Posted by RuRu/NC on 10/23/12 6:54pm
Msg #439980

Dogs and Cats

You know I am kinda tired of the pet owners lately.
I am dressing in nice attire to have them jumping up scratching
me and just being uncontrolable. It's hard to smile and act like it doesn't
matter. I'm getting too old to pretend it's alright.

Reply by ToniK on 10/23/12 7:02pm
Msg #439986

Im a dog owner and it amazes me how other pet owners have no control over their animals. Im the pack leader in my home and my dog obeys me. I dont tolerate all that jumping, barking and licking. So when I go to a BO homes, it pains me to see so many dogs in the dominate position. Its hard for me to be submissive. But I do give a kick (not hard) to the animal if he is constantly licking or jumping on me.

Sometimes I just want to tell the BO how its a disservice to the animals when they are in control. BTW I really HATE chihuahuas...

Reply by Barb25 on 10/23/12 7:16pm
Msg #439988

I can honestly say that I have never had a problem that I can remember. I believe that all dog owners who believed that their pets would be a problems either put them in another room or outside or someplace before or when I arrived. This, even when I told them I didn't mind and liked animals. Having said that, I will probably reporting that I have been attacked and mauled by a dog at a signing and am in the hospital the next time you hear from me on NR. LOL Cats just like to sit on my briefcase.

Reply by HisHughness on 10/23/12 7:38pm
Msg #440002

*** BTW I really HATE chihuahuas...***

That hurts.

Reply by 1Notary1 on 10/24/12 9:25am
Msg #440088

<<<<But I do give a kick (not hard) to the animal if he is constantly licking or jumping on me>>>>

<<<< Also, I have used my foot lightly to let a dog know my limits too>>>>

As a dog owner myself, I find the foregoing statements, made by some of you, very disturbing. I would never do that to my dog, let alone someone else's. I can only imagine what you do to your own dog. If you ever did that to my dog, I would kick you out of my home at the very least.

Reply by Jodith/WA on 10/23/12 7:24pm
Msg #439992

I've only ever had one dog that was really difficult, and the owner actually encouraged me to correct the dog, so that worked out well. Usually, my husband and I (we work together) are the ones encouraging the dogs to come get petted, but it's a problem if they're all over you.

I will admit, though, to doing an entire signing with a cat in my lap once *laughs*. You can probably figure out we're animal lovers by the fact that we have 9 pets (3 dogs and 6 cats).

Reply by Donna McDaniel on 10/23/12 7:33pm
Msg #439998

I hear you.

It's pretty embarassing going into a signing with drool all over your pants from the last guy's St Bernard!

Reply by Barb25 on 10/23/12 7:39pm
Msg #440005

This is true. LOL n/m

Reply by Barb25 on 10/23/12 7:47pm
Msg #440013

I have a question for you.

If you don't mind me asking. I saw yesterday you said that tragic experience you had was for a signing you did that was 30 miles from you. I was wondering what is you criteria for base fee and at what mileage increments to you add extra...

I am not asking that you disclose your fees. Certainly.

But for example


Base fee $xxx for xx mile radius.

Then add xx for next xx miles.

Am I making sense.

It took me a while to figure this out. I am still iffy about it. Mainly because when I get on I75 I can get a lot further than I can say if I have to go to New Port Richey which may be closer than Tampa but takes longer.

I have never had anybody that was close enough to my area to ask before

Reply by Donna McDaniel on 10/23/12 8:17pm
Msg #440024

Sent you a PM. n/m

Reply by jba/fl on 10/23/12 8:20pm
Msg #440025

I have an answer for you....

I charge by time. 4 miles might take me 45 min. to travel; 15 might be 15 mins. plus toll roads. You really have to know your area, which tolls you will be encountering, time of day traffic, etc. And, do you have expressway or 2 lane windy roads with monster trucks on it going like bats out of help.

As I said, you have to know your area....just as in RE, your farm

Reply by jba/fl on 10/23/12 8:21pm
Msg #440026

I have an answer for you....

I charge by time. 4 miles might take me 45 min. to travel; 15 might be 15 mins. plus toll roads. You really have to know your area, which tolls you will be encountering, time of day traffic, etc. And, do you have expressway or 2 lane windy roads with monster trucks on it going like bats out of help.

As I said, you have to know your area....just as in RE, your farm.

Reply by Donna McDaniel on 10/23/12 8:52pm
Msg #440030

What Julie said.

The trick is to calculate all the varaibles in your head in about 10 seconds and come up with the right number!

