Dog Adventure Company

Steve was our Dog Walker for 8 months ending last March. During this time there were 4 days that I know off where he didn’t turn up, happy to leave our dogs for 12 hours without a toilet break. I only know about this because I work irregular shifts and had to book Steve to come every day even though I was off on some of them. He did not know my shift pattern so that can’t be the reason. The problem was that he always had a very dramatic excuse, leading us to give him the benefit of the doubt and let him off. Either he was at the vet for an emergency appointment with his own dog who nearly died, or his baby son was born prematurely and was rushed to another hospital where they stayed for 2 days. Though one time he had obviously forgotten when I called, but then said he was just about to come. The dogs would have been left for nearly 9 hours by this time, if I had been at work. One of the reasons we chose DAC is because of Steve’s reassurance that if an emergency should happen, one of his staff would come an collect our dogs and take them to the centre. Only he said he forgot to call them on those occasions. I understand emergencies can happen, but when you have a business like this, you can’t just forget the dogs when something happens in your own life. A phone call doesn’t take long. One reason he forgets could be that he doesn’t seem to keep a diary. We never got a bill or invoice for weeks, despite asking and were asked to do one ourselves and transfer the amount owed. At the end, he actually admitted he had lost the diary and didn’t know what days he had walked our dogs. We foolishly paid him for the days booked even though we don’t know if he had actually been. Since then a neighbour has also said she sometimes saw Steve go into the house for a short time, then come out without the dogs and drive off again. So that suggests they would have got as far as the garden on those days. Steve talks the talk and comes across as very confident. Personally I found him quite smug and patronising. My feelings are that he can’t actually care about the dogs if he neglects them like he did mine. I completely lost my trust in him.Moreexpand_more

We paid a block booking in full several years ago with the owner Steve. We had one session and was on our way for a second with only five minutes to arriving when we received a text saying Steve was ill. We however turned up and found a note on the gate saying out walking the dogs. We had travelled all the way from Derbyshire. We left message after message and wrote several letters to re-book the remaining sessions and never got a reply. You may wonder why write a review after all this time, the answer being we did not know that this business was still operating and had a review page.

I can not recommend Steve and his team more. My boy is a trainee assistance dog so I need to have him looked after by skilled staff and=d in a safe environment. He has been going there for over years now. Has stayed for a weekend and away so had great fun. They have been pivotal n helping get him yo the stage where he can change my life.

We first met the Dog Adventure team on a social walk at Christmas time. We had a lovely day and were made to feel very welcome by the team and other owners and dogs. My girls even had a play in the paddock and came home with a fantastic doggie bag. The girls next spent time in daycare, I admit I was a little nervous handing over my two treasures, but the girls couldn't wait to go through the gate. The team are now helping put my mind as rest as I wait to go into hospital with a combination of daycare, boarding and paddock hire. Steve and the team have always been available and helpful on the phone or during a visit to the Centre and shop.

I don't like to write negative reviews, but having read of the experiences of V Varney, I feel I must. Steve was due to come to my home for a one to one session on 2 April. He did not turn up on the day. Fifteen minutes after the appointment I had a phone call saying he was delayed. An hour after that I rang to see where he had got to and the person I spoke to was surprised he had not arrived. I said I would still like to go ahead that day (as I was on holiday) and asked for a call back with another time later that day as soon as possible. Four hours later, I had not received a call, so I rang again and was told that he would be in touch. It's 6 weeks tomorrow since he was supposed to call me - how long must I wait ? Fortunately I found another trainer in North Hykeham who has been brilliant and was considerably cheaper. It seems that reviews of his dog handling are positive, but his business management skills are severely lacking.Moreexpand_more

Steve and his staff do an exemplary job and I can't fault the service I have received over the past 18 months. I started attending classes there when my puppy was 16 weeks old and it has done us both such a lot of good. I've had training advice and nutrition info which has been great. Day care and boarding services are also fantastic. I cannot recommend them highly enough.

I've never met people who can advise in nutrition behaviour and products and provide training boarding and doggy fun like the guys and girls here! My Boy loves going here and he doesn't normally like going anywhere!

