Hi Tixx
For what it’s worth, I have tried the B&T program at Pet Resorts AND subsequently had one on one lessons with Steve Courtney.
In my opinion, it really depends on what you want or need to achieve. If you have limited dog training experience and are looking for a good foundation in basic obedience to get you started and you are boarding your dog while you are on holidays in any case, the trainers at Pet Resorts are first class. If you have more complex behavioural issues that need addressing (as I did) then I can highly recommend Steve.
I sent my recently acquired border collie x rescue dog who was around 9 month old to the Pet Resorts Dural facility for a 2 week T&B program approx 1 1/2 years ago. Bo was very rambunctious and dog reactive (not dog aggressive but would get over-the-top excited at seeing another dog, lurching, lunging, often pulling me over and sometimes dragging me). After working with two trainers with little success with the reactivity issues and, after speaking with the head trainer at Pet Resorts about Bo, I decided to give the B&T option a go – I probably needed the time out more than anything else at the time as I was very stressed and worn down with the reactivity.
I can highly recommend the team at Pet Resorts. Bo came back to me with a very solid foundation in basic obedience and it was obvious at the hand over that he had been well looked after and had forged a trusting and respectful bond with his two trainers, Jodie & Zoe. Glenn, Jodie and Zoe couldn’t have been more helpful, supportive or professional in my dealings with them.
However, the training I subsequently did with Steve taught me the skills I needed to confidently and successfully work through Bo’s reactivity in addition to some other behavioural issues.
Today, I would definitely prefer to train my own dog because I love nothing more than to train and work with Bo but I didn’t have the skill base or confidence back then that I have today, thanks to Steve and now Vickie Priestley at K9 Pro Agility who has taken our training to a whole new level 🙂
I would disregard the negative “reviews” you’ve heard about Pet Resorts. Bo went back to Dural for a week’s boarding earlier this year and he was very well taken care of and safely and securely contained (a number one priority for me for Bo is also an adept escape artist).
Hope this info help and good luck with whatever choice/s you make. 🙂
Cheers, VM
