As part of Merlin's socialising I signed up with various puppy classes, including my vets local puppy party and my own training club's course. Somehow I was also persuaded to join with the 'Big Pet Store chain' puppy classes, a 4 week course.
Unfortunately these people get more training on how to close the deal than how to train dogs. I can speak from experience here. I was so unhappy with the training I received I paid and enrolled myself in a training program through a different company, just to learn what to actually do.
Ok, so I did not expect great things, but I was more than disappointed. I have discussed this over with my own trainer and she personally thinks I should make a written complaint to the company due to my concerns, I am reluctant to do this but as she said puppies are the most vulnerable group for training and there are issues.
Please do write a letter, I would explain in detail what you were not happy with, and that you'd like your money back. In full.
1) Trainer was one of the staff, all of 20 yrs old, has only owned a dog 6 months, has no qualifications or experience at all.
Don't think all young trainers are inexperienced. Some of them have gone to special schools to become trainers, based on what your saying in the rest of this though, I'd agree with you on this particular person.
2) On arrival all pups are expected to go in an x-pen to 'socialise'. As you can imagine this pen is tiny and pups have no room to get away from one another if needs be. First week there was only a chihuahua so I let Merlin go in. Second week there was a very big and bouncy lab pup (utterly gorgeous :wink: ) He pretty much filled the pen by himself, Merlin was completely happy with him as he 'gets' labs, but another pup could be intimidated and scared. Not a good thing for socialisation.
While socialization is important, they need room. When I was employed by a big box store, I used I think 6 x-pens all combined to give them room. If they are properly supervised by trained staff this is good, otherwise run, screaming and flailing your arms.
3) When trainer discovered Merlin did not pull on the lead, he wanted to set him up in a situation that would cause him to pull so he could show me how to correct it. I politely refused.
This right there screams run and get your money back at me. You ALWAYS set up a dog to succeed, not to fail.
4) First 1hr+ session was entirely devoted to recall training! Not only was it monotonous for owners, but incredibly tiring for the pups. I again withdrew Merlin when I felt he was getting too tired from the exercises. (By this point I was getting a little unpopular :wink: )
I agree that recall training is important, but the first thing any training class should do is teach you how to get and keep your puppy attention. Most of the first class should have been spent with the trainer talking, not actually doing anything. By the end of one of my first classes, my throat is sore, and I'm tired of talking. The only thing people learn is how to start their marker training(load the clicker) and the 'watch me' command. That's it with the dog.
5) The sessions were far too long, expected too much, didn't take account of the pups' ages and didn't allow breaks for rest.
1 hour is the max a lesson should be, with lots of breaks that the dogs don't actually do anything. This is a great time for the trainer to explain things while the dogs have a 'brain break'
6) I was told there would be clicker training. I brought my clicker and have be using it from the start. On the second session the 'trainer' appeared and asked me how I used the clicker. A bit stunned, I explained, he stated;
"That's not how I use it. My dog sits when I click it."
So he used it as a command, rather than a reinforcement marker :? What a waste of a clicker. He then wanted to try it on a rottie pup. I loaned him my spare clicker and off he went. I listened to him for a while, after 2 or 3 minutes he returned and gave it back.
"Didn't work." He stated - no of course not he hadn't primed it or anything!
This guy sounds like a frekin moron
7) A serious concern was that the shop is open at all times during the lessons and pups are loose in the store. I did not know this at the start and thought the shop would be shut (The lessons are 6.30pm). The lab pup nearly escaped out the doors and into the busy car park!
You can't really expect them to close a business for the small amount of money they make from dog training(insurance eats up 90% of what you pay them) but there should be a seperate area that gets enclosed so the dogs can't get away.
8) Pups are forced to progress too fast. I feel partially responsible as I have done some pre-training with Merlin so he looks good, especially at hide and seek recalls. The trainer then moved dogs onto hide-and-seek with distractions, fine for Merlin, but the rottie pup hadn't mastered a basic recall so this was of course a failure. Pups were effectively being set up to fail through inexperience.
One of the first things I tell people in class, is don't compare your dog to any other dog. Each dog is an individual and progresses at it's own rate. This guy is why there should be licensing requirements for dog trainers.
9) By the second session owners were asking me how to train their dogs because I appeared more knowledgeable than the trainer, particularly when it came to the clicker!
Offer to teach a class for 10 bucks a week
10) Sadly pups with behavioral issues where being brought to the classes and serious damage could be caused by the inexperienced and ignorant handling they were receiving.
Behavior modification is best done seperatly and by someone specifically trained to do it. I had to take special courses and study a lot longer on behavior modification than I did on basic obedience training. This guy is in for a rude awakening. he is going to get bit, bad.
Unquestionably and emphatically YES!!!!!
Certainly I advise pup owners to AVOID these classes, please, they are really no good for training. An experienced owner might find them useful for socialisation if you are prepared to stand up for your pup and refuse to do exercises that don't feel right, but then again you could just as easily take your pup to the shop during the day and not pay the class fee.
I am really disheartened as this is a big brand and lots of new pup owners will be lured into taking the classes.
Unfortunately lots of dogs will be lured into this class. Trainers are expected to spend most of their time on the floor selling selling selling. They know quite a few tricks to get people to sign up. By all means tell every person you see with a puppy to avoid them, tell them why though otherwise it just sounds like you don't like the person/store.
Please, write a letter but let me point out a few things for and against your arguments.
and can only echo everyone else; Complain in writing, Get your money back and definitely Get Merlin's pic down. The store had nothing to do with his performance- that is all your hard work 
There are a couple independently owned ones, as well as a PetSmart close by. Or if anyone is from Southern Ontario and has recommendations that would be wonderful as well!