Pets at work

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C

cody

CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
Joined
Jun 24, 2000
Posts
157
Loc
Cornelius, NC
How many of you have your pets with you at work during the day.
My house is on the market so my doggy (small) is going to work with me now.
He stays on a leash in the back but when we go out front he whines cause he wants to be where the action is.
Customers seem to love him and he's content as long as someone is around.
Any special problems you've encountered with having a pet at work?
He's a great supervisor and only requires food as pay, the belly rub is his perk instead of paid holidays.
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Cody
 
Cody:

Wish we could take our dog, Bo, to work, but he's only a puppy and already weighs about 45 lbs. Part lab and part border collie. I gave him to Charles (aka Woodchuck) for Christmas this year. He's an indoor dog that has changed the look of the interior of our home...HE SHEDS TERRIBLY! As it is, I have to make sure I've brushed myself down well before beginning work each morning to get any dog hair off. Had a picture returned by a friend of mine right after Christmas this year due to a hair that I had not noticed when closing the picture. Sure enough, it was a Bo hair!

I've been in many, many places where the owners keep their pets and some of the customers love it. There are also people who are afraid of animals. As long as your little dog doesn't shed, chew (corners of matboard or mouldings) and understands to sit or stay on command, I can't imagine it being a problem.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

Janet

PS: When Charles and I were in the mountains last year, we went through Highlands which is filled with galleries that sell some high dollar artwork. Many of those galleries DID have a cat or dog. Some of the pets were so laid back that they actually looked like part of the decor!

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How cheap do you want it to look?
 
Cody,

Allow me to give another thought to the pet situatuation. First, let me start by saying that I LOVE animals! Now, that aside, I have very bad allergies, and there was a distriutor that we used to go to that had cats that run around in the building. I could only stay in the building for a short while, then I had to leave before my eyes swelled shut.

I love animals, but they belong at home, or at the very least keep them in the back room.

It may not be that scary to you, but when your having problems breathing you don't think about framing... you only think about getting out and never comming back!

Good luck, and give your dog a hug for me.
 
The allergies came to mind for me. People who have allergies could be exposed even if they don't enter your shop. Cats in particular. The dander gets passed on. I hate the smell of our shop just from the mat board and wood smells. As a former smoker I detest that smell today and will not shop or eat when the smeel is there.
 
JPete,

I am lucky to live in Maryland. We have no smoking in any public building, unless it has a bar. Resturants that have bars must also have "No Smoking" sections. I often forget about the no smoking thing when I go to resturants in others States, and I am surprised when they ask "Smoking or non-Smoking?" (I usually answer "Breathing")
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Asthma is no joke, it can be life threatning.


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Sue May :)
"You want it when?!?!?"
 
I've always had animals at work. I had a large Labrador Golden Retriever mix that went to work with me every day for years. Kids used to climb on him and play with him, the customers loved him. His name was "Cheech". He died about six years ago.

When I opened my current store an old wreck of a cat moved in with us. She was in pretty bad shape, one eye missing, severe skin problems, etc. I took her to the vet and we brought her back to health. She is pure black and her name is "Ninja". I don't understand why, I've never told her, but unbelievably, this cat will not jump up on counters or work benches. She is the perfect cat for a frame shop. She actually has her own following, everyday, literally, everyday, people come into the store just to visit Ninja.

I consider animals at work to be an asset, I would recommend them to anyone. I would not, however, recommend them to Sue May. The one thing I've learned over the years is nobody loves a blind, runny nosed picture framer.

John
 
We always have a dog at our shop. First it was a Yorkie, then when she got run over in the parking lot it we adopted a greyhound. She passed last summer and we have a new little puppy, Brussels Griffon. It is important to have dogs that do not shed, and there are many breeds that are single coated and some are better for allergic people.
We train our dogs to do tricks that the customers love... and many children love to visit just to see the dog. We also get a terrific newspaper feature when we get a new dog...thats a bonus. We carefully train all our dogs to go outside to the bathroom but we never have male dogs in the gallery because they can have a tendency to mark territory by lifting a leg. Females squat to pee if they have an accident. Training is the key to having any pet in your place of business...or anywhere.
 
