Harry Gross: Can they retrieve cost of bad training for dog?

Dear Harry:

We bought a beautiful Labrador Retriever about month ago. We bought her from a youngster who was breeding them to help a campaign to promote cancer research. We never had a dog before, even as we were growing up. Our dog is a wonderful, loving creature, and we decided to have her "obedience trained." We made the mistake of taking her to a trainer from an ad in our local newspaper. We did no investigating. The training only resulting in our pet learning to sit and stay at our command. We had hoped she would be trained to obey hand signals, stop at streets, stay off of furniture, etc. We feel we were rooked out of $395 for two days of training. Do you think we have any recourse?

What Harry says: Possibly. Did you have an agreement with the trainer (oral or written)? It did not appear to be so from your letter. If that is the case, you have no recourse on what was taught. However, you may have a shot on the basis of the excessive charge, but that could be hard to win. It is unfortunate that you had this experience with such a wonderful breed. Before you take her to another trainer, try doing it yourself with the aid of one of the many books available on the subject. You have a smart dog that will try very hard to learn what you want it to learn. I know because I'm a two legged Golden.

Write Harry Gross c/o the Daily News, 400 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19130. Harry urges all his readers to give blood - contact the American Red Cross at 800-GIVE LIFE.