I don’t usually write reviews, but after my recent experience I feel it’s important to speak up — not only for my own peace of mind, but also to hopefully help other dog owners avoid making the same mistakes I nearly did.I reached out to Robert Metcalfe of One to one dog training school and now I believe 'train your dog.co.uk, when I was struggling with my dog’s reactivity. Out of the trainers I contacted, he was the fastest to reply — in fact, he got back to me almost straight away. At the time I saw that as a positive, but looking back I realise it should have been my first red flag. His website looked polished and professional, promising exactly the kind of results I was hoping for. I thought I had found someone trustworthy.We arranged an initial assessment for £160. The price was higher than others, but I told myself, “you get what you pay for.” During the session, though, I felt increasingly uneasy. He put a very thin slip/choke lead on my dog almost immediately and used firm, sharp corrections. My dog did fall into line quickly, but it wasn’t the kind of listening I was hoping for — it felt like my gentle boy had just shut down. He’s a sensitive, much-loved family pet, not a machine to be yanked into obedience. At the time I pushed aside my doubts and assumed I was just being overprotective, telling myself that a professional surely knew best.Another thing that made me uncomfortable was being asked to leave a Trustpilot review after that very first visit. I personally don’t feel it’s fair to review anyone so early — good or bad — until I’ve really had time to see their service properly. On top of that, I was asked to pay in cash, which again felt unusual for a professional business.It was only afterwards, when my doubts wouldn’t go away, that I started researching online. What I found shook me. On platforms like Facebook under his business name and TikTok (under the name @dogdefender) I came across videos where dogs under his training looked stressed, shut down, and deeply uncomfortable. I know he claims there’s a “campaign to discredit” him, but when you’re watching videos filmed by him or featuring him, it’s very hard to dismiss what you see. For me, the penny dropped — this was not the type of training I ever wanted my boy to be put through.I can’t express how relieved I am that I found this out before agreeing to let him take my dog away for residential training - I've since learned that he doesn't actually have a dog training school and the dogs are simply driven around in his van for days on end. The thought of leaving my trusting, gentle boy in an environment where harsh methods are used makes me feel sick to my stomach. I feel naïve for not trusting my gut sooner, but also incredibly lucky compared to some of the stories I have since come across from other owners.Dogs aren’t just pets — they are family. They depend on us to keep them safe. I will never forgive myself for that moment when I handed over the lead and let someone else treat my dog in a way that didn’t feel right. Thankfully I stopped it there and then, but others may not be so fortunate.If you are thinking of using this trainer, please do your research first. Watch the videos, read the experiences of other owners, and ask yourself if those methods sit right with you. For me, the answer was a very firm no. I won’t letting hm near my sweet boy again and I want other people to be spared the same worry, regret, and heartache.I have read his previous reviews and see that he refuses to acknowledge he even knows who has left the review but this, I believe , is just another tactic to deceive people. Robert Metcalfe really is an accomplished conman who will not stop from what I have witnessed myself and seen on social media.
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