Shadyrock School For Dogs

Initially I had high hopes because of the sparkling reviews on facebook and google. As I continue to attend classes, the less I am impressed. Ultimately I wish that I had saved the $90 and watched a couple of youtube videos on basic commands. The parking is ample but disorganized with no clearly marked spots. Although the inside space is spacious as well, the classes are very overcrowded. I believe you’re asking too much of a 14 week old puppy to sit still for an hour when you are literally shoulder to shoulder with another owner and puppy. Of the 1 hour time slot, you get about 2 minutes of individualized attention. Some of the practices that I saw were less than ideal. While I understand that this business claims great success in training dogs, my idea of successful training does not align. Firstly, I do not condone the use of choke collars, though the trainer coerced nearly everyone into buying one from her and using it. Secondly, the trainer encourages the use of lemon juice to stop a dog barking. Please google “is lemon juice safe for dogs” and see what the AKC has to say. Thirdly, on every occasion that the trainer models a command on someone’s dog- she manhandles the dog. Picking the dog up by the collar, dragging them where they should be, physically forcing them into the command pose then providing a ‘good dog’ and a pet for a reward. These are not positive training techniques, these are training out of discomfort, pain and fear. I also wanted to note that during their 2 minutes of individual attention, the trainer made fun of two separate owners in front of the entire class, mocking them for not knowing their left foot from their right foot- and one of those owners came to tears after that and hasn’t ever returned to the classes. This type of behavior is unacceptable in my opinion. **** The owner/trainer’s defensive responses to negative feedback should tell you exactly what you need to know about this business as a whole ****