If you are thinking about using The Dog Adventure Centre to train your puppy then I wouldn't bother. We paid for 4 training sessions and a 1 to 1 upfront and the first two classes were really useful and I felt me and my pup had learnt a lot. When we attended the third class which was rearranged for later that day as Steve had double booked, I was appalled to arrive at the class and be told 20mins in he couldn't be bothered as he was tired and he would rearrange the class. I thought this was unprofessional and I was dissapointed as we had a 20 min drive to get the the DAC. Steve reassured us that he would be in touch with an alternative date. We waited for 2 weeks and my dog started barking late at night and random times in the day. Steve always said that if we had a problem with the dog like any behaviour issues to message him straight away. With this in mind I messaged him of which I didn't receive a reply until 1 week and a half later where he assured me he would have info for me that day and would tell me about the rearranged class. This was 3 weeks ago and after numerous emails I have sent he has ignored them. I am still owed two sessions which I have not received a refund for. Steve is a great trainer but unfortunately he lacks professionalism and communication. Save your money and try someone who is reliable. I do not want anyone else to get cheated and to lose their money like I have!Moreexpand_more

I have been going to Steve for several weeks now to socialise my puppy and for a one to one. He has been fantastic and I would not hesitate to recommend him, my havanese puppy loves going to the social classes and it is helping with her barking problems. Steve was also very helpful in the one to one and the advice he gave me is working well.

Steve's service is exceptional! Our dog loves going to the daycare on a regular basis for over 4 years now. Working full-time and having to rely on the service we have never been let down. I can highly recommend the dog adventure centre. Give it a try!

Getting a pair of rescue hounds (beagle and a beagle x) about a year ago, who had never been walked or socialised in any way, we soon found ourselves at our wits' end. We are not inexperienced with dogs, but had no way to stop their anxious behaviour, pulling (our arms out) on walks, barking at children/ other dogs/ horses/ anything that moves. By the time we came to Steve our dogs had been declared 'untrainable' by a series of dog trainers (sometimes for being beagles, sometimes for being rescue dogs, sometimes with no reason given at all). At the Dog Adventure Centre all the training is done with positive methods; nothing harsh or punishing and no shouting or yanking the lead. It's all about teaching us the means to handle the dogs and how to communicate to them what we would like them to do. All friendly, happy and calm. Does it work? Well, after one session with Steve both our scent hounds (! ) walk on a loose lead. Instead of a wrestling match we all walk down the road calmly and the walks are fun! We still have more sessions to go to and some social walks. Steve has also given plenty of top-up advice on the phone. So, we would say: don't give up on your dogs. Take them to Steve.Moreexpand_more

Taking our Springer/Lab to puppy classes. Steve is excellent with the puppies and his training methods work really well. After 4 lessons we are already seeing huge improvements.

A fabulous unique and safe environment which our dog absolutely loves. He spends the day playing with his mates whilst we are at work and at the end of the day we pick up a tired and happy dog. Cannot recommend it highly enough.

I've used Steve for one to one training and attended a workshop. Learnt loads which very quickly made a difference to how we treated Tilly. It all seemed so easy when Steve explained it. Tilly also takes holidays at Steve's and loves it. We are happy that she will be well looked after and she just lives being with other dogs :).

Can not recommend the dog adventure centre enough. I wouldn't take my dog anywhere else. It's home from home. Me and my dog went for puppy training classes and my dog has stayed there for holidays. She is always pleased to go there and sad to leave!

We have an excitable little Patterdale who we took to Dog Adventure Centre for day care, on that initial meeting not only did Steve fill us with confidence about leaving Mylo with him, but he noticed Mylo's on-going skin condition and gave us the information and tools to fix it! We now buy food from DAC for Mylo - which has saved us lots of money and has cleared up the skin condition. Our dog was happily tired when we picked him up from day care and we plan to use the day care service and home training with Steve very soon. We would recommend to anyone who will listen!

We have now completed a puppy training course with The dog adventure centre. The course was exceptionally good, very informative and supportive. I would recommend this course to anyone. We also have attended puppy socialisation on a Saturday morning and find these to be really helpful in getting our puppy used to other people and dogs.

We have taken our dog to the Dog Adventure Centre since she was 4 months old. She absolutely loves it and returns home tired out! Steve and all the staff there are friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable. Its reassuring to know that whilst we are at work she is having fun and socialising with other dogs!

Steve and his team at the Dog Adventure Centre offer an excellent service with an experienced and knowledgeable approach, Steve takes a fresh, non confrontational approach with training and is an excellent behaviourist. I am the lead Admin for Halfway Home Dog Rescue and we often refer adoptopters on to Steve for more complex issues and of course I would always endorse his services for Day care which are second to none. At Halfway Home Dog Rescue we have a very high standard of facilities and kennelling and as such we would only recomend another organisation who could offer the best facilities and levels of care for the dogs in their charge, I feel that the Dog Adventure Centre can offer the best in ammenities, activities and training for any breed or age of dog.

Can only recommend the Dog Adventure Centre. Steve is brilliant with dogs and 100% committed to outstanding service. He's looking after our dog for nearly 4 years now and we can't imagine our working life without his support!