dog zone blame the customer Internet, Internet

I have been coming to DogZone off and on (once with a friend and now as a student) and the trainer of DogZone is phenomenal!!! Building that relationship with your dog is super important and trust is a big factor in that as well. How can you get the dog to trust you if you use fear and harsh tactics to get the point across. I myself am also a trainer and I would NEVER tolerate that sort of behavior either in my classes. Its all about having fun and making it fun for your dog. Dogs are eager to please and they look forward to recieving something (wether its play, treats, pets, praise, or all of the above) after a job well done. 

So unfortunate that people can't take a step back to realize their faults and make efforts to find reason and repair themselves. For Donna of DogZone, you rock and I am nothing but thrilled to be your student!!! Keep on doing an amazing job! You've already done wonders for us and we've only had one class. 

I happen to be in the same class as the person filing the negative report against Dog Zone. I am also a retired police officer who has had much exposure to K-9 training and the owner of two American Bulldogs. The gentleman who wrote the report should never ever be a dog owner. There was no problem with the training (which was excellent) or the trainer (who knows what she is doing) or with the dog (a beautiful smart dobby). The owner seemed to think the dog should just respond to him because he said so and was obviously frustrated at his lack of success. He seems to have a problem with his temper as well as his ego and became defensive every time the trainer tried to help him. The event that got him kicked out of the class was his treatment of his dog as he took it behind the agility equipment and slammed it to the ground and as witnessed by me. I would have brought it to the trainers attention however she saw what happened and told him she would not tolerate abusing dogs in her facility, the man left dragging the dog behind him, I truly hope that he gives this dog to a responsible person who appreciates working with a strong dog.

Susan Payne

Yes, you did leave on your own, just before I was to dismiss you. The entire class had had enough of your rough behavior, excuses that your dog can't focus or is too distracted with other dogs around. Fritz is in desparate need of proper socialization as he too was becoming aggressive and ill behaved when introduced to the other puppies. My only mistake was letting it go on far too long. I will not make that mistake again. 

    Yes, I do consider it abusive when you shove your dog against the wall, push, use harsh complulsive techniques and attempt to hide behind the A-Frame and slam your puppy to the floor. I am sorry that you feel a DVD and a cheap plastic collar are your best methods within the confinds of your house. But, it is through proper socialization, training and treatment of the puppy that he will only attain his true potential. That will not happen now, sorry to say. Should this site contact me I will gladly give them the names of the other clients in the class that will give their sides of this sad story. I wish Fritz luck and proper kind treatment.

     i have owned 15 dogs in my lifetime and i have never been abusive to any of them. i don't like this he said she said espically about abuse. everyone who knows me knows i don't abuse anamils. ripoff report will have to ask people in the classes and see for themselves. i left the class voluntarily, i was not asked to leave.



     again, blame the customer if the dog doesn't respond. its easier than giving proper instruction, or keep giving treats until either the dog gets fat or doesn't respond anymore if you don't have treats.



     for $75 you can purchase don sullivan's "secrets to training the perfect dog " its two dvd's. its easy to train your dog at home and you save $100 from dog zone classes and you get a responsive dog that doesn't require constant treats.

I have been taking classes at Dog Zone Training and Activity Center for a bit over a year.  While I cannot speak to the specific incident as I was not present,  I can speak to the trainer's abilities and methods. She has at least 30 years experience working with dogs and even specializes in helping those with breeds known to have aggression issues.



I have a service dog and was looking for ways to have some fun and deepen our bond beyond our daily working/ training. I am so grateful that I found Dog Zone. The trainer is top notch and grand at thinking out of the box to be sure the dog and handler can work together with her assistance to acheive their goals, ranging from basic obedience to competition level in the various dog sports, such as rally, competition obedience and Treibball to name a few.



Her positive reinforcement methods are in place to help keep the dog happy and willing to please. If you want to use treats, great... if not, petting, verbal praise, even a quick game with a favorite toy during a pause in the training session is permitted. Whatever works best for you and your dog. If you are not sure what that is, she is also great at reading your relationship with your dog and will offer training tips and suggestions to acheive the desired response.



Dogs are not robots and certainly all will not respond to the same methods. The dog that is present during most training is well trained, and I have seen her respond to an amazing amount of commands and at times there has been nothing present but a good pet or "Good girl...that's my girl" and she is content with that.



All that wish to train at Dog Zone are informed that harsh treatment of their dogs will not be permitted.  A shame this gentleman did not want to discuss further with the trainer his objection to using treats, and allow her to work out a method of training that would have allowed the dog and handler to become one, as I have with my dog.



I cannot recommend this trainer or facility enough. Nowhere else will you find a facility and trainer that keeps the dog's happiness and safety first and paramount.

It saddens me to have to file a rebuttal to such false accusations and half truths. I am a positive reinforcement trainer and behaviorist. I have been training and working with dogs for 30 years and never have I allowed any harsh or abusive actions in my classes or facility. The dogs in question are or were really nice dogs, with great potential. The handler, the gentleman (losely stated), is of the old school with heavy handed compulsion techniques. While this thinking may have been acceptable before we started to become more civil and positive with a truly intelligent animal (dogs), it certainly isn't acceptable nor purposeful by todays modern standards of training. Positive reinforcement may be performed on many levels, verbal praise, petting, play, and yes treats. All of my dogs have been trained with one or combined positive techniques. My "old" dog of 5 years, is a 5 times over titled champion, she holds 22 titles. She works almost every day and yes, on occassion makes a miscue. Dogs are not robots and quite frankly, I like when there is a miscue so that my students can see the proper way to redirect or correct. 
    On numerous occassions he was warned of his treatment of the dog and his compulsion. No dog deserves this treatment and he was spoken to perhaps too many times. But, I was worried about the pup being ruined and felt that by keeping him in classes I could somehow change his way of treating and thinking of the dog. I in hindsight should have dismissed him as I have others for mistreatment of their dogs. The first dog, Wolfie, finally after too much heavy handed treatment by his handler turned on him and was returned to the kennel and sadly labeled "vicious". The same treatment continued with his second Doberman, to the point where he took the dog behind the A-Frame and slammed him to the ground. I did loudly admonish him and on that night he was caught and embarrassed and stormed out. As for his plastic Don Sullivan collar, it is not the device it is the technique, the energy and the manner in which you train. Full moon? Not sure what he means by that, but, it saddens to me to wonder if Fritz will eventually suffer the same consequence as Wolfie did. This man has no business handling or owning dogs.