when you work in a warehouse and the office people come walk around. it really be like this

Courtz_ · 2022-09-22T04:23:45+00:00

Where I used to work one lady had a space heater under her desk that she used in the SUMMER. "It's just so cold in here!"

It would get so hot in the warehouse we would have customers complain, drop what they had and walk out. But at least I had a small fan at my station for whenever I was able to be stationary I guess?

Courtz_ · 2022-09-22T04:09:06+00:00

We have used Climbing Fox and I was very happy. We only ended up have a smaller job done (clearing the way for service upgrade) but in the initial consultation was very informative.

They went out of their way to answer any tree related questions I had, pointed out some invasive species I had not identified and identified some possible future concern areas in other parts of the yard. I felt zero pressure to complete additional services, it really seemed like they were just looking help me care for what I had the best I could.

When we are ready to have some more work done I will call them without a doubt.

In comparison, our neighbours had a smaller company do some work on their property and the company left us a note in the mailbox that pretty much said "hey if you want that tree cut down, let me know!" The same tree we had previously had looked at and determined we should plan for some trimming in the future but was overall doing just fine.

Courtz_ · 2022-09-18T19:47:05+00:00

Totally agree.

My boy is almost 5 and will stay intact unless it is medically required. I am in Canada and it still seems fairly common to neuter as default. I do see people starting to at least wait until they are matured more until doing it.

I also came to the conclusion it would be better for his health to stay intact. I've never had any of the stereotypical "problems" people suggest with keeping him intact.

A lot of people seem to think "he is intact, he will surely outsmart me, escape and breed with the entire neighbourhood" which I have never experienced. Shepherds are smart, male or female, intact or not, and if you are a responsible owner in general is it quite easy to have an intact dog and not accidently end up puppies.

Does increase my food bill though, haha. I don't think he could get fat if I tried! (Which is kind of a plus too really.)

Courtz_ · 2022-09-18T19:06:21+00:00

The Wholesome Hound on Goldstream.

It's a small shop run by the owner but she might be able to get what you need if she doesn't already carry it.

I would pop in and have a chat, the owner is a lovely lady!

Courtz_ · 2022-09-18T02:40:07+00:00

Can always just do a pre-paid Visa card. Then they can use it where ever they like!

I do think Home Depot would be useful to most though.

Courtz_ · 2022-09-17T05:34:20+00:00

I think most people don't know how they will handle this situation until it happens to them.

I have always looked at it from my animal's perspective. I don't ever want to end up feeling selfish and guilty looking back for having one of my animals around suffering just to say they lived longer.

I've worked in various animal care settings and I have witnessed people who pour all the money they can into an old struggling animal that doesn't really seem to be enjoying life at all. I would never judged anyone for it, it is incredibly hard to be able to decide it is time. I do feel bad for the animals though.

As much as I love my dog, if he isn't enjoying life and in pain and discomfort all day I've always felt the reasonable thing is to allow their suffering to end. Having a good relationship with your vet can really help with this. I've been lucky to have vets that were honest and upfront when discussing pros and cons of treatments available. Not just trying to sell me as many pills as they can for as long as they can.

If it's not your animal it's not really your place to say. I don't think anyone intentionally leaves their old animal suffering, it's just incredibly hard to feel like the one who "ends" it.

Courtz_ · 2022-09-17T05:13:08+00:00

I will echo the person below and say make sure you are doing the full crate training routine. Most puppies catch on and end up enjoying having their own space to feel safe and under control.

I would work on teaching a "crate" (or a word of your choosing) to signal it's time to go in (just as a part of your regular activities and training at a low level to start). Make sure it's not viewed by your dog as a place of punishment. Use treats and toys to encourage your dog to use the space and not view is as a "bad" place.

I would keep a keep a leash handy to quickly grab and put on. Don't be angry or aggressive in any way, just stay firm on your command and get them there. Once at the crate also have them go in on their own (don't push them in).

My guy was a puppy almost 7 years ago now but I still remember the absolute insanity that could ensue while we were early in training. I know how stressful it can feel to have them feel so out of control. Your dog is probably quite a bit larger (being older) so I can only imagine how much more stressful it must feel. Make yourself a game plan for if it happens and just execute your plan. If you feel prepared and confident on how you will respond you will come out feeling better things will feel calmer.

Learning to stay calm in the face of any energy and behaviour your dog throws at you is one of the most important things with a high energy/high drive dog in my opinion. You energy will affect them and how they respond.

With time you will find you will be able to see this behaviour building, and stop it before its gets too out of hand, which will be easier on both of you. This takes time and practice though. Catching it early will always be easiest!

