I was there 4 1/2 hours early to be first in line for the 12 PM event. The first volunteer there was a foster mom who set up everything Emma should have been doing. The event started late, as always, and starting signing people in at 12:30. I went to see my first choice (a popular puppy) and connected immediately. After waiting another hour, they finally started to bring the first group over to sign. All the volunteers were lovely except a man (only older man there) and Emma. I was pulled aside before being taken to signing by the man who was snappy and had attitude (which I was confused about it as he had only been in Petco a few minutes and I hadn't been talked to him yet) and was told that my puppy required an extra 109$ to pay for training. I understand that older puppies who were never taught or spastic puppies may need extra training, but when I asked why he reason was that I was young. A.) Not only is this ageist, but after talking to people in line it was clear that I had the most experience working with dogs. I started training before I was a teenager, I'm in my 20's now. I have over a decade of experience AND my friend/roommate works at a puppy day care and I have a voucher for free training (10x better than Petco's) and grooming through her (this was all on my application) and B.) I was not the youngest there and the puppy I chose was not youngest eithee but was very popular. When I asked Emma about it for clarification and explained about the training I already had set up her first response was to THREATEN to "put the puppy back on floor for someone who will pay for it" WHILE I was at the table to sign and pay. This is after waiting for several minutes after she chatted with her friend, hadn't set anything up, and hadn't introduced herself to me or the other customers. She was extremely short and rude to me and also anyone else. HOWEVER, don't let this rude, unintelligent, judgemental, unproffessional, immature woman with a botched boob job (I only say that because on what's supposed to be a professional, her weirdly sexualized shirt 2 sizes too small made it hard to take her seriously, even as a young woman myself) stop you from adopting. Whenever you adopt a dog you save that dog and make room in the shelter for another one to be saved from a kill shelter. I was able to get my dog, but it was obvious that paying extra for training was for no other reason other than the fact that my puppy was popular and many people wanted him. Emma also has a tendency to claim that "she makes no exceptions" to any question, while MAKING an exception for either herself or someone she knows. In the first week the puppy was 100% potty trained and knew how to sit, come, stay, lie down, walk on a leash, etc. This is probably because of the foster mom who I thank immensely. I suggest RMPR to adopt a puppy, and highly commend the foster parents/other volunteers, but disapprove of only Emma and the older man.
P.s. you can vaccinate for rabies at 16 weeks (vet approved), but they tell you it's 6 months. read more