I love dogs, and my dog is the greatest canine on the planet - but I respect that not everyone agrees with me.

Joseph, I'm glad they (eventually) dealt with the little yapper.

Don’t tell Sarah McGloughlin or the ASPCA, but we used to call these drop-kick dogs. I now realize it is the owners who should be drop kicked. People are clueless about the behavior of their own pets. I bet if a doc or attorney was at their house they would let the yapper keep on yapping.

I have a large dog, who doesn’t bark, jump, or nag. Still, I always offer to put him away when a workman comes to our apartment. Only one person has taken me up on it. The rest just pet him and nuzzle his head against their leg while they are talking to me about the plumbing. At least half crack out their phones and show me pics of their dogs.

ugh - that is so annoying. Hope you quoted them a very high price ;)

we have a large friendly lab - I always put him away if someone new is coming over as he’s just distracting/overwhelming - it’s just basic manners for sure

No, the worst type of potential is, ”I’d do it myself but……” Followed by a long list of reasons they cannot pay enough for anyone else (dumb enough) to take their job on.

“I started it, and just can’t find the time to finish it.”

”It’s a simple little job….. to just nuclear engineer a submarine”

”I watched all the YouTube and want to watch you do it (the bad and wrong way) too!”

”It just needs…….. ” EVERYTHING

“I’ve already been through 3 contractors and none of them could do it right.”

”I don’t want anyone using any of that new fangled fake wood anywhere” Followed by a request to open up a 16’ wall that needs a LVL, and pictures of gloss foil cabinet fronts over MDF substrates.

LMAO!! Joe, Lomo

I love dogs, and I love cats. I even like kids.

I like NONE of them when they need to be the center of attention in my passing or limited appearance in someones home. I am good for two minutes of " How ADORABLE" !!! on any of the species I mentioned.

There are exceptions. When the species has gotten so used to my presence, fallen in love with me.....that some hugs , kisses and treats, sends their adoring ass to a food center and a nap: )

The other scenario?

The crotch sniffing, between your legs, rambunctious huge black lab. Untrained, unrestrained. And its IDIOT owner to whom I finally said after a half hour of down boy, down boy repeat.......:

"If you PLEASE do NOT get this beast locked up, out from my fresh from the cleaner pants and fresh from the shower a half hour ago PERSON??

I SHALL BE OUT THIS DOOR AS QUICKLY AS I CAME IN."

Can you imagine holding a yapping dog in your lawyer's office? Does your doctor give you your diagnosis over the barking din? Why would they consider me any less of a professional?

Eh, the analogy falls a little flat because you meet the lawyer or doctor in a sterile office environment -- not his or her personal home. But, yes, any animal should be contained when a worker comes over.

We had someone over a few weeks ago to replace our water heater. When the man came into the house, our dog went into her crate, where she settled down quickly after seeing us interacting /talking with the man calmly -- it was like she thought, "They've got this. I don't need to protect them." But an hour later when three men started working under our house, she lost her marbles and tried her best to get outside to them. She was going to put them in their place! Coming into her house! The nerve! We think she believed us ignorant of the men's presence outside. She thinks we're a little dumb in the home protection department anyway.

If I'd known they were going to do the work THAT DAY I'd have put her into doggie day care.

"No, the worst type of potential is, ”I’d do it myself but……” Followed by a long list of reasons they cannot pay enough for anyone else (dumb enough) to take their job on."

True enough, and that gets me running away, however, that's not as much a disrespect of the value of your time which drives me crazy.

I do a lot of pre-qualifying customers; you won't even see my ads unless you're qualified to buy.. I've sold 4 of the last 5 jobs where I presented in person and no, my prices are not too low.. Ironically, or maybe not so much, this customer was the one I didn't close.

Does anyone consider using video conferencing to pre-qualify? Or texting photos of the project?

As a customer, I prefer not to have someone over unless there is a good chance they will take the job, and the budgets will be compatible.

We prefer not to GO unless those elements line up.

However..............? I will tell you that we have no way ever, of truly finding out what someone never knew they WANTED, until we are face to face in that home.

Don't believe me?

"Hi, got your name from"

"Want to change my family room carpet"

"mmmmmm...........okay...........tell me what's in the kitchen?" ( answer, Hardwood)

" I'm happy to look. But I can spare you? I will tell you right now, you don't want edge to edge carpet in that room. Still want to meet?"

"Short story? All the first floor became hardwood, and ten months later? That living floor was completely reinvented contents, surfaces with his art taking a starring role, along with many wonderful rugs inherited, - all tailored to/ for someone who had resources and needed a permission slip to get what he truly wanted.