I have yet another angle on this based on recent experience. Although it has to do with cats, many of the problems are universal.

2 years ago we got two cats - brother/sister - as kittens and brought them to the shop to live. Like John, our cats became very popular and daily people would come in just to see them.

One day about a month ago I noticed a smell near the front of the shop, specifically the entrance rug. Apparently one or both cats were marking their territory. As the weather got hotter and more humid the smell got incredibly bad and I had to get rid of the cats. I felt terrible but obviously realized that I cant expect my customers to deal with that. Its very embarrassing and even more unprofessional to present that as the first image a customer has when they walk into your shop. The smell is nearly gone in my shop now, hundreds of dollars and many hours lost cleaning. I have had quite a few customers who, after realizing the cats were no longer here, comment on how it had smelled for much longer than I realized. They felt uncomfortable mentioning it back then though.

Many problems have been covered in previous posts by others. Consider customer allergies or fear, pets climbing on tables, disposal/removal of litter, possible attacks to small/aggressive children, doubt customers may have about leaving artwork, etc.
Think you have a hard time dealing with debris under the glass... consider how hard it would be to keep pet hair out of the frame package during shedding season.


My vote...
DO NOT HAVE PETS IN YOUR STORE!!
Save yourself the trouble... its not worth it.

---Mike "HOME pet-lover"

PS
The cats, Marcel & Stella live with Granny on her farm. They are quite happy and send me Emails weekly.

PSS
Also wanted to add that, yes, you will gain customers, but I can say with 100% certainty that you will lose just as many if not more than you will gain.

[This message has been edited by TADPORTER (edited April 11, 2001).]
 
I had the late great Beau in my shop for many years. He was a very mellow and lovable gorgeous Persian cat who was adored by customers. How many times did I hear, "he is so beautiful--he is a piece of artwork himself!" They would come just to see him. I had one customer who was allergic. She would usually call in advance and I would take him home for that day.
Now my mom helps in the shop and she is quite allergic, so my cats live at home. They do come to visit every now and then. I miss them and it was nice to have them here when I was working late.
I grew up with cats and I love them and dogs and I will always be pleased to see them in a shop. They can be such fabulous "good will ambassadors."
About allergies, however...
I found that switching my cats diet from commercial cat food to homemade made a HUGE difference for my allergic mom. They don't dander as much (if at all) and shed less also. If anyone wants the cat food recipe, e-mail me privately and I'll pass it on. It is actually cheaper than canned food, smells better and improves their health overall. If your male cats have a "marking" problem, this usually helps, as well.
-Edie the FG
 
How about a nice aquarium? Fish are colorful, very relaxing to watch and they always seem to add an upscale feel to any business. And the water adds a nice soothing background noise. Maybe get in touch with a nearby aquarium or pet store, do some cross-merchandising? Trade maintenence (which can be pricey for saltwater tanks) for framing?
Plus no shedding, no allergies (unless eaten, maybe) no marking territory, and no children getting bitten. We hope.

------------------
Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." William Morris (1834-0896)
 
Framer Dave!

I agree with you.
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I have aquariums at home--three, in fact--and I have always pictured one in my eventual shop. A nice 55 gallon, probably freshwater just so I don't have to worry about it as much at work. LOL Fishtanks really are "moving artwork," and I can't think of anyone who has allergic reactions to fish in a tank.

On the "pets at work" topic, if I had a small dog--I'm planning on getting a black-and-tan chihuahua soon--I would probably take him to work, and keep him in the back if customers objected. The difference between a dog and a cat is that I could take a dog outside to do his business, whereas cats go in litter-boxes indoors, and the smell does seem to carry, even if you, the pet-owner, can't smell it. Science Diet is about the only pet food I've found that cuts down on that smell, and even so.....*wrinkles nose*

But I have gotten a kick out of "shop cats" at other places, and I see no problem with it, as long as the cat or dog is well-behaved and kept very clean.

Susan!

I'm sorry to hear about your asthma.
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Here in Texas, most cities are still "smoking," except for Austin and New Braunfels, where you cannot smoke in public. I smoke, but only in front of other smokers; I think it is your right not to have to be near it, particularly since it affects your health, and my right to do it in my car. LOL

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I don't care what color your sofa is.
 
