In trouble at work for dumb ass reasons

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I work at a daycamp for dogs and although I'm working there because I MUCH prefer animals to people, I get the feeling I'm on the bad side of the people I work there for the stupidest reasons.

First of all, the premise of day care for dogs is stupid, at least the way we do it. A relatively large number of dogs are put together in one room and expected to play until their owners come to pick them up (unless the owner specifically requests a nap time or they misbehave). This is akin to 40 parents of two year olds putting their two year olds in a daycare center all day and expecting constant play and fun because they are all the same age. To make things worse, the walls of our play area are glass so the "pet parents" can look in (it is awful...like working in a fishbowl, under the most awful scrutiny). Today, my boss (who's really nice actually) came in and asked us to play with the dogs more...every time she looks in we're leaning against the wall or sitting on the floor with the dogs (which we're not supposed to do admittedly) or just holding one dog while the rest are on the floor. She said it looks bad when the pet parents look in and see us like this...we're supposed to be constantly stimulating the dogs. I like my manager and I want to keep my job (which is why I don't say anything), but this is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. If the parents don't like it we really shouldn't have the glass walls. (not the least because little kids run back and forth purposely winding up the dogs.) When it's just me in the room with the dogs, I try to get them as calm as possible (not sedentary, there'll be dogs gnawing on each others faces and whatever else it is they do when they play in the background), but there isn't a palpable feel of tension and useless energy in the room. When other people come in an try to get the dogs worked up, it stresses the dogs out and they get in more fights. (When you get 30 dogs running back and forth when they are wound up, someone is going to step on someone else's toes, either literally or figuratively, and the s**t hits the fan).

Also, having the dogs "playing" all day (the dogs are dropped off while their parents are at work, mostly...so yes, they are "supposed" to be playing all day) is one of the worst things you can do with your dog, in my opinion. Dogs' natural rhythms do not operate like that. They sleep a LOT more than humans do naturally, and to have them this senselessly active (not proper exercise, just a lot of nervous energy, as it basically is) is detrimental to their well-being.

Not to mention there are some dogs that don't react well to the environment at all...in fact they react INCREDIBLY negatively. There are several dogs (esp the smaller ones) who huddle in a corner the ENTIRE TIME, shaking or violently flinching whenever any dog even comes near them. To my knowledge, it is not company policy to recommend a dog not come any more (unless they attack other dogs). I would almost certainly lose my job if I told the parent of the tiny puppy who comes in fine but vomits, he is so nervous, that this environment is far too stressful for them to be around in, and they are hurting their dog. Sometimes if the dogs are too wound up (pacing for hours like a caged tiger) or hiding in a corner, I just put them in a crate and close the door and they are ALWAYS calm down and most of them even try to go back in when they come out. This is something that I know my managers and co-workers don't like (they let the dogs back out as soon as I go on break). The dogs are in day care to play for 6+ hours a day, and until they get so tired they fall asleep right in the middle of the chaos it's really frowned upon to let them have a break.

Back to what my manager said (400 pages ago), I also don't understand how anyone....ANYONE....can play with dogs for 4+ hours straight. I gathered from what she said that cuddling individual dogs (which I do when I notice they're very stressed out, I hold them really close to my chest and we both end up feeling better) while the others play or sitting down with them (which I do because it sucks to stand up for hours on end and also because I screwed up my back so it hurts to keep bending down 80 million times during the work day) that the only thing we are really meant to be doing is entertaining the dogs the entire time....putting on a show for the parents. The managers rotate between time at the computer and with the customers and time with the dogs...the underlings are in with the dogs the entire time. Not to mention, this IS their job for the managers. Almost everyone I work with is a student (as far as I know I'm the only college student, everyone else is high school)...so after a school day it is incredibly difficult to come to work and throw a ball for 5/6 hours. In order to find someone who could keep this up, they would have to find someone happy to live off a part time job as a dog babysitter (not as a manager/supervisor, someone in their the entire time with the dogs). This is absurd. And I doubt ANY of us are paid well enough for that.

Anyway, I know this was way the hell long, but I just had to vent. I love working with animals but I get tired of working with a bunch of dumb high schoolers (who I know think I'm unfriendly because I don't know how to join in with their mindless conversations) under almost abusive conditions.

I can relate. Every job I've ever had has been like that. I hate the work world. NTs are selfish illogical pricks who cut corners where they shouldn't, and then look at you like YOU'VE done something wrong. The human species sucks.