It's why I meet: ) because I have lost count of the number of times "I just want"...................became a whole lot more. Or different..or better : )

I see it as a matter of respect. I will respect a worker’s time and expertise and their need for restroom, food, water, etc. But I expect some respect for my intelligence and especially for my home. (Don’t put your tools on my cooktop, etc.)

Since someone mentioned doctors, I have a huge beef with the lack of respect that some of them have for patients’ time. When I think of the hours my late husband and I spent in the oncologist’s waiting room I could weep. The one thing a cancer patient wants is more time with their family, and that was stolen from him because the doctors’ office couldn’t figure out how to schedule properly.

Worst Possible Contractor.

The one who DOES NOT listen to what I want. They get something in their heads and will NOT listen. I detest gray, bright white, no color, and 4000 light bulbs. (Doctors are also very guilty of this.)

Maybe you do not like it, but I do and it IS my house. If you cannot work with me fine, but lets just agree to disagree.

Second complaint. The ones that seem to agree, but word their contract with babble that completely ignores what we agreed on and no one that is not a lawyer or contractor can understand.

Gutters. I wanted downspouts located wher I wanted them. I got my way, which was better because of the slope, but I should not of had to argue.

Bathrooms. I wants small tile on the floor and I got outvoted by husband and his contractor friend. I hate the 12x 12 floor tiles and chocolate grout they put down. It is 20 years later and I STILL hate it and it is cracking and I cannot afford to redo.

Do not even get me started on the kitchen. That would be an entire post.

I don't mind well mannered dogs....but even so, having them outside or in a kennel is one less less of a distraction when meeting AND taking dimensions within a clients home. If I get distracted? I write a number down wrong, I make mistakes and that costs me $$$$ and it can delay the project. So...When I'm measuring, please don't ask a ton of questions or talk my head off. Wait until I'm done. I need to concentrate. I usually tell people, in a nice way, Let me take the dimensions, then we can have question/answer time. Most people are good about it, but some don't get my point and continue to talk and talk. I'm also an INFJ on the Myers Briggs Scale...so people in general wear me out. I can only do two big appointments per day. LOL

One story I have.....I was at a measure appointment and they had a medium to large size dog that I don't think his owner's EVER trimmed his nails. They were long and they HURT me every time he jumped on me. It ruined my dress with snags and I had scraped up red legs...almost with blood! I finally had to tell her to put him in another room. What a clueless pet owner.

Around here we greet trades people with "watch out for the snake. He or she lives by that stone wall" and "we had a bobcat by yesterday, so keep an eye out." Most of the time I don't mention the bears, but I've scheduled a whole house exterior paint job and I think the workers will want to each lunch outside. Maybe I should suggest they eat in the truck? Trying to be a good client.

"Does anyone consider using video conferencing to pre-qualify? Or texting photos of the project?"

kelli:

Potential customers call and ask for free in-home estimates regularly. I assure them that's possible, but insist that they email (texts get lost) a pictue of their sink taken back far enough that I can see the countertop on each side of the sink and all of the drawer in the front as pictured:

I can tell immediately from this picture which sinks are going to work and send pictures of them along with prices. If that doesn't scare them away, I'll come out, measure if necessary, and show them samples of colored composite sinks. If you don't have the time to email a picture, I don't have time to come to your home.

"As a customer, I prefer not to have someone over unless there is a good chance they will take the job, and the budgets will be compatible."

That makes two of us. Mutual respect for each other's time.

An appointment with only one decisionmaker is known in the remodeling business as a "one legger". You make your presentation, ask for the order, and hear "I've got to speak to my wife/husband first." Experienced remodelers won't run one leggers and again, it's about respect for time. I'll run one leggers in the sink business, because if I close her, she'll close him.

Sherry:

I understand and agree, however, even though it's your house and your money, it's my job. And my name's not going on any job that I won't be proud to have posted on the interwebby. Plenty of potential customers, one reputation that's not for sale.

I'll listen to your ideas and do everything I can to please, but I have to approve what we're doing. If I don't, I'll tell you "No." Customers and designers need saving from themselves on occasion. Woe unto the contractor who fails to speak up.

We have 2 large dogs, one of which is protective of the house and does a great impersonation of a barking police dog and looks quite scary. I always put them outside when people come over ... my DH on the other hand thinks that everyone loves dogs and will let them back in. Ugh!