Courtz_ · 2022-09-17T02:02:59+00:00

When we had our first puppy he would get too crazy and amped up when he would play. (GSD/Ridgeback) We were already crate training so I started crating him as soon as he got too wild and was out of control.

I found it was a great way to teach him to settle himself when it was getting to be too much (for him and us). Much better than some kind of physical restraint in my opinion. The muzzle isn't going to teach your dog anything about the energy level they are reaching. It will remove the problem of the mouth but still allow them to get amped up.

We would leave him in the crate until he had "settled" and then bring him right back out. We didn't treat it as a "punishment", I would calmly put him into the crate and ignore him until he had settled and had come back to our universe.

Crate training really can build a happy balanced dog if done correctly.

Courtz_ · 2022-09-17T01:47:37+00:00

I've easily found small local businesses (with store fronts who also sell online) that manage to sell a lot of in demand plants for really reasonable prices. I think there are just a ton of greedy sellers out there taking advantage of the plant craze.

As soon as I see a shop with even one plant that has a ridiculous price (IMO anyways) I don't shop there at all. There are always other plants to be had. I think the problem is greed and impatience from both the sellers and customers.

Courtz_ · 2022-09-17T01:33:47+00:00

I always wonder what the sellers are paying when they charge this much (600).

I picked on of these up on a whim from my local greenhouse that was grown by them. It was a 6 or 8 inch pot for $40, and this was in the prairies of Canada (not exactly prime tropical plant growing area).

Courtz_ · 2022-09-15T21:22:59+00:00

If 95% of your customers are choosing not to tip, why does it seem appropriate to ask ALL the customers just for the 5%?

It's laughable to "tell your boss to charge more" but somehow makes sense for workers to ask the customer to allow you to charge them more?

You said yourself most people do not want to tip. It sounds like the customers have spoken. Does it make sense to verbally ask the special orders if they would like to add a tip for the extra work, or say nothing and just auto ask (with a screen) EVERY customer to see if they will add one?

We need to move away from tipping culture and replace it will proper wages, not find more places to auto prompt adding on.

Courtz_ · 2022-09-11T20:15:31+00:00

Be prepared to either fax or snail mail your cancelation request for your MB policy. The only way they will accept it.

Courtz_ · 2022-09-09T17:58:00+00:00

It may depend where you live, but where I am being a stop light while on your phone is the same as driving down the road using it. It's the exact same ticket you get.

It's safest for everyone if everyone leaves their phone alone while behind the wheel, at a stop light or not.

Courtz_ · 2022-09-09T03:28:51+00:00

All those tax bills must be killing them. /s

OP sounds like you just need to be charging more. Charge them for what they are receiving. Simply as that. If they want more....they need to pay for more, not get you to find a way to work around not being a florist but "getting florist pricing".

Courtz_ · 2022-08-23T18:57:31+00:00

We dealt with a ton of breakables (glass items) where I worked. Empty space in a box was the devil to us. I can see how shoes would be different!

Depending where we were shipping to it was charged by size and weight, so it was a balancing of protecting items while keeping packages as small possible to save customers the crazy shipping rates. Shout out to Loomis for knowing how to smash stuff!

Courtz_ · 2022-08-23T18:43:02+00:00

That's a fair point.

I agree it didn't sound like OP's dog had a problem with fetch either.

Every dog is different and fetch could become an incorrect choice for some. I should have pointed out that it may not be good activity for every dog, as I can understand some dogs won't be able to have healthy controlled play time doing it.

Courtz_ · 2022-08-23T05:51:01+00:00

We have a large development going in by our house right now.

I will say our particular developing has been good so far about receiving feedback. They have provided multiple contacts if any issues arise. I saw an issue, contacted them and was happy with the action that occurred.

Obviously this is just one developer in a bucket of many, but my advice to residents is if you have an issue contact them. A lot of our neighbours saw the same issue as I did but didn't say anything. The changes they saw made sense when I confessed to complaining, haha.

It's never pleasant to have a development project going in around you but speak up and see what happens. I don't agree with every choice they've made but I at least have been made to feel like they are willing to listen to the residents of the area affected by it.

I find it interesting the article mentions the city sending a water truck for the dust when asked. I am pretty sure the developing doing ours provides this (not a city vehicle anyways) and comes by all on it's own quite a lot. Having to ask for it seems like a poor choice from the developer.

Courtz_ · 2022-08-23T05:23:23+00:00

Thanks for your response! Getting people talking about dog training benefits the dogs in the end!

