TAMPA, Fla. (BLOOM) – Following the recent article detailing a Tampa couple’s experience with DK the Dog Behaviorist, additional individuals have come forward with similar accounts, raising broader concerns about the local trainer’s board-and-train services.
Three dog owners who reached out to Bloom after the article was published shared troubling experiences with DK’s board-and-train services. Two described returning home to dogs that were visibly underweight, had developed sores, or showed signs of neglect. A third said they felt misled after paying for behavioral training that never appeared to take place. All three asked to remain anonymous, fearing backlash or further escalation.
Tampa couple paid $3K for dog training; their dog came back underweight, injured
One woman said her dog came home “filthy, reeking like she had been sitting in her own pee,” with her ribs showing and sores on her legs. She admitted she didn’t take photos at the time, having convinced herself there must have been an innocent explanation. “Now that I know it’s happened to someone else, I see it differently and wish I had,” she said.
Another dog owner said DK promised to help with her rescued pit bull’s behavioral issues but only took the dog on walks. “He kept saying she needed more walks,” she wrote. “We paid upfront, but never saw any actual training take place.”
One owner said they had previously used DK for one-on-one sessions without issue, but boarding was a different story. Her dog returned home with minor injuries and signs of poor hygiene. “We chalked it up to rough play, but now I realize it was likely something more.”
Each individual shared their stories with screenshots and documentation where possible. None reported receiving partial or full refunds.
The original couple behind the first article said DK sent them glowing updates throughout the three-week board-and-train period. Texts described their dog Chanel as doing “really really well” and having “zero problems.” Videos showed her playful and seemingly healthy. But after pickup, the couple said they were shocked by her deteriorated condition. “All the videos he sent looked fine,” Kiana said. “There were no marks on her face, no sign of what he later claimed. That’s why I didn’t raise concerns, because everything looked okay.”
“I’m not looking for injuries in videos of my dog when she’s with somebody I’m supposed to trust,” she added. “If something was wrong, he should have told us.”…