WARNING! PETER HARGREAVES DOG HARMONY SKELMERSDALE This is my experience, but I am not alone, there are many of us. I have carefully worded this review of Peter Hargreaves' Dog Harmony, for a concise summary, rather than the emotional account of what has actually been a dreadful experience. As corroboration, I have a court judgement in my favour in my case against Peter Hargreaves at Wigan Court. I recently won my case against Peter Hargreaves t/a Dog Harmony, with a judgement order for him to pay to me the sum of over £1500, including all dog training fees, court costs & expenses. There have been other court judgements against Peter Hargreaves of Dog Harmony, and many cases pending. There are also charges of animal cruelty by the RSPCA in a case at Wigan Court. With regard to the shocking business history (strike offs & disqualification) of Peter Hargreaves of Skelmersdale, this is all on public record via Companies House register. To summarise my case against Peter Hargreaves, I entered into an agreement with him to train my dog (for dog reactivity issues) on his '14 day intensive residential dog training program plus full handover training session'. I did so on the basis of the following: his credentials and quality assurances as stated at his Dog Harmony website, his authorship of 'The Dog Harmony Dog Foundation Training Program', and his website showcase of hundreds of 5-star reviews of his dog training services. These claimed credentials, quality assurances and positive reviews induced me into the purchase of Peter Hargreaves' dog training services that I would not have otherwise. Unfortunately, Peter Hargreaves failed to provide me with the 'guaranteed results', '100% satisfaction', 'ongoing support', and 'follow up sessions free of charge', as stated at the Dog Harmony website. And following my experience of his incompetence and grossly unprofessional conduct, I discovered misrepresentations and fabrications of his claimed credentials, quality assurances and positive reviews. I have documented evidence of all of this. Peter Hargreaves misrepresented himself, and in doing so, this false and misleading information constitutes a breach of contract. Misleading the consumer is an offence under Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, and that fraudulent misrepresentation & theft by deception are offences under the Misrepresentation Act 1967 & the Fraud Act 2006. The hundreds of purported 5-star reviews of Peter Hargreaves' dog training services are actually fake reviews, produced in association with social media management agents as paid for reviews. In recent months, the Daily Mirror newspaper has published 2 investigations (available online) into the reviews system of the social media management agency, Social Buzzing, which shares many of the same reviewers of those of Dog Harmony; and recently, the Trustpilot reviews site has placed warnings of fake reviews on both Social Buzzing and Dog Harmony pages at that site. Indeed, scrutiny of reviews of Peter Hargreaves' dog training services is particularly revealing, with reviewers located across the globe, multiple reviews by the same reviewer but each review with a different dog name/breed/issue, and these reviewers also giving 5-star reviews to the same group of businesses associated with Social Buzzing. A particularly interesting observation on Google reviews, is that there are so many reviewers who have visited both Peter Hargreaves in Skelmersdale, UK, AND Wisconsin Scaryland Haunted House, USA. The categorical statement at Peter Hargreaves' Dog Harmony website: 'I have never worked with a dog that did not find huge success and I've never had a client that was displeased with my services.' is evidently untrue as there are actually many negative reviews and complaints online from many displeased clients, to which Peter Hargreaves has actually made online responses, and so he is evidently aware of many 'displeased' clients. In response to these negative reviews by 'displeased' clients, Peter Hargreaves has repeatedly made claims of the dog owner's inability to handle a dog, rather than to acknowledge any lack of expertise on his part as the 'dog trainer'. Following my dreadful experience with Peter Hargreaves, I did find a dog trainer who does actually have the necessary expertise for training reactive dogs; and it took only a one-hour training session with Danny Wells of Unleashed, for me to be able to walk my dog on-lead without dog reactivity issue. As for the 'Dog Harmony Dog Foundation Training Program' manual, this is not the work of Peter Hargreaves, but an unauthorised copy of the work of Sean O'Shea of The Good Dog Way Training & Rehabilitation, USA. Investigations into the activities of Peter Hargreaves are ongoing by Lancashire Trading Standards, West Lancashire Council, and Lancashire Constabulary. Please search Facebook for Exposing Peter Hargreaves for more information and evidence from many former clients. read more