Reply by Barb25 on 10/23/12 8:58pm
Msg #440033

Thanks Jules & Donna. Sorry for the unintended hijack.

I've got it down pretty much.. Just curious to other locals.

Reply by Barb25 on 10/23/12 8:39pm
Msg #440029

I did it AGAIN, didn't I just. LOL OMG I need a PM button

the size of a basketball..

Reply by sueharke on 10/23/12 7:45pm
Msg #440010

I find using the Dog Whisperer approach of "no touch, no talk, no eye contact" with the dog. Just talk to the owner and do not give the dog attention. I agree with Cesar Millan that being "calm and assertive" (no stressed or fearful) makes the dog believe you are the boss, not him or her. This does not work with all dogs, but most.

I had stressed Labrador Retrievers bark at me at first, but once the dog realized I was not paying attention to him, he accepted me, laid down and went to sleep. This was the first time the dog ever did this with a stranger in the house. Cesar Millan is right in that it is the attitude of the human that determines the attitude of the dog.

Again, this does not work with all dogs. There are some dogs I am happy the owner has put in another room or outside while I was doing a signing. Also, I have used my foot lightly to let a dog know my limits too

Reply by Jodith/WA on 10/23/12 7:50pm
Msg #440015

Cesar Milan is my hero

I'm a huge fan. I have dachshunds, who are very strong willed, intelligent dogs. Watching Cesar Milan and reading his books were a huge help in getting them to be at least somewhat obedient. I've had people with dachshunds come up to me in the park amazed that we had our dogs off leash, because their dogs would never come back *laughs*.

And you're right, Cesar's methods are a huge help in dealing with strange dogs. I had one borrower amazed that I could just point at the dog and he didn't jump on me. Of course, it was a Golden Retriever, so a very obedient breed. I turned them onto Cesar Milan to learn to control their dog. Both adults in the household were very submissive *laughs*.

Reply by ToniK on 10/23/12 8:03pm
Msg #440023

I love Cesar milan!!! n/m

Reply by sigtogo/OR on 10/24/12 12:29am
Msg #440059

yeah but...what do you do when owner and dog greet you

both come to the door and the owner encourages the dog to greet me and jump up with "oh, he's only 9 months and so energetic. Isn't he sooooooo cute?" happened tonight. sure he might be cute (he was a labrodoodle) but I am in my nice wool pants and not there to play. yes, I'm friendly, but if I want to play with dogs I will be in jeans...and maybe not even clean ones!
I also came home the other day with major dog snot/drool all over my thigh of my black pants and that happened, unbeknownst to me, at first signing of the day.

Reply by sueharke on 10/24/12 12:38am
Msg #440061

Re: yeah but...what do you do when owner and dog greet you

Same answer "no touch, no talk, no eye contact" with the dog. Talk only to the owner. The human (you) is to stand up straight, with your shoulders back and your head high. Your body approach and attitude become the King of England in that all animals are below you (you are their leader) and will do as you say in a calm and assertive way. If you show fear, the dog will sense it and respond to you accordingly.

After you present the dog and the owner with this attitude, ask the owner to do what you wish to feel safe to enter the house with the dog there.

Reply by HisHughness on 10/23/12 8:35pm
Msg #440028

The view from 180 degrees opposed

I have never had a closing where I did not enjoy the family pets. Not meeting them would greatly reduce my pleasure in what I do; a drycleaning bill once or twice a year is a small price to pay for what they have given me over the years. I specifically ask, in my confirmation phone call, that pets not be penned up.

And, on a very selfish note, the way to every borrower's heart is through his pet companions.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 10/23/12 8:55pm
Msg #440031

Ditto that Hugh. Pets are the best part of the closing for

me.
My husband teasingly calls me Ellie Mae Clampett.

Reply by BrendaTx on 10/23/12 9:23pm
Msg #440035

One Pit Bull scared me.

Little old couple....lived out in a rural area...the son insisted that his momma have a dog. Oh my gosh. I was frightened of a dog for the first time in my life.

Reply by NVLSlady/VA on 10/23/12 9:28pm
Msg #440037

Dogs and Cats

I tend to fall into the "trap" of acknowledging them; I can't help "speaking" to the nice, well-behaved ones. But that just encourages them. Some will want me to pet them, but I don't.
People generally tend to think you'll find their animals as adorable as they do (like their kids).
And I DO like both, mind you (:

On a side note, I try to always remember to bring my own bottle of H20 to the appt. for fear I may seem impolite if I refuse a beverage. I accepted a glass of water from a nice borrower who reached in with her hands to give me ice (we were signing in the kitchen); she had just been touching her dog (yuck)

Reply by sigtogo/OR on 10/24/12 12:32am
Msg #440060

yow, gross on the ice thing! ya, I know my acknowledging the

pets only encourages. but dang its hard not to.

