SAAFE forum
General Category => Questions and Answers => Topic started by: Sarah Taylor on 20 April 2014, 01:17:37 pm
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Hi girls
A bit of a weird question I know....but im picking up my new dog next weekend, I only live in a 1 bed apartment.
Would clients be put off with a dog being there? Or would you think, men don't care they just want you, they've come to you for one thing then they want to go.
Does anyone else here have pets and dont care what the men think?
Thanks chloe x
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No I dont see the problem as long as you let client's know incase they're allergic. You can always get a nice sized dog cage and train it to use that, if worried about jumping up on client's.
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A clients was scared of my friends cats :o
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No I dont see the problem as long as you let client's know incase they're allergic. You can always get a nice sized dog cage and train it to use that, if worried about jumping up on client's.
I agree with Chrissie - just make it very clear in your ads so that punters who are allergic to or frightened of dogs have all the information, and keep the dog out of the way while you're working and I can't see a problem either.
I would make sure your dog is used to meeting strangers or having them in close proximity or he/she's going to find it very stressful and upsetting (I know mine wouldn't have coped with it at all - he was a rescue and not happy with unfamiliar people).
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Thanks girls!
I also work in a hotel that accepts pets, so I'm already spreading the word to my clients if they mind and so far there fine with it!
I think i might have to buy a dog carrier so he can go in there with his bone just incase I get a booking for an hour.
I just feel bad leaving him on his own in the kitchen on his own for 9 hours a day!
He's only a little dog too.
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I think it's important to be sensitive about people's fears (I'm terrified of dogs I'm unfamiliar with, always a worry for me doing o/c's but if people are sensible and keep it in another room I've no problem)
I've had a client terrified of my kitten so I kept it out the way.
Number one thing with pets is just because you love them and feel relaxed around them doesn't mean everyone will
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Ok, I think I'll let everyone know over the telephone that I do have a dog first just in case.
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Also make sure the room you work in is a room your dog does not enter as a client going home with dog hair on him is going to be hard for him to explain.
I used to take my dog to my work flat but he was only allowed in the lounge/kitchen and was well socialised so did not whine or bark when I had clients come in.
I would however not take a new dog to a hotel and see clients unless I had booked two adjoining rooms as the dog may well decide he does not like what the client is doing and become very noisy.
Hell if my bulldogs saw a client trying to have sex with me there would be nothing left of him as she would attack straight away as she does not know the difference between sex and attacking me.
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Thanks dani.
Im in a bit of a dilemma really.
I'll have to think really hard about what im going to do.
I'll have to either buy him a dog carrier for him to go into but then I feel bad putting him in there every time I have a client!
I would even feel bad about taking him to the car every time I had a client too!
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I have a cat and found that when I didn't mention it I got lots of cliens with bad allergies who would have to leave 5 minutes into the booking. They would also end up with cat hair all over their clothes (he malts so much) which they weren't happy about.
Now I always inform clients and keep the cat out of the bedroom to avoid hair everywhere. I make sure I Hoover twice a day too. So I think as long as you are upfront about the dog then it will be fine
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Hi sammy
I'm wondering whether he will malt if i'm in a different hotel room every day.
I can't always work from home you see so it's either a case of into a dog carrier when a client arrives at a hotel or in the car!
I feel awful doing that though, a bit like dog neglect! Lol
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Is there any way you can put off picking the dog up until you have thought things through more.
Knocking him/her from pillar to post when a client is arriving is not ideal for the dog on the days you are working from a hotel room. At the same time hotels are going to notice you more if you have a dog and it might not work out there for you.
I'm by no means an animal lover but is it fair to lock an animal in a car while a client is with you. What happens if its a warm/hot day, I know its UK we are talking about and summer might not last very long but getting an animal and then treating it in the way you are proposing is just not fair at all.
People wouldn't believe im actually taking the side of an animal here, but I don't think you have thought this through as much as you should have.
Please rethink. Sorry for being so blunt but Ive never been one for using flowery words. I think what you are planning on doing is rather selfish. Sorry.