My partner and I own 2 dogs. We have a beautiful Doberman bitch called Bella who at the age of six seemed to just exist, she didn't seem to enjoy walks and just walked along with us and at home she would just sleep, so we both decided to get her a friend for company and to bring her back out of herself. Along came our second dog, a stunning Doberman puppy (dog) called Ian which changed everything. His behaviour soon developed into a very stressful situation for us. Both dogs began to take over our lives, we were suddenly confined to the house due to uncontrollable walks. Both dogs would pull so badly that no harness or Halti collar would help. Ian then started to bark at other dogs and as he got older he even started to see them off. Initially we contacted another dog trainer who told us (at the age of six months) to have him castrated, little did we know at the time that this was very bad advice. The other trainer also told us to yank him back when he pulled, which made him worse and actually resulted in Ian learning to bounce back and forward like a kangaroo. This worsening of his behaviour made us both feel very stressed as walking had gone from bad to worse, so bad the nightmare was starting to affect our relationship. Then one day we bumped into a lady whose dog was so well behaved, she told us all about Peter at Dog Harmony. We got in touch immediately and soon realised through Peters advice that we had actually been doing everything wrong including their food, sleeping and rest locations and the behaviour we were accepting around the house, all of which was having a knock on effect on how they were behaving on a walk. We immediately embarked on Peters new training programme and after investing time and effort their behaviour began to transform into an amazing result. Several months on and both of our beautiful Dobermans now respond to commands and walk nicely on loose leads and all achieved without treats or physical contact. As seen in the video I now have complete control whilst out walking and we are now enjoying life with our two lovely dogs. I recommend Peter to help with any dog situation, he has certainly changed our lives and for that we are truly grateful. Susan & Gary Crosby, Liverpool read more

I took my Dachshund for a training course with Peter. I am absolutely delighted with the results! The main issues I had with Fendi were aggressive behaviour towards other dogs and people, she had bitten a few people, and then she attacked and hurt one of my other dogs. I am amazed at the change in her after training with Peter. She now walks to heel, and I can confidently walk past any other dog or person without issue - my dog walks are now so much more relaxing and enjoyable! I was kept informed of her progress throughout her stay which was very reassuring. I was also very impressed with the handover process upon collection - Peter demonstrated and explained in detail the training he had undertaken with Fendi and I had the opportunity to try them out which I found hugely beneficial. I also went back for a further long training session which was hugely beneficial as Peter supervised how I was managing her training. I have had her home for two weeks now and I am still amazed by how much her behaviour has changed for the better, such a massive improvement. Now that I have the knowledge about how to handle and correct unwanted behaviour, I feel confident that I will be able to keep up her training, I now look forward to taking her out and showing her off for the wonderful dog she has become. Thanks so much to Peter, you took such good care of Fendi. Thank you, Peter, for taking her when there was little hope for her, and the kindness you showed us both can never be repaid. I would highly recommend you to anyone needing help with their dogs. read more

Hi Peter, sorry not been in touch earlier but phone broke and due to waiting for new phone I have also been locked out of my hotmail account for a month. I'm not IT savvy at all and still wait to get back into my account. I just wanted to thank you for helping my family and me. You may not remember me but you were going to come and see me and then my husband refused due to us having paid out a lot on Yogi so you kindly still gave me some tips. I just wanted to let you know that the tips have helped although we are still a long way off from having a fully trained dog I know time is what is needed and as long as the family all stay on the same page we will get there eventually. I changed Yogi onto raw food and he loves it he is still looking for food but not as bad as he was. I also use the spray which he hates and at times I do wonder am I doing it wrong because he runs round like a mad dog but it does stop him jumping at my daughter. We have started using 1 word chats with him which has also helped as sometimes I di think we talk to much at him which probably has confused him. I can't thank you enough and the tips you gave have been a great help. Regards read more

Peter came to help us with Ben (our boisterous staffie) when he started to display anti-social behaviour like barking and chasing strangers on our walks. As you can imagine this was both embarrassing and stressful in equal measure. Ben is a loving affectionate dog otherwise, and so I felt out of my depth as he was incredibly non selective and unpredictable. We contacted Peter from Dog Harmony has he has a history of resolving difficult behaviours quickly. Peter was friendly, confident and most importantly, knew exactly what he was doing. He made me feel at ease with the situation and positive that it could be managed and corrected. He managed to gain Bens trust in only half an hour (no small feat!). Peter took care and showed us how to gain control with simple commands to which Ben responded. Even better, Ben enjoyed the training so much! Our walks now are a joy once again with no fear of him misbehaving; he's like a different dog but with his same lovable personality. We met with Peter a handful of times for general obedience training few times, as well as communicated via email and text. His is genuinely a gifted dog trainer and I would highly recommend him. read more