Reply by sueharke on 10/24/12 12:47am
Msg #440063

"I tend to fall into the "trap" of acknowledging them; I can't help "speaking" to the nice, well-behaved ones. But that just encourages them." That is what Cesar Millan is saying not to do by "no touch, no talk, no eye contact." He says to set the boundaries before paying attention to the dog. You can have it both ways, but using your rules for how and when you will pay attention to the pet

Keep enjoying the pets and paying attention to him or her on your terms

Reply by Jodith/WA on 10/24/12 7:26pm
Msg #440194

*nods* You have to assert yourself as the dominant before you acknowledge the pet. I usually try to introduce myself and and greet the borrowers before acknowledging the dogs. All bets are off for the cats, though. We all know who's dominant and it's the cat, and I immediately worship them as is appropriate *laughs*.

Reply by sueharke on 10/24/12 12:42am
Msg #440062

Re: The view from 180 degrees opposed

Hugh, I agree and love animals too. I tell signers that I have no problems with their pets coming to me (after I establish the body and attitude tone I've already described). People are amazed how polite their dogs are around me when that is not the dogs normal response to a stranger.

Cesar Millan is right. It is my attitude that determines how the dog responds to me.

Reply by IAC on 10/24/12 11:23am
Msg #440113

Re: The view from 180 degrees opposed

I am a huge animal lover, mines 200lbs. When I get to a signing, I am extremely comfortable with the animals and they sense that, I have had owners tell me they can't believe the cat or dog came out they usually hide when a stranger comes in. This has happened to me a number of times. Just relax, the animals sense it! By the way, some times its the borrower who is more of a nusience than the animal.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 10/24/12 3:36am
Msg #440072

I'm kind of the same way as HUgh...

I love animals and for the most part, they don't bother me at all. I have two dogs and two cats. I know how to handle them and animals simply don't scare me.

If, however, they get a little rowdy, I will politely suggest we do something about it, but it rarely happens. I carry treats and toys in my bag... most of the time, the animals calm right down and are my best buddy.

A few weeks ago I had a little dog so well behaved the owner ask if I could come back and give her pointers on training because she'd never seen her dog react like that to anyone before.

Reply by GAMMYx3/MA on 10/24/12 11:51am
Msg #440118

Re: The view from 180 degrees opposed

I admit to acknowledging, petting and talking to them. ONLY time in 12 years that I have been nervous was the male bull mastiff that decided he liked my briefcase and I heard a snuffling sound next to me in my chair and turned to stare right into his eyes...he was HUGE...but also a big couch potato. There was a younger female mastiff in the family and at one point I looked at the three cushion couch and the two dogs were on each end snoozing on the armrests....I asked the owners where do you sit? The answer, "on the floor or we try to squish in between them....btw we love our kids". We had a good laugh over that and went back to signing. Never heard a peep from them the entire nite except when the door bell rang when I first got there 1 WOOF.

Now the other end....annoying. 14 Pekinese (mom, dad and offspring of various ages) all running loose and no tables and no chairs....THAT day I hated dogs....and no doors to put them behind either. We ended up signing on beanbag chairs on magazines for tables. I should have offered my car it would have been more comfortable and less annoying.

FORTUNATELY most animals I get to meet are more like the mastiffs than the pekinese but after initial greetings they usually settle down and go to sleep on my feet.

Reply by Jodith/WA on 10/24/12 7:30pm
Msg #440196

Re: The view from 180 degrees opposed

I've gotten to where I tell people during confirmation calls that we need a table or other flat surface where we can sit to do the signing. If they say they don't have anywhere, I suggest we meet at a local coffee shop or restaurant to do the signing. It's worth the price of coffee to have a stable place to sign.

Still, I occasionally find myself sitting on the sofa or even a folding chair, writing on my lap and putting the forms on the floor to have a firm enough surface for my notarial stamp.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 10/24/12 2:08am
Msg #440068

Can't relate after a decade on the Central Oregon

Coast. It's a rare household that doesn't have at least one fur-face, and occasionally, the're amazing menageries.

Developing the art of situational dynamics for task management is a fancy way of saying: Dress sensibly, i.e., don't wear heels to a dairy farm...
Take cues from confirmation calls.
Become pet-aware and pet-problem solver. =^..^=

After all, we're in their houses, no?

