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Homeowners' pets
Ken C.
Member Posts: 267
you go to a customer's house and he/she fails to control their dog(s)? Some (a minority) of dogs are well-behaved, but most either bark constantly or else shadow you so closely their nose is up your butt. I had a recent call where the woman's German shepherd was constantly in my way. I almost tripped over the dog. Finally, I had to tell the woman that I had some sharp drill bits and didn't want the dog to get hurt. That finally got her attention. I'm sure you guys have some similar stories.
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Comments
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dogs
we love dogs and cats .they never get in our way because we enjoy them. an australian blue heeler cattle dog did leap on me and bite my finger but i figured he thought he was just doing his job.it is the customers that annoy us.0 -
We find hollow points work well.
Kidding.
Hollow points are too messy. We encourage dogs to help with ignition testing. We "help" them sniff (or lick) the ignitor wire during pilot light-off. If their bark takes on a unique tone or whining sound, their tongue or nose is in the presence of high voltage. If oil, the 10KV ignition transformer can be tested for arc strength by the size of the small puff of smoke emitted around the dog's bicuspid and second molar.
Kidding again.
There is no visible smoke. Just a whitish-blue arc - and the soft "thunk" of the dog keeling over.
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YER KILLIN ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
STOP IT!
I don't mind the friendly pets, but the "biters" and "barkers" gotta' go.
I worked in a house once where the dog barked from the time I walked in, until the time I walked out. It was hoarse when I left and sounded more like it was gagging.
I worked with a guy YEARS ago that did something VERY BAD to a dog that bit him while he was installing an A/C system.(I told some of you at Wetstock about this)
On one of my very first appointments as a salesman, I had a new briefcase,a father's day gift from my then 2 year old, sitting on the customers kitchen floor. As I was doing my presentation, in walks the family pet. A pot belly pig. It proceeded to "sniff" my briefcase.......I smiled, the customer giggled......It slimed my briefcase.
Then there was the time that one of the customers goats jumped in the back of one of the trucks........I could write a book about customers pets.
Mark H
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years ago
A very talented dog, who obviously didn't like me, opened a bedroom door by turning the handle and pulling the door open. I still haven't figured out how he got leverage to do so unless he had stilts on his back feet. The owner thought I was mistaken about the dog's dislike for me. The dog tried to prove him right by ingesting part of my calf. (I was tender then
) I gave new meaning to Rigid's "guaranteed for life" motto with a 14" between the eyes. He let go, I went to the ER. Formerly irate HO paid the ER bill and follow-ups cheerfully when presented the alternatives by the DCO and an attorney.
I'm VERY glad that's never happened again.0 -
i've on;y
been chomped once. An old blind terrier was lying in my way while I was installing copper fin baseboard. The HO wasnot home and I had worked aound him as much as I could. I tried to persuade it making gentle come hither sounds but the dog would not move. I finally touched his bottom with my foot to give him a gentle shove and "chomp!" The little **** must not of been that blind. He got me first try, right on the calf. No hard feelings. It's his house. My bad. He moved after that. I put on some duct tape band aids and finished the job. WW
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Ken
That's the best comic timing achievable with written word!
You crack me up.0 -
Whatever you do...
...don't bend over to pet the mamma dog with new pups under the t-stat you're replacing! Canine teeth penetrate the human lip quite easily and you'll look like a guppy for a couple of weeks.
p.s. The human lip is fully capable of supporting the weight of a medium size dog.0 -
Here's a rerun from a post I submitted a couple years ago....
A customer who we worked for regularly had called for service. He wasn't going to be home, so he said he'd leave his door unlocked. I drove out to his house with my mentor. At this point in my career I barely knew which end of a pipe wrench to hold. Matter of fact, I was the dopey kid wearing my own clothes, Dan. Anywho, I pulled into the guy's driveway and was in the process of opening the van door when, out of nowhere, this HUGE doberman comes streaking around the corner of the house, making a beeline for yours truly. It was like slow-motion watching this beast approach. He even had a little foam coming out of his mouth.
Suddenly I had this mental image of my arm being ripped from my body, and the dog scampering triumphantly around the yard carrying my now detached appendage in his vise-like jaws.
I slammed the door shut nanoseconds before Cujo arrived. He proceeded to place his front paws on my door, right at the window ledge, and announced himself. Loudly. VERY loud. Hmmmm.... I wonder how stong this glass really is?
