Dog returned from kennels today :(

[ChocolateBiscuitCake]

We adopted a 2 year old black lab about 7 weeks ago. He is gorgeous, amazing, divine and we are all smitten with him! We have three young children under 4 and he has the patience of a saint. His indoor "manners" are impeccable (no going upstairs, no begging, no getting on sofa, lets children climb all over him).

However, his outdoor behaviour was less impressive. He could not walk to heal (pulled my arm off and pulled the buggy over) and his recall was selective.

I went to a local dog trainer to seek advise and was told it would take about 6 months of intensive work at home to sort out his bad habits.

Selfishly this just wasn't realistic given the children so I asked if the trainer could do it and he said he could in about 4 weeks.

Naively, I signed him up for a 4 week intensive training "regime".

I collected my dog today.

He is skeletal (I know this can happen in kennels), he has raw testicles and ears and his spirit is gone. Distressed by his distress, I took him to the vet who says he has raw skin from lying on concrete and he has been given anti inflamatories and been put on antibiotics.

The guilt I feel is indescribable as I never thought that this was what I signed up to but I am desperate to contact the trainer and express how angry and upset we are and the obvious distress and discomfort that this dog has been under. I live 10 minutes away - surely the should have called (I spoke to them weekly to get an update on progress and all was "great").

I have never had a dog before - please can I have guidance as to whether this is normal from kennels or whether I should make a complaint.

Any suggestions really welcomed :(

This is awful, I can't imagine how awful you must be feeling OP.

I don't have much to say that hasn't been said already, but definitely, definitely report to everyone you can think of - you could even approach newspapers, especially local ones, to warn off others. And be patient with your dog, he must be very traumatised and confused. I'm sure he'll get better and get over it with lots of love and time.

when he is right and on the mend look for a simple training class locally - you can train a dog yourself - easily.

mine came to me as a rescue and was a wreck - never walked on a lead, never seen another dog, never been in a car....she was beaten and she was scared of the command to "come here" - she was beaten when she did that at her first home.

it didnt take long at all to get her trust and train her to perfection - tasty food was key (she was totally led my her stomach!) i just practiced recall with treats, first in the house, then in the garden, then the park (not without its mishaps i have to say!) but she got it really quickly.

this idiot trainer wants shutting down. dont berate yourself now - just work hard on putting it right and getting your boy sorted. dogs dont hold grudges. he will forget with some kindness and proper training with praise and kindness.

defo report this idiot trainer. trading standards. local vets. rspca. anyone who will listen.

good luck, you have been had, but pooch and you, will get over it.

i personally have never understood the idea of sending an animal away to be trained. if even for the very basic fact that he arrives home to an owner who knows none of the training commands or techniques!

i almost wept when a family member proudly introduced their new dog that they had bought from another family and paid hundreds for him because the original family had 'invested' hundreds to have him sent away to be professionally trained. i could see exactly what was going to happen and sure enough in only a few days family member was tearing their hair out trying to get the dog to walk on a lead, or get off the sofa etc etc. they just couldn't understand why the dog wouldn't do what they were telling him because he'd been trained. i'm pretty sure the dog was having similar feelings of frustration.

I am rather shocked by the trainer too. After 7 weeks surely a dog is still building its bond with you and you need to gain their trust and then recall and loose lead walking comes with training and time. 7 weeks is no time at all.

Do join a good training class. They really aren#'t that expensive. hark me, a traning class covert but I can't believe the difference it has made and it has improved my confidence as well

What a horrific story. Poor dog. OP, you did what you thought was the right thing in getting him safely and professionally trained in order that you had good recall/control when you are out and about with a young family in tow.

I can only presume that this bastard used barbaric techniques to train your dog, and for that, should be punished, through the courts. I hope he is more settled now.