Onetoonedogtrainingschool Reviews 

I don’t usually write reviews, but after my recent experience I feel it’s important to speak up — not only for my own peace of mind, but also to hopefully help other dog owners avoid making the same mistakes I nearly did.

I reached out to Robert Metcalfe of One to one dog training school and now I believe 'train your dog.co.uk, when I was struggling with my dog’s reactivity. Out of the trainers I contacted, he was the fastest to reply — in fact, he got back to me almost straight away. At the time I saw that as a positive, but looking back I realise it should have been my first red flag. His website looked polished and professional, promising exactly the kind of results I was hoping for. I thought I had found someone trustworthy.

We arranged an initial assessment for £160. The price was higher than others, but I told myself, “you get what you pay for.” During the session, though, I felt increasingly uneasy. He put a very thin slip/choke lead on my dog almost immediately and used firm, sharp corrections. My dog did fall into line quickly, but it wasn’t the kind of listening I was hoping for — it felt like my gentle boy had just shut down. He’s a sensitive, much-loved family pet, not a machine to be yanked into obedience. At the time I pushed aside my doubts and assumed I was just being overprotective, telling myself that a professional surely knew best.

Another thing that made me uncomfortable was being asked to leave a Trustpilot review after that very first visit. I personally don’t feel it’s fair to review anyone so early — good or bad — until I’ve really had time to see their service properly. On top of that, I was asked to pay in cash, which again felt unusual for a professional business.

It was only afterwards, when my doubts wouldn’t go away, that I started researching online. What I found shook me. On platforms like Facebook under his business name and TikTok (under the name @dogdefender) I came across videos where dogs under his training looked stressed, shut down, and deeply uncomfortable. I know he claims there’s a “campaign to discredit” him, but when you’re watching videos filmed by him or featuring him, it’s very hard to dismiss what you see. For me, the penny dropped — this was not the type of training I ever wanted my boy to be put through.

I can’t express how relieved I am that I found this out before agreeing to let him take my dog away for residential training - I've since learned that he doesn't actually have a dog training school and the dogs are simply driven around in his van for days on end. The thought of leaving my trusting, gentle boy in an environment where harsh methods are used makes me feel sick to my stomach. I feel naïve for not trusting my gut sooner, but also incredibly lucky compared to some of the stories I have since come across from other owners.

Dogs aren’t just pets — they are family. They depend on us to keep them safe. I will never forgive myself for that moment when I handed over the lead and let someone else treat my dog in a way that didn’t feel right. Thankfully I stopped it there and then, but others may not be so fortunate.

If you are thinking of using this trainer, please do your research first. Watch the videos, read the experiences of other owners, and ask yourself if those methods sit right with you. For me, the answer was a very firm no. I won’t letting hm near my sweet boy again and I want other people to be spared the same worry, regret, and heartache.

I have read his previous reviews and see that he refuses to acknowledge he even knows who has left the review but this, I believe , is just another tactic to deceive people. Robert Metcalfe really is an accomplished conman who will not stop from what I have witnessed myself and seen on social media.

Horrible conman, don’t listen to any of his lies

Been following on for a while now online. How dare you? You absolute liar, you used a grot seen with my own eyes. I really hope that you get karma soon. Such an evil man and all his flying monkeys sticking up for him too. Money grabbing conman.

After totally believing the website and the trustpilot reviews i called and arranged a 'meet and greet' with Rob to discuss the issue I was having with my dog, a large bully breed.
Rob turned up late, no call advising of the fact, when he eventually did turn up, as I was trying to explain my issues, all he did was interupt me telling me how experianced he was how he had even written an artical on bullies for The Sun newspaper and how he knew and was an expert in the breed, but re reading the website he states that for every breed!
So when i did get chance to say my issues, all I needed was an influence collar and lead and my dog would straight away know how to behave, supplied of course by him.
I had one session with him and paid nearly 200 for him to tell me to buy a new collar and lead and for him to just tug on that lead and spout about how fantastic he is.( the man not the dog)
I was not impressed by him or his supposed training..or lack of.
I did have the option to book further training sessions but I have politely declined as Im after someone who concentrates on the dog and the dogs behaviour and offers remedies for these not a session of "This is your life", where the trainers more important than training the actual dog.
All in all just a pompous little man with ideas of self importancy.
No i do not recommend.save your money look elsewhere.
Edit to also note-I found out after the fact and ask yourself - why would such a reputable trainer and business man have 2 differant business names?
Dodgy dodgy dodgy
EDIT**
Thank you for your response. Since meeting you, I have taken time to do further research as you suggested.
Based on what I found, I have serious concerns.
I came across multiple accounts online suggesting that dogs you were involved with ended up being seized by the authorities or put to sleep after reported incidents. I also noticed that the name on your workwear appears to match someone else already known in the mental health community, which raises further questions.

