Barb Levenson Dog Training Centers

We had a very bad experience with this trainer. Barb was a poor teacher; she was derisive, patronizing and easily upset when dogs &/or humans did not respond in ways she hoped. Her demonstrations were confusing and the pace of the classes was too slow; when dogs got bored and barked or wriggled, Barb became anxious and flustered. She didn't display much affection for people or dogs. Her approach clearly works for some (note the other reviews) but after a few weeks and telling friends about our my experience, we heard from many others who said avoid avoid avoid.

Barb is a competent trainer, but certainly nothing special. The high price is bad enough, but her belittling, rude, and self righteous attitude made classes frustrating, unpleasant and I quickly regretted paying for 2 months of putting up with a rude snob of a trainer. Much of the class is listening to her on her soap box, telling you why she's right and everyone else is wrong/cruel/horrible/stupid. For a 'positive' trainer she is extremely negative to most of her clients, while treating everyone around her like incompetent idiots. But one of the things that got to me the most is her absurd idea that crating your dog for upwards of 8 hours (no matter the age!) then letting them have some free time in the evening, before re-crating them again all night, is for their own good. That to me is extremely cruel and no way for a dog to live its whole life. The class was packed and she was never able to help most of the people and often just went around insulting techniques. There are Much better trainers who are positive with both owner and pet and teach in an encouraging, fun environment, with a much more reasonable price! But if you want to try her my advice is to watch a class before you fork over the money.