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I have my dog there for security, if a client tried to go in the room where the dog was he would regret it x
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Would you be travelling away from home to Hotels or would it be a local hotel and would it be like a day room or overnight?
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Just day use only, a local hotel, and the manager knows that I might be bringing the dog.
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Just day use only, a local hotel, and the manager knows that I might be bringing the dog.
I no it's not ideal but if it doesn't like being caged in the room when your with a client, if it's only for a few hours could you not leave it at home. As long as you make sure its been to toilet before leaving and as soon as you return it should be ok, especially if it's not every day.
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Hi Chrissie
He seems very friendly, I know hes crate trained, im not too sure how he would be in a dog carrier in the room when I have a client.
I dont know him that well, but the breeder did say hes very well socialised.
Or....just do what my mum says and hire someone to pop by at home say 1pm for a walk while im at the hotel. I think thats about ?6 a day.
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I can't imagine clients being happy with there being a dog actually in the room during a booking (which I'm guessing it will be if you're working from a hotel room) even if it's in a cage.
Are the staff not going to wonder why you and a dog keep booking a room for a few hours every few days? If I was the hotel manager I would find that really suspicious because people normally only have their dog in a hotel with them if it's something like they are on holiday or moving house.
What if the dog needs the toilet during a booking or it gets scared and barks/growls lots? It would be really off putting for the client.
X
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Chloe, I may have misunderstood but you surely aren't planning to have the dog in the same room with you whilst you're working? As Sammy says, I doubt very much punters would accept it (I like dogs and I know I still wouldn't) whether he's in a box or not and it's going to be distressing for the dog as he won't have a clue what's going on. I don't like cats and if I went to get a massage or my nails done and there was a cat loose in the room I'd leave straight away.
The only way around it if you're really not prepared to leave him at home and have somebody look in on him and take him out is to book 2 rooms with an interconnecting door and leave him in the other one. My dog used to shoulder charge the door trying to get in and bark the place down if he thought shagging was going on, and that was just with Mr Amy so you'll probably still have to keep him in his box and I really don't think it's practical.
Have you thought of trying a work flat? Or even finding a serviced apartment that accepts pets so he can go safely in another room?
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Or....just do what my mum says and hire someone to pop by at home say 1pm for a walk while im at the hotel. I think thats about ?6 a day.
I think this is your best bet, better losing ?6 to dog walker than hundreds if a client walks out.
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Hi girls
Yep your all completely right!
Ive thought about it now and it would be definitely be a nightmare.
I won't be able to concentrate on a client knowing a dog is loose in the bedroom with me.
Also yes what happens if he needs the toilet etc etc
And not being funny I quite like to chill in between clients and have a hot bath and some food and read the paper.
Like to all of us girls, money is important! ! And that comes first.
So I think I need to grow up and just sort somebody to come round to my house for an hour to walk him at lunchtime.
That way everyone's happy then as we all could do without any added stress at work!!
Ive got to remember he's just a dog lol im not leaving a child at home.
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I'm not a punter but I would be very turned off by a dog in the same room. I would also be turned off by a dog in the next room whining and barking. And I am disgusted by doggy smells and dog hair on furniture, etc.
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I may be wrong but it sounds like a puppy you are getting as you are getting it from its breeder.
A puppy should not be left for more than an hour alone. They become very distressed very quickly as so used to being in a litter and with its mother.
I think you need to either get a dog sitter in for the first few months until it is old enough to be left with just a dog walker popping in at lunchtime or take time off work.
Puppies are like babies and do need constant attention and training. If you are out all day who is going to house train it or teach it anything as you wont be able to do it in the evening as puppies tend to sleep later in the day.
You can get a dog sitter for around ?6-?8 an hour and it will mean the puppy is looked after rather than left to pine or even injure itself
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I may be wrong but it sounds like a puppy you are getting as you are getting it from its breeder.
A puppy should not be left for more than an hour alone. They become very distressed very quickly as so used to being in a litter and with its mother.
I think you need to either get a dog sitter in for the first few months until it is old enough to be left with just a dog walker popping in at lunchtime or take time off work.
Puppies are like babies and do need constant attention and training. If you are out all day who is going to house train it or teach it anything as you wont be able to do it in the evening as puppies tend to sleep later in the day.