When I tried to review your material, most of your YouTube videos were locked behind subscriptions, and your Instagram is private, so it is difficult to independently verify the quality of your work. While you seem to have a strong presence across Facebook, Google, and other platforms, the information I’ve uncovered leads me to remain very cautious as it implies quite the reverse of what you claim!
My opinion, based on these findings, is unchanged.
And I would advise others to follow your suggestion and look online.

Robert is a horrible person who lies about where he keeps dogs and what he does with them , my dog came back with lots of bites . was underweight and flinching. he needs to be stopped as this is straight up animal abuse . please do not trust this man with your dogs

I found one to one dog training through the internet looking for a good dog trainer I gave them a call to enquire a price and to arrange a meet and they was nothing but helpful and respectful I saw progression in Pablo within the first 2 sessions rob does not train with any barbaric methods and techniques and procedures are all professional and well educated corrections I originally enquired about residential training but found supplies this service and only does 1 to 1 with clients all across the uk (which have all seen improvement) rob also videos each training session for me and puts them into a collage for me to see the progress first hand and show my friends and family and the lifetime support service rob offers is amazing and makes it super flexible for me

Ive seen many videos of this man abusing his clients dogs . All throughout the summer he had a van full of dogs without adequate food and waterand no way to keep them cool ,spending days locked up in cages in the back of his van . The dogs looked distressed in the back of this van , certainly not the happy dogs they were before their owners entrusted them into this disgusting man's care . He uses unethical practices to beat your dog into submission and break their spirit. My family members dog came back a shadow of their former self and we have literally spent thousands on a proper trainer trying to undo some of the damage this man has done. Sadly scars remain . When confronted rhe man is very aggressive and left my aunt scared for her safety. We have contacted the SSPCA without little help and are now considering legal action as from what we gather this man is in no way shape or form a decent dog trainer .

I've been out a few times with Bob and have seen a marked improvement in my dogs response,
The guy seems to know what he's doing and am happy to continue my training

I find this experience extremely rewarding as I’d lost all confidence in going out. The reward is to see my puppy react positively to my instructions. Bob is great at training my puppy and she immediately responded to him.looking forward to weeks ahead.

Rob is clearly an expert dog trainer and handler. Within minutes our over excited, disobedient, and unresponsive dog was behaving like a good family obedience dog.
Rob and the team have lots of expertise and are responsive and helpful. They also travel all over Scotland and provide lifetime support.
Our dog is 90% improved, much more responsive and obedient and as owners, we are more aware of what we need to do to support our good boy.

Great service from rob. Have been coming with my Rottweiler now for a few months huge improvement. Rob gives advice on training at home and great equipment to help with it. Would highly recommend

Rob is an extremely gifted and talented dog trainer. Before his time with our 3 year old Rottweiler (Max), he hadn’t had much interaction with strangers and other dogs, which had caused behavioural issues. Within 15 minutes Rob had bonded with Max and had him totally compliant to his commands. Max’s temperament and attitude has changed dramatically (for the better) following his ongoing training and is a much calmer, happier dog. I would highly recommend Rob for dogs with similar behavioural issues as Max

Rob came out to see my dog lexi today, who is a very anxious dog & coz of this seems aggressive around new people, within an hour of being with rob shes like a new dog already, she was around screaming children & didn't react once, she walked by his side and sat when he said, I cant wait to see what the future holds for her with his help, as already I see a huge difference with her, cant thank him enough

One-to-one dog training school are helping me with an aggressive french bull dog.
Who has been cause issues with my care. Team
Before training started I could not take him
Out. As it was difficult
He now walks better without pulling on a lead
I can't thank . The team enough for 24 support there. Let me what time there. Coming and providing videos off training each training session

He is an amazing trainer and my dog ans i work extremely well with him rob in my eyes are a 5 star trainer and my dog and I love working with him very much

Very experienced training and friendly service

It’s all a scam!! Stay away from them!!!!!

He came to ours (Scotland )to collect our dog, first thing I noticed is my dog shocking with his collar which he said it was fine as my dog wasn’t used to collars… first lie
When my dog came back 3 weeks later not 2 as it was what we agreed it came underweight and stinking of urine even though he was just sent to a dog groomer, he said that he was underweight because of much exercise my dog was having and he wasn’t used to it… second lie
we took him out for a walk and it was clear the lack of training, he was even more reactive to dogs than before… his answer was that we needed a 1-2-1 session with him so he can show us how to do it, never showed up… third lie.

