Just wants to do agility...

[AbbeyRoad]

Abbey has gone through some basic training classes at a major chain pet store (where I've been working part-time since i was laid off), but I would like to take it to the next level and I'd also like to explore some other things such as agility which I think she would really enjoy and would help boost her confidence. I put a lot of time & effort into researching places near me in what sort of classes they offer & what techniques they use as well as what kind of facilities & equipment they have and if they accept titers vs. vacs and I finally made a decision on a place. Monday I went in and asked 100 more questions and signed her up for a class that works on additional obedience as well as begins to introduce them to the agility equipment. It seemed perfect...

Then on Tuesday I received a phone call from them that they over booked the class and I wouldn't be able to take it. I was bummed and asked about when the next class was, but it didn't start for 6 wks and the lady couldn't remember the exact time/date, but said she knew it was on a Sat, which is the one day both my husband and I work. I then asked her about getting a refund, and was told that my card was never charged. Which was odd because I had an invoice...and if they didn't charge me what were they doing with my card...the whole situation didn't sit right with me and the woman seemed very unwilling to work with me and not in anyway apologetic in what seemed to me to be a mistake on their part. At any rate she wasn't in the office and was going to call me back later with info on the charge to my card.

So later that day I checked my voicemail and I had a message from her, I called her back, but apparently she hadn't called me & it was an old voicemail. I had done more thinking after our previous conversation and I really wanted to take classes at this place so since I had her on the phone I decided to see if there was any class I could get into, but it seemed no matter what I asked the answer was always no. Finally I was like, "I just don't understand how there is no way to figure something out," which is when she she told me that she had trainers from my work take classes there before and try to steal her clients and was not going to let me do that to her again...

I was shocked. I tried to explain to her over and over how I just wanted to take classes (I was the one who told them where I worked so they wouldn't find it strange if they found out later), how we don't even offer the level of classes she is teaching and that any dog I would even come in contact with in the classes would have already have to have completed the training levels we do have. How we actually refer people to locations like hers for dogs that need a behaviorist or want to go beyond our level of training. On and on and on about how I just want to take classes for my dog and how I'm not that type of person, etc., etc. The conversation ended with her saying she had to think about it and would call me back the next morning (Wed).

I never heard from her in the morning and on my way back from an apt I had I had to drive right past their building and decided to stop in in hopes of smoothing things out. Needless to say I went in to explain again and again how I just want to take classes, and I was in tears. All she could tell me was that she had made a decision and wasn't going to let me take classes.

I understand her position, but it is very hard, I'm taking this as a customer because to me that is all I am...a customer wanting to sign her dog up for class. I am just so crushed. I have spent all day looking for another location, but I can't seem to find anywhere that really uses true positive reinforcement, offers agility, obedience, good citizen, etc and is close. I just feel terrible that my pup is being punished for my place of employment, especially in this economy (I only work there approx 8 hrs/wk), and I work there because my love for my animals is so strong that it made me want to work in an environment where I can be around animals all the time. I can't understand why allowing me to sign up for class with the stipulation that if i did try to do something inappropriate I would not be welcome and my money would not be refunded is not enough. It turns out also that these trainers were not actually from my store either, but regardless if they were doing something like this they should take legal action against them.

I also feel stuck now, if I ever do find a place what do I do now? I feel like I should tell them where I work almost even more now knowing what a big deal it can become, but am I going to be blacklisted from every training facility out there? I can't afford to quit my job, but I also don't want to not continue Abbey's training until I find another job because that will probably be at least another 9 months.

I just don't know what to do, and I just feel hurt.

[Jan]

It sounds to me that she is discriminating against you because of where you work. I would be wanting to contact a lawyer, maybe the local news station or newpaper. It is ridiculous that she won't let you take a class. All she would have to do, is to have you sign a waiver that you won't approach any of her clients regarding training classes at you place of employment. I would fight it.

[RolenKisses]

I agree with Jan. I would think a waiver that said you wouldn't approach any other clients about your place of employment would be a legal document that would protect her, but let you take the class. It doesn't sound fair to me. Where in Illinois are you?

[AbbeyRoad]

I live in Algonquin which is a Northwest suburb.

I thought about looking into a lawyer, but by this point I would wonder if the whole experience would be compromised because of all of this. If I could find somewhere else to go that wasn't like an hour drive that would be great, but so far it seems that everywhere else uses training methods I'd like to stay away from or doesn't offer obedience & agility. They also don't seem to have classes starting until late June/July which kind of stinks also. I may end up having to find one place that does obedience and another for agility. There are a couple that teach one or the other that I'm going to check out, but again I don't think they have classes starting for a month or two, but it is still better than nothing.

Thank you so much for the support.

[TwoDogs]

If you put up a stink and she does eventually let you in the class, what kind of experience will you end up with? I guarantee that the whole thing will be stressful and that both of you will be watching what you say and do around each other. That's not the kind of relationship you want to have with your trainer. You want a trainer that is going to be supportive and constructive, not one that you feel as though you have to act guarded around all the time. If it were me, I would not bother trying to get into her classes. Even if she were the only place in the area, it sounds like it would be more worth your time, money, and effort to go somewhere farther away.

[AbbeyRoad]

Yeah, TwoDogs that is where I am at. I thought that once it was out in the open and discussed that maybe she would let me in class and we could move past it, but since that wasn't the case I don't think "forcing" my way in is going to result in the experience I am looking for. Her loss.

I do think that I found a place to go to today. It is an obedience/agility club that isn't too far away. The only downside is that their next session doesn't begin until the last week of June, but I've spoken to several people who have gone there and enjoyed it and several of them had tried a few of the other places I was curious about and they all agreed that this was their favorite. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but it looks good.

Thanks again for the support.