Now, the whole reason we were there that day was because the customer's furnace had died on him. It was pretty cold outside, and I knew the temperature was dropping like a bag of ball bearings inside the house. The longer we sat in the driveway pondering the doberman, the closer the pipes were gonna get to freezing. I looked at my mentor with what must have been obvious fear, and asked, "Now what do we do?"
He looked around the cab of the van for a minute. Soon, his eyes settled on the lunch I had packed. Today's menu included the classic PBJ, an apple, and a fresh can of Pringles potato chips.
"Give him a chip," he said.
"You gotta be kidding, right?" I stammered, "that's gonna involve opening the window!"
The mental picture was returning. "Just open it enough to slide a chip through. Besides, I don't think he can reach that high."
"Ok, ok. But you're gonna have to do the driving when we go to the hospital."
I slowly cranked the window open, just to the width of one of those perfectly formed potato chips. Cujo was beside himself now. The foam around his jowells was much more noticeable, and he had a very evil looking gleam in his wild eyes. His angry bark was echoing inside the van. It was so loud that it made me wince. I just knew that when he looked at me, all he saw was today's blue plate special.
With a shaky hand, I carefully slid a chip through the crack until it dropped outside. That poor Pringle never had a chance. Ol' Cujo grabbed it in mid-air, and I swear he didn't even chew it. Just swallowed it whole in one gulp. Then, he just stood there, paws streaking mud all over my van door, looking at me through the window with his head cocked to one side. The look on his face was now a puzzled sort of "Huh?" expression. The growling had mercifully ceased, at least for now.
"Give him another one!" my fearless leader instructed. How could he be so calm? Maybe because he was on the OTHER side of the van, not having his soul searched by a rabid doberman through the paper-thin tempered glass. I hesitantly slid another chip out the window and watched it disappear into the cavernous jaws of my new adversary. He licked his chops, and barked again. This time, though, it wasn't an angry bark. It was more of a "hey, got any more of those?" kinda bark.
Six Pringles later, I had a new best friend. His little stub-that-used-to-be-a-tail was wagging (if you can call it that) ninety miles an hour. I cautiously opened the door and stepped out of the van.
The next thing I know, I've got about a hundred pounds of doberman with his paws on my shoulders. Anyone driving by would have thought I was trying to dance with this mutt. Cripes, the beast was as tall as me! He was licking my face and wimpering like a lost child, stub still going at the speed of light. I took hold of his paws and carefully set them on the ground, then gave him a couple more chips for good measure.
We grabbed the tools and the flashlight and headed for the house, being careful not to trip over our new buddy as he ran circles around us all the way up the walk. He sat right next to us as we replaced the bad control transformer and fired up the furnace, then escorted us back to the van when we were through. I tossed him a few more Pringles before I backed out of the driveway. I've run into alot of pets in my career, but none left a lasting impression like this doberman.
Moral: Speak softly and carry a big can of Pringles.
Starch
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Very funny Ken
rotflmfao0 -
Mark...
... would you care to repeat that story you told at Wetstock about what your coworker did to the dog that bit him? Or is it a bit too dark for this forum?0 -
I make my call as I knock on the door
If the dog seems like trouble, I just ask them to please lock it up. Mad Dog
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Dogs
I have only been bitten twice. Both times was a little yappy dog whose owner said "He does'nt bite!" I usually like dogs, but if I don't feel comfortable,I tell them to put the dog away. If no action then I say put it away or I'm leaving. That usually does the trick. I went to a customers's house I asked if their dog bites She said no. after the dog bit I said I thought you said your dog did'nt bite. She said thats not my dog!0 -
Tony, what does DCO stand for?
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Check your e-mail (nm)
Mark H
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Dog Control Officer
That dog had been put in the bedroom at my request, but under protest of the owner. At first, he threatened to sue me. That was short-lived.0 -
Starch, that's a typical Dobie for ya...
My brother had a red one that was the smartest durn hound I ever knew. She could back down anybody, but a potato chip bought you a friend for life! That dog could run! Don't even think about running away from a Dobie, you be a chew-toy in about 3 steps. Most of them are great big marshmellows, but there are a few that live up to the hype, and it's hard to tell the difference. Keep those chips handy!0 -
Lunch!
