I recently moved back home with my mom, grandparents, and their 2 dogs. So while Bane wasn't "bad", we felt that he could use a little training so he's just more obedient around my grandparents and the other 2 dogs. So my mom and I started doing research on the best dog trainers in our area. We found one that , according to reviews, and his 13k followers on Instagram, ended up being the best fit for what we were looking for. We met the "trainer" at his house the day we dropped Bane off and got to know him. I regret to say that I didn't see any red flags and felt we could trust him. We were told Bane would be there for 2 weeks and was going to be staying inside the house with his family during non training hours and at night. We were shown his many acres of land with obvious training posts and everything seemed like we expected.
A week into training we got a text from the "trainer" that Bane didn't eat one night and he asked if he could go buy some wet dog food to mix with his dry food. I agreed that was okay and sent him the brand I wanted him to use. The next morning we got a text that said Bane ate like a champ and was doing fine now. He then asked to keep Bane a little longer because he wasn't picking up on some of the training. I will admit, at this point, my gut was telling me something wasn't right but after spending $1800 for training I wanted him to get everything he needed out of it. So I agreed he could stay longer.
On February 22, I stepped away from work after receiving texts and calls from my mom that Bane was headed to the vet with the "trainer" because he had diarrhea. I immediately started heading to my boy, praying along the way that everything was okay. When I arrived at the vet my mom, Bane, and the "trainer" were already in the room. When I opened the door I first saw my mom... her eyes were red and she was crying. The next place my eyes went to was my dog... and looking at the condition he was in I couldn't really process what I was seeing. (Using some choice words) I immediately told the "trainer" that it was probably best if he left before things escalated. I was shaking and sick to my stomach that I not only trusted this person to take care of my dog but that I didn't listen to my gut and didn't get my baby sooner.
The vet eventually came in and said based on the sores on his feet, and the redness of his elbows that it was a sign he was bored laying on concrete for hours that he licked his paws raw. His nails on his front paws were broken off, probably from scratching trying to get out of he kennel. He had cage feet because the kennel he was in was too small for him to stretch out. And worst of all he was extremely emaciated because he hadn't eaten in at least a week if not more. Bane was 100 pounds when I dropped him off. On February 22, he was 81. That doesn't happen overnight.
Upon leaving the vet, I immediately went to the police station hoping to file a report but they said I couldn't. I left any other communication with the "trainer" as far as getting money back up to my mom because I had nothing to say to him. There is no excuse to treat a dog like this. And I didn't want to give him the opportunity to try and defend himself. However, even with the few texts my mom sent following leaving the vet he has yet to even apologize. But continues posting other dogs going home happy and healthy on his Instagram.
I'm posting this for anyone in my area looking for a dog trainer to STAY AWAY FROM THIS MAN. Obviously not every dog has had the experience Bane had and that begs the question of "why?". Why was my dog singled out to receive this treatment? I wasn't ready to post anything until I knew Bane was going to be okay. After a steroid shot, antibiotics, sore ointment, diarrhea medication, and plain food diet (chicken, rice, cottage cheese) Bane is finally getting back to himself. It's amazing what happens when you feed a dog.... read more