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Leader of the Pack - Service Techs and Your Pets 2022

70% of American households have pets, and 40% have a least one pet dog. It’s likely that at some point in time a service tech is going to go face to muzzle with a pet… maybe your pet.

“I must have stepped over her three or four times. She was sleeping just fine…so I thought”

I guess I was pressing my luck with that elkhound, because when I stepped over her for the fourth time she woke up with a start and clamped onto my calf. I couldn’t get her to let loose. She didn’t puncture the skin, but it took the homeowner, their friend, and me, several excruciating minutes to get her to let go.

At Day & Nite we consider our pets part of the family, and we know that most pet owners feel the same way, so it’s very important to us that we handle them carefully and correctly. Shortly after that elkhound did her best to defend the family turf I decided that I was through being a chew toy, and found Pet Psychologist Robin Grannell, owner of the Canine Behavior Center.

Robin taught us that there are reasons for the classic ” Dog vs. Mail Carrier” battle, and the dynamic is similar for service techs. You see, in the dog’s mind, your family is the dog’s pack. And the dog should, and normally will, protect their pack. When we come to your home to do plumbing, heating, or air-conditioning work, we’re either taking stuff away, leaving stuff, or opening stuff, and the dog doesn’t like that.

On occasion we’ve had Robin join our weekly tech training meeting to get us back up to speed, by quizzing our knowledge on how to handle customer’s pets. A confrontation between a pet and a service tech can be stressful, and sometimes painful for both. It’s a very real thing, and I have the scars to prove it. I’ve been bitten so many times, I stopped counting.

So how can you help? Simple. Just mention that you have pets, and the particular care that you would like, “We have a cat, please don’t let the cat out”. Our technicians are trained how to leave the animal alone, and how to approach, depending on your preference. If you have a dog, an introduction is always a good idea. It only takes a moment. Unless you introduce us to your family dog, we’re an outsider and may be perceived as a threat.

Often times, kenneling the dog in a crate is the best course of action. It may seem unfair or cruel, but it’s actually a good thing to do for a dog. Dens are the normal habitat for canines in the wild. If your dog has been crated since it was a pup, it offers a nice, safe, comfortable place for them when strangers and service techs are visiting.

At Day & Nite Plumbing & Heating our techs are trained how to handle a service call correctly when pets are present, but you shouldn’t assume that’s the case with all service providers.
The next time you schedule a visit by a service tech remember, a little bit of preparation and communication on your part, can keep your pet’s stress level to a minimum, and allow the job to be completed as safely and efficiently as possible.

After all, you are the “Leader of the Pack”.


Bruce Davis, Sr.
President, Director of Education and Learning, Sales Manager, Licensed Journeyman Plumber, Licensed Electrician,
HVAC/R Electrical Administrator, HVAC/R, Certified WA State C.E.U. Instructor

Bruce Sr is President of Day & Nite Plumbing & Heating, a 67-year-old family owned and operated plumbing and heating business in Lynnwood, Washington. Bruce can be contacted at: Email: Bruce@dayandnite.net

Day & Nite Plumbing & Heating Inc. 16614 13th Ave. W. Lynnwood, WA 98037 800-972-7000

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M. Lindell

Collin was our tech and he was very knowledgeable answered our questions and what they charged was very reasonable and we are very happy to have water again. I was really impressed by everyone that we dealt with they all were professional and helpful.

D. Lee

The technician was great: he knew exactly what the problem was and fixed it quickly and efficiently. Even when a glitch happened in the repair, he was totally prepared to handle the situation. I will definitely contact Day & Nite Plumbing for future problems. Thank you!

D. Campbell

Very pleased with the professional technician, Donavan, who came out when our water heater quit working. This was the third major problem with this water heater, so we took his advice and replaced it. Thankfully, he was able to also install the new one right away. I had confidence in his advice and ability to do the job. He was thorough and friendly. It was a five star experience. I highly recommend.

D. Thomas

We had a great experience with Day and Nite from start to finish. Chris was great at the no obligation consult. He explained things clearly and covered everything but didn’t waste our time. They also provided lots of options and thoroughly explained them but never tried to push or up-sell us. Installation was fast and very professional. We will definitely be using Day and Nite in the future.

E. Rubio

I had the privilege to meet Zach on two separate occasions within a two week span. He was upfront and honest about the work that needed to be done. He is a hard-working, dedicated, professional employee of Day and Nite Plumbing. He explained what needed to be done. I asked questions and he was patient and explained things further so that I truly understood.

S. Lippold

Outstanding Service! Scheduler was pleasant and receptive. Technician (Collin) communicated well, arrived in the agreed upon time frame, diagnosed the problem and fixed the issue quickly. Previously, we had two other companies misdiagnose the problem and one company stand us up for a scheduled appointment. If we have plumbing issues in the future, Day & Night Plumbing will be our first call !

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