I've learned to extend a closed fist to a strange dog for the first time, as fingers are too easy to nip. Howling dogs? I had one that would howl IN TUNE with the note I was tuning! It would slide up or down to match the piano, but was eventually right on. The owner put the dog outside, but it did the same thing. The next thing I see is the dog racing around the outside of the house with my expensive rubber galoshes in its mouth. They were in tatters when I left. Safe to say, I never left them outside again.
Mike Kurta
----- Original Message -----
From: David Nereson
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2013 2:40 AM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] kids, pets, pianos and...
With dogs, I just slowly extend the back of my hand and let them sniff, and as most of you have noted, that's usually sufficient. But later, while I'm tuning, the owner almost always lets them in and you get the cold nose on your elbow or the jowl slobber all over your trousers. What I hate is having to kneel on the floor to adjust pedals and getting long-haired cat or dog fur all over the dark corduroys.
I used to have 2 cats of my own who would rub against my tool case. Clients' cats, of course, would pick up on the smell, but I've never had one try to mark its territory on my tool case, knock on wood.
I've also encountered dogs who "sing" (howl) along with the tuning, and one client had a cockatoo who did the same.
Back to kids, though -- if the kids aren't made to quit pounding on the keys when adults are trying to converse, it's the parents who are lax in teaching them proper behavior around guests. Most WWII parents (of babyboomers) wouldn't have tolerated it. It's babyboomer and younger parents that let them keep pounding away and expect us to talk over it.
--David Nereson, RPT
On Sat, Jan 5, 2013 at 10:33 PM, William Monroe <bill at a440piano.net> wrote:
This one is easy for me. I'm a dog lover, and enjoy meeting and greeting my client's dogs, always asking the name, age, etc.. As Wim says, for many folks these days, a dog is another child of the family, and folks appreciate you taking time and interest in their dogs. And I usually ask them to leave the animals out because as Wim also pointed out, when the dog is removed and not allowed to interact with me, that's when the barking and other nuisance behavior often begins. It's generally a win, win for me, and I don't mind dog smell, or dog hair significantly.
But in the end, if you simply cannot work with a dog in the room, simply ask the client to remove the dog to another room so you can concentrate. Just do it respectfully and it does not have to be a complex issue.
William R. Monroe
On Sat, Jan 5, 2013 at 10:04 PM, <tnrwim at aol.com> wrote:
Thumpe and Marshall
Dogs are members of the family. Most customers are willing to put their dogs outside or in another room if they know the pet is going to be a nuisance. What I've found, however, is that when I get to a house and befriend the dog, if the dog allows it, my job becomes much easier. A dog in another room or outside, will bark incessantly because there is a stranger in the house, and the dog is just doing what it's supposed to do. So I tell the customer to allow the dog to meet me and make friends. Most of the time the dog will bark and sniff for a few minutes, and they lay down and be quiet. Unlike you, however, I am not offended at the smell of a dog, and it doesn't bother me. Maybe I'm fortunate about that, but I will never tell a customer to find another tuner because of it.
Wim
-----Original Message-----
From: Euphonious Thumpe <lclgcnp at yahoo.com>
To: pianotech <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Sat, Jan 5, 2013 5:20 pm
Subject: Re: [pianotech] kids pianos and...
I would recommend not agonizing over it so, Marshall. I would recommend merely saying to the customer on the phone, as you are making the appointment: "If you have a dog, please put it in a separate room before I arrive." or such. Dog owners know that their pets are often unruly and disruptive, so if they have any personal integrity at all, will not be surprised by this simple request. I finally got to the point, though, of not accepting jobs from dog owners because I am deeply offended by the way many of them smell (the "anal gland" stink that gets into your sinuses and stays there for a day or more) so started referring these customers to a tuner friend who has a dog himself. Cats, I don't have as much trouble with (unless the litter box is right beneath or beside the piano, in which case I ask the customer to remove it while adding that it will make the piano smell like that permanently) but yes, they WILL "back up" against your tool box when you least expect it, so it's best that they're not in the room, either.
Thumpe
P.S. Our trade offers an astonishing chance to experience the great variety of living conditions people consider suitable. And economics and/or education are not definitive factors: I have been in truly filthy homes owned by the rich and by professors, and in clean homes lived in by the poor and relatively uneducated ( by the world's standards). It is really a good idea, because of this, to wear coveralls or a second layer of clothing when arriving at an unknown customer's for the first time. If they wonder about the attire, just tell them that one never knows what to expect when seeing a piano for the first time, so this is a safety precaution. (Tell them about the dangers of mouse contamination and such. They'll get the point!) Then, if the piano and/or house is filthy, you can remove this outer layer and bag it, before getting back in your car. (Thus avoiding spreading filth to your vehicle, a restaurant you may later visit, your unappreciative spouse, or whatever.......)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Marshall Gisondi <pianotune05 at hotmail.com>;
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>;
Subject: [pianotech] kids pianos and...
Sent: Sun, Jan 6, 2013 2:18:19 AM
Hi Everyone,
I also find that dogs are a real pain to deal with while at a tuning. I love dogs. don't get me wrong. I'm glad I don't own one now, not enough time and our landlord doesn't allow it, but dogs are wonderful creatures. Most of them are anyway. :-) Howver they are a real nuisance when I'm at a customers house. I try not to pet fido for fear of getting them goin g and thinking I'm there to play with them. I also don't want dog dander or dirt on my hands and then on their piano and my tools or the smell of the dog on me. lol I ofen leave and there's dog hair on my over coat. I guess I should stop wearing wool overcoats and get rid of the two overcoats I have and wear my regular winter coat, but I like dressing professional no tie of course heaven forbid. So what do you guys do about the dog situation? I don't want people to think I'm a dog hater. I love most breeds. I owned a basset once and loved her very much like she was my own kid.
Today I'm trying to tune and the dog a beautiful golden retriever. comes up and sniffs my tools wags its tai l and knocks a couple of ornaments off the Christmas tree. I'm then distracted and say nicely, ok doggie I'll talk to you later etc... and I hear the dogs name and the words come here. Yesterday I'm bombarded by two labs. the woman shoed them away a couple of times etc. She at least took my coat and hung it up. Sometimes so as not to be annoyed, I'll make a joke like oh that's a42r I think, or 44 depending on which ocat I have. Often times people are pretty good about getting their dogs under control and out of my hair, but at times it's the innitial hello and the dogs come unglued because a new person is there to play with them. Sometimes they make too much noise even if they are kept out of my reach. What have yo u guys encountered. Oh and cats are not so annoying except I do close my tool box. Im not sure, but would a cat dare to mark it's territory in my box? Years ago one did in our car. lol
Marshall
Marshall Gisondi
MARSHALL'S PIANO SERVICE
215-510-9400
http://www.phillytuner.com
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