I had a Golden Retriever at my shop for the last 5 years of his life. He was the most mellow animal in the world. Would lie on his bed and thump his tail on the ground when customers came in.
A 2 year old was in the shop one day and had petted "Bender", making friends. The toddler wandered back to the dog and tripped over his shoe laces landing with all his weight on one knee in the aged dogs ribcage. The dog snapped, the child cried, and the parent didn't sue.
Lesson learned.
I have more pets than I can count (my daughter can and does and has even named all the fish in the pond), but I won't bring an animal to the shop during regular hours because you just don't know what will happen.
 
We use my brothers St. Bernard (Vovse) for promo's from time to time with very successful results. Our newsletter commonly tells of her adventures and when she'll be in next.
 
I'm with JRB. I like my dog as much as I do a lot of people. If he will behave himself, and lie quietly, he can come to the shop, if the Boss will let him. At 6 mos old, he's got some 'aging' to do before he can be still enough.

Of course, if an animal presents a problem with a lot of customers, I would have to leave them at home. Most folks like a big ol', laid back, tail wagging dog. 'Specially one that 'smiles' a lot.

Framer Dave, was that a clever play on words when you mentioned fish being 'upscale'??

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I'm not totally worthless. I can always be used as a bad example... Woodchuck
 
Audrey, please reconsider bringing your chihuahua to the shop. I have two little Taco Bell type white hairs, and the amount that they shed is horrible. Their hair is like barbs which actually embedd in clothes (especially black)and fabric mats. You literally have to pull them out with tweezers. I would love to take them to the gallery, but I clean enough at home. Besides, one of them is a fear biter.
My Rottie on the other hand is a real sweetie but most people are afraid of her so we'll keep her on the back deck of our gallery in the summer.

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Lisa Kozokowsky C.G.A.H.
Frameswest Inc.
 
Real fast: say "Short,sheared Shih Tzu" three times.
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Hopefully this is a temp. situation til my house is sold. However I did buy this fantastic Air Machine, one for shop, one for home. Let me tell you zero dust has collected on home furniture since I installed it Monday. That's saying something since our entire area is covered with yellow pollen. Can you imagine what it will do for those dust bunnies at work. OK, no bunnies allowed at work.
I don't know anyone that doesn't have allergies of some kind, including myself so this machine will be a blessing.
My dog is 8 yrs. old, well behaved except when "Mommy" is out of sight. Nice area out back for his "Mr. Good Puppy".
Glad so many framers like pet, even fish.
Thanks to all for your input.
Have a good holiday.
Cody

PS. It's so good to be back on the "Grumble"
 
I vote no on having pets at the frame shop. I too can enjoy seeing pets in small businesses that I frequent and believe it can create a real homey friendly feel to have a pet around.

Though it seems fun and a nice thing to do I now object for the following reasons:

1. Smell
2. Hair/feathers/poo (all inevitable) Picture this -- new location, new carpet, vet day for the dog so she visits for one hour, poo. Despite several cleaning actions that spot is still a target for 95% of all dogs who have entered the shop. The bird we "bird sat" for an extended period attracted a new family of mice--they were attracted to the seed that we attempted to vacuum up daily or more.
3. Not just our mailperson is scared of dogs.
4. IMHO times have changed and it does not represent a professional image and could actually take away from whatever ambiance one would like their business to have.
5. The job of caring for the animal -- walks, vet, cleaning cage & just being friendly is an extra responsibility that the business owner is taking on by having a pet around.

And, for the record, I'm a real softy about pets -- but not at work.

TL
 
I have an Airedale Terrier which I bring to work on Saturdays since it's a short day and I want to acclimatise her to the store. Airedales don't shed and therefore have no dander, perfect for a frame store ( since I pluck enough hairs from needle art thank you very much! ). She's still a pup so VERY active and I keep her in the back where she pouts when someone comes in. Most customers want to see her and only with their OK will I let her loose. After all she IS an Airedale, the King of Terriers ( but maybe I'm just biased ).

I think it adds a personal touch to the store.

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Wal-mart...the Ferengi of our times.
 
