Boston for the Dogs — Local services in Braintree

I and many others have had concerning experiences with BFTD, as explained below.

Open Letter to Boston-area Dog Owners About Concerning Business Practices by Boston for the Dogs 663 SUPPORTERS as of this review

As former employees and clients of Boston for the Dogs (BFTD), a dog training company that services Boston and surrounding communities, we feel compelled to share our collective experiences using BFTD's services and/or working for the company.

In late 2022, several employees and clients left our positions with the company and/or ceased using their services due to a number of incidents we found concerning. Online posts about these experiences were seen by other former employees and clients who'd had similar experiences. After talking with each other, we couldn't ignore the clear pattern of incidents and behaviors and felt they are troubling enough to warrant being shared publicly.

The concerns that follow were each expressed by multiple former BFTD employees and/or clients from 2018 through 2022. Any isolated incidents experienced by only one person have not been included. Furthermore, all incidents below were verified by written records, screenshots, or other documentation prior to inclusion.

Trainers, including BFTD's owners, had little to no formal education (through schooling or apprenticing with other qualified trainers) in training service dogs (SD). However, the company offered this service, and BFTD's principal owner told clients that their trainers were qualified to task-train dogs. Several service dogs from their program could not perform any tasks for their handlers' medical needs after significant training time and financial investment, failing to meet their training expectations. Progress reported verbally and in writing was inconsistent with what dogs were actually able to do. Some lacked basic obedience skills, which presented safety concerns for handlers who could not reliably have their medical devices in public. Reactive and/or aggressive dogs were handled inappropriately. Several bites to both humans and dogs occurred during active company services and required urgent care. The conditions at the facilities for day-training clients and overnight boarding were unsanitary, including dogs present with highly contagious illnesses. Vaccination records were not up-to-date in the company's system. BFTD ownership often did not report incidents such as bites and illnesses to clients. Many staff lacked adequate training for their positions and reported being put in situations where they felt unsafe or unqualified on multiple occasions. Safety concerns that were brought to BFTD's owners were disregarded and/or went unaddressed. Employees, including BFTD's owners, were frequently drinking during work hours, including during lessons and classes with clients. BFTD's owners shared information and feelings with employees that pushed the boundaries of a professional relationship without permission. Medical letters with personal information about service dog clients were stored unsecurely in a shared Google Drive folder. Several former clients and employees filed reports with the Massachusetts Attorney General and Boston's Animal Control offices.

Our motivation for writing this letter comes from a place of deep concern for the safety of dogs currently in the care of BFTD and for owners considering using BFTD's services in the future. During our time as employees and/or clients, attempts to raise these concerns were not taken seriously. Negative reviews posted online were often removed by the owners while other people didn't feel safe going public on their own. We hope anyone who's had similar experiences with this company, or knows friends, family, neighbors, or others who have, will join our effort to alert the greater Boston dog community about the pattern of behavior and treatment at Boston for the Dogs. Our collective experiences go back as far as 2018. And no matter where you are in your life at this time, we welcome your support...

If anything sticks with you from my review below, please let it be this: your dogs are not safe at Boston for the Dogs.

I’ve put off writing this review for a few months; out of a combination of fear of retaliation and self preservation of unpleasant memories. I decided to finally write it in hopes that dogs and humans can be saved from the emotional distress and physical abuse caused to many by this facility.

We were clients at Boston for the Dogs from early August to late September of 2020. It took only two months for things to go disastrously south for my puppy. I will outline below my experiences:

Physical Abuse. My puppy was placed on training tools against my knowledge and consent. She was photographed wearing both a prong collar and an e-collar when only 3 months old at this facility. The next time both a prong and an e-collar were introduced to her in a neutral environment, she showed a sign of abuse (tucking of tail and running from the device). It is the professional opinion of two separate trainers that she was abused on these tools. Lack of communication. Most communication from this facility is done via social media. I was never given written feedback of my dog’s progress, what she was doing in classes or at school, and what we needed to be reinforcing at home. Unsafe Environment: My 4 month old puppy was attacked by a reactive adult male dog during a group class that was being supervised by the owner of the program. She walked by the other dog and sniffed (not the most polite puppy behavior, but common among young dogs and not aggressive) and the dog turned around, grabbed onto her face with his teeth, shook her and wouldn’t let go. My puppy sustained serious wounds that were dismissed by the owner of the facility. Our veterinarian was shocked to see her swollen face, puncture wounds, and rips in her ears the next morning. She was on antibiotics for a week after the attack. Following the attack, I was not responded to by the facility and decided to make a public request for them to cover her medical fees via Better Business Bureau. This complaint is still active and published on their business page. Unprofessional Environment: Individuals were seen drinking alcohol during group classes as well as testing and certifying dogs while drinking alcohol.

It’s possible that my review will be responded to or taken down. The last time I posted a review on Facebook, the owner threatened to bring legal action against me even though all of these events are well documented by myself and several other individuals. If it is removed, so be it. If it’s responded to please remember this: we are allowed to have our own opinions, but not our own facts.

I strongly discourage anyone who is seeking a dog training facility to use Boston for the Dogs. There are many other facilities in the Boston area who are ethical, safe, and professional. If you are reading this review and it feels eerily similar to what you are experiencing at BFTD: leave. It will only get...

If you’re a DINKWAD (double income, no kids, and a dog) millennial, crazy dog parent like I am, this is the only review you need to read.

As an overly protective (psychotic) dog parent, I really did a lot of homework before enrolling our (at the time) 5 month old Bernedoodle Cooper in day school. I read a lot of positive reviews and few that were concerning to me. I requested a call with one of the owners to give them a chance to speak to the negative reviews before I made a decision. Hannalore answered all of my questions (primarily regarding “disliking doodles” and use of tools) and I felt very comfortable with her responses. Following that conversation we enrolled Cooper in day school and immediately saw improvement in his attention span, ability to understand commands, and leash manners. The staff was always super friendly, sent report cards with photos and videos, and always offered me advice and info on what he worked on. I was (and still am) over the moon with how much my little guy enjoys his time there.

To be fully transparent, like any good relationship, we did hit a snag. A tool was used on Cooper that I did not consent to and like the Papa Bear I am, I was furious. I requested to speak with the owner who used the tool (Corey), and I expressed my displeasure. Now, I’m not an experienced dog trainer, so I don’t think I know more than these amazing professionals, I do however believe in consent. When I spoke with Corey, I told him that a tool should never be used on a dog without consent from the owner and if Cooper was to come back, I would need to see a change in their policy to ensure that consent would ALWAYS be given before a tool was used. Corey completely understood and (as a small business) was open to suggestions for improvement - no excuses, no backpedaling, and full accountability. With that response, and the implementation of consent for tools, I was completely satisfied sending Cooper back to day school.

It’s now been over a month since that snag and I can confidently say I am beyond thrilled with how this was handled and the care and training my Coop is receiving at BFTD. Mistakes happen, but the fact that this amazing place was honest and open to a change in their policies is something that really sets BFTD apart from other places.

I can 100% say if you’re crazy like me, stop your search - you’ve found the place for your pup. All of the staff are amazing, but I would like to give a special shout-out to Becka and Thaloa who go above and beyond the call of duty and send me videos and VERY detailed report cards so I can continue the work at home. I can officially say my 7 month old pup is better behaved, knows more commands, and has better social skills than most dogs twice his age. I’m writing this review because finding a place to trust with your fur baby is scary, and you never know what you’re going to get. But BFTD has done an amazing job with Cooper and I hope my experiences make you feel comfortable with them being a part of your fur...