This is somewhat petty. There is a small business in town that has great pet nutrition info and high quality food that the other pet stores in town (big box stores) don't sell. Staff is friendly, they offer discounts to folks in animal welfare, owner (who is physically absent and running a branch a couple thousand miles away) is a certified pet nutritionist, etc. I like them a lot and I have a professional/friendly relationship with all the senior staff. There is one woman who works there and is nice, but very opinionated about many things (breeds, training, adoption policies, standards of care, etc).
Anyways, she REALLY likes this one trainer in town whom I really dislike. The trainer is a 'balanced' trainer. I'm sure he's done some good. But I've also heard the horror stories direct from clients who get in touch with me after his training does not help them. Think people spending 4 digit sums with NO tangible results, "hard to watch", puppy screaming... I don't bad mouth other trainers to clients. But I would never recommend this person either.
But this employee puts up newspaper clippings about this trainer, and recently has hung a huge banner (provided by the trainer) in a prominent location in the store. To me, it implies that the business is supporting this trainer. In reality, I think it's just this one employee. I wanted to talk to the employee about it... Not demand she take it down, but point out it makes it seems like an endorsement, and ask if the company is taking stances on animal welfare or training ethics. But I only go in once a month or less so I don't often see her.
The bottom line is, this makes me want to just order from Chewy, where I'd only pay $1 more and have it delivered to my door rather than needing to place a special order and pick it up. I'm really sensitive (internally) about some trainers in town. I don't have bad relationships (or any relationships) with any of them, but it does something to me when I have to work with a client and their dog AFTER another trainer has shocked/beaten/yanked the daylights of of them by the time they get to me. The dog is worse, the aggression is more severe, the methods made the dog bleed or cower or whatever. So if you can put yourself in my shoes... it's hard not to take it personally. And I just flat out don't want to support a store that not only supports, but promotes, trainers who have done horrible things to dogs. On the other hand, this would mean I'm supporting a national shipping company rather than a local, grassroots feed store.
Hardly the biggest problem in my life, but still something I'm pondering...
Anyways, she REALLY likes this one trainer in town whom I really dislike. The trainer is a 'balanced' trainer. I'm sure he's done some good. But I've also heard the horror stories direct from clients who get in touch with me after his training does not help them. Think people spending 4 digit sums with NO tangible results, "hard to watch", puppy screaming... I don't bad mouth other trainers to clients. But I would never recommend this person either.
But this employee puts up newspaper clippings about this trainer, and recently has hung a huge banner (provided by the trainer) in a prominent location in the store. To me, it implies that the business is supporting this trainer. In reality, I think it's just this one employee. I wanted to talk to the employee about it... Not demand she take it down, but point out it makes it seems like an endorsement, and ask if the company is taking stances on animal welfare or training ethics. But I only go in once a month or less so I don't often see her.
The bottom line is, this makes me want to just order from Chewy, where I'd only pay $1 more and have it delivered to my door rather than needing to place a special order and pick it up. I'm really sensitive (internally) about some trainers in town. I don't have bad relationships (or any relationships) with any of them, but it does something to me when I have to work with a client and their dog AFTER another trainer has shocked/beaten/yanked the daylights of of them by the time they get to me. The dog is worse, the aggression is more severe, the methods made the dog bleed or cower or whatever. So if you can put yourself in my shoes... it's hard not to take it personally. And I just flat out don't want to support a store that not only supports, but promotes, trainers who have done horrible things to dogs. On the other hand, this would mean I'm supporting a national shipping company rather than a local, grassroots feed store.
Hardly the biggest problem in my life, but still something I'm pondering...