The time a client's dog tried to help me with a glue-up

Last month, I was working on a big built-in for a house in the suburbs. I had all the pieces for the face frame laid out on sawhorses in their garage, ready to glue and clamp. Their golden retriever, who had been watching me all day, decided the best time to help was when I had glue on every joint. He nudged a clamp with his nose, sending a 4-foot rail sliding right off the horses onto the concrete floor. I had to start that whole side over from scratch. Has a pet ever 'helped' you in the shop in a way that cost you an hour?

3 comments

3 Comments

aaron_wilson172mo ago

My cat's similar talent for chaos made me realize pets have a universal sense for the worst possible moment. They operate on a perfect inverse law of helpfulness. The more critical your task, the more certain their involvement becomes.

avery6292mo ago

Oh absolutely @aaron_wilson17, my dog's perfect timing for zoomies during work calls proves this law.

mitchell.daniel1mo ago

My sister's cat once knocked over a full quart of stain in my basement shop. The cleanup involved three rolls of paper towels, a whole bottle of mineral spirits, and permanently beige paw prints across the concrete. I was picking cat hair out of the wet finish on a cabinet door for what felt like a week.

-1