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the SAFETY factor of having pets in a frame shop. Much as I would love to have my dog at work, I wouldn't want to have her run across my path while I was carrying a 32 x 40 sheet of glass. Nor would I want her paws to come in contact with some of what might be on the floor near some of the equipment.
Also, considering the fact that we go through quite a few pet hair rollers at home, the thought of having to vacuum Pomeranian hairs out of every frame is not pleasant.
The good news: My wife is a piano teacher, with her studio in our basement. Poco (the aforementioned Pom) is her Public Relations agent. The students love her, and she likes to be nearby while Terry is teaching the lessons. She's a definite asset to the business, and a good "pets at work" situation.
P.S.: Those pet hair roller refills are ridiculously expensive, considering that they are nothing more than specially-slit, reverse-wound MASKING TAPE. For those prices, it ought to be at least P-90! Anyone got any ideas for making our own refills?
;) Rick
 
Rick, I have images of you buying a roll of packaging-width masking tape, laboriously unwinding it around your hair-remover, and watching it do the inevitable "slide" that always occurs whenever you try to re-roll something.
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(Anyone who has ever had a runaway roll of toilet paper knows what I'm talking about--it NEVER rolls up as neatly!)

But I suppose unwinding your own roll of masking tape would work; you could even slit it, if you had the time. *chuckle* But for that amount of time, I'd prefer to pay $3.00 for an already rolled refill.
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P.S. I'm currently mammal-free at the moment, and while I adore dogs and cats, there's something fabulous about the fact that my fish do not shed, chew, poop, bark, or meow while I am gone....LOL They don't love me, of course, but neither do they drive me crazy.
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I don't care what color your sofa is.
 
Rick:

You need to get one of those velcro-style lint removers. Never has to be replaced. (Unless you have a teenager in your house who never returns what he borrows). To clean it, you brush it in the opposite direction. They're normally available in drug stores here, but if you have a luggage shop in your area, you'll also find them there.

Janet

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How cheap do you want it to look?
 
In our shop we are all animal lovers. We seem to attract others of the same ilk. We have a shop cat who lives there and never goes outside. The owners bring a poodle to work every day. She was hit by a car just down the street and one of the owners rescued her. Customers love them. They always ask about them or go over to pet them.

The cat's litter is in the back by the door. She comes in occasionally during the day, but mostly she doesn't care for the noise and activity. The dog stops at the doorway to the workroom and never, never goes there.

It works for us. I think there is reason for concern with all the stories we hear about dog attacks. I firmly believe it is the humans who raise them in most cases who are the cause of the attacks. People are too quick to get a popula breed. What they need to do is research a breed that they can handle and that suits their own personality and needs.

I'm a sucker for an animal, I'm picking up my dog Taffy this afternoon. She had a $1000.00 knee surgery yesterday.
 
About 8 years ago my standard poodle "Donut"saved me from a real mess. We had a series of rape/robberies in this area. All business women in their own shops...alone..at opening or closing. Needless to say we were all terrified. My son came at the end of the day but one day he got detained on a delivery and as the man who matched the rapists description stepped in my front door I realized I was alone.
"What kind of store is this?"he asked.
"We sell art and framing" I answered from behind the counter as he stood by the front door trying to see the back room.
"Can I help you" I asked.
He didn't answer but kept casing the place while still standing just inside the door.
At that moment my large chocolate poodle came around the corner from behind the counter. She went rigid...she hated men especially in dark clothing...and let out a quiet growl. Dogs know when something is not right.
"Is she going to bite me?" he asked.
"Not until I give her the command" I answered.
He left...to be arrested the next week.
So I owed Donut a big favor. She is now gone to doggie heaven but I'm sure she is protecting someone there.
 
No cats in shops!! They will mark their territory as a previous person said if a new cat moves into their neighborhood. They also like to acquaint themselves with new object in their homes, or shops. I know of someone who had a large artist's print stored in a spare bedroom and their cat pushed into the room, clawed the print and was found sleeping on it!

Beware!!
 
Oh, in addition to the above reply about cats marking their territory - marking is a euphemism for spraying urine wherever they like! Very smelly!
 
