Puppies Aren't As Fun As You Think
Something many people should come to realize, is that jobs that sound fun can also actually be very very hard. Take my job as an example. I work at a doggy daycare and boarding facility, and every time someone finds out about it, the response is always the same: "Oh, that must be such a fun job." On the contrary, actually. Now, don't get me wrong. Working with dogs has its benefits, like always having emotional support, and creating bonds with these animals I get to take care of everyday. However, it can be a physically, emotionally and mentally taxing job.
Bailey and I |
Try to imagine it. I'm walking into the employee entrance at 6:55am on a Wednesday morning, and for a second there's an extremely brief silence, and then about twenty dogs start continuously barking simultaneously. Walking down the four stairs leading to the entrance gate, so I can go clock in while about three customers stand outside the door staring at me waiting for me to open the doors at 7 O'clock on the dot. The second I open the doors, I have three customers with their pups leashes in my face, all three dogs jumping up on me, and i'm not even fully awake yet. However, I take all three dogs, check them in, and put them in their areas. I go to the back as soon as the receptionist gets there, and I start prepping breakfasts waiting for my Kennel Tech's to arrive. Today, i'm working a Lead shift, so I go into the boarding area and turn on the lights. Somehow the already loud barking gets even louder, and my nose fills with smells that could make my stomach drop. I look to my left, and of course, Jake never fails to destroy his suite. It's not his fault, though. He just has a difficult time boarding, and it shows overnight. His white suite walls, not so white anymore. I take him out, and move him to a fresh suite, and give him a new water bowl. I may or may not have to do the same thing for other dogs that aren't easy boarders. But, that's my job, and this is how the day usually starts.
Our facility is called "It's a Dog's Life: Doggy Daycare and Resort" and we're located in Johns Creek. We offer many services for pups, and some are: swim time, bathing, cuddle and story-time, and brain games (Dog). However, our most popular services are: Daycare, Boarding and Dog grooming. Many people in the Duluth, Johns Creek and Alpharetta area's are where most of our clients come from, and others travel from about an hour or two away for our dog grooming services since we house a Master Groomer named Naoko.My Porkchop <3
My positions at our facility are: Back of House Lead, Kennel Tech, Reception and Bathing. Thus meaning I do up to 4 different jobs throughout the week, and up to 2 a day if we're understaffed. My main position is a lead, and leads take care of the whole back area of our facility, which is majority of its space. We keep up with boarding dogs and their belongings, deep clean every part of the boarding area, deep clean spare play yards, do all the laundry, all of the dishes, make sure that every daycare and boarding dog gets fed properly throughout the day, and etc. Kennel techs are the people who are in the play yards with their group of dogs, and they have to consistently clean up after these dogs. They also have to make sure all dogs are using the restroom, do body checks, redirect dogs' attention before incidents occur, break up fights if they occur, and at the end of their shift, they must properly deep clean their play yards. Receptionists book reservations and appointments, take most calls, do check in bags for the boarders, make sure leads have all of the information they need, and assist groomers when their dogs are checking in and out. Bathers bathe deluxe bath dogs, basic bath dogs, and all 4 groomers dogs. With that said, everyone in our facility, no matter the position, has a lot on their plate when they come in for their shifts.Sleepy boy Porkies
I interviewed some of my coworkers that work in different positions around the facility, and asked them all the same five questions: 1) How does working here make you feel? 2) What would you say your experience working here has been like? 3) How often are you stressed while you're at work? 4) What makes the job easy, and what makes the job hard? 5) Is there anything you want others to know about your job, or is there anything you would like to say about it?
I prefaced this by telling them I was writing an essay for school about how working at a doggy daycare isn't as fun as it seems, and that people who don't work with copious amounts of living and breathing animals will not understand that it can be very difficult. Some people were eager to tell their experiences, like Ms. DeAngelo, one of our dog groomers.
When asked "Is there anything you want others to know about your job?", she stated, "Working on a dog, and doing a haircut on a dog that is constantly moving, trying to bite, is maybe scared or aggressive... all of those things... those parts are hard, and I don't think people appreciate the work it takes to make a dog look good." After the main idea of the question was answered, she explained other ways her job is hard. Ms. DeAngelo explained that dogs sometimes defecate and urinate on her table while she tries to groom them. They also sometimes accidentally hang themselves from freaking out while on the table, and some dogs are so bad they have to be medicated by their owners before they even come in. All of these things I have witnessed since Ms. DeAngelo is an older woman, and sometimes needs assistance just keeping dogs on her grooming table.
When the same question was asked to Ms. Calhoun, a Kennel Tech at our facility, she responded, "It's more than just playing with dogs all day...It's pretty physically demanding, but can be a lot of fun. I would honestly say it's more physically demanding than it is fun." Cuddle and Storytime
During my interviews of our staff, I asked "How often are you stressed at work?". I got many versions of the same answer: "The entire shift. Everyday. Approximately 40 hours a week." (Calhoun) Mr. Thomas, another lead at our facility, answered, "Um... everyday". Ms. Poole, a receptionist at our facility, responded with "Everytime we walk in here, we get stressed."
When I asked "How does working here make you feel?", I got many answers with the same stress behind them. "Um... mentally unstable. I get promised things, and the higher ups never pull through." (Thomas) "Overstimulated. Um.. there is constant noise from all the dogs, and a lot of smells..." (Calhoun) Mr. Polynice, a bather and kennel tech that is newly cross trained in reception, stated, "It makes me stressed working here."
With these answers, you have to wonder if our facility is falling apart or on fire. Worry not, it's actually very nice, and we love our jobs. We love our dogs, and take care of them like they are our own. We take care of our facility like it is our home, because it technically is our second home. We offer many services, and all do our best to carry those out as professionally and as efficiently as we can. All common knowledge and our commonly asked questions are even answered on our website on our homepage. This job is not easy, and it can be very taxing for all of the workers here. Some may say that stress can never be a good thing, however, I don't think it's always a bad thing. There are many high stress situations that I would have never learned how to work through had I not worked here, and my coworkers would agree. Nonetheless, we would just like everyone to know, puppies aren't as fun as you think.
All picture's are from me, or were taken on my phone for me! :)
I really like this paper I think you describe everything well and you really show how a job that most people would think is easy can actually be overwhelming and stressful. The pictures are really cute though!!
ReplyDeleteIf you wouldn't have explained what it takes to work your job i honestly would've said the same thing you get told from others "Oh, that must be such a fun job." I now know from reading your essay it takes up a lot of energy and it's not all about playing and having fun with the dogs. I really enjoyed reading your paper and finding out more about the background of what your job takes.
ReplyDeleteI find this very interesting. Usually when people hear jobs like this they'd get excited cause they're surrounded by dogs. Especially the dog lovers. I have a very good friend that works at a doggy daycare in Connecticut and based on her stories you'd think that she loves the job. You telling us this well written story shows us that it's deeper than just petting and playing with the dogs and puppies. Love it!
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