I decided to try obedience work with my newest dog, Drago. He’s smart and well-behaved, and I thought we might want to do some lower-level agility. I was referred to a woman who does agility and trains dogs. I’ve been looking so forward to this dog training class, but I’m not happy with it, and I don’t think the trainer is happy with me or likes me. First lesson goes well - it’s a mandatory private lesson (at $50 for about 1/2 hour of actual work) so she can evaluate my beginner dog. Surprise!! He’s a beginner. Put him in the beginner class. But Drago does well one on one. First group class has it’s highs and lows, but it’s the first class.
I hang back waiting for the homework handout she tells us we’re getting. I ask her about it and she says it’s in my email from the previous day. I went home to reread it. I emailed her again, forwarding the “welcome to the Foundation class” email she’s sent, and she replied, saying “Did you read the email you just replied too? 
with attachments? Full of homework.”. None of the attachments have any specific instructions, so I work throughout the week based on what I remember from class. I got to class yesterday and all the dogs have obviously been working on stuff that I haven’t been working on, and the other owners have brought stuff I wasn’t told to bring. There was a different email, which she had never sent me. I e-mailed her again saying I didn’t get that email, that I felt like I was muddling along with no direction. She finally forwarded thet first class homework email saying "People in 3 foundation classes got this…Sorry you are must muddling along with no direction but I would say that is how you usually do it " Love her use of passive-aggressive smilies. Or she’s just baring her teeth.
I responded with the following email:
"Perhaps it seems that is how I usually do it, but when actually given the instructions, I try to follow them. Frankly, your communication makes it seem that you don’t particularly care for me, and if I didn’t have $175 in your pocket, I wouldn’t continue to attend your classes. We have 4 more sessions together. I will attend. I will do my best to follow the instructions I am given.
Going forward, I’d prefer it if, when I directly ask you things like “Am I going to get homework”, you verify that it was sent. I asked you twice about the homework, both times you tried to make me feel like crap for doubting you, with your curt remarks and snarky email, when the truth was, you didn’t send it to me. I just went back and reviewed all my e-mail communications with you, and that e-mail wasn’t there.
If, on the other hand, you’d prefer I not return, you can refund half the money I’ve paid to you so far."
We’ll see what happens. I’m so disappointed in this experience. I’m an OCD data analyst. I’m very detail-oriented. I don’t like being made to feel like an idiot slacker.
StG