We had two separate experiences with K9…
We had two separate experiences with K9 Protector / Valborg Canine Ltd. This review reflects our personal experience as the family living with the dogs within our home environment.
The first dog we received was ultimately returned after ongoing concerns around anxiety and behaviour we found difficult to manage within our home environment. To their credit, the company did eventually agree that the dog was not suitable for us and a refund was provided. Also, as someone completely new to dogs, we did not initially follow all guidance exactly as outlined by the team.
Following that experience, we later took a second dog after being reassured regarding suitability for our family home, which includes very young children. Unfortunately, very early on we again experienced concerns around suitability within a household environment with children and hygiene concerns. We observed behaviour that made us uncomfortable as parents, such as the dog eating his own faeces soon after going without giving us a chance to clear it up. The team felt we should have been walking him offsite daily to allow him to relieve himself outside of the property. They also felt he spent too much time in his crate, which they believed may have contributed to some of the issues we experienced. One of our children became genuinely frightened and, despite attempts at controlled exposure, we did not feel confident continuing the placement safely.
We raised concerns immediately and the company offered to take the dog back shortly afterwards.
The refund process was stressful, with disagreement regarding the reasons for the failed placement. While a financial settlement was eventually reached, it was not a straightforward process. We are also still awaiting final paperwork despite chasing multiple times.
I appreciate that protection dogs are highly specialised animals and may work very well in certain environments and households. However, our experience highlighted just how significant the practical, behavioural and financial considerations can be when introducing a working protection dog into a family home with young children.
As parents, we ultimately had to make the decision we felt was safest and most appropriate for our children and home environment.