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.”
In a series of Instagram stories posted after the article went live, DK appeared shirtless while responding to the claims. He suggested the couple had unrealistic expectations and showed a video of a dog trying to escape a crate to explain the injuries. At one point, he initially said the dog tried to break out, then corrected himself to say it did break out. He did not address the multiple veterinary records or contradicting texts presented in the article.
DK also claimed the dog caused over $1,000 in damages by breaking out of crates and chewing through materials. But two other dog trainers and breeders questioned why a professional trainer charging thousands wouldn’t have appropriate equipment to safely contain a high-needs dog. Chanel’s owners also noted that she had never injured herself or escaped containment at home, despite being under their care with far fewer resources. “She never ended up in this kind of condition with us, and we both work full time,” Brody said.
The couple also pointed out that DK never mentioned any of these supposed incidents during the program and only raised them after being asked about her injuries. “If these things happened on day one, why would you say nothing for three weeks?” Brody said. “And if the wounds happened early, why were they still healing when we took her to the vet?”
In the Instagram story, he referred to himself as “famous now,” seemingly brushing off the complaints as part of a viral moment. Meanwhile, a previous Instagram post promoting the same board-and-train program as “life-changing” has since been deleted. A screenshot of that promotion has been added to the article for reference.
As of now, DK has not issued a formal statement or addressed the additional complaints publicly. The original couple who spoke out say they don’t want anyone else to go through what they did. “We weren’t out for drama, we just wanted a partial refund,” Brody said. “But what we got instead was a reminder that even professionals can let you down.”
Related: Tampa Couple Paid $3K for Dog Training; Their Dog Came Back Injured and Underweight
Reddit Reaction Spurs Community Outcry
Shortly after the article went live, a Reddit thread titled “Be careful who you trust for dog training in Tampa” was posted in the r/Tampa subreddit, quickly amassing over 100 upvotes and dozens of comments. The thread included a screenshot and summary of the article, with users chiming in to share their own experiences and opinions about DK and board-and-train programs in general.
Many users were highly critical of the trainer and the concept of sending dogs away for unsupervised training. One commenter, identifying as a former dog trainer, called board-and-train setups “horrific,” arguing that “dog training is all about training the human to train their dog,” not outsourcing the process entirely. Others echoed this stance, stating, “Dog trainers don’t train your dog; they train you.”
Some alleged they had encountered DK in public parks allowing client dogs to roam off-leash or recalled seeing him training in unusual locations, such as Home Depot. One user said they “got the creeps” during a consultation when DK allegedly referred to himself as “daddy.” Another mentioned watching a TikTok of him applying excessive pressure on a dog using a prong collar.
While a small number of commenters said they had positive experiences with DK in one-on-one sessions, most of the discussion revolved around caution and concern. One user shared that their dog came home from DK’s care covered in scrapes and smelling of urine, eerily similar to the incidents described in the article. Several said they now regret using board-and-train services entirely. While many commenters expressed outrage or shared similar concerns, a few were critical of the couple as well. Some questioned whether their expectations were too high or if more communication during the program could have helped. Others noted that results can vary depending on the dog’s temperament and health, and urged caution when interpreting any one experience as representative of an entire business.