You can get a dog sitter for around ?6-?8 an hour and it will mean the puppy is looked after rather than left to pine or even injure itself
I would agree with this. If you leave the puppy on its own for too long you will end up with LOTS of behaivorial problems. take a look around for some "doggy day care" places. Not only will your puppy be looked after but it will socialised as well. It may cost a bit more money but when you decide to get a dog then your doggy should come a little above making money.
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I have a little dog I keep him the back but I let customers know there is a dog in the flat . He even comes on tour with me I just have to book dog friendly hotels x
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Put in ad, you have a dog. And try and train dog to stay in its bed.
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The thing is when you have a dog the needs of where you come first after knowing the dog is safely looked after fed watered stimulated. Or else the dog can be neglected. Dogs have emotions also can get behaviour problems goodness knows.
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I don't mean to be be rude but you don't sound like you know a lot about dogs / puppy's which isn't a problem as most people don't if they haven't got a dog before but I would seriously think about it first
It's a 6 - 10 year commitment if your a wrk dog owner and not a dog if the moment owner
If it's a puppy you might find that as soon as you leave the room it will howl for you
And even older unsocialised dogs will/ can do do this especially if they haven't been socialised properly
I've worked from my flat in the past with one of my dogs and clients never mentioned it
But in my flat he is only allowed in the living room and not upstairs / bedroom but he his very well behaved and trained
I have a 10 week old French mastiff due to losing two of my dogs this year and while he is adorable he is bloody hard work
I took two weeks of work when I got him because it really is like having a baby 24/ 7
Feeding 4 times a day 6.30, 11 am, 4 pm , and 9pm , at present he is in a large cage in the house until he has his last injection then he will be out with my other dogs but if he is not tired then he will howl until let out and can sit with someone
The most critical time for socialising a puppy is between 8 and 16 weeks this means plenty of different dog meetings , puppy classes . And even if you can't put him on the ground due to not fully vaccinated taking puppy out / carrying him / her around and letting him get used to people / noises if you don't you could end up with a dog with several problems like aggression and anxiety
Pretty much the dog you will have at 3 years old is socialised between this critical period what you do now is essential for a well behaved dog
If it's a puppy they don't need walking for an hour. Rule of the thumb is 5 mins or so for every month
Walking them to much/ over exercising them will / can damage there legs / hips
If it's your first puppy please get a book ( any book) on looking after puppies/ dogs it's not as simple as getting a dog walker and a crate to keep them in
If it's from an add in the paper/ internet please do some research try to see mum and dad don't take it if it's under 8 weeks old a good breeder will ask you questions
There are a huge amount of back yard /breeders puppy farmers who breed for money ( breeding inbred dogs with lots of inherited problems for money ) google puppy farms
Some puppy's like Akitas ,French mastiffs, French bulldogs and bulldogs sell for ?1000 - ?3000 a pup and have litters of 8 plus so there is a huge incentive for breeders to breed and breed
Google the number of where your getting it from see if it's a multiple breeder
I had to travel to Leeds to get my puppy a seven hour round trip. I saw both mum and dad and grandma dogs checked him over thoroughly and spent almost an hour with the breeder asking questions about him/ parents
But even I managed to miss the fact that he only has one ball dropped ( lol)
Factor in pet insurance which can be cheap ?15 a month or expensive )?60- ?100 a month depending on the breed and known traits injections , decent pet food can cuts you ?20 ?40 a week if your buying stuff like royal canine I get through 3 bags a week at ?60
Although raw /wet feeding is a lot lot cheaper
But If your insistent on getting a dog / puppy then get one that fits your lifestyle not just the dog you want
Ie if your a lazy person don't get a springer spaniel , lab or a working dog as they need both plenty of physical and mental stimulation and if you don't have the time to do this do then you end up with chewed skirting boards , and shoes and a pissed off landlord if your renting
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Hi girls
Yep your all completely right!
Ive thought about it now and it would be definitely be a nightmare.
I won't be able to concentrate on a client knowing a dog is loose in the bedroom with me.