Esperanza - America used to strive for excellence. Today we have a culture that accepts things if they are Good Enough. When an Aspie, who is bound by their internal code to do things 100%, is compared with an NT, THEY look like slackers, which makes them feel insecure. They will resent you for doing more or better. So what? You are not there to impress them, but to do your job for your boss. Ignore them and NEVER let them know they are getting under your skin - EVER. they love to find someone's soft spot and keep annoying you about it. And it's definitely not about you. They do it to everyone.


phenomenon - Your boss seems to be in a job that she has no place in. The whole concept of keeping a pack of dogs in a room together and having humans constantly interfering with their karma and keeping them from finding entropy is wrong. So is the idea of babysitting dogs while their owners go off to work. If their owners don't have the time to care for them, they shouldn't have them as pets.

Your insights into the needs of the dogs and how to care for them reminds me of Temple Grandin. You might want to consider taking a course in training animals and go into business fixing some of the neurosis in pets that their neurotic owners caused, to restore them to harmony. There's a program on the Animan Network about Caesar Millan - the Dog Whisperer, who does that and seems to earn a living from it. Grandin specializes in cows and caring for them. There are other folks who work the same magic with horses.

Make the best of the situation and start laying out plans for how you will do it better. Stay at it and you will.

Thanks for looking out for the dogs, they need somebody to look out for them.

But who's looking out for you? I hope you don't let the bosses run over you to the point where you get injured...remember to look out for yourself too.


Why do they do this? Seriously, somebody please tell me why (some) NT's like to poke us and watch us squirm, why they think it's funny to make other people suffer. I really want to know why.

Oh please... In BUSINESS there's every incentive to use and abuse (employees, dogs, what's the difference?) as much as you can get away with. The bottom line is MONEY (and sometimes power: see bottom section.) So if some "parents" have complained, "Why isn't my dog playing? I don't bring him here to sleep!" What's management to do - let them go somewhere else and tell all their friends what a crappy place this is? Lose their business because they wimped out and did what was RIGHT? Good old COMPETITION makes sure that doesn't happen!

To answer the question: I don't think anyone's looking out for you. A labor relations board intervening here? In today's political climate, BUSINESS is almighty.

A friend of mine wound up on disability, after injuring her back in the same type of job. I hope you get out before that happens.


Yes, I've desperately wanted to know this too.
The short answer: It's funny. And they've learned they can get away with it. "Do unto others before they do unto you." Maybe it makes them feel powerful & safer - after bullying someone, who's gonna bother them?

POWER CORRUPTS.
I think there's some ironic law of human nature that someone who has suffered but doesn't want to pass it on to others (like me) abhors and avoids power over others, while those who abuse it, always want more.

That place sounds NUTS. I mean geez, if the dogs settle down and are calm enough to take a nap or relax or whatever, that's GREAT! Great for the dogs, great for the people working there. Spending time with the dogs that are scared or whatever sounds great too!

I don't understand...if people can see what's done to the dogs, why do they leave them there?

Dang, that really stinks because it sounds like it should be a nice job in a lot of ways ('cause, you know...DOGS! )

That sounds ridiculous.

I can understand people wanting their dogs to be supervised all day, but not necessarily playing! My dog actually really dislikes other dogs, so in that environment I'd rather he was able to retreat to be by himself or just with people. It's also horrible to hear that some of the dogs are so distressed. It's hard to believe that the owners think that this is best for their dog - expecting them to constantly play for six hours?!

It's a real shame that your bosses don't seem to be receptive to any suggestions, and that you can't have a word with the owners to persuade them to request different treatment for their dog. If I were running a dog daycare it would definitely be so different to those conditions. It's just as well that you're there to give some of the nervous dogs a little respite.

In the NT world, perception > reality.

I have to agree with tomart though, your boss is really only doing what the customers (foolishly) demand. there's nothing to be done about it.

And I know how YOU feel. I applied at a similar dog daycare in Seattle, thinking it would be great to work with animals. But there were dozens of dogs all running and barking in mayhem (I couldn't work there because of the noise and chaos of all those dogs, don't know how you do it.) I think we're more sensitive to the dog's side of thing because of our own need to conserve energy. Anyway, you've got the situation rightly assesed, I think. Good luck.

I believe I work for the same(very large and well known company).We now have a hotel for "overnight guests",most just staying a few days to a week but a few longer.I start work at 9pm and clean until around 1am,when it's not to busy(fewer then 60 dogs),then I cuddle the dogs that cant sleep(take them to the bathroom(which they will eventually fire me for because it's against the rules.)Ibegin preparing food,around 5am and feed them at 6am.Thats when other staff get there and we take the dogs into the playrooms to go to the bathroom and get a few minutes of play time.The rooms are only supposed to have a specific number of dogs in them at one time(16-17)based on the size of the rooms...not the size of the dogs....17 german sheperds is a little different then 17 minnipins(duh)....and they only have a ...small dog,large dog room.....so really tiny dogs get thrown in with mideum size dogs(who have heads bigger then some of the smaller breeds.They really should be able to seperate dogs by size and temperment....but that would mean hiring more staff,and that means money.


