First Friend K-9 Training

great as promised

unknown

.

.

My experience with them was great.

unknown

unknown

.

unknown

unknown

Great!

unknown

The instructors were very professional and knowledgeable. As with any ''puppy'' class, the class was really for the owner. The instructor explained everything (training and general pet ownership) clearly and thoroughly and provided wonderful supplemental materials. My only complaint is that the class was very large. I would estimate that there were 35 to 40 dogs plus an average of two people per dog. The class was very hectic and it was difficult to keep up if your puppy wasn't performing properly. The main instructor and his assistants were very helpful, if they had a chance to get around to you. When I had an issue I wanted to discuss with them I would call during non-class hours to get help - which they were always willing to do and very helpful and pleasant. I probably wouldn't use them again because of the size issue. I would definitely consider them for private training if I were to have serious issues with my dog.

The intake of our dog was thorough, shots, temperament, our expectations or trouble spots, etc. Our dog went from wild and out of control to manageable in just a week. If I could have afforded it he would have been there longer. We have even received a followup call from his trainer to make sure things were going well. The followup courses are working. The classes are large but it allows the dogs to get used to other dogs/people in close proximity. However, I think the classes are meant more to train the people than the dogs.

Bruce's assertion that First Friends had not trimmed the dog's nails was ridiculous. The groomer probably put soap on the nail, which dislodged when the dog got to my house. We had no taken the dog anywhere but the car. After hanging up, I wrote Bruce a letter noting that I am a licensed attorney and not in the habit of lying. I demanded the $170 back that I had paid for boarding and grooming the dog as compensation for the time and effort it took to clean my rugs and respond to his ridiculous denial that he had trimmed the dogs nails. Also, I never ordered the nail clipping in the first place. At that time, he insisted that he had said he did not quick the dog's nails. He denied saying he had not clipped or trimmed the dogs nails. After discussion, he offered to refund the price of the grooming ($35). I got a check in the mail a few days later for $10. I want my $170 back, minus the $10.

IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE. OUR PUPPY WAS ABLE TO LEARN MANY THINGS. OF COURSE, THEY ARE ''TRAINING'' THE OWNERS TOO! OUR GREAT DANE WAS REALLY NEEDING SOME DISCIPLINE AND THIS CLASS WAS VERY HELPFUL. THE AMOUNT OF SUCCESS IS GREATLY DEPENDENT ON HOW MUCH YOU PRACTICE WITH YOUR PET BETWEEN LESSONS.

VERY ORGANIZED, STARTS ON TIME. FULL OF GOOD INFORMATION.

ANIMAL WAS INJURED AT FACILITY. THIS WAS NOT REPORTED. I INCURRED ADDITIONAL VET EXPENSES FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT. ANIMAL WAS BOARDED MORE THAN ONCE, EACH TIME MY DOG CAME BACK ''NOT HIMSELF'', WAS FEARFUL & WOULD NOT EAT. I WOULD DEFINITELY NOT RECOMMEND FIRST FRIENDS K-9 FOR BOARDING.

I HAD A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE WITH FIRST FRIEND TRAINING SERVICES WHEN I TRAINED MY FIRST DOG 16 YEARS AGO. MY EXPERIENCE WITH MY NEW DOG WAS A NIGHTMARE. UPON PAYING FOR MY SERVICES, I WAS PROMPTLY INFORMED THAT MY DOG WAS OF A BREED THAT HE DID NOT LIKE AND CONSIDERED ''RUINED''. I EXPLAINED THAT I HAD RESEARCHED THE BREED AND BLOOD LINES OF THIS DOG AND THAT I DID NOT AGREE. MY PARTICULAR DOG WAS SWEET AND HAS A GOOD NATURE. HE SAID HE DID NOT BELIEVE ME. I WAS INSULTED, BUT STARTED THE CLASS ANYWAY DUE TO MY POSITIVE PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE. I LEFT THE CLASS AFTER ONE OF THE TRAINERS WAS ROUGH WITH MY SHY COCKER SPANIEL. HE PULLED THE DOG OFF THE GROUND BY HIS CHOKER CHAIN, WHICH INTIMIDATED MY DOG. WE DID NOT RETURN AND FOUND EXCELLENT TRAINING ELSEWHERE.

WE TOOK OUR PUPPY TO ''PUPPY KINDERGARTEN'' CLASSES AND IT WAS WELL WORTH THE MONEY. THE STAFF WAS SO CARING! THEY GAVE US TIPS NOT ONLY ON DISCIPLINE, BUT ALSO IN REGARDS TO TIPS FOR GREAT TRAINING, HEALTHY EATING, AND CHANGING OUR BEHAVIOR! JUDY AND DEAN DEFINITELY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT! THE CLASS NOT ONLY TRAINS THE DOG, IT ALSO TRAINS THE OWNERS. THE CLASS IS DEFINITELY DESIGNED FOR ALL OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS TO ATTEND. YOUNG CHILDREN WERE UTILIZED QUITE OFTEN FOR SOCIALIZATION OF THE DOGS. THEY TRULY CARE FOR ALL OF THE DOGS. THEIR TRAINING WAS VERY HUMANE AND REASONABLE. WE SAW RESULTS AFTER THE FIRST CLASS! I DEFINITELY WOULD RECOMMEND FIRST FRIENDS!

JUDY AND BOB WERE THE TRAINERS. DEAN, THE OWNER, IS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND FRIENDLY. THEY WILL WORK WITH YOU IF YOU ENCOUNTER ANY PROBLEMS BETWEEN CLASSES.

DEAN ELLERY SEEMS WELL INFORMED ABOUT DOGS, BUT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH. THE REST OF THE STAFF IS BETTER WITH PEOPLE.

OUR 9 MONTH OLD LAB WAS DRIVING US CRAZY WITH HER WILD, UNRULY BEHAVIOR. AFTER 4 WEEKS WITH SANDY, WE HAVE THE WONDERFUL, CALM, OBEDIENT COMPANION WE WANTED.

A MEETING WITH MR. ELLERY WAS REQUIRED PRIOR TO SIGNING UP FOR A CLASS BUT HE WOULD NOT EVEN TALK TO ME UNTIL I PAID MY MONEY. VERY ABRUPT, DISINTERESTED. THE CLASS WAS TOO LARGE, ABOUT 20 DOGS. TOO MANY FOR INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION.

ON 2/12 MET I WITH DEAN ELERY, THE OWNER, TO ATTEND OBEDIENCE CLASSES WITH MY NEW PUPPY. THE SAME EVENING I PAID THE FULL AMOUNT WITH MY CREDIT CARD FOR CLASS THAT WERE SCHEDULED TO COMMENCE 2/20.THERE WAS NO WORK OR SERVICES PERFORMED.