Also yes what happens if he needs the toilet etc etc
And not being funny I quite like to chill in between clients and have a hot bath and some food and read the paper.
Like to all of us girls, money is important! ! And that comes first.
So I think I need to grow up and just sort somebody to come round to my house for an hour to walk him at lunchtime.
That way everyone's happy then as we all could do without any added stress at work!!
Ive got to remember he's just a dog lol im not leaving a child at home.
while he might just be a dog and not a child a dog can be 10 times harder work than a child at least a child grows up and can talk to you and tell you what's wrong dogs can't and rely on you to do every thing for them
Seriously ,get a goldfish or a cat if you want a pet that can be left on its own while you work without worrying about it
Sorry if it seems like a rant but 4 of my dogs were not properly socialised when I got them because the owners loved them as cute fluffy puppies but not when 12 stone stroppy dogs so. These dogs while very well trained now have massive aggression issues with other dogs resulting in muzzling them when they are walked
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I am majorly considering getting a dog in my current apartment. I love them! I think you shouldn't be discouraged... training is key! Whether or not you are working, you want your dog to be well-behaved. You will have to take at least 2 weeks of just you and puppy time, as this is essential to building your bond and establishing yourself as packmistress. I recommend reading "How to be Your Dog's Best Friend" by the Monks of New Skete. They raise German Shephards in New England and have written the best dog owner's advice book I've ever picked up.
As other have mentioned, make sure you socialize the dog and that he is acclimated to a stream of unknown men coming in and out of his domain. Barking, be it excited or aggressive, isn't good. It'll annoy your clientele and bother your neighbors, causing loss of business and unwanted attention.
My dog won't be a big one, either. My complex has weight and breed restrictions.
Personally, my work day is scheduled between 11am-6pm and I see, max, 4 clients in a day and hardly ever back to back. I don't know how you operate, but I'll have time to tend to my dog. If I recall correctly, the number of hours they can hold their wee is almost equal to their age in months. If you got the dog from a reputable breeder, they should be no younger than 8 weeks-- 2 months. That's two hours. I'll be at my place or near it; letting him out wouldn't be an issue.
Crating will likely have to happen, but I expect my dog to be good enough that I won't have to do it all the time or with every client.
Don't get a cat. They just aren't the same. No sub for puppy love! Besides, I'm deathly allergic to them (as are many other people), it may be crazy (I've been randomly attacked by nutjob-hellspawn felines! And before I started FBSM my last cat *loved* guys, and would crawl and rub all over any male company... sweet, but not if you don't like cats), and litterbox smell is disgusting.
Fish are WAY more maintenance than you'd think.
Dogs are like KidsLite, but remember they are pack animals (NOT BABIES) that have been bred to want to make their owner/master happy. As mentioned, research breeds that will fit your lifestyle and personality, learn what you can about dog behavior, clean up after him (like OCD-style), and get ready for obe of the mpst fulfilling relationships you'll ever have!
