K9 Academy New England

I showed up 20 minutes early for my dog assessment, which I was told was free over the phone but would be extra when I arrived. The trainer did not greet my dog, call my dog’s name or act even the slightest bit interested in my dog. He just wanted to go on and on about how he he has the ability to «figure out a dog in 5 minutes» and how he’s been doing this for 30 years. He then got into an argument with the woman working at the location we were told to meet at-​doggy day care in a Peabody strip mall. I left the class as I realized this guy was a complete waste of my time and my dog’s time. He also yelled at my friend who I asked to join us, telling her she «wasted his time» when she left as well. The only reason we met at the location he specified was because he was supposed to have 3 – 4 other people show up but only one did.
He also listed that he only uses «positive reinforcement» on his website and then when he described some of his techniques and I informed him that was actually negative reinforcement, he said that he actually doesn’t do that but there is another trainer he uses for «the negative reinforcement stuff». I have never written a scathing review on Unilocal about a dog trainer, but I just couldn’t help but warn others.

I attended Joe Ferraro K9 Trainer and Dog Behavioralist Obedience Class at the Pet Express on the Lynnway on Jun 20, 2013 because he wanted to assess and evaulate my 5yo bichon shitzu dog Free. Free has recently started to nip and I wanted to address the issue. I informed Joe that Free my dog had attended Obedience training as a puppy. His issue isn’t interacting with other dogs.
Joe didn’t have any interactions with my dog, and my dog was able to perform all the commands without being rewarded. I informed Joe during class I wanted to leave because he was trying to promote and sell the shock collar. I was also upset because my dog is here for a specific evulation. Joe insisted I stayed and at the end of class still made me pay him $ 50 for nothing.
I had a received a generatic standard letter from Joe at K9 Academy New England. He didn’t assess or mentioned my concerns of the nipping or why. He knew my dog can perform the commands without being rewarded. He witness my dog coming when I whistled for him (recall). He wrote up that my dog should be in a seat belt yet Joe failed to see my dog is restrained in a dog seat belt. I am appalled at the lack of interactions and assessment he performed on my dog Free yet he expected to get paid. I would NOT recommend Joe Ferraro for any dog training personally or professionally.