Einstein Dog Training

Without going into too much detail of what a heart breaking experience I had with Einstein Dog Training (which is run by a husband (Dan) and wife (Rachel) team, I will leave you with the facts from my experience for you to draw your own conclusion.
I put my puppy in Einstein’s Puppy School program. Upon completion of the program I paid $ 500 to continue his training for 3 private lessons and unlimited group lessons. I invested $ 200 in a training collar they suggested.
My husband and I decided we wanted to do their Train and Board program. My puppy is only 4 months old and because of his very young age they suggested we wait until he was at least 6 months old. We had an upcoming trip planned to go away for one week and I asked if they could board him while we were away. It was explained to me that they do not normally do just boarding but they would make an exception for my pup. The rate was $ 45 per night. I asked to board the pup from Saturday to Saturday but Rachel thought 7a was too early to bring the dog to her home and said they would need to take him on Friday instead. So, I agreed to pay an additional $ 45 to accommodate their sleep schedule.
At the 2^nd of my 3 private lessons, when making arrangements for pick up/​drop off, Dan said we could drop our pup off at their school and my dog can stay in a cage while he was giving two other dogs a private lesson. I told him I did not want my dog to be locked up (which is why I decided to board with Einstein as I was told my pup would only be locked up at night). Dan understood me not wanting the dog to be in a cage and offered to pick him at our home after his private lesson.
Rachel and Dan came together to pick up my pup. I paid $ 360 in advance. After they left my husband and I decided to go out to dinner at Black Rock in Hartland. Imagine our surprise when we pulled into the parking lot and saw their running car parked, but no one was inside. We immediately went inside the restaurant to find Rachel sitting down waiting for a table (anyone who has ever been to Black Rock knows that on a Friday night be prepared to wait awhile for a table even if you called ahead for priority seating). I asked Rachel where my dog was — she said in the car. I was livid. She tried to calm me down my repeatedly telling me that it was OK and my dog was fine and it’s no big deal. Dan then came out of the restroom and tried to assure me of the same things — adding in «we told you the dogs go everywhere with us». My thoughts: IT IS NOT OKAY TO EVER LEAVE A DOG IN A CAR WHILE YOU GO OUT TO DINNER AT A VERY BUSY RESTAURANT! My poor puppy who has no idea who he is with, where he is, left to wonder why he is left inside of a bag inside of a running car. I can’t even fathom how terrified he must have been. While I don’t deny that I was told the dogs go everywhere with them, it was understood by me that they go everywhere with them as in back and forth the school — not EVERYWHERE as in when we go out to eat, shopping, etc. Absolutely unacceptable.
I explained again the reason I didn’t drop the dog off at the school is because I didn’t want him to be locked up there so leaving him unattended in a running car was no different. They just kept saying that it was OK and the dog was fine. I asked if they would leave their child in a parked, locked, running car for a couple of hours — I guess they think my puppy was ‘just a dog’.
They offered to go home with my puppy and skip dinner. I told them that I would be going home with my puppy and that I could not leave him with people who would think its ok to do this. I asked for the $ 360 for boarding to be refunded and it was. I asked for the difference of the money spend for the private and group lessons be refunded and it was. I was heartbroken. I can’t believe anyone would think this is OK. This all happened at 8:30p on a Friday night and we were leaving for the airport at 7am in the morning. Luckily my family came to the rescue and took my dog for the week.
This review is not at all to discredit their training abilities. From my short experience with them they were good trainers, just know that if you ever have them board your pet that your pet could be left alone for long periods of time in a car locked up — and if you are ok with that then you should not have any issues.

For those who are looking for a trainer I have had the pleasure of working with Dan and Racheal for over 3 years. They have helped me work with 4 of my personal pets. As a veterinarian I did not hesitate to recommend them for basic training, but more importantly for difficult behavioral problems.
I think what sets Dan and Racheal apart from the other trainers I have been involved with is their compassion and consistency to help clients with their pets so that they can be an enjoyable part of the family. In addition, they also have a broad understanding and knowledge of animal behavior and training.
Dan and Racheal’s compassion and dedication is exemplified in that they would often provide personal attention to myself and clients to help with their pets unique problems. They not only emphasized the theory of «their» training program but also incorporated other tools such as food and toy reinforcement as well as training collars and leashes. Both Dan and Racheal’s knowledge and compassion does not stop with training. They are both avid participant’s dog related activities such as Rally and Fly ball competition.
I truly believe both Dan and Racheal can provide a broad range of expertise in training pets and would be helpful to anyone that is interested in having a well socialized and trained family pet.
Dr. Mark H. Claus
South Shores Animal Hospital
Las Vegas, NV