Petsmart training...anyone have bad experience and get money back?
 

I am taking Stella to puppy training classes at Petsmart. We have been to 2 classes so far and I feel like the trainer is not very good. It seems to me that she favors the big dogs and ignores my puppy Stella. Stella is awful in class...never listens, easily distracted. I do not feel like she is in danger even though she is the only small dog in the class but that is b/c of the responsible pet owners...the trainer doesn't seem to care about safety as she is too busy talking to the other owners about traveing and such. She came over to me and my dog during 'leave it' and said that stella was 'not getting it, just not getting it' and instead of helping, she walked away. This was said right after praising the dog next to us and saying how smart he is. It made me feel bad and wonder why she wasnt helping us if we were not doing well. I almost cried after class I was so upset! I am going to call them and complain and see if I can get my money back. I want to go somewhere that we will get help. I would take another class with a different trainer but I think she is the only one at that store. Anyone have a bad experience with them and get their money back? Am I just overreacting? I really feel as if the trainer does not like me or my dog. LOL

I would get my money back... or request to go to another class with a different trainer. They also have one on one training there. Its a little more expensive but it might be worth it.

I went through the puppy classes twice....once with Bandit and once this summer with Nala. Bandit's trainer was great. She was receptive to all the owners concerns, safety was always her #1 issue, and she helped with everyones "trouble spots". THe one we took this summer with Nala.... not so great. He was a nice older gentleman but it stopped there. He seemed to have a basic (VERY BASIC) knowledge of dog training but that's it, and was doing things more for "show" than anything else. Instead of practicing what we learned we'd spend the last 10 minutes of class doing a "report card" and seeing if each person passed that skill which was a waste of time. Somehow we passed the class (no thanks to his guidance) but we needed a lot of extra practice and are still practicing to get the basics. I wish I had asked for my money back, the only positive was a lot of good socialization. I believe on the contract it says if you are unsatisfied you can get your money back for any unused classes.

thanks, I am going to call tomorrow and try to get my money back or a new trainer. The first class we were signed up for (the same trainer) she never showed up. I was told she was going through a "difficult time with a divorce". When she found out me and one other girl sat there waiting for a class she never arrived for she never even apologized. I should have asked for my money back then but I gave them the benefit of the doubt and transferred into this new class (same trainer). I am very disappointed but I guess it depends on trainer and how much experience they had. My puppy Stella is not good in class but I feel ignored and like they do not want to help. Thanks again :(

pet smart class
 

What class were ya'll in. I have signed up for the puppy class even though my baby is 6months. It starts in about a week and half and if there are not so good I am not going. I need to learn to much to throw away 100.00 dollars I will do the one on one.
thanks so much for this posts I sure am glad I saw it I don't get to get on as much as I want to busy with the baby and I have been so sick. I just got of the hospital.
I go though old post learning some but still need to learn so much.
thanks again raina;)

Me and stella are in the puppy class. I heard really good things about petsmart training from my friends. I just think the one in my neighborhood may not be the best and that it depends on the trainer. I would give it a try. I will let you know if I am able to get refunded any of my money.

PetsMart asked one of my co-workers not to bring her Yorkie back after the third class. The trainer said she was easily distracted, etc (basically the same things the trainer said to you). That is wrong. I had a private trainer for Buster, one that came to my house. It was a lot more expensive but he did very well. Now if I could ony find the money to get the same trainers back for Maggie. I would ask PetsMart for my money back. I don't think any of the trainers like the small dogs.

wow, i can not believe they asked your friend and her yorkie not to return. The reason you are in the class is to better your dog's behavior. That is like saying they give up and are not good enough trainers to help. I agree that they do not seem to like small dogs.
I called today to see about getting my money back but they suggested I try another trainer that is starting up classes there. I said ok and have to call the new trainer tomorrow to schedule. I also complained about the trainer I have now and he basically said she has been getting other complaints and will not be there much longer. I am glad I was not the only one having a problem with her. I did not ask for my money back since I will be trying the new trainer but if that does not work out I will not hesitate to complain again. You pay a lot of money for these clases for it not to help.

