How We Handle Complaints About Trainers
Goody Doggy is a directory of dog trainers. We list trainers so you can find and compare them. We don’t investigate trainers, and we don’t judge accusations made against them.
When we confirm an official public record about a listed trainer, we remove the trainer’s listing from their state and city pages and from our search features, and we add an editorial note to their profile. The record has to come from the source that issued it, such as a court, a police department, a state registry, a government agency, or a certifying body.
The editorial note names the agency that published the record, links to it, and describes it in the record’s own words. If the record is a charge, the note says a charge is an accusation, not a finding of guilt. The note also says Goody Doggy did not investigate and makes no claim about the matter, and it never names who sent the report.
What Counts as an Official Record
We accept a link to any of these records, as long as the link goes to the official source’s own website:
- An entry on a state animal abuser registry, such as the Florida or Tennessee registry
- A court record
- A criminal charge filed by police, a sheriff, or a prosecutor
- An action taken by a government agency
- A certification revoked or suspended by a certifying body, such as CCPDT, IAABC, or KPA
We act only on official records. We don’t accept news reports, and we don’t review social media posts, online videos, comments, or personal accounts.
If an Animal Is in Danger Right Now
Our form isn’t for emergencies, and reports aren’t reviewed right away. If you think an animal is being hurt or is in danger right now, call your local animal control office or police department first. The ASPCA explains how to report animal cruelty where you live.
If You Had a Bad Experience With a Trainer
If you’re unhappy with how a trainer treated you or your dog, you can leave an honest review on the trainer’s Google Business Profile. Stick to what happened and when. Reviews help other dog owners decide who to hire.
If the trainer holds a certification, you can also contact the organization that certified them. Certifying bodies set standards for the trainers they certify. Common ones include the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC).
Helpful Public Registries
Tennessee and Florida keep statewide public registries of people convicted of animal cruelty. Anyone can search them for free:
- Tennessee Animal Abuse Registry, run by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
- Florida animal cruelty registry, run by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Some counties and cities keep their own registries too. If you find a listed trainer on an official registry, send us the link with the form below.
If You Believe You Were Wrongly Removed
If you’re a trainer and you believe we removed your listing by mistake, submit the form below. Choose “Record showing a listing was wrongly removed” as the type of record, and link to official documentation on the official source’s own website. That could be a court record showing the charges were dropped, or your certifying body’s page showing your certification is active. Use the Brief Description to explain why the removal was wrong. We review it the same way we review a report.
If the updated record checks out, we return your listing to your state and city pages and remove the editorial note.
Submit a Report
Use the form below to send us a report. Please include a link to the official record. We can’t act on a report without one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will you tell the trainer who reported them?
No. We don’t share your name or email with the trainer you reported, unless the law requires it. We use your details only to review your report.
Why is the trainer I reported still listed?
We remove a listing from our state and city pages and search features, and add an editorial note to the profile, only when we can confirm an official public record about the trainer. That means a link to the record on the court, police, prosecutor, state registry, government agency, or certifying body’s own website. News stories, social media posts, videos, and personal accounts aren’t enough, even when they sound serious. If your report didn’t include an official record, or the record didn’t match the trainer listed on Goody Doggy, the listing stays as it is. We’re a directory, so we don’t investigate or decide who’s right.
How long does review take?
We review reports with an official record in the order they come in. We don’t send updates on each report. If the record is confirmed, we remove the listing from the state and city pages and our search features, and add an editorial note to the profile.
Can a trainer get relisted?
Yes, if the official record changes. For example, if the charges are dropped or a certification is reinstated, the trainer can submit the form on this page with a link to the updated record on the official source’s website. We review it the same way we review a report, and the final decision is ours.