Pets And Crazies

genecarp

yesterday we went to install a countertop, (bathroom vanity) i met this women once before when i was there to template. she was in her sixties, to much makeup, carrying a pug around, and clearly medicated. we walk in yesterday met by the pug. also someone was practicing the tuba in another room. we went to check out the bathroom, and found a temporary vanity top hooked up, our contract clearly states no plumbing, cab ready for install. everything went well in the end, it was just a weird scene, conditions as follows

1- tuba playing in the backround
2- women chasing dog around, yelling his name, nonstop
3-women asking crazy questions
4- dog stealing my shims, and sniffing and snorting in my ear
5- jobsite not ready to go

i dont know about you guys, but during an install i like a little privacy, a little peace and quiet. this place was a nuthouse. we could not get out of there fast enough

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wizendwizard

I've had many of those Gene, Minus the tuba. Thats really a new one. As we all know, HO's usually have quirks we must work around.

A tip onj dealing with dogs, Carry a bit of pepper around with you and sprinkle it around your tools and such. The dog takes a whiff and poof he magically disappears. LOL

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Bone Saw

gene one of those lost jobs meetings last week (lowballed by 6k) was exactly as you described to the tee. I started feeling like I was in a cartoon and there was a characature of me turning beet red with preassure cooker gauge spiking in the red with steam comming out my ears, this idiot was playing with his daugnter while discussing his deck, playing cheff, and pulled out one of those silly chef hats and actually asked me if I wanted one too and if I'll be having bbq zebra or giraff, he had a severe lisp which made him sound like suffering succatach cat to boot, pure insanity. couldn't get out of there quick enough

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6stringmason

I hear ya. I installed a double vanity for a lady in her home about 2 months ago that had a couple of boxers. These dogs would run up to you, sniff your crotch area and start growling. Puts ya little on edge.

Nice people, but please folks, when you have contractors coming over, put your pets in another room.

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Kamps Masonry & Concrete Countertop Design Green Bay, WI
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SelfContract

Dogs use noses as hands. TURN/CUT-OFF theirs by using any strong smell, spices, seasonings, nose-sneezing stuffs, strong deodorant, roach/bugs repellants, etc.. like pepper, piece of lemon peel (skin), cinamon, etc. ...putting around your work area, on tool, or lemon spray on your clothes, etc.

send_it_all

Whatcha got going on in your crotch that pisses dogs off?

Susan Betz

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6stringmason

Jealousy maybe? How do I know what a dog is thinking?

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Kamps Masonry & Concrete Countertop Design Green Bay, WI
920-680-3195
Visit our website @
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stacker

maybe you just forgot to wash it after a good night.

ive had dogs steal tools i had one run off with my cell phone and my laborer had to chase it a block to get it back.
i had one lady ask me to remove a snake she had caught 3 days earlier by placing a bucket over it in her bedroom(small garden snake).
children wanting to climb up on scaffold.but my biggest problem on a job site...........cats shi%ing in my sand pile.

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Complete Pro

I have a pet clause in my contracts that state that I am absolutely not responsible for pets on the job site, or that may wander onto the job site. I generally either lock them in another room, put them out, or bang them in the head with the handle of my hammer if they bug me too much. After the first few times, they get they get the idea and leave me alone. I'm talking about the pets, not the crazy home owners.

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TempestV

Not a homeowner's pet, but one of the guys I work with has this ancient dog that he brings to the job. The dog must be starting to loose it- I've never seen a dog stare at a wall for two hours and bark. Then, of course, the dog is deaf, so it can't hear you when you yell at it. Very frustrating.

rex

i understand the annoying dog thing.... yea spices and such not a bad idea i have no problem with that.....but to hurt it i hope that makes you feel better causing harm to a animal i should bash homeowners stupid kids over the head when they bother me......i hate kids and have no use for them.......

i will go out of my way to help or save any animal but if i see some stupid kid in the middle of the road i just keep driving....

so yea tough guys go pick on some animals then go home to your dumb kids....

genecarp

[quote=rex;427128]i understand the annoying dog thing.... yea spices and such not a bad idea i have no problem with that.....but to hurt it i hope that makes you feel better causing harm to a animal i should bash homeowners stupid kids over the head when they bother me......i hate kids and have no use for them.......

i will go out of my way to help or save any animal but if i see some stupid kid in the middle of the road i just keep driving...kids....

im with you rex, i would go out of my way to help an animal, i love them, however running a kid over in the street is where we part paths.

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rex

never said id run him over...i just wouldnt stop to help IT

odleo

Complete Pro, I could not agree with you more about putting dogs in another room or outside if there is a fence for them. As to hitting a dog in the head with your hammer handle. This was not funny. I have a retired police dog and I would hate to think what would happen if someone tried to hit him.
As to HO's I never worry anymore, just take out my hearing aids and go about my business.

EricTheHandyman

Replaced a faucet this morning with 5 kids, aged 2-16, watching me and asking questions. I'm getting paid by the hour, ask me anything you'd like, kid...

Complete Pro

Sorry guys, never meant to offend, and yes, I will agree it was a sorry attempt at humor. I've never actually had to forcefully remove a pet from a residence, but the option was always there.
As a matter of interest, I could most likely quote you the names of my customers pets off the top of my head.

If it means anything to you, all of my pets have been adopted, or saved, my whole life. My father and uncle were both vets. My wife is vet tech and animal rehab expert during the summer and a Kindergarten teacher the rest of the year.

Right now we have a boxer that was rescued from a shelter, just buried an Aussie Shepard who was abused and placed in a shelter that swore she couldn't be rehabilitated, but lived thirteen more years with us, one horse and one pony that we took on because the owners wouldn't care for them, two ducks, eight chickens, (the rooster is named Stu), and about 25 cattle, (six calves so far this spring), plus a number cats that run around in the barn. Needless to say I have a bit of animal experience.
If you want to know the truth, I"m kind of an animal nut! As a general rule I tolerate them better than I do their owners. Please accept this as a genuine apology. I am sorry.

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gusthehonky

On one job the homeowner must have had 100+ clocks everywhere, almost any flat surface had a clock, every room I saw had a dozen or more, all set to same exact time. None seemed to be special, antique or valuable, just typical Wal-Mart alarm clocks. That was about 5 years ago and I still wonder why?

JamesNLA

Not entirely on topic but, a few years ago I show up at a recently vacated rental to do my thing. HO told me he has their family dog in the back yard and not to let him in. I'm thinking no problem, as I won't be needing to go to the back yard. I use the key he gave me on a previous day, open the front door and before I could even take my hand off the knob...little white dog goes flying out the door. After a few cuss words I take off running after the POS. 2 hours of chasing this little rat around a nearby APT complex, I finally get him. Locked him in a bedroom and went about my day. Finally finished up and the HO comes by to see and pay me. I tell him the whole ordeal with the dog, he laughs and tells me in a whisper that I just should have let him go and that he hated that dog...... Now, I like dogs, just no ones elses dogs and I wasn't about to let this one get hit on a busy street or have to hear their child crying because the dumb plumber didn't get him back.....Needless to say I added ANOTHER clause to my contract that relieves me of all possible responsibilities from animal related issues.

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