Bloomington Obedience Training Club

I was very impressed and happy with my experience of taking Obedience Level 1 training at the Bloomington Obedience Training Club. All of the trainers are volunteers, most have been teaching for many years. It is very obvious that training us humans and our furry companions is their passion. During each class we had a primary trainer and 1 or 2 supporting assistants. This was amazing as their 1 trainer/assistant per 3 or 4 dogs was helpful during the exercises because we always received 1 on 1 tips/advice. I noticed in the reviews comments about the heated arena….yes, during mid-summer it gets warm as there is no AC….it’s a non-profit organization. However, even during really warm August days, there were many fans and we were encouraged to take water breaks as often as needed. If you have medical concerns, then taking classes September through May could be a great option, as their classes are year round. Another reason I specifically chose this club is that they offer more than just obedience training, which will allow my dog to continue to grow and learn in a friendly and now well-known environment. Thank you to Alysha, Sarah and Aria for the great classes! Happy to have graduated from Obedience Level 1.

I signed up for Puppy Training II. The website doesn't mention that class will be canceled only if there is an indoor heat index of 95. AFTER you pay, there are terms that are mentioned that include that information. According to every source I can find online, temperatures of 80-85+ are considered at-risk for dogs. After attending the first two classes, I was a bit concerned after the first (85 degrees outside, felt hotter inside). The second week was the same temperature, but had more activity for my puppy, and after the class, I had to call my vet as he collapsed in the car unable to really move, as I was panicked about heatstroke. Vet informed me 85+ degrees while in high excitement (as a puppy class would induce) is cause for concern and instructed me how to care for my dog. He avoided a trip in, but I have had to flat out skip the last two classes because it's been over 90+ outside. Kind of seems rigged. There is less than minimal effort to keep the place cool - it's as hot, or hotter, inside than it is outside. Still haven't heard that the fourth week of classes is canceled, and I can guarantee it's too hot to be safe. Because there is no air conditioning and the fans do almost nothing for the training space, I've had to straight up skip the last two classes. BOTC does a fantastic job of saying that there are no refunds for anything ever unless your dog dies and you have records supporting that, so I haven't bothered to reach out, but I will not be going back. The training is basic and nothing that you won't learn by reading a puppy book or two and watching some videos. The class size is large so there won't be any specialized training for your dog. My main reason for why I had initially wanted to continue going was to get my dog exposure to others, but since I can't bring him due to the heat, there is essentially no point. I don't want to be too harsh as I understand this is a volunteer-run situation and the prices are good, but at the end of the day, it's over $100 down the drain, and I will just be repurchasing the same experience with GoAnywhereDog (for a similar price). Would love to get a refund due to the unsafe conditions, but considering how they say they are not liable for anything and their closings are only for heat conditions that are already high above what is considered safe for dogs, I doubt there'd be much understanding.