For many years, my small dog came to work with me. Even though I had a well behaved dog most people loved seeing, I would not have a pet in the shop again. It didn't happen often, but I did have some people come in who were afraid of dogs, even six pounders. I would put her away, but a customer shouldn't have to shop in fear. Then there are children to consider. Some dogs are good with children, but one never knows what a dog will do when an active child is around. Although she was house broken, there were still occasional accidents, and when she got old, they were quite frequent. We have another dog now, but he stays home. I got a cat to keep him company.
 
I used to bring a Golden Retriever Mix to work, she was great. Never a problem. Kids loved her. They'd pull her ears and pound on her. She passed on and has been replaced with a BIG Golden (115 lbs.) He's a sweetheart as well but sheer size intimidates alot of people, so he stays at home now. An employee has a Jack Russel that she brings in for short periods of time. The "Frickin" dog barks and yaps at everyone and everything. Needless to say, she's not welcome here any longer. Now if I can find a way to tell my Mom not to bring her in anymore.
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curlyframer, CPF
 
I am nuts for sure,I bring my moluccan cockatoo, Norman Bates to work. The problem is all the nose & fingerprints on the window from kids & people looking at him.
 
When I bought my store in 1984 it came with a 17 year old spayed cat called Peppy(the owner felt she was there too long to move her.) She didn't upset customers-- minded her p's & q's, passed away about a year later-- we missed her then adopted a big white cat. I didn't know a whole lot about cats and there hormonal cycles. So when the big white cat approached a customer and was overly friendly, we all thought it was cute. So I named her Noisey. After Noisey was spayed she wasn't so Noisey.

Next adopted Spouty, we were on a roll, right? Spouty scared all the cat haters---people tend to love or hate cats---she was and still is a very vocal feline. I had a woman literally run from her, terrified(true cat hater)All she did was MEOW (a lot) very loudly. Poor cat!

Next came our Beagle, Chelsea. Customers loved that pup. Dogs are more accepted than cats. Never had a complaint--til she got older and wasn't quite as "cute" as the pup she used to be.

Then I stupidly had an African Grey, and Amizon Parrot. Now that was fun! I perched them in the store--how entertaining they would be! The Grey would fly off the perch into ladies hair--Big Hair-Do's were best, nice nesting spot?!

I still have the old beagle and Spouty the cat, plus a new cat, Dina. But I don't allow them in the store. I can't afford to lose one order because of an animal hater. Once someone runs out because of cat hatred, allergies, asthma, or any other animal objection, they aren't coming back. I need all the business I can get!

But I do love my animals!
 
How could I not bring this face to work?
Freya1.jpg

BTW I suffer from hay fever, but she doesn't affect me at all.
Cheers,
Mike Wilson

[This message has been edited by CAF (edited April 29, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by CAF (edited April 29, 2001).]
 
CAF, what a cutie! No wonder you can't leave her at home. Thanks for sharing the picture.
She probably got a collective cyberhug from all on the board.
 
For the record - as someone asked off-board, she is a Japanese Spitz. The equivalent breed in the US is an American Eskimo (I had one in Denver and can't tell the difference, though purist breeders might thumb their collective noses at me).

I chose the breed after extensive research, plus the the fact that I could rub a puppy in my face without allergic reaction (always the acid test :)

They fare equally well in warm and cold climates due to a double coat (both long and short hair, when they mature). They actually go quite spastic (in a good way) in snow - I highly recommend them to dog lovers in the Rockies.

Cheers,
Mike Wilson
 
In the next life, I shall return as a Professional Pet Cuddler. Our daughter and I are the idiots who melt into cooing fools around baby-anythings, or even grown-up anythings, for that matter. What an adorable fluff ball, (and the afore-mentioned "she" will not see this pic or I'll be babysitting the seventh animal.)
 
