Reviews of Vonbernd K9 Training Ctr LLC in Terre Haute

This dog trainer (and I use that word loosely), is an alpha dominate trainer and as such instilled nothing less than fear and mistrust of others in my dog. Sure he can have your dog temporarily heeling in less than five minutes. Quite impressive he states. However, I too would be following this trainer's lead if I had a chain strapped around my neck and was constantly jerked, pulled and snapped to for a consistent five minutes. He did not allow any type of positive reinforcement for my dog in his obedience training. At the same time I enrolled my dog in obedience training with this man, I also enrolled him in guard dog protection training. This man's method of training for such is to tie the dog to a raised platform and proceed to antagonize the dog by using his hand and what appeared to be a riding crop to tap my dog's head and body while dancing about my dog - further inciting him. Granted these taps were not hard but I had placed my dog in a fearful position where he could not possibly understand why he was being treated in such a manner. This entire venture was my bust - I should have known better than to subject my pup to such methods of training. I'm still making that up to him to this day. The first time he went through his protection training I was not present. The second time I was skeptical of this man's methods. There was not a third time or any other time for this training or continued obedience training. His co-trainer, Sam, is pretty much just as ineffective. The one obedience training my pup had with Sam he was too concerned about my dog biting him (go figure) than he was in the actual training. He was also more concerned about selling a dog to a couple who happened in thereby interrupting our training session - and made my dog and I wait a good 25 minutes while he tended to that. I took my pup and we left. Sam couldn't understand why. I paid a good deal of money up front for this shoddy obedience and protection training and it included a once a week training which I terminated after less than a calendar month (some sessions were cancelled by the trainer due to unavailability or over-booking); however, this specific trainer doesn't give refunds for it is his contention that the customer will learn the basics, continue the training on their own with what he has provided and he in the end loses. I can assure this trainer that I will not be using any of his methods in the continued training of my dog and in the end, yes, this trainer has lost. I am the one at fault in all of this: for not doing the proper research in the various training methods and in choosing a "qualified trainer". If I'd had I would have seen that this trainer was not qualified to provide my dog training for he is a Gestapo - not a dog trainer. I am still attempting to undo the damage this man caused my pup and have found an excellent qualified trainer to continue with my dog's training. This new trainer leads with positive reinforcement, a gentle hand and a genuine concern for my dog and his well-being. He has made great progress in alleviating my pups fears and my pups spirit is being revitalized. I urge you - if you care for and love your dog - please take him or her elsewhere for their training. (Note: John insists the customer write a review for him on his website after the initial evaluation training. I did so - with high hopes of success. When I attempted to revise my review by writing an unfavorable one - my review was rejected and therefore is not visible on his website. I am wary of the other positive reviews I find there now for I am not certain of the unfavorable reviews that may have been written but were rejected and not posted)