Royal Dog Academy

PLEASE READ: TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE I wrote Royal Dog Academy this email: "Hi, my name is Nathan Afshin. My dog's name is Spot. I adopted Spot from the West Valley Animal Shelter a few months ago and he was having aggression issues. He was growling and showing teeth to my brother Evan Afshin, whom I live with, every single night and it was most severe when Evan would walk by his cage to go into the hallway. We tried multiple ideas that we had read about to correct this behavior. With none of them bringing any sort of success. I finally had accepted that we needed professional help. Through research and a recommendation through the Next Door website, I decided to try the Royal Dog Academy in Northridge, on Nordhoff and Prairie. I had my first introductory training session by myself with the trainer Josh in order to evaluate his behavior and see if it could be corrected. I had repeatedly told Josh and the staff that my priority and sole reason for the training was to correct this aggression, and any other training achievements were secondary. Josh and the staff had assured me that not only would his aggression be corrected, but several other issues as well; those being barking excessively, aggression towards other dogs and jumping on the couch, all of these issues again not being the reason I came in. I signed up for the 20 day training session, 10 days leash on and 10 days leash off as a last ditch effort to correct this dog that I had grown to love despite his behavioral issues. The cost for this training was $4,800.00. To me, a single parent, this cost was quite high, but I value Spot not as just a pet, but as a member of my family, and therefore I was okay with paying this high price in order to correct his aggression that could not continue. If Spot's aggression were to continue, I would have to give up my dog, as we had bitten Evan multiple times and also had bitten a friend of mine that came over to visit my home. Besides the fact that it would be impossible to live in a house in which I could not have people over, I knew that eventually he would bite someone that would call animal services and have him euthanized, which is why I was desperate to correct this behavior and save my dog. During the 20 day training program, I took my daughter, who also lives with Evan and I half of the week, and Evan to every single training session so that we could all learn how to manage his behavior. We have since completed the training and I took Spot home on Friday 07/27/2018 for the completion of his training. Since I took him back his aggression came back in full swing and was not at all corrected. He kept growling at Evan at night and showing his teeth. Evan and I tried the techniques that were taught to us, which is to pull his choke chain up and side to side and after that to squirt his nose and/or mouth with a water bottle that has a hole in it. None of these techniques worked. He would stop in the moment and go right back to his aggressive behavior almost immediately. Today is Sunday, 07/29/2018. Today Evan and I had some friends and family over for a housewarming party. As soon as it starting getting late and closer to night time, Spot started growling at my mother and bit her with a quick nip. Later tonight, he provokingly jumped at Evan without any growl, showing teeth, or warning of any kind. He bit onto Evan's leg, latched on, and swung viciously from side to side. Evan pulled him off in pain and Spot also bit his thumb and hand in multiple Spots. I am deeply saddened that I have to give up my family member Spot and angry that Royal Dog Academy did not correct the behavior that they promised they would. I have attached photos of Evan's injuries and have videos of his aggressive behavior. ....." There is more but it was beyond the limit. In short, my dog was just as aggressive if not more so, bit someone, I had to give him up. I called them and they refused to give me the refund and went on to say that it was my fault. Horrible experience.