For a quote visit I would keep them outside, but if someone will be working in the house for several days, then we need to do some introductions to reduce the barking. I still do my best to keep them away from the people while they do their work.

chicagoans:

I can't stand the signs in the waiting room that tell you to turn off your cell phone. Sorry, but I run expensive ads and I'm answering my phone when potentials call. Sure I'll step outside, no problem, but we aren't all retired and sharing pictures of our grandchildren in the waiting room.

Klem1, it seems crazy that homeowners would want to allow their dogs to be left out while you are working. We always put ours up because it is just too much potential liability to leave them out.

It is absolutely too much potential liability. It is a simple matter of manners and common courtesy; but there is also definitely the issue of endangering the workers as well as the pets. ALL pets should really be kept out of the way.

I have seen this type of thing in many areas of life. When I lived on UWS in NYC, i had a habit of going to Riverside Park every morning, weather permitting. I would feed the birds and eat breakfast there. And one morning, early am - maybe around 6:30 am or so - im walking into the park and a guy has his HUGE dog off the leash and the dog is following me, barking ferociously. I think it was a Siberian Huskie. Im screaming at the guy, ”Put your dog on a leash!” And he is saying that the dog is harmless and that he didn’t think he needed to leash his dog at this early hour of the morning. And i am screaming, THERE ARE SIGNS ALL OVER THE PARK!!! LEARN HOW TO READ!!!!

Another day, the same guy shows up again at the park. I was lounging on the grass and he is standing not far from me, with his hair all slicked back, and his dog on a leash.

This reminds me of someone who i hired for something and they wanted to bring their emotional support dog into my house and were insulted when we said no due to allergies. needless to say we did not call them again!

im walking into the park and a guy has his HUGE dog off the leash and the dog is following me, barking ferociously. I think it was a Siberian Huskie.

Hmmm, Huskies aren't usually huge, and they really are harmless -- they just want love from everyone.

Joseph C -- That's exactly how my Pitsky (half Pitt Bull, half SIberian Husky) sees herself -- except that she has no follow-through for her bark.

I think it was was a Siberian Huskie type dog - but I’m not for sure. And yes, i realize those dogs are not the hugest on the planet. But when a dog is following you and barking - and they are off their leash - they can seem more huge than they are. And yes, I realize the breed is good natured, overall; but how would I know how this particular dog was trained and socialized? How would i know that this dog isn’t more aggressive? Especially when the dog is barking ferociously. And why would i BE EXPECTED to know all this??

Or how about "come over for a cup of coffee and tell me what to.do with my living room?" Our profession is rough.

I just try to stay professional and smile saying something funny. Of course, that's before the dog starts humping my leg. True story

I started another comment and finally realized I need a book the size of War and Peace.

Then I started a veer on the best kind of client and realized........

I only need two words. They're grownups.

Your profession really isn't the issue--the pet owners are. It's tough when others come into a home. People forget since it's their home and the animal's home. People forget what it means to be a good host. People are NUTS over animal "rights". It's true the dog is just being a dog--but the issue is it should be a dog OUTSIDE when 'guests' are present. People forget in the end these are ANIMALS and behavior cannot be assumed EVER.

LOL......

Maybe I should go waaaaay back to my humble beginnings decades ago. Love me, love my child!

I was chair on a fundraising committee for a charity golf tournament/auction. We needed another "thingy" to auction. Finally made a big board, stenciled " blah blah get a room stenciled .." ( super pretty ) alas..........someone bit.

I ended up at a home in the brutal heat and humidity of mid July. She wants fruit/garland! Nine colors, nine trips around the G.D *&^%$ kitchen.

The four year old brat wants Chucky Cheese, and he wants it N.O.W

I listened to a six hour negotiation /threats of quiet time.....more negotiation.....and on and on with bang on the floor bawling w/ hiccups until I thought I would blow out my brains .

I was never offered so much as a drop of water by this idiot woman. I went to the end of the drive way and smoked two ciggy's in a row and cursed the air to blue. Drenched in sweat from her barely on A.C? I got in the car and cursed all the way home.

Hilarity? The idiot "stencil event" led to nine other homes in that suburban enclave over the course of three years. At one point, I thought I might invest in my own Porto Let at the entry. ...........................

No. I never touched another stencil.

I'm just hoping some potential customers are reading this, smack themselves in the forehead, and go "OMG, that's me!"

I am amused that someone else uses the phrase Drop Kick Dogs. I have threatened - in my mind - many times to Drop Kick somebody’s dog into next week.