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I don't mean to be be rude but you don't sound like you know a lot about dogs / puppy's which isn't a problem as most people don't if they haven't got a dog before but I would seriously think about it first
It's a 6 - 10 year commitment if your a wrk dog owner and not a dog if the moment owner
If it's a puppy you might find that as soon as you leave the room it will howl for you
And even older unsocialised dogs will/ can do do this especially if they haven't been socialised properly
I've worked from my flat in the past with one of my dogs and clients never mentioned it
But in my flat he is only allowed in the living room and not upstairs / bedroom but he his very well behaved and trained
I have a 10 week old French mastiff due to losing two of my dogs this year and while he is adorable he is bloody hard work
I took two weeks of work when I got him because it really is like having a baby 24/ 7
Feeding 4 times a day 6.30, 11 am, 4 pm , and 9pm , at present he is in a large cage in the house until he has his last injection then he will be out with my other dogs but if he is not tired then he will howl until let out and can sit with someone
The most critical time for socialising a puppy is between 8 and 16 weeks this means plenty of different dog meetings , puppy classes . And even if you can't put him on the ground due to not fully vaccinated taking puppy out / carrying him / her around and letting him get used to people / noises if you don't you could end up with a dog with several problems like aggression and anxiety
Pretty much the dog you will have at 3 years old is socialised between this critical period what you do now is essential for a well behaved dog
If it's a puppy they don't need walking for an hour. Rule of the thumb is 5 mins or so for every month
Walking them to much/ over exercising them will / can damage there legs / hips
If it's your first puppy please get a book ( any book) on looking after puppies/ dogs it's not as simple as getting a dog walker and a crate to keep them in
If it's from an add in the paper/ internet please do some research try to see mum and dad don't take it if it's under 8 weeks old a good breeder will ask you questions
There are a huge amount of back yard /breeders puppy farmers who breed for money ( breeding inbred dogs with lots of inherited problems for money ) google puppy farms
Some puppy's like Akitas ,French mastiffs, French bulldogs and bulldogs sell for ?1000 - ?3000 a pup and have litters of 8 plus so there is a huge incentive for breeders to breed and breed
Google the number of where your getting it from see if it's a multiple breeder
I had to travel to Leeds to get my puppy a seven hour round trip. I saw both mum and dad and grandma dogs checked him over thoroughly and spent almost an hour with the breeder asking questions about him/ parents
But even I managed to miss the fact that he only has one ball dropped ( lol)
Factor in pet insurance which can be cheap ?15 a month or expensive )?60- ?100 a month depending on the breed and known traits injections , decent pet food can cuts you ?20 ?40 a week if your buying stuff like royal canine I get through 3 bags a week at ?60
Although raw /wet feeding is a lot lot cheaper
But If your insistent on getting a dog / puppy then get one that fits your lifestyle not just the dog you want
Ie if your a lazy person don't get a springer spaniel , lab or a working dog as they need both plenty of physical and mental stimulation and if you don't have the time to do this do then you end up with chewed skirting boards , and shoes and a pissed off landlord if your renting
I agree with everything Paris has said.
I don't have dogs myself but my dad and stepmum are dog people and have quite a few so I am always around dogs.
Seeing pups with mum in the home is a definite must.
Also make sure it is a proper pedigree and not a designer x-breed as the majority of these should not be bred together and you will have endless health problems.
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I have three dogs, which are in my flat where i work from they are all trained and well behaved so i don't have any problems although i did when they were puppies keeping them quiet as they used to run in circles and run riot ;D However having dogs has caused some housing issues as many flats/apartments dont allow pets from the managment which does making finding a incall place hard to find, If you do tour it can be abit difficult as again most flats are generally strict with pets. But i'm a huge dog lover and wuldnt change them for the world theres just alot to take into consideration. :-*
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Cloe, I work from home and have a dog, but I always work on the basis that visitors hate or are allergic to dogs. So they don't meet him (this is also a WG/client boundaries issue as pooch is part of private me) and he never goes into the boudoir. I'm also very fussy about doggy smells, hairs, and always let clients know I have a dog.
It works well for me because he's a very laid back creature (a middle aged rescue dog) who spends most of the day snoozing and rarely barks. I would be very wary of taking on a pup whilst working to be honest as it's a lot of work and they will whine (which would be offputting for even dog-loving clients as well as for you). Have you considered taking on an older rescue dog? A good centre will have assessed them so you can stipulate that you need a dog that is happy being left on its own for an hour or two.
If this is your first dog I'd strong recommend you do as much research as possible before you become an owner. Go to training classes and learn to train the dog so you're prepared when he arrives. If you'd prefer to learn at home I'd recommend anything by Dr Ian Dunbar (http://www. dogstardaily.com). Make sure you don't accidentally buy from a "back yard" breeder or puppy farm. Research what you'll be feeding him; mine eats a natural raw meat and veg diet, yet all you will hear about is the processed stuff from major pet food manufacturers! The more research and work you do now the less likely you'll have horrendous problems later. Good luck :)
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I quite often have my dog with me. Guys dont seem to mind at all, but the dog sometimes gets annoyed and being left out when I shut him in the other room and he barks. He was crate trained when he was little so I sometimes put him in the cage in my dungeon while the client's there. The dog stays quiet and clients seem to like it.