Dog Services, Late night rant. *warning LONG post*
 

Hello all. I've actually been wanting to post this for a while, but I keep thinking that I'm overreacting. at this point, I know I'm not. I am having the absolute hardest time finding a puppy class or a mobile dog groomer in my area. Right when I feel I have made some progress, something ridiculous happens.

*Mobile Groomer*
I am trying to find a mobile geoomer to give my little guy a haircut. I found one that actually works in my area, but when I asked if they had a vaccination requirement, to which they responded with "yes." No details whatsoever. So I responded to the email with, "can I please have details on what the requirement is?" to which they responded with "fully vaccinated." no details. So I asked again, to which they responded "first 3 vaccines." To that I responded "3 DHPP? Which 3?" Only to never hear from them again. It's been days. They were quick to give me an appointment day and time after my first email where I inquired if they work in my area. They gave me an appointment without asking if my pup had been vaccinated. If they have a vaccination requirement, which is something they're setting, why is it so hard for them to tell me what it is?

*Puppy Class*
I had purchased puppy level 1 and 2 classes at my local PetCo before JakJak even came home. I purchased the plan from the manager who was also the in store trainer. After talking to her, seeing her facilities, and visiting 3 other facilities, I picked PetCo. A month after purchasing my pet plan, JakJak came home. He needed a vaccine to be eligible for puppy class, which meant he had to wait until Feb to start class. Due to this, I came in to talk to the manager. The person I had talked to and felt comfortable with, no longer works there. I spoke to the new manager and the new puppy trainer who is not PetCo employee. At this point I feel like I'm stuck. No other store will allow me to train with a harness. They all expect me to use a collar on a 2.5 lb dog. (He was less than 2.5 lbs then) so I agree to come in on the agreed upon Saturday. I exchane numbers with the trainer per her request, and go home.

Saturday rolls around, the 2nd Saturday in Feb, and it's our 1st puppy class. I show up early. I get there, she recognizes JakJak, but asks me all sorts of questions like she and I had never spoken to each other before. She honestly seemed flustered. She claims to have lost her copy of my paperwork and asked if she could see mine. I hand it over, which has my receipt attached. She then proceeds to tell me that she can't allow me and JakJak to stay. She had to cancel last week's level 2 puppy class, which was full of large breed puppies. It wouldn't be safe for JakJak to stay. She also said she was keeping my paperwork to make a copy or reference to find her copy, but that I would definitely see her the following week. She felt bad, gave us a giant bag of cookies, gave me a hug and sent us home. I naively trusted her because I would be seeing her the following week.
It's now the following week. I text her to confirm if we were going to have puppy class. No response. I text again 2 hours later. She cancels class.

Another week passes. I text to confirm puppy class. No response. Sunday I go to the store and spoke to the manager. He informed me that the trainer was in the hospital. I asked of there was an alternative, a refund option, or what I was suppose to do. He took down my info and said he would give me store credit towards anything, but that he hoped I would reconsider. I did inform him that I would look into my options and I would let him know.

Another week passes, and I was unable to find a trainer that would let me train with a harness. I come back to PetCo. The usual manager I talked to isn't there, but the employees told me that the trainer was back at work. I thought that was great and that she'd probably call me. No call.

Yesterday, Saturday, I text her. No answer. I go back to the store, which is another week later, hoping to speak to the manager. as I go back to find him, I run into the trainer. The week prior I took the training calendar with me, there is no puppy level 1 class listed for that day. I stop to talk to her. She doesn't have time for me because class was about to start. Had I known, I would have brought my pup. I did tell her I had heard she was ill, and that I was glad she was feeling better, but I wanted to know when my pup was going to be included in classes again. She tried to dismiss me because she had a class that was about to begin. I insisted that we connect at some point, as I did text her around 9 am, and it was now 1 pm. She informs me that ahe doesn't check her phone because she doesn't have her schedule until she gets to PetCo. Weird if you ask me. She confirms that she has my number. Insee that she got my texts cause I see her screen. She then tries to excuse herself because she was in the hospital. Ok, but she called all the other people to come to class. She asks how old JakJak is, he's now 5 months old and 3 lbs. He's aging out of puppy level. She tells me to come in next week at that time. She sends me a text to confirm my number. I stay to talk to the manager. He's glad we connected.

An hour ago, I get a flash on my phone of a new voicemail. She called me yesterday to ask me not to come. That her puppy class was full. She offered 4 private sessions instead of 6 group classes. She also asks rhat I no longer try to contact her on her personal phone. Instead if I need to reach her, to call the store.