Yes, I know that people love their little dogs. But they can be oblivious to the fact that their little darlings don’t love ME. Use some sense in determining who has more rights in certain situations. If I’m walking down a public sidewalk minding my owm business, I think I should be free from fighting off a snarling snapping beast at my ankles. No matter if it weighs 3 pounds or 63 pounds.

When we had our dog Oliver, a rough collie, we always put him outside or in another room when a contractor was at the house. He was a beautiful and very frendly dog who WOULD NOT bark when somebody was at the door or entered the home. He had no potential as a guard dog. I loved that he was so friendly, but wished he'd at least warn us when somebody was approaching this house. He loved everyone who entered the home. One time we had an HVAC call. The contractor absolutely loved Oliver and wanted to be with him. OK. The contractor went outside to check the AC unit with Oliver following. He was bent over the AC examining it, and Oliver went to sniff his backside and accidently 'schnozzed' his back/butt with his nose. Shocked the contractor, but he was hysterical laughing. This HVAC man aside, I think it is common courtesty and smart to let somebody work without a strange dog interferring.

People put up with, or even ENCOURAGE, behavior from small dogs, that would get a larger dog picked up for being dangerous. "Cute purse dogs" get passes from their owners for growling, nipping, and otherwise being dangerous to other people. Meanwhile, the friendly lumbering mannered Rottweiler, who sits on demand, heels without question, and never looks at anyone crossly, has to have a "Canine Good Citizen" certification from an expensive training facility for the homeowner to even get insurance on their house.

When there is a problem dog, the owner is ALWAYS the real problem.

You don't like signs in the doctor's waiting room asking you to silence your cell phone because

you run expensive ads and will answer your phone when potentials call. Sure you will step outside, no problem, but we aren't all retired and sharing pictures of our grandchildren in the waiting room.

What kind of a response it that to give to chicagoans' comment "When I think of the hours my late husband and I spent in the oncologist’s waiting room I could weep. The one thing a cancer patient wants is more time with their family." Where is your respect for patients, ill, old, whatever, sitting and waiting for their turn to see the doctor. You want respect, but a room full of patients don't deserve respect from you?

Hmmm, Huskies aren't usually huge, and they really are harmless -- they just want love from everyone.

Mrs Pete, this ^ makes me think you are one of those dog owners: let their dogs off the leash, say oh he won’t hurt you, expect everyone to adore your little fur baby. Some people don’t like dogs, or are afraid of dogs, or are allergic to dogs, or don’t know enough about them to know which are ”harmless”. Why can’t some dog owners (maybe this includes you, maybe not) just follow leashing laws, pick up their messes, and respect non-dog people’s desire not to be around dogs?

We’ve had several meetings in our home with contractors, landscape designers & architects this past year or so.. We ALWAYS secure the dog out of the way, turn off our music, cell phones & TV ( which is rarely on ) & give our undivided attention to what’s being discussed . Just common sense ( which, unfortunately, as Mark Twain said, isn’t that common nowadays, paraphrasing ).

We're so dog friendly the granite fabricator foreman brought his crazy Brittany spaniel over when we followed up after the templating meeting to bring some test templates for sinks / cooktops and she ran all over the place in the house. She had a large time.

Agree with @dewayne - it is crazy to see how many small dogs in my neighborhood pull, snap, bark and snarl at me and my XL dog when we walk by - the owners just shrug. They think it’s cute when their small dogs “act big“ - it’s obnoxious

Large un-neutered and/or poorly trained Huskies are usually the instigators of any issues at the dog parks I have visited over the years! Usually owned by a 20 to 30 year old male who isn't paying attention to the dog's behavior.

One of my dogs had a small nip taken off her ear by a female Husky. Bled like crazy!

All Huskies aren't harmless and want to love everyone! Not sure why they are such a popular dog in Southern CA. You'd think the heat would be one good reason not to get one.

elcieg:

The subject is respect for time, not who has the saddest medical story to tell.

In your attempt to quote me, you conveniently left out the part where I said I'd leave the waiting room ("Sure I'll step outside, no problem...") to show respect for the other patrons.

"I'm just hoping some potential customers are reading this, smack themselves in the forehead, and go "OMG, that's me!"

I WISH YOU LUCK!

Those that know it isn't them, are laughing in disbelief.

Those that may need to recognize themselves? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH. Nope.

So often, this will be the very same customer who hasn't cleaned their home thoroughly in a decade, but will shine a flashlight on every inch of drywall and surrounding inch of trim - gifting you with an entire pad of Post it stickies ! Slapping a rainbow of colors ! so carefully applied at each microscopic "flaw".

