When a pup decided our new brick fence needed paw print decoration

We were setting the last course on a brick fence yesterday, and the family's golden retriever got loose. It ran straight through the mortar pan and then across the fresh bricks, leaving deep prints. The homeowner was mortified, but we all had a good laugh after. Ended up redoing that section, but they tipped us extra for the trouble.

4 comments

4 Comments

matthew3942mo ago

Remember my own dog ruined a fresh drywall patch by trying to eat it. Had to explain those new teeth marks to the client. Honestly, the dog's confused look was way funnier than the repair cost.

michaeld482mo ago

Ever consider what's in drywall that makes dogs want to chew it? That gypsum powder probably smells interesting to them, like a weird new toy. Had a similar thing with a cat once, though it was more about batting at the soft patch before it dried. Clients never expect their pets to be the ones adding extra work. Makes you wonder if we should start handing out pet treats as part of the job. Still, the dog's confused face probably saved you from a bigger argument over the bill.

knight.felix1mo ago

Handing out pet treats as part of the job" is a bit much. It's just a chewed drywall corner, not a disaster. The dog's confused face is funny, but @matthew394 had it right, the repair cost is usually nothing. People act like a pet doing something dumb is a huge deal, but it's just a funny story and five minutes of extra work. Clients who get actually angry over that need to relax.

dakotab932mo ago

Yeah, been there with a client's lab who walked right through wet concrete on a patio. Total paw print minefield. Like @michaeld48 said, that confused dog face really does save the day from client anger. We just smoothed it over and joked about signing his work. They bought us pizza for lunch, so it all worked out fine.