Had an occasion a few years back to work in a house that was "ruled" by a very small terrier. As I knocked on the door, the mutt started his yapping, and for the next half hour if continued unabated. I finally said to the homeowner, "Could you please remove the dog from my work area?" To which she replied, "What's the matter? You don't like little puppy-poos?" I then told her that, "Oh, I do like dogs. I find they are very tasty with a plum sauce and a side of fried rice!" Never saw the little varmit the rest of the day, she locked it up in a bedroom and made her husband stand guard duty. No matter how many times I insisted the comment was made in jest, she wasn't taking any chances.
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410
The cutest little snake gun,lives in a black trash bag keep it for Mr Copperhead should he be residing under the Heat Pump or A/C, would work well on a crazed pit bull I am sure. Best Wishes J.Lockard
P.S. Mr Black Snake is allowed to go in peace.0 -
Tit for tat
Back in the days when I was "toolbox monitor" my mentor reinforced the old addage "do unto others,only what you are willing to have done unto you". We were replacing an old boiler when Ralph the shepard took exception to losing his warm old friend. He decided to show his displeasure by chomping on my mentor's ankle. Quick as a wink my mentor spun around and bit him back. I was TOTALLY flabergasted. Ralph never bothered either one of us for the rest of the job. The homeowner did comment on how well behaved his pet was while we were working. My mentor just smiled sweetly with a twinkle in his eye. Needless to say I learned this guy's bite was worse than his bite.0 -
Harley, my capacitor tester
A couple years ago our dryer quit. Figured it was the motor or capacitor.
With my trusty assistant, Harley (my Shepard), watching over my shoulder, I pulled out the capacitor and set it aside to get to the motor.
All of a sudden I heard Harley let out a yelp and took off like a bolt of lightening.
Got my head out from under the dryer, looked over and saw the cap laying on its side, still spinning.
Harley was right, the motor was bad.....0 -
biting pets?
So, for the first time ever, I got bit today. Not stung, not attacked, BIT.
I was reaching down to remove the cap from the refrigerant access port when something grabbed my thumb. The surprise was such that I flung my hand out of the way HARD. About a second later, a snake hit the ground about 3 feet from me. About that time, I realized the flying snake is what grabbed my thumb!
The little beastie bit me right on the knuckle and actually left a mini fang in my thumb. I quickly grabbed it and made sure it wasn't poisonous (the head was not triangluar). I then gave it another flight deep into the woods.
Before I checked the charge on the next unit, I made sure there wasn't anything living nearby.
I washed my hands throughly afterwards. It's been about 6 hours and no ill effects. I hope the snake had some....
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Not bit
But had the S**t scared out of me when I was wrking on replacing a Bradford White solenoid valve at a cust. I was removing the badly corroded burner tube when the HO calls down.."by the way, don't worry about "daniel" he friendly."
WHo or what is "daniel"?
I look around the space, and da*n if there isn't a friggin MOUNTAIN LION lounging on the sofa. Just staring at me. not moving, blinking or anything. I thought it was a stuffed animal, but NO! its alive and I have NEVER completed a job so fast in my life..with lots of smooth movement and little noise. One eye on the lion, one on the job and my cahonies hiding near my lungs.
Warned everyone at the shop about the address.
My HO pet horror story
Mike0 -
holy s**t
I think I would have needed a mop0 -
Dog Tales
I had a German Shepherd that let me in and out of the house all day long until I grabbed my tool bag and headed for the door at the end of the day. The owners were gone for the afternoon and the shepherd laid at the bottom of the stairway with ears back, every hair standing up, fangs bared and growling like something from the apocalypse. I threw him the leftover stuff from my lunch sack, dog treats that I carry in my tool bag, no effect. He would lay there until I put one foot on the stairs and then come unglued. After about a half hour, I decided to take my chances and grabbed the "dog tool" out of my bag. (a 16" piece of 1" rubber hose with a 3/4" nipple stuffed in the end of it) Holding my tool bag in front of me I stepped down 2 steps and that beggar came up the stairs at me like he was shot from a gun. The "dog tool" caught him flush on the bridge of his nose and he went down like a sack of bricks. I thought I had killed him but after a quick scan saw he was breathing so I headed for the door. He laid there for 2-3 minutes and came to. When he saw me watching him through the door he started growling again. I called the HO the next day and told him I wasn't coming back to finish unless the dog was not on the property. He of course didn't believe me or any of what I had told him until I told him to check out the lump on his dog's nose.