Take that little tip to the bank: )

I'm just hoping some potential customers are reading this, smack themselves in the forehead, and go "OMG, that's me!"

That’s what Buzzfeed is for. I think they get a lot of their content off Reddit.

However, it could backfire. Dog issue aside, people don’t really want to invite contractors over to have their homes judged. They do it because they want help to fix it.

Re: the husky, I wonder if it was a malamute. I’ve been spooked by those before at the dog park.

I think it was was a Siberian Huskie type dog - but I’m not for sure. And yes, i realize those dogs are not the hugest on the planet. But when a dog is following you and barking - and they are off their leash - they can seem more huge than they are.

I hear what you're saying, and obviously I don't know for sure; I'm just suspicious from your description that it was a different type. Huskies are well-known, but several other dog breeds look quite similar: Malamute, Samoyeds, Eskimo dogs, Iceland Sheepdog, Wolfdog. Some of them would be more likely to be aggressive than a Husky.
Mrs Pete, this ^ makes me think you are one of those dog owners

You're welcome to keep thinking that.

My SIL had a vicious little min-pin; at least it enjoyed acting vicious whenever I was over, snarling, barking and feinting at me. She never controlled it or shut it in another room. Fortunately, one time when I was there, when the dog was carrying on as usual, I remembered a "Dog Whisperer" segment that I had seen about teaching the human to act like the "top dog". I channeled my best inner Cesar Millan, pulled myself up to my full last quarter inch of height, shoulders back, head up, and directed my best glare at Mr. Yappy.

That dog actually tucked its tail between its legs, and skittered away mewling.

I am still a legend with my nephews over that....

(Don’t anyone get offended! It’s just a funny meme this conversation made me remember.) :D

Hmmm, Huskies aren't usually huge, and they really are harmless -- they just want love from everyone.

Says who? I worked in the Humane industry for over 25 years and would not place Huskies at the bottom of the bite risk scale. They are not a super popular breed, but still place in the top 10 breeds that have fatally attacked a human. Mostly they attack kids (prey drive), but they do attack and bite adults as well.

I would trust a Husky over a Bully breed, Chow Chow, Shepherd, Rottweiler, Doberman. . . but not nearly as much as I would trust a Lab, Golden, Bernese, Setters, Pointers . . .

The truth is that most dogs won't bite without provocation. Scared dogs are the most likely to bite. But a strange dog running toward you barking is something that should put you on alert.

The happiest dog, (any breed) is a trained dog. You are his human. Train him/her or don't buy or rescue.

Suburbia especially, is loaded with dogs whose exercise exists 90% behind an electric fence.

Wanted originally ..."Can't we get a dog, dad?" Pleeeeeze?????

Until he's the " Did anyone feed what's his face?" pet

I am often surprised when people think because their dog is friendly that it is okay to let them be off leash. What happens when the dog they approach is on a leash, but not friendly with other dogs? What is going to stop the dog on a leash from attacking their dog?

Before I had a heart attack I used to enjoy walking my current dog and playing with people who left their dogs run off leash. Willow is super friendly with other dogs, so when some mystery dog would come bounding down the rail trail to play with Willow we would give it a minute and then Willow and I would start jogging away from the owner. The dog would run with us and the owner would start to panic as their dog got further and further away from them. The unleashed dog never seemed to come when called by the owner. I didn't run fast, but I had the benefit of a dog pulling me along, so it took a bit more effort for the owner to run fast enough to catch up.

The unleashed dog owners didn't seem to like this game. They would yell at me and accuse me of trying to steal their dog and act a bit crazy, but I found that they generally put their dog on a leash after we had our run.

"The happiest dog, (any breed) is a trained dog. You are his human. Train him/her or don't buy or rescue."

The happiest child is a trained child. You are his parent. Train him/her or don't have any.

We just had a contractor over this evening, our excited dog (not yet two years old) had to wait in the sunroom while I let the contractor in. He was barking like mad and wanted to greet the contractor. The contractor was a dog person, so he said let's meet him and let him calm down. Excitement was over in about two minutes. The dog was taken downstairs by my husband and I met with the contractor about the project, giving him my undivided attention. Everyone was polite, even the dog...it's not that hard.

Dawn, that's usually how it goes for our biz too. We are all dog people...well most of us. I am a cat person but grew up with doggies...and I love them...I'm just too "busy" to be a dog person. I don't have the patience needed (and no fenced yard) to own a dog. My cats are perfect for my way of life. We go out a lot and travel 3X a year. :-)