Reply by 101livescan on 10/24/12 8:41am
Msg #440083

RuRu, comes with the territory! Do you know that when the economy is down, people are still going to PetSmart, or Lemos in my part of the country, and spending countless $$ in pet supplies, toys,grooming, vaccinations, etc.? Whoever thought of starting PetSmart had indeed done their marketing well, as PetSmart is a major tenant in most regional shopping centers.

That being said, I think you can expect that most every home you go visit will have pets. They are family. They are connected at the hip bone. I know people who take their pets everywhere they go. On vacation, shopping, exercising, to lunch, on dates. They like their pets more than they like their relatives and some of their neighbors.

Comes with the territory, this is one of those jobs that if you don't like pets, you're likely not in the right business. Wow, huge statement you're making!

Reply by 1Notary1 on 10/24/12 9:32am
Msg #440090

<<<<But I do give a kick (not hard) to the animal if he is constantly licking or jumping on me>>>>

<<<< Also, I have used my foot lightly to let a dog know my limits too>>>>

As a dog owner myself, I find the foregoing statements, made by some of you, very disturbing. I would never do that to my dog, let alone someone else's. I can only imagine what you do to your own dog. If you ever did that to my dog, I would kick you out of my home at the very least.

Reply by sueharke on 10/24/12 11:59am
Msg #440122

If you have ever watch the Dog Whisperer on TV, that is one of the techniques he uses to redirect a dogs attention (it works well with my dog as I am able to reach my dog on the ground with my foot at the right time to give a quick correction as I have arthritis in my knee) . Most dogs are surprised when this method is used and helps to reestablish an acceptable level of attention by the dog. Imagine someone touching your ankle with a light touch enough to get your attention for a few seconds- it stops whatever your thinking or doing for a brief moment. If done right, it does not hurt the dog or cat. As was pointed out in one episode, this is why senior citizens use a newspaper with a light tap to get a dogs attention.

Reply by Barb25 on 10/24/12 10:52am
Msg #440104

I never thought about it before because

I love animals especially dogs and cats BUT if you are going to do this job you probablly have to at least have a high tolerance for them. Or I guess you could ask during the confirmation call if they have a pet and say what? I don't know... I guess to most pet owners it would be like asking them if they would mind putting their children in the yard or their room while you were there. Hmm. Actually I think that might go over better.

Reply by MrEd_Ca on 10/24/12 11:58am
Msg #440121

Re: Dogs and Cats --- my favorite part of the signing ...

... besides the pay check, the favorite part of the signing is usually meeting the dogs &/or cats of the signer. Much better than the irritating kids of the signer.

Reply by Jodith/WA on 10/24/12 7:34pm
Msg #440197

Re: Dogs and Cats --- my favorite part of the signing ...

I had one signing with 2 dogs, 3 cats, and a MONKEY. He was the cutest little spider monkey. My husband and I immediately came home and started looking up information on monkeys because we wanted one. Turns out they require a LOT of energy, so we settled on just keeping our 3 dogs and 6 cats.

Reply by Barb25 on 10/24/12 9:46pm
Msg #440214

Monkeys are fun but

When I was a kid my father brought home a capuchin money (organ grinder monkey). I loved that monkey. He used to come off the back of the sofa and hit the dog on the nose and clap. My mother would go to the store and have the dog at her side and the monkey on her shoulder. One day my father went to the Deli (the store) and told the man there about his monkey. He said there is a lady who comes in here and she has a dog and a monkey on her shoulder always. My father said she must be some kind of a nut. My father said it wasn't until he was driving home he realized it was my mother. LOL.... We had to get rid of the monkey because as you said: very high energy. This one took all the wallpaper off the wall.

Reply by parkerc/ME on 10/24/12 1:31pm
Msg #440142

I'm a dog owner ....beagle...and I would not appreciate someone taking a foot to my dog. However, I'm a Victoria Stillwell and Cesar fan for training. But, whenever I enter a home with a dog (or more than one), I always adhere to the ..don't look at, don't talk to, don't touch rule...and if that is not quite successful, turn your back on him and fold your arms across your chest. And if those don't work, Mr Homeowner, would you please secure your dog elsewhere. Have never had to revert to the last. Usually the dog "greets" me ie sniff test, then when I ignore him, gets bored and goes away to curl up and sleep. THEN my problem is coming home to my beagle, whose nose becomes attached to my leg with "Other Dog" scent on it! (and a "Traitor" look on her face)