It isn't really bad when it's not a "busy time".We just went through one of those and it was a nightmare.The same amount of staff tring to take care of 10 cats and 140 dogs.I was alone at night and didnt even have time to take breaks...ate while I was preparing b-fast,which took three hours(in part because each pet owner brings their own food in and many of them were poorly/wrongly labeled or put in the wrong place and took forever to try and sort through all the cubbies to find the right food...)
The more dogs,the more messes to clean up at night,more food to prepare,more dogs to walk from play area to kennels(the place is huge),more laundry(pet parents bring in beds,blankets,toys...which the dogs promptly pee on and have to be washed.


I love the dogs,my co-workers are pretty nice,my boss has the worst social skills I have ever seen...makes most aspies seem like Casanova or Bill Clinton or.....?.......(fill in black with sueve sophisticated friendly person).She yelled at the day staff for the same thing....sitting down in playroom....said they didnt care about the dogs?Keeps telling me I am not being "safe" because I sit on the floor with the dogs and cuddle them....(not if they are growling or scared,duh....what are they going to do,lick me to death....)These dogs love me.I know which ones need more time to get used to me (and havnt even come close to being bitten(unlike several of my co-workers and boss!! !)

Yeah,this company is nuts, but I love the dogs,more then even I realized I would.

Can you consider working over nights?

I haveo two healty young dogs. I think that they sleep at least 12 hours per day, maybe 18. They are home by themselves most days. If I'm home sick, they will curl up with me and sleep all day. If I'm feeling ok they like to play but with lots of naps. On those days, they are tired and don't want to play as much in the evening.

I have a friend who's a site manager (at a different type of business) and she tells me some of the crazy things that come down from "corporate." Many are bizarre and just make more work for her, mostly and above all, they're stingy: cutting corners to increase their profit margin. She sends them good ideas that would improve the place, and save money in the long run, but they never authorize money for anything but their dumb, out-of-touch projects.

I wonder what the boss training, meetings and memos from on high (which we peons never see) are telling your boss to do, and not do. It reminds me of a group game I was in once, which secretly gave each person instructions that conflicted with the others. The crazyness level was insane. Not being able to tell the others why we were doing rediculous things (til the end) led to conflicts, barriers, confrontations, and the strong feeling, "this company is nuts!"

Yeah,my boss has poor social skills but I do feel sorry for her because I know she gets complaints from both sides.frustrated workers who dont have the right tools to do the jobs and corprate trying to make the business look more profitable to raise the
price of the stocks.

I recently bought my own rechargable vaccum and several brooms and dustpans for my job because the morons only gave us a plug in vaccum and very few outlets...so lots of places you cant use it in and there is only one broom one dustpan to share between 4 playrooms and all the 150 dog kennels...then people get yelled at for washing any dog hair down the drains because it will clog them.I will probably get in trouble for bringing my own supplies but screw them and their catch22 situations...I am there to do a job and I'm getting it done.

I just hope you and krex get out of there ok, unlike my friend who's still on disability from the same kind of job.

In a fair world, wouldn't you be compensated for this?

Yeah,I know this cant last forever.I am 43 and this stuff is a bit hard on the joints for someone with arthritis(only in neck and a few fingers),but I do worry about being on disability....I hate work but would hate trying to live on the pentence they give for disabled.

Compensated......fair world....... I just want things to run smooth...I bought about 300 pens at the thrift store for $9 dollars because they expect us to share the same 2 pens(staffs fault for bringin the other pens home and not returning them)but it's money well spent if no one gets yelled at for not writing down every timt the dog pees or is fed or exercised.I suggested we just attach a pen to each clipboard on the kennels(150)and she said it would be to expensive but would think about it....(sometime next year...hohum)

It sounds like those dogs are being abused to me, and their owners bring them there to tire them out so they don't have to play with them when they get home. Perhaps the workers are not supposed to show the dogs any affection because the owners are afraid that the dogs will return it and they think that rightly belongs to them. It is sad that there are people who will use an animal like that and even sadder that other people will take their money to assist them.

I think Krex has the right idea: do the job the way it should be done and if that causes you to lose it, so be it. What I don't understand is why Phenomenon is telling us all this and saying nothing to the people who are causing the problem. Doing what the company asks without pointing out the problems, because you want the money, is as bad as the company that is dealing with the customers the same way.