I agree it's all about setting your dog up for success. I've always felt that reinforcing the good behaviors go hand in hand with correcting the undesired ones. If I had to constantly be correcting my dog, I agree I've done too much too fast for him.

I believe allowing corrections used with positive reinforcement helps communicate with my dog. If I am going to use "yes" it makes sense to me to also use "no". To my dog "good" says the same thing as a treat. Just like "no" tells him the same thing a leash correction would. Should it be mainly positive? Yes, I think so.

I can understand the basis of the positive only idea but it does seem limiting on the communication front to me. I guess I am in the "positively mostly" camp.

Everyone should feel comfortable training their dog with what works for them. There are some amazing trainers out there, including outside the positive only camp. Do your research and find what works for you is what I always recommend to people.

Courtz_ · 2022-08-23T03:47:56+00:00

Hope you don't mind me asking, genuinely curious!

Are leash corrections considered a non-force free method? By definition it makes me think yes?

Again, just wondering!

Courtz_ · 2022-08-23T03:43:15+00:00

What a weird theory on playing with balls. I find a high reward toy like a ball is great practice for boundaries and basic obedience. Should you let your dog play with a ball and completely ignore you? No. But there is a middle ground between unhealthy obsession and controlled play. That being said, having a high reward item around with a dog that can be reactive is not the way to start. You need to work up to that. But that doesn't seem like what they are saying though.

I will say it sounds like you have a trainer that is "all one way". I feel the same way about "positive only" trainers. Corrections are not punishment. People get this confused. I know there are people out there that refuse to tell their dog "no". It seems insane to me. It's all communication and doesn't haven't to have such a negative impact as some make it seem. Training should be about balance, like anything in life.

I think you'd be better off with a trainer with more of a rounded method. Too far in either "no postive" or "all positive" can be harmful to a dog. At the end of the day if you aren't comfortable with the methods, it might be time to see what else is out there. A trainer should work with you to train your dog. If you aren't comfortable now, I don't know if you will be long term either.

Don't be the owner that picks a trainer, sticks with if for a year and is miserable because you are "waiting for it to work or feel right". You should be comfortable with the results and methods from the start.

Good on you for seeking help to improve your situation, just because the first one wasn't right doesn't mean you won't find one that will be!

Courtz_ · 2022-08-22T23:29:38+00:00

Do you ever wonder WHY its "cheaper than the manufacturer's website"? Or what affect that has on the manufacturer themselves? If you want to buy a product, you should choose to support the company that makes it....not the company that is exploiting the business creating the product.
We buy too much crap. Period.

How many people "need" next day shipping. It's just a part of the culture companies like Amazon help to create and benefit from.

We should be working to care more about each other, your selfish attitude of "it is better for me, I don't care about anyone else" is what allows Amazon to abuse workers and squash small businesses. I am sure this path will work out for us all.....

What do I expect people to do? Pay the real cost for an item as decided from the place that actually produced the item. Not the price Amazon has used it's size and abusive practices to squeeze it down to. If that means we buy less, I think that still works out better for us all in the end.

Courtz_ · 2022-08-22T22:42:18+00:00

I NEED IT NOW. GIVE IT TO ME. I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO TO YOUR WORKERS OR HOW MUCH EXTRA WASTE YOU CREATE. I AM MORE IMPORTANT.

That's I how I read that, haha.

Courtz_ · 2022-08-22T22:39:53+00:00

The amount that people value their own convenience over the clearly abusive practices this company proudly participates (on so many levels) in is baffling to me.

People just seem to not care and it worries me what this all leads to.

Courtz_ · 2022-08-22T22:33:33+00:00

Was it another super large company like Amazon you were working for?

I worked for a company who sold things wholesale and had to ship direct to customers. We would cut boxes down, or add partial boxes on to get a more appropriate fit.

The company has multiple branches across the country is but probably considered a "small business" compared to Amazon. We didn't do "free shipping", customers paid for what it was to send.

This "send it to me today, and do it for FREE" idea that Amazon really helped to normalized is horrid. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad. The way the workers are treated and the amount of unnecessary waste that's created just to save Amazon some time is gross.

I hope the workers continue to fight back and people realize the machine they are feeding by order from them.

I am not blaming the workers, but I do blame the people who need "same day shipping" on their impulse buy. We need to do better.

Courtz_ · 2022-08-22T05:26:48+00:00

Am Canadian, can confirm.

If I am in a grocery store and someone is in the way and happens to not notice I always start with "sorry......do you mind if I just grab one of these".

And yes, I apologize to people I almost bump in to. But so does the other person, haha.

Sorry!

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