Oh no. First Puppy class was awful. (Very very long)

The small claims court is always good.

 

You have mail!

 

Poor you, what a terrible woman. I would have left too. I think before you did. Hope Marlow is ok.
There are plenty of good trainers out there and I am sure you will find one. Ask local dog walkers you see who they went to and what their experience was like. Like SwampDonkey said you can always use the small claims court, if she says she will not return your money and I would tell her that too. Good luck.

 

Do you have any friends that are lawyers or are studying the law? I'm sure a letter from a letter from someone like that would yield results.

 

Oh what an awful experience! Poor you & poor Maslow

To be honest - for your original complaint Id be tempted to keep it short & sweet & not go into too much detail about what was promised etc. Then go into further detail once you have received her reply and you know what her response is. I wouldn’t pre-empt potential arguments as you’re just giving her valid arguments to respond with.

I’d probably just write something like:

“I write further to the training class Maslow and I attended on ... As I am sure you are aware, I was not happy with the running of the class and your treatment of my puppy. The class was advertised as positive reinforcement and this is not the experience I received.

Therefore I would be grateful if you could refund me for all future classes.”

Obviously better worded, it’s not even 7am yet

I wouldn’t be in a hurry to go to court - it can be a lot of expense and chew for very little return depending on how much the classes were.

Good luck!

 

I agree with Jen here, keep it short to begin with just to let her know you won't be messed with!

I have fired off furious lengthy letters quite quickly and regretted doing so.

Well done for protecting your pup, from what you've written it sounds like you weren't the only one in the class that was uncomfortable with this 'trainers' methods, maybe include that in your follow up letter.

Also, I know this is petty, but if you don't get results it would be handy to know you this person is.
Those reviews you found about her should be put right so that others aren't misled. That's not a good idea of course but after reading your post it is how I feel.

 

Update. I had a response to the email today.

Literally: send bank details and I will refund

That’s it, nothing elae

 

At least you got your money back.

Leave her a stinking review!

 

Result!

Get your money back and put it behind you, you know you've done the right thing by Maslow.

 

Me too

oh well done for sending, that's a good result. Hopefully you can put it behind you and find a good class for you and Maslow - fingers crossed. Even if it feels like you haven't changed anything, the refund will have made an impact on the trainer (and the terse 'no quibble' reply suggests to me this isn't the first time she's been in this position). Maybe it'll prompt her revise her methods...

 

Well you got your money back., but wait until you get it in your hand before leaving her a review.
Good work, well now it is onwards and upwards

 

Great, once you get the refund you can forget about this woman, damn her for causing this situation, getting you so worried and putting all those pups through such a terrible time. Move on now and look for someone new so you can have some fun with Maslow.

 

I'm not keen on my class but yours sounds so much worse! I have seen my teacher push dogs into sit (she has never done it to Finn), but she has an assistant who is obsessed with dominance.
I've been told by her never to cuddle my dog except maybe quickly at bedtime, never to let him see me smile at him, never to rub his tummy (because that's him dominating me! - as my 4 month old puppy lies on his back with his legs in the air!). Don't give him too many treats, one biscuit should last the whole class and only treat him at the end. Don't say good dog until he has completed his task.
I paid for 10 lessons and Im still going occasionally just to socialise with other dogs but im not sure its worth it. It's generally a case of dragging him around to walk inches from other dogs whilst he struggles to escape to play with them. We both end up stressed and worn out by the end.

 

I'm sorry I just wouldn't go you dont need that abuse neither does your dog.

 

Oh no! I am so dominated by Coco. He's forever demanding tummy rubs...and like a fool I comply

 

They would have a field day with me... I’ve donated my dressing gown to Maslow... every time I wear it he spends the whole time trying to hump me.

I have now stuck it in his crate. Oh god.. is it bad that I’ve just admitted to giving my pup my fluffy dressing gown in the hopes he wakes up and has more fun humping it than he does yelling for me to come play?

In my defence.. I would stick one of my children in the crate as a plaything if it meant I got to sleep past 5am

 

Smart lady. She's much less likely to get a scathing review by giving you a refund. I'd definitely review her, but I'd keep it polite.

 

Yup. ‘Training class wasn’t for me or my pup, we prefer a more positive reinforcement base’

That gives the heads up that it’s NOT a PR based club but avoids any slander issues.

 

No, this is fine. Our beloved cat used to hump my fluffy pink (M&S, I'll have you know!)dressing gown from time to time. When we buried him in the garden we wrapped him up in it. That was the best dressing gown ever, so comfy and with that certain je nais se quois..

 

Is that what they are calling it nowadays? When I was a kid we had a different word for what was likely on it