The only time I was ever bitten was by a cocker spaniel that was playing with the kids out in the yard. I reached down and petted him, scratched his ears and "made friends" with him. Everything was fine til I began walking to the house. The little sucker snuck up and bit me from behind.0 -
if they say the \"dog doesnt bite\" ask them
what it is, it does with it's teeth?0 -
You now have a friend for life!
The local postman did something similar to my grandmothers dog as what you had to do to extricate yourself from the shepard.
From that day onward, Heppie went beserk whenever said poor postman came by. It was amazing how she could tell the difference between different makes of car engines to accurately identify the poor postman... never did forgive him... On the other hand, pets have to know their place. I'm glad you were able to assert yours without permanently damaging the dog or yourself.0 -
If the dog is a tail wagging love machine... No problem
If the dog is a threat we ask that it be placed in a room with a door.
If all else fails I carry a Glock 10 MM compact in the truck.
The Glock has only come out once. A renter thought it was ever so cute that their Rot was at the end of it's leash and growling every time we walked past. The renter refused to lock the dog in another room until the Glock was on the hip.
For the most part people with pets understand and respect the limits we set.
David
> you go to a customer's house and he/she fails to
> control their dog(s)? Some (a minority) of dogs
> are well-behaved, but most either bark constantly
> or else shadow you so closely their nose is up
> your butt. I had a recent call where the woman's
> German shepherd was constantly in my way. I
> almost tripped over the dog. Finally, I had to
> tell the woman that I had some sharp drill bits
> and didn't want the dog to get hurt. That finally
> got her attention. I'm sure you guys have some
> similar stories.
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That's
The reason the tube was corroded was the lion would urinate on it.
I was too scared to need a mop0 -
Glock
Your Glock observation reminded me of the following that has been circulating around work. Probably old, but I thought I'd share it anyway:
> Question: How do you tell the difference between democrats, republicans and southern republicans?
>
> Answer: Pose the following question:
>
> You're walking down a deserted street with your wife and two small children.
> Suddenly, a dangerous looking man with a huge knife comes around
> the corner, locks eyes with you, screams obscenities, raises the knife, and
> charges. You are carrying a Glock .40, and you are an expert shot. You have
> mere seconds before he reaches you and your family. What do you do?
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> Democrat's Answer:
>
> Well, that's not enough information to answer the question!
>
> Does the man look poor or Oppressed?
>
> Have I ever done anything to him that would inspire him to attack?
>
> Could we run away?
>
> What does my wife think?
>
> What about the kids?
>
> Could I possibly swing the gun like a club and knock the knife out of his hand?
>
> What does the law say about this situation?
>
> Does the Glock have appropriate safety built into it?
>
> Why am I carrying a loaded gun anyway, and what kind of message does this
> send to society and to my children?
>
> Is it possible he'd be happy with just killing me?
>
> Does he definitely want to kill me, or would he be content just to wound me?
>
> If I were to grab his knees and hold on, could my family get away while he
> was stabbing me?
>
> Should I call 9-1-1?
>
> Why is this street so deserted? We need to raise taxes, have a paint and
> weed day and make this a happier, healthier street that would discourage
> such behavior.
>
> This is all so confusing!
>
> I need to debate this with some friends for a few days and try to come to a consensus.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> Republican's Answer:
>
> BANG!
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> Southern Republican's Answer:
>
> BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! click.(sounds of
> reloading).
>
> BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! click
>
> Daughter: "Nice grouping, Daddy! Were those the Winchester Silver Tips?"
Mark
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Now that was funny...... Kind of sounds like our family.
I always though of Glock as combat tupperware.. That is until I owned one...
Thank You for the Laugh
David
> Your Glock observation reminded me of the
> following that has been circulating around work.
> Probably old, but I thought I'd share it
> anyway:
>
> _0 -
Dogs
When I was a kid our Saint Bernard let the UPS Man come in and put a package on the kitchen table but wouldn't let him leave til we got home. On one job site I got the same old "oh he won't bother you". It was a shepard and he was glued to me back and forth to the van growling. I caught him between the eyes with a 32oz. waffle face framing hammer when finally made his move. He layed under there apple tree the rest of the day never making a peep. Now it's put him in a closed room or live with your plumbing problem.
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