FirstBark
We enrolled our dog in a Foundations group class but chose not to continue after the first session. Our dog was initially nervous but quickly settled and worked throughout the class. He did not bark, growl, lunge, pull, or react to other dogs and remained calm and cooperative du…Read full reviewClose full review
We enrolled our dog in a Foundations group class but chose not to continue after the first session. Our dog was initially nervous but quickly settled and worked throughout the class. He did not bark, growl, lunge, pull, or react to other dogs and remained calm and cooperative during the exercises. However, the trainer repeatedly commented on his nervousness to us amd seemed standoff with him,, in front of the group and to other owners, even after he was behaving appropriately. This drew unnecessary attention to him and made the environment feel less confidence-building for a sensitive dog. We contacted the owner to share our concerns and discuss options. Private lessons or waiting until January were suggested, but no alternative group-based solutions were offered, and a prorated refund for unused classes was not provided. Because continuing in a group setting was important to us for socialization, we chose to pursue training elsewhere. This program may be a good fit for confident dogs, but owners of shy or sensitive dogs may want to ask questions about class style and instructor approach in advance.