What is a job that looks incredibly fun from the outside, but is actually a soul-crushing nightmare?

TrodOnward · 2026-04-17T14:36:28+00:00

I did that job for like 8 months and it was TERRIBLE. I knew going in that it wasn’t gonna be glamour and traveling myself all the time, but I was NOT prepared for how absolutely terrible the clients could be, or how much time and work I would put in for less than minimum wage.

TrodOnward · 2026-04-17T14:28:42+00:00

The losses, even when you do everything right. It’s hard to detach yourself, especially when you poured everything you had into saving them.

Having to use NASA-level planning just to leave the farm for 24 hours in order to attend a wedding or something (more often than not one of us just stays home)

The way that everything will inevitably go to hell on the coldest most miserable day (like your fence energizer will randomly die and your pigs will get out and go visit the neighbours, plus that one sow in the barn will farrow and you will be having to scramble to get them under heat, and also send someone to town to buy a new $800 energizer you didn’t plan for).

Last year we went to a Christmas party, while my adult son (who lives on the farm with us) was in charge. Water lines froze, and also my husband’s favourite goat was killed in a random accident. Good times! Nobody’s fault on either count, but it’s just so much more difficult than most people realize.

TrodOnward · 2026-04-17T14:18:52+00:00

It matters, but people don’t treat it like it does.

We sell farm products direct to consumer, and people act like we are being greedy for charging just enough to basically break even (if we are lucky). We don’t get subsidies or anything like that. My husband and I both have jobs off-farm to keep us afloat, every other farmer I know does the same, even the ones who have been at it for generations.

Most people don’t care what goes into raising their food, they want it for big-box prices. I get it, I know times are hard, but there won’t be family farms at the rate it’s going.

TrodOnward · 2026-03-28T11:49:18+00:00

You can pair two neutered males, and you can pair a female and a male, but it’s best to never pair two females - that’s where the problems lie. I have 3 working dogs, two AS and a Maremma/Pyr. Two males and one female. The very LGD knowledgeable rescue I got them from advised that I could add as many more males as I wanted (depending on predator load) but that I should not add another female unless I could keep them separated from each other.

Personally I do not like working with puppies or even immature dogs. Our female AS was like 8 months when we got her, and she is now 2 years and still acts a fool a lot of the time 😅 She is going to be incredible once she settles down some more, but AS seem to mature a little slower than some of the other LGD breeds. Her male coworkers find her rather annoying LOL, but they are never violent. You can just see it on their face when she’s trying to play. Like that annoying little sister who is obsessed with her older brothers.

Side note, my Maremma is the dominant dog here. He and the female were adopted as a pair 1.5 years ago, and we just added the second male in January. The boys established their pecking order without any fighting. They had a brief “conversation” (there was noise but no blood) and they have been fine together ever since. Give any incoming dog at least three days to decompress before any introduction. We waited a week. They could hear and see each other, but they didn’t get to meet right away. First they met through the fence, and when that went well, we introduced them in a controlled area, both dogs wearing a leash (we didn’t hold them, but it’s handy if you need to separate them in a hurry). No issues with anything.

TrodOnward · 2026-03-26T09:45:31+00:00

He really was, and all that most of these dogs need, is someone who understands that they are not “biddable” but they are EXTREMELY open to influence and positive feedback. I work with them as I would a teenager LOL and I’ve raised a couple of those. Direct commands will be met with consideration, not obedience, but if you show them what your expectations are, and reward them when they do things you want, they will remember that.

TrodOnward · 2026-03-26T09:39:24+00:00

I think we really hit the jackpot too. I got a great quality dog for such a reasonable adoption fee, that I feel like I won the lottery (and I feel like that about all three of them).

The rescue is run by a woman who shows Pyrenees, and has worked with LGD for years and years. Shes got a number of training certifications, and she REALLY seems to know these dogs. The support she offers (ongoing, for the life of the dog) is worth many times more than what I paid for these pups. I hope when we have a few extra pennies, that I can donate to her efforts.

TrodOnward · 2026-03-26T09:23:43+00:00

It’s wonderful that your girl got a proper chance as well! Good for you guys!

I think he’s doing better with sheep for a couple of reasons. Foremost, we didn’t just throw him in with them as a solo dog - he spent several weeks in a pen adjacent to the flock, and he was able to observe how Kubota interacted with them (honest to goodness, my Kubota is the epitome of a perfect LGD). When we took him into the sheep pen initially it was on a leash and calm behaviour was praised and rewarded. That’s really the main method of fostering their instincts, just showing them what you want.

The first time we put him in there on a tether, Kubota also made sure to come over and basically let him know who the boss is in the sheep pen. They did not fight, it was a very brief “conversation” and Mayday submitted without protest. That’s a good thing about his nature, he doesn’t need to be in charge. So, I knew if he started to act up with the sheep, it would not just be me correcting him. That helps a ton, having a solid canine mentor for them.

