FirstBark
My dog was suffering from separation anxiety and depression from the recent loss of his dog mom. I spoke with Keisha and she told me that he needed a two week board and train program. It would be $1500 cash but he would come home happy, potty trained and able to follow simple c…Read full reviewClose full review
My dog was suffering from separation anxiety and depression from the recent loss of his dog mom. I spoke with Keisha and she told me that he needed a two week board and train program. It would be $1500 cash but he would come home happy, potty trained and able to follow simple commands. During the two weeks my dog was there. I never received a call to let me know how he was doing or even a text update. I contact them and received a few pictures of him, but nothing else. Right before the 2 weeks were up, I received a text from them giving me an update and told me about the service dog program and how for $350 cash he would be certified as a service dog. When I went to pickup my dog, I paid the $350 for him to become a certified service dog, I was told he likes to have cheese as treats for reinforcement of good behaviors and that all the information I needed was in the folder they gave me. They said they would be in contact with me regarding setting up the service dog certification. I was never contacted again. Once home, I look through the folder to find a generic daily schedule and some articles about training. Nothing specific to my dog. After observing him for a few days, I realized that he was not potty trained, he did not know any basic obedience commands and his separation anxiety was worse. I felt helpless. I decided to contact them and ask for a refund for the $350 because services were never received and for a partial refund of the $1500 I paid for the board and train services. I received a response that said I needed to follow the schedule that he was put on and they have a no refund policy and I would not be receiving a refund. I did some research and found that the AKC and the majority of dog professionals do not recommend board and train programs because in many cases the dogs are abused. Trying to be reasonable I told them that I was willing to allow them to make things right by actually training my dog, but after what I read about the normal practices of board and train facilities, I am no longer willing to do that and actually wonder what my dog went through while there. Since his return he now whimpers, whines and cries the entire time I am away from him for even a minute. My heart is broken thinking about what he may have went through and the fact that it was my decision that put him in that position.