- Report: #917810
Complaint Review: Val Cornwell-Animal Behavior College - Internet Internet
Reported By:
fedup -
Whitewater, California, United States of America
Submitted:
Updated:
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Author Confirmed
Why?
Val Cornwell-Animal Behavior College
25104 rye canyon loop santa clarita, ca 91355 Internet, Internet, United States of America
Phone:
18007953294
Web:
www.animalbehaviorcollege.com
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Val Cornwell-Animal Behavior College refused to give credit for hours completed in the hands-on mentoring program , Internet
When I started ABC, I was told that the mentoring part of the program would be hands-on. I was assigned to Val Cornwell as a mentor and via phone she told me the time and date to start. I went to the first class (orientation) and she wasn't there. The next class she was there and she told me she was leaving for Oklahoma to see her father. I asked if I would get credit if I was there and she wasn't and she assured me that yes, I would. I was there with her assistant, Vicki all but one of the days of training. I was told prior to the class starting that if I missed a class, I could make it up at a different time. At the last day, I asked Val to fill out the paperwork for the mentoring and she told me that I would have to start the 7 week program over because she hadn't been there and Vicki was not her employee, just helping out. I had asked both Val and Vicki if I would get credit for the time Val was not there and was told over and over again that I would. I was not willing to start over with a trainer that lied to me so I declined to continue with her. I petitioned ABC over and over again through Karen Hiegel to give me credit for the hours and got the same excuse again and again, even though Vicki was an ABC graduate, they refused to give me credit for the time.
I then was assigned to another trainer who was very good, but she told me that ABC had warned her that I was a "know it all" and a 'troublemaker". She subsequently moved and later, i also moved. Now I am with a great trainer, but I continually get hassled by Olivia from ABC to hurry up and get the volunteer work done. She calls me at work in spite of me asking her not to and then stated, "I WILL call you at work if you don't answer my emails." We then got into an arguement about the hours ABC has still refused to vredit me with and I have not heard from ABC since.
I then was assigned to another trainer who was very good, but she told me that ABC had warned her that I was a "know it all" and a 'troublemaker". She subsequently moved and later, i also moved. Now I am with a great trainer, but I continually get hassled by Olivia from ABC to hurry up and get the volunteer work done. She calls me at work in spite of me asking her not to and then stated, "I WILL call you at work if you don't answer my emails." We then got into an arguement about the hours ABC has still refused to vredit me with and I have not heard from ABC since.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Val
California,USA
Teaching vs training
#2REBUTTAL Owner of company
Thu, March 26, 2015
Training your own dog in obedience and teaching a group class are two entirely different things. Having the ability to train a dog is a neccesary component to being a dog trainer, however to teach others to train their dogs requires much more. That is where this student was sorely lacking, in her people skills. In retrospect, I recall that part of the problem with this student was the fact that she had trained several dogs previously and felt with her years of experience that she had nothing to learn from me, which led to her downfall. Student was assigned to me to learn to teach, speak in public, break all the component of training down and relay them to clients. This is where she failed. Not in her training her own dog but in her ability to teach! For the record I am paid $200 for a student whether they are with me for 21 weeks or 28 weeks. If they are with me less than 21 weeks then I am paid a portion of the $200 for the number of weeks attended. So rest assured it does not benefit me financially in anyway to extend a students externship. I have been teaching classes for approximately 16 yrs and have mentored over 150 students and not surprisingly this student is the only one to complain that she had to repeat. Most students want to be able to conduct group classes in a professional manner to give paying clients what they are paying for.
EXPERIENCE
#3Author of original report
Thu, March 26, 2015
She says I was not competent. I currently own a dog who was #3 in the nation for Rally and #4 in the nation for obedience. I trained him myself for competition in both...does that sound like I was incompetent? I have over 30 years of experience in obedience training and competition, more than she had at the time. She was absent for all but two days of the mentorship...how could she even evaluate my performance in that time? She wanted me to repeat the class only so she could make more money off of me and the school. Some "teachers" are intimidated when a student has more experience than they do and to counter act their insecurity, they take it out on the student. I am well rid of these leeches at ABC. I just hope that no one else gets taken in by their con game.
Val
California,USA
Not giving credit for classes attended
#4REBUTTAL Owner of company
Thu, March 26, 2015
There is a perfectly good reason this particular student from Animal Behavior College was asked to repeat the 7 week course, it was because she did not competently complete the mentor program with me. My assistant Vicki covered my group classes and allowed the student to attend in my absence. When I advised the student to repeat the seven week course it was because she was not competent to conduct group classes at that time. It had absolutely nothing to do with my having been away a period of time. I have mentored numerous students from ABC and most all of them have graduated and gone on to be fantastic dog trainers.
However, when a student performs below standard I refuse to pass them. Instead of simply failing them I give them the opportunity to repeat the 7 week course. For some reason, students occassionally feel that by simply attending the classes and having paid money to attend this school, they should pass. As with any college course if you do not perform up to standard you fail. It doesn't matter how much your tuition is. It is unfortunate that some individuals do not realize that to be a professional you must perform at a professional level. I refuse to attach my name stating a trainer is competent to conduct group classes unless I sincerely feel they can.