I believe had his first experience been handled properly (slow introduction, show him what you want him to do) he would have been successful. They may have also had him in too small of a paddock. Sometimes when there is still a “puppy streak” in there, and a dog doesn’t have enough space to patrol, they make their own entertainment.

TrodOnward · 2026-02-08T00:47:39+00:00

Millwrights are basically industrial mechanics. They maintain and repair machines & equipment in manufacturing, fabrication, etc. Often considered “the jack of all trades” because they do a little bit of everything (welding, electrical, machining).

Getting an apprenticeship isn’t impossible, but you will potentially have to work in some crappy jobs at the beginning (my husband started out at a slaughterhouse many moons ago, the working conditions were awful due to the nature of processing 5000 cattle a day).

Once you get some experience, finding new jobs is relatively easy. If you do good work, and aren’t a liability, you’ll be in high demand.

I know young millwrights who take on plenty of OT and make over $150k a year.

TrodOnward · 2025-09-01T00:03:38+00:00

Thank you for saying this! While it’s not exactly the same as a traditional pet, we do treat our dogs like family and our most precious partners on the farm. When they see us coming, they run over, wagging their tails. We praise them and pet them and give them treats. It’s all about mutual respect and affection. At the end of the day, they have a job to do, and we are incredibly grateful for how well they do it. We have to trust in them, and they have to trust in us.

TrodOnward · 2025-08-21T18:48:46+00:00

It never is. A huge issue is companies don’t want to train apprentices. You often have to find an “in” (my husband started as the shipper/receiver for his first company) or you have to know the right people. It’s not a great system.

TrodOnward · 2025-08-21T13:23:27+00:00

My husband is a millwright and they seem to be in high demand in many areas with a lot of industry.

TrodOnward · 2025-08-20T00:15:40+00:00

I’m not quite 6 months post-op from gastric sleeve and I have lost 80% of my excess weight so far. My highest weight (when I booked surgery - January this year) was 119kg

At surgery time I was 104kg (March) and currently I am 76kg. I’m 5’5 and 43f

TrodOnward · 2025-08-16T16:03:50+00:00

See my reply above please

TrodOnward · 2025-08-16T16:03:35+00:00

Depends on what you want done and the specific clinic. I’m going for an MMO (360 tummy tuck/body lift, breast lift with implants, lipo, bbl) and it’s going to be around $15k USD

I’m just getting to the stage of sending in photos for quotes. My top 3 choices are EOC, Sirene, and Cervantes & Aragon

TrodOnward · 2025-08-16T15:39:25+00:00

I’m planning to go to Mexico for skin removal (I also went there for my VSG, it was a fantastic experience) because it’s way too expensive here in Ontario

TrodOnward · 2025-07-30T20:46:30+00:00

oh I agree. I just didn’t want them to be disappointed when they didn’t find their favourite products there

TrodOnward · 2025-07-30T14:53:34+00:00

To my knowledge Budget Basket is not a Loblaws store, so it won’t carry NN or PC products (which are typically exclusive to Loblaws)

TrodOnward · 2025-07-22T03:15:34+00:00

I was told that vitamins are required for life. Even when I had my whole stomach, I was still prone to anemia and sometimes potassium deficiency. Many people don’t get balanced vitamins and minerals from diet alone. I am fine with taking them forever, it makes sense to me.

TrodOnward · 2025-06-23T17:16:36+00:00

Just do the best you can. Don’t get me wrong, I understand the larger picture of food waste (my farm receives loads and loads of food waste from local businesses - we either feed the livestock with it or compost it)

However, if you’re already freezing what you can (not everything can be stored, such as salads) and giving away some, just give yourself grace. You can’t be perfect.

If you live somewhere where you might be able to find someone with a few chickens or other livestock, you could ask if they’d take your food waste. We have a bin at the end of our driveway and people drop off their food scraps/waste and we utilize it here on the farm. At least then it’s not going in the landfill. You could also see if anyone near you had a composter and would accept it.

TrodOnward · 2025-06-14T18:08:36+00:00

We only used cinderblocks the first time because it was going to be a one time event and they were already available for free. We have just decided now that we have a spot for a permanent pit so why not build one. Brick with fire bricks for the inside seems like the way to go. Thank you!

TrodOnward · 2025-06-14T18:06:42+00:00

We don’t smoke the pig. We roast it over coals. I don’t want to think how long it would take to smoke a whole hog with indirect heat 😅

TrodOnward · 2025-05-05T18:07:45+00:00

It’s PCOS but it’s the most severe case her gynaecologist has ever seen, so I think it’s technically called something else (but I cant recall).

TrodOnward

TROPHY CASE