I enrolled my dog in their 3-week board-and-train program for $3,600. During camp, they sent…read moreoccasional photos and videos, which made me feel things were going well. But when I got her back, she was wearing a prong collar -- one of those metal collars with sharp prongs. I was told to keep it on for a week and follow their training modules exactly.
We followed their instructions. A week later, I discovered puncture wounds on her neck. They were bleeding and infected, so we rushed her to the emergency vet, where she was treated for several punctures and infection. The bill came to $1,400.
When I contacted Benchmark, horrified, the trainer admitted she "had forgotten to mention" that the prong collar should only be used during training sessions and removed afterward. That information would have been critical and could have prevented the injury. The follow up email with instructions also did not mention it anywhere. I still don't know if she was already hurt before she came back home, or if the tight collar caused it during that week, but either way, it was a major oversight.
The collar itself was clearly too tight. If they had added just one more link, it would have fit better and may have avoided the injury altogether. Instead, my dog suffered, and the recovery set her back weeks -- undoing much of the progress she had made.
Benchmark's official response was that they "take no responsibility" for anything that happens outside of camp. After that, I never heard back from them. My program was supposed to include follow-up lessons, but once I reported the injury, it seems they cut off communication.
Between the $3,600 program and the $1,400 vet bill, I lost $5,000 -- and ended up with a traumatized dog who couldn't even continue her training while she healed.
They claim to care about animals, but they rely on harsh tools like prong collars and e-collars, fit them improperly, and fail to provide basic instructions on safe use. Then, when their methods cause real harm, they refuse to take accountability.
I waited a few weeks to see if Benchmark Dog Training would reach back out to address what happened to my dog. They never did, so I'm sharing my experience here.
I cannot recommend Benchmark Dog Training. If you love your pups, look elsewhere.
