Fetch

I found Fetch Dog training online and while I wasn’t overly thrilled with the other Unilocal reviews, I decided to set up an appointment with her anyway. After our initial conversation, I could see that Martha was passionate and had a ton of experience. I came to learn that she competes with her own dogs in agility and has won a ton of medals!
I signed up for the puppy package which consisted of 6 classes. At the time my 8 week old Vizsla was having problems adjusting to her crate, as well as lacking any structure or obedience.
Martha gave me a folder with advice on a daily schedule, key words to use for training, as well as other helpful documentation for a first time puppy owner. She taught me techniques for helping my puppy adjust to her crate. Over the six sessions, she taught us: sit, down, come, high five, go to your crate, drop it, leave it, stay, and wait. We had most lessons at my apartment, but also took the puppy for walks, to practice leash training as well as out at a park to practice off leash training.
I now frequently take my dog for walks without the lease and have complete confidence in her recall and training. It’s been four months since that day and I could not be more happy and grateful.
I would recommend Martha to anyone with a new puppy.

I paid for a package that was over $ 600. I had one session remaining and never had the session because when I tried to schedule the appointment I never heard back. I called and emailed and never got contacted back. This had happened previously as well-​it took well over a month at one point for a call back about scheduling an appointment. Finally, I sent an email and a letter asking for a refund of my unused session but never heard back. I am out $ 100.00.

We heard wonderful things from 2 folks about Martha and her company Fetch. So we did not hesitate and do any additional research before hiring Martha for her puppy package. Well, we wish we had talked to a few more people about their experiences with her. We paid her the fee for the 6 puppy lessons up front and scheduled 4 sessions off the bat. The 3^rd session, Martha was 30 – 45 minutes late for with no heads up to us who had left work early to meet her. Then the 4^th session she never showed up! Again, I left work mid-​day to meet with her. And she never reached out to us to tell us why she did not show up nor to reschedule. I reached out to her 1 week later to schedule our remaining sessions but never heard back. One more week later, I reached out again and said I was unsatisfied with her communication with us and would like a refund for my remaining sessions. When I mentioned money, she quickly responded. But she said it was non refundable (despite me never signing anything) and she really wanted me to be 100% satisfied. I said, let’s just move on because I can’t count on her to show up and I am too busy to deal with kind of crappy communcation. But then she said I could only get $ 10 back. We paid $ 660 for 6 sessions and as I saw it we got 2−½ sessions with her. But she said given we were not completing the package of 6 sessions we would be charged for ala carte lessons which only left me $ 10 left. That is outrageous.
We still have not heard back from Martha to resolve this issue. She is ignoring us. At the dog park, we have heard many of the same things about her. She is great the first 2 sessions and attentive and timely but many of our neighbors can’t seem to get her to finish the puppy package. So there are many of us disgruntled. A class action law suit is something bantered around at the dog park.
Don’t do puppy package! And don’t leave work early thinking she will be there when she says she will be. Or you will be disappointed.

Wow, can’t believe I’m the first to review! Fetch is a dog training school run out of the back of Especially For Pets store in Newton. They have a number of trainers and offer puppy kindergarten– we’re enrolled with Zeppo in the 4 week class. This means it isn’t official obedience training and he won’t get a certificate. However it is CHEAPER. Heh. The 4 week class runs about $ 80. The staff that enroll you in class are friendly and competent. I really appreciated getting something in the mail with my credit card receipt and instructions for what to bring to each class.
We’ve been to 2 classes so far and there are about 8 dogs. It is a good sized space and our trainer, Martha Francis, has the patience of a saint. The crowd tends to be older with several families participating. This is a good chance for our dog to get exposed to children! Most of the puppies are purebred or designer mixes (schnoodles, etc.). We received a folder the first day with lots of helpful advice, and then each week we get homework. During class the puppies play briefly, then we sit and listen and dogs are called up for brief demos or to practice what we just learned. The class really is all about training the humans to be consistent and clear with their dogs. My husband is getting a kick out of grading the other human’s ability to follow instructions (he only gave me a B+, so you see it is not easy!).
The Especially for Pets store is also very cool! I can’t believe how much stuff they have! I wouldn’t make a trip unless you have a dog– they seem to be especially for the canine species, if you get my drift.