I never took Uni to any training classes, and i am proud to say me and bf trained her ourselves. I thought $100 was way too much to pay for a group class where big dogs and small dogs are together. Anyway, I've found lots of helpful tips for FREE, on YOU-TUBE!

It really does make a difference in which trainer you get. Just like if you get your hair cut at the salon in the mall. It's more expensive than getting it cut at fantastic sams, but does that mean you are getting a better stylist? Sometimes not. The trainers at petsmart are not "career" trainers, it's just a job for them, most likely worked their way up from cashier. I had a friend who was a petsmart groomer, and I myself was offered a job there when I was in college. It's not their calling, so keep that in mind (I mean that for the trainers AND the groomers). I passed on the job, b/c that was NOT my calling. If I had to work through school, at least it should be something in my field, that's what i thought anyway. But NOW, I love dogs, and maybe I should train them now. :D

If you decide to try another trainer, maybe a different petsmart altogether? in the next city or something?

Try Another Pet Store For Training
 

I don't know where your at if there are any other pet stores, but I would suggest for you to try another one. Where I am at, we have a chain of locally owned pet feed supply shop called, "Feeder's Supply". Here is where I got my Yorkie trained when he was a puppy. They have puppy classes separate from the adult classes and other classes. We both had an excellent experience there. We also have a "Petsmart" here, but when I have been there the dog are training inside the store where people are shopping despite their designated area of training. At "Feeder's" it is in the back of the storage room and only once we came back into the store to train. But that was on the last day when we did a bit of agility, but it was in the back of the store where we were out of the way of the shoppers. Good Luck.

Trainer likes big dogs!!
 

I have taken Lily to Petsmart Training now for 3 classes. The trainer "likes bigger dogs" and doesn't hide it. He did give us the name of a book and I think it has alot of good things in it. "HOW TO BEHAVE SO YOUR DOG BEHAVES" Sophia Yin, D.V.M.
I wish I didn't spend the money on the training classes myself too!! Lily is alot better with the other dogs there now but the trainer does nothing to help us with her at all. He ignores her and has said that "he doesn't care for little dogs"!! She is not a puppy (she is 1-1/2 yrs old) but they put her in the "puppy class" because of her size?? Live and learn I guess!!

Same!!! I was gonna take him to class but was like hey, maybe I can do this myself? Once he learned "bang bang" as a 4 1/2 month old from me, I thought hmm maybe this isn't as hard as it seems! It does make me feel good to say I did it myself. :) When people see his tricks they're always like "who taught him that?" LOL. Not denying that I'd maybe like to take him to an intermediate or advanced type of training class, just to work on "come" and "heel" in situations where there's distractions. Just not Petsmart!

[QUOTE=Britster;2869928]Same!!! I was gonna take him to class but was like hey, maybe I can do this myself? Once he learned "bang bang" as a 4 1/2 month old from me, I thought hmm maybe this isn't as hard as it seems! It does make me feel good to say I did it myself. :)

LOL!!! I wish I could teach Buster or Maggie, bang, bang! You should feel good that you taught him that yourself!!! That has to be the cutest trick. I learned a lot from the trainer I had for Buster but I'm sure there are some things they could help me with for Maggie. She is so mean to Buster sometimes and I'm not sure what to do. Are they like kids, you let them work it themselves??? I don't think Buster understands me when I tell him to man up. Although lately I have seen him get her back a few times.

Hhhhmm... I was thinking of taking Missy to Petsmart classes too. They want to put her in the puppy classes because of her size as well. :( Guess I'll keep looking.

well, the new trainer did not call me back like she was supposed to so it looks like i am going to have to call again and this time i am going to try to get my money back. this is my first dog and she is easily distracted so maybe i will try to get in a private trainer to come to my apt. it is strange the trainers do not like small dogs. same with my dog, the trainer completely ignored us and didnt help us at all or even acknowledge us in some cases. It was baffling. She was all over the big dogs actually giving tips and suggestion on leashes. it was weird. haha. i really think training classes can be hit or miss...depending on the store, trainer, and class type. oh well, i tried. i just hate that i paid all that money for nothing. I will keep trying to train stella at home but shes a slow learner :)

