The DOG

We had a very poor experience with The Dog. We had initially enrolled for 3 week training camp that comes with 4 in-home training sessions following camp, and upon thinking further about the rates being too high, we asked for camp to be reduced to 2 weeks and hence 3 in-home post training sessions. I found Joanne Neumann to be very rude since we reduced the camp duration. When our puppy came back home, the trainer who brought him home was really good, and we found the first 'in-home' session to be helpful. Upon giving that feedback to Joanne, she then didn't send that same trainer again saying he had left the company, which seemed strange. She came herself for the 2nd training, and that day I had a work call conflict, so I said I wouldn't be able to participate, but my husband would. She didn't react well to that at all, with obvious judgemental facial reaction. The in-home training was barely 20-25 mins (not an hour) and after that she never gave us the 3rd training session. I would not recommend the DOG to anyone who cares about spending their money wisely. DOG is VERY expensive and not worth it in my honest opinion.

My experience at The Dog was not at all what I was hoping for. I should have never sent him the first day, after I waited for his confirmed pick up for over an hour. When I called to check in, despite the pick up being confirmed they told me they do not pick up in my area and I would have to drive him. If I wasn't so eager by their sales pitch I would've (and should've) called it quits right then and there. When I got there they greeted me and took him right in, didn't apologize for the confusion or ask if I had any questions or anything. Scout was finishing medication for a UTI when he arrived and everything was fine, I had arranged with them to pick up a urine sample to bring to the vet 5 days after completing his medication. I called the day before to confirm I was coming. They said they had the catch tray ready for the morning walk and everything was all set. When I arrived it was freezing cold and to my surprise they had not done what we had spoken about just the day before. The girl there seemed very frazzled and handed me the tray and said I could walk him a bit, but that he had just been walked so might not go. My frustration was escalating very quickly. After almost 40 minutes of walking him I waited for someone to come out only to tell me he was going to have lunch and I should come back after, now this was a 45 minutes drive from my home, so I was not pleased. When I came back the girl there actually apologized for the hassle and mentioned they were short staffed due to a covid outbreak. Now every red flag in my head was going off and seeing as I was getting no updates on training I was done. I called them later that day stating I was coming to get him and he could go back when they were fully staffed. Once arriving home, he had diarrhea everywhere, which he did not have prior going The Dog. The vet diagnosed him with Giardia, which he did not have when he left for training. When I let them know they said it was impossible as they require a fecal test before arrival. Well, I never provided one because I was not asked to, so I would assume that was the case for other dogs there. At this point Scout could not return until his fecal test was clean, it tooks months and hundreds, if not almost a thousand dollars in vet bills to treat, on top of the thousands of dollars I feel I had now wasted on his training program. When Scout was finally cleared he went back for a week of "refresh" to finish his 3 week training. Upon returning home it continued to feel like wasted time. Everything that had been gone over with us was fine but he continued to eat everything including multiple leashes which they said he needed to wear at all times. Needless to say this was thousands of dollars, which I would love refunded, all for my dog to learn to sit. Now we are back at square one but this time at an amazing training facility where I am not only spending MORE money, but at least this time around I am feeling like it is not wasted.....daily photos, videos and every other day phone calls. It's amazing how communication really is key to success. I was very eager when Scout was a puppy to get him trained, and wish The Dog had had the decency to alert me of their staffing issues and inability to keep my dog healthy or fulfill their training obligations.