It's not her fault that my phone did not notify me of the voicemail. it's not her fault that she got sick. But I am angry that for some reason, I am always left chasing her. She called all the others to come to class, why didn't she call me?

I will say you have much more patience then I have. I do realize you're strapped because of this collar vs harness rule some trainers have. Can you speak to the manager and explain what's going on and see if the manager can arrange training sessions with another PetCo store transferring your payment to the other PetCo. Offering a store credit is to me ridiculous when your payment was for training.

Believe me, what ever you paid for training, you could easily use up that store credit in no time, but why have to shell out extra money for training.

Very stressful between groomer and PetCo.

Oh yikes that sounds terrible. My mobile groomer groomed Joey and Ollie without all their shots but maybe it was because we already had a relationship. I wish you lived near me we have an awesome local trainer. I’m just so sorry your having such issues. I would be so angry at this point. It’s like these days people have no customer service niceness it’s crazy.

Right?! I could easily use the credit up on food, but Petco doesn't carry the kind of food I feed JakJak. I'm going to try to speak to the manager in person today. I also am trying to be understanding that she had a medical emergency, but there is a line between being understanding of her medical emergency and being taken advantage of. I think they have clearly crossed the line.

Honestly, I think JakJak would have been groomed this weekend if I just didn't ask that question about the vaccinations. They didn't even ask in their initial response if JakJak had ANY vaccinations. It was just "yeah we'll take him this Saturday." I use to groom Kaji myself, but JakJak is feistier. I don't know that I can get through grooming him.

As for training, JakJak and I are doing well on our own. He knows sit, down, stay, leave it (food or toys), loose leash walking, he sits before we cross the street (most of the time :rolleyes:) but we're a work in progress! He's only 5 months old.Next we're going to tackle getting him to pick up his toys on command, transition potty training from the piddle pad inside to outdoor potty. What I wanted for him from puppy class was the interaction with other pups. He was suppose to have Kaji as a bud, but we all know that didn't work out.

I totally get it. I wanted more socialization with Ollie so did two different classes but he was the only pup. Luckily the trainers were able to adjust and fit the class to him. I do a lot of work on my own with mine too.

As you well know this is the most important part of going for training, to socialize him at a young age being around other dogs. I have a rescue boy that was not socialized being around other dogs and let me tell you, it's quite embarrassing to me when he goes into Cujo mode when we're in PetSupples or other pet stores. My now passed girls were socialized as soon as they had their last vaccine around 5 1/2 mos old, I then started them on outdoor potty from indoor pads, we met lots of dogs on our walks plus I had family that had dogs. So, I am not use to a little dog wanting to take on any size dogs. Going to the vet is a trip, if there are other dogs in the waiting room I have to carry him in, very humiliating for me when he goes into attack mode.
I hope you can straighten this out with PetCo. I don't have one near me, but they sell clothes, toys and the such, that store credit will be used up fast. I just can't get if the trainer is not getting to your dog why should you have to pay the penalty and not get a full refund. Maybe get in touch with the main PetCo headquarters.

This is why I wanted to train him around other dogs! :( What I find scary about running into dogs on the street is that owners let their dogs lunge at you and your dog with no regard for size difference or safety. Even if the other dog is being friendly, there is an appropriate way to greet a dog on the street. The owner MUST HAVE CONTROL. We just got lunged at by a golden retriever that an owner allowed to walk all over me and my 3 lb baby. Not cool.

When it comes to dog toys and clothes, etc. I'm a minimalist. I'm a minimalist with myself as well, it's just a lifestyle choice. However, JakJak is way more destructive than Kaji ever was with toys. His favorite toy at the moment is a plastic water bottle. I don't need to go to a pet supply place for that :p. I have purchased a replacement already for 1 stuffy that was shredded by his cousin (girl poodle). There really is not enough toy destruction to exhaust an over $200 credit. As for clothes, I don't buy a ton of that either. Clothes are for cold weather. We're heading into Spring and Summer, which means I'll have a constantly nekkid boy. :) I may buy a Dodger jersey, as I plan on having him go to a Dodger game with me later this year, and then nothing until the cold weather creeps up again.

I hear ya.
I was very fortunate when I walked my dogs, never had one lunge at my pack.
I don't like store credits, never had any but I wouldn't like to be compelled to have to buy at one given place. My girls were very destructive with toys also, killed in 10 minutes, no plush toys, the stuffing was always scattered about the place including bed and sofa lol, wild tom boys is what I had lol.
I would go right to the top, PetCo headquarters instead of these ppl jerking you around. I know I would be livid.
Proper socialization of a puppy is so important.

Sorry you are going through this.