Holy Petsmart!!!

    • Gold Top Dog

    Holy Petsmart!!!

    Holy Man!  Am I glad I didn't ever have to take my dogs to a training class at Petsmart!  What chaos!  I have never heard a trainer speak so loudly, and MEANLY to the dogs! I think my dogs are very well trained and behaved (except for a bit of people obsession)...I can't imagine those dogs were having any fun.  She made a small boxer tinkle a little when she said "You people should not have to keep repeating yourselves!!!!"  And then came and pushed the dogs heinie down kind of hard.  I'm not sure if this is the case with most Petsmarts...I really hope it isn't.  I usually don't shop at them b/c they are just so expensive...but we were in desparate need of Chuck-it balls! LOL

    I have always trained my dogs with positive reinforcement, and never had to raise my voice and yell at them like this. These puppies were quite young...and I think it was very tacky to be running a class that loudly and rudely.  I had debated about taking my pooches to some of their advanced classes or a different change of pace, but I think I'll shell out the extra dollars and go to the Dog club we have been going to before.

    Sorry...just had to vent my shock.

    • Gold Top Dog

     That should be reported. Petsmart trainers are supposed to be using positive reinforcement, not bullying dogs.

    • Gold Top Dog

    I've seen ads for petsmart looking for trainers and it seems like the requierments are very low.  I could easily be a trainer there and I'm sure I would do better then some that I have heard about.  I'm really in no hurry to even consider being a trainer and really if I was taking a dog to a trainer I would want someone much more experanced then the level I'm at. Just saying, that I wish they would have higher standards.  I know there are some good trainers in some pet-co/marts but seems to be a rare find

    Last time I was in said store while a class was going on the dogs where just playing with one anouther and no structure was being given to the owners on what to do.  I don't know if they were just letting the dogs have a fun free time but I would not want my dog in a class that I'm paying for when I could get the same experance at a dog park for free.  The ring they are in also seems very small to me and my dog who has some space issues would really not do well in such close contact with other dogs.