I was at my wits end with my 14 month old border collie constant barking at nothing, snapping in a very aggressive manner at other dogs, people, bikes, cars in fact it seems everything. I heard about Peter from a friend who attended his pack walks so I gave him a call. Two appointments were made though I did not really expect much. Anyway after the first appointment and after Peter explained that I love my dog too much and over indulged in affection by allowing the dog to sleep on my bed, sit on the sofa and I quickly recognised that my dog controlled my life. After a few changes diet, rules and boundaries I could see the change in my dog. After the second appointment Peter came with his own dogs and we practised walking nicely with my dog and without pulling it was great. I feel that my dog and I are in a much better place still a way to go though. However I feel that I have my life again. I can walk Freddie now, he does not bark no where as much and he is far calmer. If you are stressing over your dog contact Peter as I am sure he can change your dog like he did with Freddie Thank You Peter read more

I am a UK based behaviourist and an expert witness under the dangerous dogs act I am also chairman of PAACT. I am Disney's behaviourist and have appeared on dozens of TV programs in short I am the genuine article. This man is a scammer a plagiarist and a dog abuser he is currently going through a court case in which he placed a prong collar on his own dog that caused grievous injuries to his boxer, the RSPCA are taking this case to court. He stole 15 of my articles and claimed he has written them I know of no behaviourist in the UK that would regularly use check chains or prong collars he also regularly uses shock collars. He was recently At Tameside Court, Peter Hargreaves of Dog Harmony and Nordenlights Golden Retrievers, has been found guilty on both charges of animal cruelty and neglect. The Court is considering a custodial sentence and he will receive a disqualification for owning, training and having animals in his care. The final court date is on the 21st of April when sentence will be passed . #peterhargreaves #skelmersdale #dogharmony #nordenlights #goldenretrievers #rspcaprosecution read more

We chose Peter because he had worked with two rescue dogs that had caused his problems and we could relate to that! We originally got Motzi 18 months ago but when Maisie came along six months ago it became double trouble! Peter taught us door and lead manners which both dogs picked up straight away. The next step was coping with traffic and aggression towards othis dogs. Peter gave us the tools and training to deal effectively with these situations. We are now confident owners and the dogs relate and react to this in a very positive manner. Diet tips and hierarchy within the pack were also addressed. Both dogs now play happily togethis and their relationship has improved immensely. We now enjoy our pets and we are in control of them rathis than them of us. I cannot thank Peter enough. Peter has also given detailed responses and feedback and continues to do so.Extremely good value for money. I cannot recommend Peter highly enough. Five stars. read more

I do not know to thank Peter, but he is the reason why my life and relationship with my 2-year-old German shepherd is a lot easier now. Before we found Peter, Buddy was a mess. Even though he was friendly, he had developed bad behaviours like jumping on visitors, pulling the leash, and chew my furniture. I knew it would get worse. So, my boyfriend suggested that we enrol him at Peter Hargreaves's Dog Harmony residential training. I was a bit reluctant, but Peter insisted that it was the best option. 3 weeks after, we went back to fetch the dog. He had changed- he did not jump on me like he used to. Even the with his high energy am now able to control him with commands. No more chewing furnisher, and I can confidently take him on a walk without a leash. I love and enjoy our bond. I love you Peter!!!!!!!! read more

I own an 8 year old female beagle. Beagles are high energy, nose driven and stubborn. I had problems with her jumping on me and friends when she greeted at the front door. I had problems with her howling/bellowing at other dogs that walk down the street, people walking or a leaf blowing across the lawn. To walk her, it was a fight to keep her nose up, and to not pull me along. I needed help. After the two sessions with Peter, I went right home and started to work. I have AMAZED myself. The jumping has stopped completely. The howling is MUCH better, and still is a work in progress. Putting the leash on my beagle is a dream now, and I can actually open the front door to take her for a walk without her charging past me. read more