My dog was stuck in a van for days during the heat wave… he came back underweight, clearly dehydrated and lacking any sort of training.

No refund has been made as “his accounts are frozen”

Please protect your animals and don’t send them to him.

Conned innocent people out of thousands for a dog that was supposed to be trained, the dog had no training would not walk on a lead would jump up on people. He provided no paperwork with the dog who was not microchipped or vaccinated. The dog hasd to be sent to reputable trainers to try and undo what Metcalf had done.
I cant be more explicit as this is going through the courts.
PLEASE DON'T GIVE THIS MAN ANY MONEY. Look on the Facebook page for a the warnings.
I wish we had done more research
As for his reply he doesn't deny conning people out of thousands and providing untrained, unchipped, unvaccinated dog

One to one dog training school were in Edinburgh on 10th July 2025 with 7 dogs in the back of the van.
The temperature was 26.5C.
None of the dogs had water or bedding. There is no aircon in the van and the crates have solid doors between the cargo space and the bulk head separating the front seats. There isn't even a spinning vent on the roof. The people from the first floor flat hanging out their windows confirmed this. Dogs from different households were also doubled up in the small crates.
Metcalfe and Mitchell had, by their own admission, travelled from Montrose - over two hours away - with those poor dogs in a mobile oven.

Metcalfe was parked up in a car park in Newport near the Taybridge on Monday night with a van full of dogs well after 23:00. There for the night or transporting those dogs to a proper facility where they could rest comfortably?
I of coursed called the Scottish SPCA as the dogs were clearly distressed.

When the SSPCA attended I recorded Metcalfe telling the inspector that two of the dogs were his. He later changed his mind and decided they belonged to a lady in Edinburgh but she had called him the previous night and asked him to keep the dogs for a further week.
What he didn't mention to the inspector is the owner was under the impression the dogs were kennelled in Nottinghamshire - his girlfriends unlicensed kennels.
When the owner called the dogs were already in Edinburgh and had been for the past 4 days - yes that's also recorded Metcalfe.

The owner did not want the dogs transported in the heat and had a family emergency. I know this because I have spoken to the owner.
Metcalfe then told the inspector the dogs were being returned that day.
Strange that they then ended up in Cumbria the following afternoon (see review by Kariss Dee). So the dogs that the owner didn't want transported in the heat then travelled a further 130 miles!! Did they then travel another 184 miles to the unlicensed kennels where the owner believed they had been all week?

All of these dogs had been driven around in the baking heat under the guise of training. What dog trainer with a shred of common sense trains dogs in a heat wave?

Please note many of the above reviews are left after one meeting with one to one dog training school. Metcalfe requests this and has even been known to write the reviews. He also uses a reputation management company to clean up anything negative that is written about him online.

I welcome your response Metcalfe. We are building a solid case of evidence against you.

EDIT

-You don't have a good name!! The negative reviews reflect that and the positive reviews are ones you have asked for on your first meeting with new clients.
- Your Defra licence is a class 2 which permits you to transport animals for no more than 8 hours. The two labs were in the van for at least 5 days that we have evidence of.
- Not one of the 7 dogs had 'free access to water' which is a requirement. How could they. The bowls were standard stainless steel. You didn't even have a container filled with water. You had to ask your client to fill a container and this was about 20 minutes after you arrived. All of this is recorded on video.
- Yes you do record some of your 'assessments'. There are plenty of them to see online but please feel free to share more.
- These are not lies. They are backed up with evidence both eye witness accounts and video recordings.
- "You will not destroy my business for your own gain" I have nothing to gain other than warning people about you, saving dogs and people’s hard earned money.
Cancellation in Castleford 28th July!Cancellation Turriff 29th July!! Lost business?!

Reactive and previously traumatised Mali pup who was pretty much put on death row by everyone who met him until I found Rob and I can wholeheartedly say he has 150% saved our boy!

My Mali 🐕 pup is not only thriving under Rob’s guidance and training - he’s happier, calmer, and healthier because of what he is learning with Rob which is essentially what his job and role in our family is and as a result our whole household is happier, calmer and healthier.

My boy 🐕 is prospering because of our weekly interactions with Rob and I just wish I had found his sooner. 🙏🏼

Can’t wait to continue on this journey of watching my baby 🐕 boy become a top quality family protection dog. 🙏🏼