the dog was well-behaved and got along with my dogs, I wouldn't mind. If I did, I just speak to the tradie about it.

I really dislike dogs, and I'd be seriously unimpressed if it happened here, and would be saying something.

really people, if it bothers you that much, say something or get another tradie

I walked past a building site last night (twice) and there was a dog wandering (and then sleeping). He seemed pretty chilled out, didn't give a rats about me or my boys - even when DS1 barked at him

I think it's kinda cute, as long as the dog is well behaved.

I hate it. When I was a teenager a tradesman working on a house up the street allowed his dog to roam the neighborhood. The dog jumped our fence and took my beautiful cat and killed it.
If you have your own animals it usually causes problems and I don't agree with them being left in the ute.

I wish everyone could bring their dog to work. Mum used to bring my dog into my office sometimes for a visit, and everyone loved seeing her and she had a great time.

The guys that replaced our fence had two Japanese Spitzes. They were lovely, well behaved dogs. We had our dogs inside the house anyway, as I wasn't going to let them roam the streets while our fence was down. They were a bit excited about seeing the visiting dogs, but they would have been just as excited about the visiting tradies.

Awww. I loved when our tradies bought their dogs along!! It was always great fun.

I wish I had a job that I could take my dogs to!

Hmmm I suppose the actual dog wouldn't bother me too much assuming it was friendly (although it would bother my cats) but the dog mess sure as hell would.

Can't believe they don't clear up after it.

Our lab used to stalk the builders esky and they learnt very quickly to leave the lid on securely!! He used to sit at attention at the feet of whoever was having smoko at the time hoping to get the scraps (very naughty but they didn't mind- liked the company I think). He got very chubby that year! Once when cleaning up dog poo, someone's sandwhich, still in the ziplock bag, which had obviously been wolfed down in one gulp and digested very quickly, as it come out the back end exactly the same as it had gone in the front end!!!!!!!!!!!

From stories about tradies from DH, dog poo is the last thing I'd be worrying about Some of them just do THEIR business wherever they are DH hates it.

I'd be demanding in that case that the builders dog is tied up so it can't harrass your pets & I'd certainly be telling them to pick up the dogs poo. Walk out with a plasyic bag, point to where the garbage bin is & tell them thats where their dogs sh*t can go thanks.

Commercial fine, domestic, no way and I would be politely asking them not too...but then again it would be my brother and Dad and they wouldnt anyway

My cousin recently did some work in our backyard. He asked first if he could bring his dogs with him. We said OK, as long as they didn't come in the house. That was all good - until it rained. The mess from the mud was ten-fold due to the dog prints. All through the garage.. and once when they followed him into the house too!
He would clean up their poo, but did not once offer to clean up the mess in the garage or inside...

Being an animal lover I wouldn't have a problem with it BUT there are a few things:
1.They should ask first, especially if you have other pets
2. Shouldn't be just roaming around, it's a safety hazard. I'd expect it to be tied up safely somewhere out of the way with adequate shade & water, at least for the majority of the day.
3. They clean up after the dog...
Perhaps you could have a word, if you phrase it properly it might make him think about it....good luck

I was more bothered by a tradie we had who would bring his toddler son along to work on a construction site! So dangerous and not sure our insurance would have covered any accidents. Had to ask him not to do it.

I think it's fine so long as it's well behaved. The & tradie that is.

OP, I think your builder is very disrespectful. He may just be one of those who doens't realise what he's doing until it's pointed out to him. I don't think it's an issue to say please pick up your dogs crap.
Go out & have a chat with him about the dog. It can be friendly & not confrontational.

I think they should ask.

These dogs are also pets, they are not trained guard dogs
trained to magically guard tools, and if they WERE, they'd need insurance for them. Half the time the dogs aren't even near the tools.

I don't mind in my personal situation. I did have renovations done a few years ago, walked in to my computer room and sitting on my couch was a Staffy! Me and my dogs all went...ummmmmmm until we realised it was the tradie's dog!

It's protecting their tools, so I really don't have a problem with it. Agree with others that they should clean up after themselves. Most of the ones I encounter clean up after their dogs, and their dogs are very well trained, too.

I don't mind them bringing their dogs, but I do STRONGLY object to tradies then letting their dogs out in our park for a quick run around at the end of the day, given that a) the park is not a leash free zone and b) my DD and other neighbourhood kids are playing there

Oh, well they'll be gone soon...

I wouldn't mind if my builder brought his dog to our site, as long as he cleaned up the poo afterwards and didn't allow it to roam. The way our extension is being built, a dog couldn't get into our house at all and our cats hide under the bed when the builder is working anyway.

I agree with a PP - I am more concerned when tradies bring their children! The concrete contractor poured our slab during school holidays and his 8 year old would come to work with him. He was a lovely child, but I really did worry about what would happen if he injured himself on site.