Dog Harmony has been fantastic. After our second session with Peter just a week ago, we have just taken Poppy on a brand-new route and have walked past cats, dogs and people without incident and finally without pulling which has made going on walks a joy again. This was something we could hardly imagine just two weeks ago when Poppy was a princess and leading us all around. Peter took the time and listened to everything we had to say and spent all the time we needed talking through the issues and showing us what to do - his advice was very personal to our specific situation. Peter's methods worked right from day one and made lots of sense. We still have some practicing to do but we are 100% confident that we will succeed. read more

As new puppy owners, we were so glad to find Dog Harmony after a personal recommendation. Peter has helped us with all aspects of puppy training as well as giving us guidance on promoting optimal health and laying foundations for life long calmness and obedience. Peter is clearly very experienced, and our puppy respected him from practically the moment he arrived at our home. He gives lots of positive reinforcement to both pet and owner to ensure you are successful and understand WHY certain behavioural techniques are used. This is not the typical treat-driven training you find at the big box pet stores - its much better! Peter genuinely cares for the puppies he works with and is a fine trainer. Highly recommend! read more

We sent our puppy to Dog Harmony for a 3-week board and train and pleased with the outcome. Amazing trainer who is fluent in dog language and has a strong bond. We've been following the training they gave him and us, and he's still progressing after a month. I can't thank them enough for making our relationship with our dog better than it has ever been! He definitely put in the time and effort to achieve significant progress, and he is committed to his improvement. I strongly advise investing in training since you will have a well-behaved dog, learn a lot, and enjoy your years with your well-behaved dog and learned abilities. read more

We contacted Peter a few weeks ago to see if he could help us with our 'dog aggressive' German Hephisd. Not only was he incredibly knowledgeable, he was thorough, friendly, and completely committed. He gave us the tools we needed to modify our dog's behaviour and gave me the confidence to try alternatives to manage the situation. All help given was positive, but realistic and made us feel much better. We would not hesitate to recommend Peter to anyone who wants help with their doggy problem, with his support and friendly shoulder to lean on, practical advice and tips to follow we are very glad we found his. read more

We had our initial assessment at Dog Harmony a couple of weeks ago. My four-month-old German Shephard had been acting weird and it had become a rather tedious chore to walk him every day. He had been sniffing and pulling a lot lately. Thankfully, Peter was able to point out the problem in the first session and to my amaze, the shepherd was acting a lot more calmly after that. Peter walked me through the problem which has now made the walks easier. He has really good knowledge regarding animals and their problems. Can't wait for the sessions to continue so my dog can get back to being a sweet little boy. read more

Peter is absolutely brilliant. I cannot recommend Dog Harmony enough. As well as being extremely knowledgeable, expert and experienced in their training methods Peter has excellent people skills, making each session really comfortable for both owner and dog. Learning is fun and great to put into practice. I never feel attending class is a chore - quite the opposite and by my pouch's wagging tail when she sees her human and canine friends I can only assume that she feels the same. I enjoy my funny busy dog, we've come such a long way and look forward to continuing our journey. Thanks Peter. read more

Not sure about all the details that people have gone into, but I'm really impressed by how he dealt with my dogs. Brownie is quite possessive about his lady, and he'd snarl at anyone who'd go near her, man, woman or child regardless! But that's way before Peter was inducted to train him. After that it's all been history. Peter Hargreaves dog trainer helped us with the commands, made us understand him better and also trained him to trust people. After that it's been 3 months and it's as if he's forgotten how to snarl, surprisingly he'd bring her along to meet people too. read more

Absolutely Wonderful Experience! Dog Harmony has been a true blessing for us and our pup! The team is incredibly professional, caring, and knowledgeable. From the very first session, we noticed a huge improvement in our dog's behavior and confidence. They use positive reinforcement techniques that really work, and it's clear they genuinely love what they do. The environment is clean, welcoming, and perfect for dogs of all sizes. We can't thank them enough for the transformation we've seen. Highly recommend to any dog parent looking for expert guidance and loving support! read more

We appreciated how personalized the service was and how it was adapted to our individual requirements and circumstances. The training was beneficial for us as pet parents, and it yielded immediate benefits as long as we did our homework consistently. These are tools that we will be able to use when our puppy matures and grows. We've been really satisfied, but that doesn't do justice to how we feel. They always exceeded our expectations. She was always able to find the time to listen to our specific problems and adapt the procedure to meet our specific requirements. read more