I'll ask this publicly, in the event someone else cares: Do you know why you are allergic to (1) other dogs but not this one, and (2) just this one, or the whole breed? We're in the market and need a hypoallergenic type who can withstand temperatures in the -10 to 105 range.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mel:
I'll ask this publicly, in the event someone else cares: Do you know why you are allergic to (1) other dogs but not this one, and (2) just this one, or the whole breed? We're in the market and need a hypoallergenic type who can withstand temperatures in the -10 to 105 range.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Dear Mel:
Not quite sure why the lack of allergic reaction. Having said that, I am not overly allergic to dogs, and a little more to cats. A German Shepherd or poodle, for instance, would affect me more strongly than many dogs, and so I imagine (perhaps wrongly) that it may be somthing to do with the greasier cost trapping more allergens. I find that animals with very dry hair (e.g. Persian cats) do not affect me much or at all.
I'd still suggest trying to get the allergic person around the breed, perhaps at a breeder, and see what happens. As for temperature range, they can handle just about anything. Here's a link describing the Japanese Spitz breed (shows mature dog): http://www.dogzonline.com.au/info/jap_spitz.htm
and here's a link to a US site for Eskies: http://www.eskie.com/
which lists a breeder in Oregon! Click on the web ring list to go to 111 other sites...
Cheers,
Mike Wilson

[This message has been edited by CAF (edited May 01, 2001).]
 
Since one never the knows the customers tolerance for pets our rule is no pets. Also, I think a customer could question the professionalism and integrity of leaving a valuable possession with a pet loose in the gallery. Would you leave a even a $500 piece of artwork in a place where a pet had the run of the place???

Given the choice of two galleries. One with a pet and one without, the presence of a pet could be a deciding factor. I would not want my customer to have to silently make that choice.

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Timberwoman
AL
I cut the mat, I pet the =^..^= cat.

[This message has been edited by ArtLady (edited May 01, 2001).]
 
Po'

You're pulling my leg. That range is -10 to +105F, in the event it could be misconstrued, and it used to get to -30 before global warming.

ArtLady

You make a very good point, but for the record, our future dog would not be a shop dog.

And, Mike

Thanks. Teflon hair? That would mean the dander (created by dried saliva) may not stick. But where does it go? Of course, not all dogs, or cats, have dander to which all people react. It's one of those individual things.
 
Gosh, Mel, I wouldn't do that!

I do hear that Sony breeds some kind of dog which is very temperature-tolerant and inexpensive to feed.

I would love to take our sweet mutt into the shop, but she sheds like crazy. The times we've had her in there were nice, but it's taken us weeks to get all the hair out. It just tears me up to hear her cry when one of us leaves, though.

One thing which has always made me laugh to myself: Ever had a dog owner tell you how great a judge of character their dog is? They haven't yet figured out that the dog is simply responding to the stimuli it's getting from the master. Good vibes or bad, the hounddog is just reading them and responds likewise.
 
Dogs have coats. Some are single coats and some are double coats. This can not be determined by the length of hair, for example greyhounds are double coated and poodles are single coated. Double coated dogs drop their lovely fluffy undercoat in the spring as hot weather approaches. Single coated dogs loose a hair here and there as humans do (we are single coated). You need to find a single coated dog that can withstand radical temperature changes. The perfect breed for that are afghan hounds, single coated, from the high mountains of afganistan where its cold at night and hot during the day. This breed retains that characteristic and a few others to boot, they are goofy, with a sense of humor, and have more cat like temperaments. Do not try for utility dog status with one.
 
The goofiest dogs I've ever known were a cross between Afghans and Rhodesian Ridgebacks. (one wonders if they're now called Zimbabwean Zippers or something)

Of course, their master was the goofiest guy I've ever known, too........
 
Well,

It's doing it again. I responded earlier today, the computer has had plenty of time to freshen up, but my post isn't visible to me.
Because I can see everyone else's, would someone mind telling me if my answer to Mike, AL, and Po' is here?

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Thanks
 
The goofiest, you mean, Mel?

A friend from long ago. Lost track of him now, but the last I heard, he was sellng furniture in Billings.
 
A quick update on my doggie at work.
No accidents.
No dog bites.
No allergies, though I did by an air filter. Best thing I've done. Tons less dust in shop.
No complaints.
Think I may put him on the payroll,he's good at fetching moulding.
Now if he'd just learn to chase snakes out of my yard, he'd be perfect.
Hope house sells soon, he's demanding top dollar.

Cody
 
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