Andrea Arden Dog Training

When I contacted AA Dog training last November, my 5-month-old German Shepherd puppy showed intense fear walking on the streets of Manhattan. A woman calling herself Kathy at AA spoke with me about Roxie’s needs and recommended Hannah. I purchased a package of three training sessions for $675. The first lesson was helpful, it focused on indoor obedience training. The second session was on loose leash walking. Hannah‘s technique was to use a dual-ended leash attached to a harness by chest and back that Hannah fitted on her. We went out together, and Hannah demonstrated for a while, then coached me to follow her example. She offered to conduct training walks for $125 apiece. Overnight Roxie chewed through the harness so I substituted a more durable one that Roxie was used to which also had a front and back ring for the dual ended harness. She improved for a week, then began oppositional pulling. Walks were going downhill so I booked Hannah to take Roxie on a training walk. But she canceled saying temps in the high 30s were too cold and ues was too far from her home in lower Manhattan. I wrote that the training walks were not going well and asked her if she would put a prong collar on the puppy and said I was considering a board and train program. Hannah responded negatively about both but did not offer a solution. She still wouldn’t book a training walk, although temps warmed up. Walks grew dangerous, with Roxie repeatedly pulling me down by the time she reached eight months and 50 pounds. Now it was worse than when I hired Hannsh and I had to consider rehoming Roxie to the suburbs which would have broken my heart. Instead, I engaged another trainer (who came from Brooklyn) to show me a more effective technique of steering Roxie on the street. He affirmed what I already learned—that using the two ended harness was actually dangerous. He instructed me on body mechanics, and the posture I needed to be in charge of the walks. He also showed me a series of exercises to help me teach Roxie how to calm herself, and to give her boundaries. These techniques are turning things around, although it’s taking weeks to make up for the loss faced due to AA. Not to mention, I requested a refund of the third lesson which was denied. I wrote a review then exchanged emails with Hannah and Andrea called me. I was shocked by their responses. I was expecting one or both to say, “I’m sorry you’re having that experience, apparently our technique didn’t work for Roxie, let’s try another approach” or “how can we make things right?” Instead they both took no responsibility, claimed they had no idea things were not going well, asked me to remove the review and accused me of being “cruel.” Andrea mentioned several times that she had spent 45 minutes on the phone with me in our first conversation, but the only woman I spoke with called herself Kathy, so I guess Andrea didn’t give her real name. She made excuses for Hannah saying she got married and was too busy planning her wedding to book the training walks. She said my review made her cry. My field is marketing communications with a heavy emphasis on media, and I have worked with many clients with high stakes for their businesses. Andrea’s response struck me as unprofessional and less than customer service centered. In her earlier response, Andrea inserted my last name, apparently trying to intimidate me into deleting my review. I reminded her that this violated criminal and civil law whereupon she removed my last name.

I cannot say enough great things about AA! I am consistently complemented for how well my pup behaves and I have Hannah to thank for so much of that! AA came recommended by our vet practice and Hannah happened to be our teacher for Puppy 1! Suffice to say we have now completed 3 classes, puppy play group and private lessons with her. Hannah is an outstanding trainer. Kind, knowledgeable and she creates such genuine connections with her students. As a first time dog mom, I am so thankful to have her in our lives!