Midas Touch Dog Obedience School

On July 15, 2023, my husband and I took our two 19 week old Corgi puppies for our first training session with James (the owner) at Midas Touch Dog Obedience School. We had spoken to James a couple of times in regards to what we were hoping to gain from training and paid a $200 deposit. When we arrived James didn't know what we were there for, and gave us the wrong paperwork to fill out. When we were going to write the check for the balance, which should have been $750, he told us it was $4,900. Apparently he was thinking we were boarding our dogs with him for training. That was straightened out, more paperwork was filled out and a check for $750 was given to James. James repeatedly told us on the phone and while at the facility he implements Cesar Millan techniques for training. After telling us our puppies were spoiled, he put a slip lead on our smallest puppy, 8 lbs, and proceeded to drag her across the room yanking hard on the lead repeatedly, which was choking her. He then proceeded to do the same with our other puppy, 9lbs. Each session was supposed to last an hour. This session was 41 minutes and the entire time James was texting and looking at his phone. It was apparent we were not his priority. After leaving we searched and watched Cesar Millan videos and discovered that the way James handled the lead and walking our puppies was not based off Cesar Millan. We decided we were not comfortable with the way James was handling our puppies and called to tell him we wanted to cancel the remaining classes. James informed us that he doesn't do refunds but since we didn't receive a copy of the contract he would refund $700, if we agreed to sign a Non Disparagement Agreement form barring us from posting or telling our experience with his company. We agreed to meet to see the form, James apparently couldn't be bothered to be there and had an assistant meet us. We did not agree with what the form stated as it is basically blackmail, so we left. James has not tried to contact us since. While discussing this experience with another trainer, they told us that none of the trainers want to have anything to do with this man or his business because they don’t believe in his practices and his arrogance. They highly recommended we keep our puppies far from this man. Use caution when reading reviews, people will post what they need to if that means they are able to get a refund. I wouldn’t let this man near any animal that I had and I definitely wouldn’t leave my animal in his care.

Hey guys - James is the real deal!! He has done such a great job working w/ my dog Ella, but mostly helping me understand how to help Ella be the kind of companion I want & need her to be. I am a retired teacher so I truly understand the importance of classroom management on a daily basis. James is guiding dog owners to obtaining excellent behavior management in their daily lives. I just so love the individual attention both my Ella & I receive every week. And I would also like to state that James is very invested in helping each client as he is so giving of his own personal time. The first week Ella & I came to him I had an issue late at night w/ behavior. I sent him a text/ a picture about it - Ella had chewed up our living room rug - and he CALLED ME immediately to talk to me about how to handle the situation. I mean wow - I would highly recommend this obedience training w/ JameS. Such a nice guy who really has your dogs best interest at heart. THANK YOU SO SO MUCH JAMES