Bad Experience with Petsmart Training
 

We have Yorkies and a Rottie pup. We took the Rottie pup to Petsmart for training lessons. The trainer had her own Bull Mastiff with her all the time. It was apparently certified as a "Good Citizen" and we were assured it was perfectly safe. Not so, the mastiff was at the end of the row of puppies as they went through there heal exersize and grabbed the puppy by the head. He had to be rushed to the vets for 3 layers of stitches through his lips and cheek, thank god it was not one of the yorkies, it would have killed them. Petsmart admitted they had had several issues with this mastiff and he would not come anymore, they paid for the vet and offered free classes for life. This did not stop the trauma this little guy was left with. We never went back. They knew they had an unstable Mastiff and continued to let him sit in on puppy classes even after many complaints. I don't feel that (this particular Petsmart at least) cared about the dogs, more about the fees. Untrained and unprofessional and uncaring. I will do my own training with love and care from now on.

pet smart class
 

I don't know what to say if it had been my baby I would have shot the dog.
It had NO busy being there. I have had 1 class and there are only about 5 other puppies in class and I am watching Mindy all the time.
But I feel like I need the class to help me socialize with Mindy and the other puppies but I always have a very short leash. If things get crazy I will make them or try to get them some one on one lessons. i will have the puppy in my prayers.

I would ask anyone that claimed to be a dog trainer what sort of training they've had. I have watched the two different trainers at my local Petsmart on a few occasions.One seems really good and the other one is a joke. I think for best results with a yorkie one should really consider private lessons. While they are quite intelligent, Yorkies are just too easily distracted.

A I posted on this topic earlier, I went to "Feeder's Supply". The lady whom trains is an older lady like 60 +/- years. She does all the training for "Feeder's Supply, which is a locally owned pet shop of which we have a dozen or so. She had an assistant with her and has trained some folks whom does the training at some of the "Feeder's Supply" stores around town. She knew what she was doing and was pretty tough if you didn't follow thru with the homework that was assigned for the next class (next week).

Well, I ended up in a different class with a different trainer than the first one. This is going much better! This trainer does not ignore my puppy and spends equal time with everyone. She even offered to stay after class to help us. It does help that there are all small dogs in the class (only one is a large breed puppy) so she cant really spend all her time on the larger dogs. I also feel it is safer for my puppy to be around mostly small dogs like herself. It was funny b/c there is another yorkie in the class and he is very territorial and growling at everything. His owner could not even put him down! It made me feel better about my puppy and her own issues. LOL. I guess yorkies can be difficult around other dogs! Anyway, just wanted to update that things have worked out better. Thanks for all your responses!!

Wow, I'm SO glad you switched classes and got with a good trainer and feel you are getting your money's worth!!! I had a fantastic experience with PetSmart training. We had a great trainer and there were all sorts of puppies big and small. There were even these 2 kinda crazy minpins and the trainer got them under control as well.

In general I don't like PetSmart...they don't sell many quality kibbles and all their treats seem to be junk with the exception of a few. I NEVER let the trainer give Snick treats...NEVER, she had junky treats so I always brought my own and she was very respectful of that.

After we finished the 1st class and I asked who was teaching the 2nd class...it was not going to be her so I opted out. The guy teaching the 2nd class looked clueless and I wasn't comfy with him. He ended up not being good according to my friend who took the 2nd class.

Thank goodness you took care of it!!!

Snick & Viv

I'm glad you took care of it. :)

I originally signed Jackson up for those classes as a pup but before even trying it, I opted out and got my money back. I just thought it was a lot of money and I decided I wanted to try and and train him myself! So far, so good. He's pretty obedient (of course, he has his moments!) but I liked doing the training myself. In the future, I would maybe like to sign him up for some intermediate or advanced classes just to freshen him up, but not at Petsmart.

pet smart class
 

My first class was pretty good I thought the trainer knew what she was doing. I also look before I took the class and one of the trainer had a middle size poodle and it was a wild one. I just some help. little bit went out of her outside potty pen and was running around the front yard about dust so it was hard to see her and to had to keep a eye on the street.She has to learn to come to me or she going to get killed. I watch her but she will go right between my feet the pen is just right outside the garage door. She had gotten so much better but lately she has been trying me.