Purest Canines Dog Training LLC

My 1.5 year old Briard, Valor, died due to events that occurred during a 5 week board and train program with Purest Canines’ owner and head trainer in November 2025. This experience has been traumatic, and my family and I are left devastated. I first shared my experience in December, but after doing so Purest Canines removed their Facebook review section and I received multiple cease and desist letters from their lawyers. I originally felt intimidated and removed my post but I am speaking out now so others can have the information I wish I had when making decisions about their dog’s care. Valor was a perfectly healthy, active, playful, loving, and incredibly smart dog. He was my best friend and protector. Before enrollment, my father and I took him for a full vet exam, bloodwork, and vaccinations for boarding. Valor was given a perfect bill of health and had no prior health issues. My boyfriend and I enrolled him in training to address some mild resource guarding behavior as he matured. During drop off, I was told for the first time that Valor would be taken out of state to Tennessee for the program. At this point, I had already paid a nonrefundable deposit, leaving me with little choice but to proceed. Six days after drop off, on November 15th, to my utter surprise, I was told Valor was being taken to an emergency vet due to heavy panting, dehydration, vomiting water, and difficulty passing stool. At the hospital, he was admitted and treated for multiple serious conditions, including heat stroke, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, neurological issues, and abnormalities affecting his heart, lungs, eyes, and more. Vet staff urged me to come immediately. When my boyfriend and I arrived, Valor was far worse than I had been led on to believe. Valor struggled to stand or walk on his own. Despite this, I had been discouraged by the owner/trainer from coming to Tennessee and from admitting him for 24h care. At the hospital, we had difficult conversations about organ damage, his body being in shock, and how to safely transport him home, including emergency planning and CPR during travel. This entire stay was one of the most emotional and gut wrenching times of my life as my “ Bubba” was in a state I had never seen before and I was calling to tell my family. We stayed with him overnight and brought him home the next day once he was stable enough to travel. My primary vet confirmed the organ damage and gave us a treatment plan. Although Valor was still unwell, he showed me little signs of happiness being home with family. A few days later, Valor passed away. I thank God and am grateful beyond words for the final days at home I had with Valor. After this heartbreak, I arranged to pick up his belongings and ask the trainer if he would cover the nearly $6,000 in emergency vet bills. He initially agreed, then later refused. After I posted a review, I began receiving cease and desist letters. I trusted this program with my dog’s care, and the events that occurred during his time there led to one of the most painful losses I have ever experienced. Beyond the emotional devastation, this also resulted in significant and unexpected financial burden. I am sharing my experience because I have felt bullied into silence but more importantly because I feel it is the right thing to do so that others can make fully informed decisions before placing their dog in this care. No one should have to go through what my family experienced. For Valor, my Bubba—I love you always.

We enrolled my pup (Sylvester) in the 8 week private training due to stranger danger reactivity/aggression. Zach from the start was completely honest with expectations, and what to expect out of the training. Although Sylvester still has stranger danger (and always will) by the end of the 8 weeks he is much more neutralized, engaged, and obedient. As an owner, I was also taught how to read cues and appropriately set my dog up for success. Zach is also very responsive, for any of the concerns or questions I had between sessions, and him and his crew are excellent at communication and also teaching the owners how to properly communicate to their dogs through tools such as slip leads, e-collars, and prong collars. Overall we’ve had an amazing experience and will continue to use Purest Canines throughout our pups life!

We sent our bully to Kyana and Devin for 6 weeks with a list of issues we needed addressed including people and other dog aggression. They did an amazing job with her and I cannot recommend them enough. Not only did they work through her confidence issues, they also took the time to help us to make sure we were successful at home too. Our friends and family are so very impressed by the dog that came home to us, as are we. I cannot thank them enough.

We truly can’t say enough good things about Zach and Purest Canines. Sending our bloodhound puppy, Murphy, away for 6 weeks was not an easy decision—it’s hard to trust someone else with your dog like that. But from the very beginning, Zach gave us complete confidence and peace of mind. Murphy came home not only better trained, but more confident and connected to us. The difference is something you honestly have to see to believe. He’s still our sweet, goofy bloodhound, but now he listens, focuses, and is so much easier to enjoy in everyday life. What really sets Zach apart is how much he cares—not just about the dogs, but about the owners too. He took the time to make sure we understood everything so we could continue Murphy’s success at home. We are so grateful for this experience. It was absolutely worth it, and we would trust Zach and Purest Canines again in a heartbeat!

My pup trusted Zach in almost no time when I brought him to Purest Canines for his evaluation and seemed ready to stay! Jack has pretty serious separation anxiety so that said a lot to me. Then when I boarded him, my boy was a happy pup at the end when I picked him up. I can tell when Jack is just ready to get out of a place but that wasn’t the case here. Jack was no doubt fulfilled while he was there. Thank you Zach for providing a truly safe and rewarding place for my dog while I was out of town. It gives me a lot of peace to know.