Dog gone wild!

[firemanjim]

Ok, I been busy.... Sure, you have noticed no action in my build off thread...... NO night time forum cruising.... NO chatroom......
A coworker came to me a couple weeks ago, about his dog. Says his dog eats his house, when he leaves for work. I laughed..... Till I saw the pictures...... he IS eating the house! The doors. Carpet. Clothes. Expensive make up. Tvs. Everything he can't get to......
So my buddy says, "please help!"
Ok, so I set out to build him a new dog cage. Did I mention he ate the last one? (this is a Dalmatian mix,and is deaf) I drew up a cage, gave him a list of materials, and cost to build, minus labor. Came out to less than $140 for everything. 3/4" square tube,18gauge..... Lots of it...... A dog silhouette and some 3/4" flat for looks/bar bracing......
I worked on this for a few nights, after work. Then knocked out about 90% of it the following Saturday. It weighs approximately 95-100 lbs, and gets a sliding doors on the side,and a sunken 3/4" plywood floor.
My buddy used it for the first time yesterday. The only thing tbe dog tore up was a dining room chair that he was able to paw and claw up to the cage, then ate the back out of it......
Here is a few pics of the cage, during construction....I'll post of the finished cage this weekend. Have a couple things to do to be 100% so we can paint it......
BTW this cage is 30x30x48....... I never really decided what to charge him for the labor, and have little idea of what's fair. He said he'd pay extra if I could do it in a week...... I was gonna be nice and cheap and say $150..... BUT my other friends are saying I give away too much of my time/labor and should hit him up for at least $200..... What say you fine gentleman? What's it worth? Labor wise?

 

[MancoGX390]

Pretty good cage! Don't think hes getting out of that very quickly!

 

[ML-TOYS]

Charge what is comfortable with you but this would have been cheaper for him

 

[Half-breeder]

Charge what is comfortable with you but this would have been cheaper for him

LOL.... or a muzzle w/ one of those cone things on the neck.

VERY secure cage there Jim!

 

[java230]

How long did it take? Fab work would be well priced at $50/hr

 

[firemanjim]

How long did it take? Fab work would be well priced at $50/hr

So far, maybe 4 or 5 hours..... I was sick (cold/flu?) when I started, so it didn't go real fast. I have about another 2 hours of work to finish. Still need to weld the other 2 sides on each bar. I did the top and bottom of each one, so he could use it now..... Still need to put the dog and border band on. And make the steel door, it currently has a wooden door..... Then buff, clean, and paint..... He is doing the latter 3.......
Norma,I only charge $20 an hour for working on crap or building crap..... I mean stuff....

 

[java230]

So far, maybe 4 or 5 hours..... I was sick (cold/flu?) when I started, so it didn't go real fast. I have about another 2 hours of work to finish. Still need to weld the other 2 sides on each bar. I did the top and bottom of each one, so he could use it now..... Still need to put the dog and border band on. And make the steel door, it currently has a wooden door..... Then buff, clean, and paint..... He is doing the latter 3.......
Norma,I only charge $20 an hour for working on crap or building crap..... I mean stuff....

Sounds like you should charge him $20/hr then! I just know fab work is spendy if your paying a shop

 

[Young One With A Manco]

Whoa! That dog silhouette is cool? Howd you do that? Plasma cutter? That's art right there. I was just complaining last night to Doug and Tom and Protegenoob that you haven't said anything about your build.

 

[KartFab]

I charged $200 for the cage I made, and it wasn't as nice as yours. I charge $50/hr for welding/fab work plus materials.

 

[n3480h]

Here's an idea. Ask the owner the value of the damage the dog did in his worst four days. That's what you charge, because the dog will never do that much damage again. Owner happy, you happy.

Many breeds will be puppies for the first two years, chewing up everything they can reach. Been there with my own. Beyond age two, it's purely a training issue. I can leave for 8 hours now and nothing gets damaged besides the small cardboard box that I leave for my 1 year old golden retriever. The older dog has not done any damage for the last 8 of his 9 years.

Nice work Jim.

 

[landuse]

Nice cage! I would charge the $20 an hour

 

[firemanjim]

Whoa! That dog silhouette is cool? Howd you do that? Plasma cutter? That's art right there. I was just complaining last night to Doug and Tom and Protegenoob that you haven't said anything about your build.

Sam, Whatcha do is, draw it out on some thick paper. Cut it out and use for a template. Draw that out on a piece of 1/8" plate..... Now, here is the tricky part, so pay attention......
Sit and stare at it, then go down to the steel supply and buy one that looks just like it.......

 

[Young One With A Manco]

No way! How does he do it folks??

 

[Poboy kartman]

No way! How does he do it folks??

Pay attention....you'd be surprised what you can pick up in decades just by doing that....

 

[n3480h]

He's talented, Sam: Jim can cut steel with plastic!

 

[OzFab]

Nice cage, Jim but, I have to agree with some of the earlier posts, even 10' of chain & a D shackle would've been much cheaper... If the guy doesn't want the dog tearing up the house, why is it inside? Chain it up outside, where the dog should be, problem solved...

 

[RobertD]

Dalmations... Poor dang dogs.

Good job on the hog trap, errr I mean dog crate! That should contain just about any beast you put in there!

 

[Poboy kartman]

Yeah......well...training is the solution....or that .223 round.....but dogs do not belong restrained anymore than people do....and for less money...I could have built a world class dog run......

 

[firemanjim]

I've told this dude for 2 years..... Chain his arse up outside. His response, EVERY TIME.... He will get off..... Or dig up the anchor.....
Dude! Really!? Pessimistic.... Wait what's the word I'm looking for?..... O yeah..... LAZY.......
The poor dog is hyper as can be. I have finally convinced him to get an all natural downer for him.... It's otc and works great. Calms dogs down, get rid of the anxiety that makes them chew crap up.....
If this doesn't clear up soon, I suggested relocating the dog to a more suitable environment....... My house
Personally, I believe dogs should have freedom, and not be locked up. But, my dogs listen to me, stay in my garage with me, and don't leave my yard. No leash, no collar, no barriers of any type. I'm a responsible pet owner though........ I keep a dog on a chain long enough for him to realize that it's THIS yard he is protecting. It's this yard he is to stay in. And with the way I feed my dogs, staying on the chain lasts about 2 weeks. After that, they realize, as long as they stay in this yard, they get free food and water. They get a home cooked meal once a week. They get fast food on occasion. They get left overs..... Most importantly, they get love and attention... That's why my dogs listen......

 

[n3480h]

Not everyone is right for dog ownership.

Dalmation? I think Jim should have it - it is the official "Fire Department Dog". He'd look good riding Engine 27.