Complaints

This profile includes complaints for The Barking Boutique, LLC's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

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  The Barking Boutique, LLC

  4547 28th St SE Grand Rapids, MI 49512-1911

• 

  The Barking Boutique, LLC

  4174 Alpine Ave NW Ste A Comstock Park, MI 49321-8024

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:10/03/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I purchased my very first puppy from barking boutique in alpine on Sunday, September 17th. When meeting her with my boyfriend and spending over an hour with her at their establishment, we noticed she was making frequent choking noises but didnt think anything of it at that time, especially since this business markets heavily on healthy puppies. Once taking her home and introducing her to my aunt and uncle the next day it was noticed by them as well her frequent coughing, and as we spent just that day with her we realized she also sneezed a lot to where snot was shooting out her nose and terrible congestion. We came to realize we had bought a very sick puppy! The next morning I called around and was able to get her on a waiting list at the animal hospital in ************ and they diagnosed her with kennel cough and put her on a 10 day antibiotic therapy and was given a cough suppressant injection just to try to calm her cough down so she could hopefully get some sleep. I tried calling barking boutique to explain to them this situation over the phone since I live almost an hour away from them but no one answered. I then emailed them on Sunday, September 24th explaining to them my situation and that I should be reimbursed the $318 that I had to spend to treat my sick puppy that was advertised as healthy. They told me to contact the *** pet insurance that she had for 14 days after being sold and also that she showed no signs of illness under their care. This is not true because my boyfriend and I noticed her symptoms the moment we met her at their establishment. My aunt, my uncle, and the veterinarian noticed immediately this puppy was sick as well. The workers at barking boutique were responsible for her and her health for 2 months before I purchased her, meaning they are not doing their jobs at caring for these animals when they become sick. They only want them sold so that someone else can foot the bill and they will just deny the responsibility. If they did not notice her cough, then they are negligent to the needs of these animals which is their primary responsibility in order for them to sell alleged healthy puppies. After filing a claim with the *** they denied the claim today for reimbursement because the insurance allegedly didnt begin until the 18th even though I bought the puppy on the 17th. Barking Boutique is responsible for selling me a sick puppy, they are responsible for treating their other sick puppies, they are selling puppies on false pretenses. If you claim the puppy is sick the moment you bought it, the insurance will deny the claim and the business will deny the responsibility. This is wrong and needs to be taken care of.

  Business Response

  Date: 10/31/2023

  On Tue, Oct 31, 2023 at 12:21 PM Breeders Barking Boutique <*******************> wrote:
  

  For the Complaint *****************************: We are very sorry your puppy wasn't feeling well. We wish you would have let the staff know what you had witnessed. We would have addressed the issue and got her the medication she needed. We strive to only send *************** home. All of our puppies are sold with a 30day *****************. Please feel free to send vet invoices and notes to our claims email. Thank you

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/02/2023

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Jan 29th, 2023 I purchased a ****** Bulldog from Barking Boutique in ********* **. While filling out the paperwork I noticed the dog had diarrhea, and his inner eyelid was red. The sales person said the vet did look him over everything was fine. But if I take him to the vet & he needs medications or eye drops I would be reimbursed. 2 days later 1/31/23 I took the dog ******* to the vet. He had an double eye infection & given medication for diarrhea. 2/7/23 ******* still having terrible diarrhea & was taken back to the vet. He was treated for eye infection and parasites. 2/8/23 additional medication was needed. 2/15/23 ******* was back to the vet they did a stool test to see if he was clear of the parasites. ****************** 2/23/23 Vet prescribed additional meds as the parasites had not cleared stronger medication was required. I reached out to the Barking Boutique immediately after his first visit. 1/31/23. **** took my call, I asked to speak with a manager, I was told she's not available. I explained what the puppy had was very contagious they needed to take the correct precautions. **** told me to file the claim via email, which I did. Emails were sent 2/8/23, 2/15/23. I finally received a email message stating they would reimburse me for the first medical bill $147.73 close my claim. I responded immediately explaining there are multiple bills my case should not be closed. 2/16/23 ******************* responded she would look into everything & get back to me. I have not heard anything since 2/16/23 I received a check for $******, which I have not cashed since I don't want my claim closed. I have spent $377.20 on a puppy that was guaranteed to be healthy. I spent overt $5k and cant not even get a return call. I have emailed, left messages & no response since 2/16. Here it is 3/2/23 & my dog is STILL being treated. I have missed multiple days of work caring for a very sick dog. Im asking for the remainder of medical bills ******, that's including the first check for ******

  Business Response

  Date: 03/12/2023

  This customer was originally paid $147.43 because I received one email with one receipt attached. I then received an email with the additional information and invoices and I sent one back to the customer. Clearly the customer must realize by now that the emails in claims are processed once per week. That is the reason there is lag time in between. The customer should also realize that I am still waiting for an "all clear" on the intestinal parasites before the claim can be processed, or at the very least, an acknowledgement that there are no more symptoms. I have invoices but I have not test results and nothing from the veterinarian. As of the last email, the customer states the puppy is still being treated. The customer also knows that I, *******************, is the General Manager and can contact me at the store during regular business hours. The customer gets an automated response every time an email is sent that states:

  Hello,  
  Thank you for reaching out to us regarding your claim.  Any claim will be open until the illnesses/ issue is cleared up or a "negative" test is taken.  Once a negative test has been taken, please send all applicable receipts, all vet notes, and results from all tests taken.  After which, we will review and let you know the response.  
  Claims emails are processed each week on Wednesdays.  

  It further states:

  Barking Boutique further warrants that your puppy is free from each of: Parvo Virus, Distemper, Hepatitis, Corona Virus, Parasites, and Canine Influenza for fourteen (14) days from the date of purchase. Should your puppy be diagnosed with any of the conditions listed above during said fourteen (14) day period, Barking Boutique will reimburse you for any medications and/or medical treatment taken for these conditions within the fourteen (14) day Puppy Warranty excepting any: (1) actual exam fees or diagnostic tests performed by your veterinarian; and (2) fees or costs incurred at an emergency pet hospital.  Once the above condition(s) are addressed, Barking Boutique will reimburse you for the actual cost of medications and the initial follow-up testing for such condition(s) upon the presentation of an already paid invoice by you. 

  I have one of two choices. I could either leave the claim open and wait for a final test or acknowledgement that there is no further symptoms and veterinary notes as required; or I could simply process the claim a final time. 

  I have processed this claim. I am sending an additional check for $209.82 today to cover cost of all medication, and the cost of the parasite test and recheck occurring after the original claim.

  Finally, please consider this claim closed. 

   

   

  Customer Answer

  Date: 03/13/2023

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************************

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/17/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I purchased a puppy from the Barking Boutique in ******* ******** on June 24th, 2022 for $4,000. I paid $500 for them to find the coloring and type of dog i wanted. The puppy had kennel cough within days but got better. In January of 2023 the puppy was running through the kitchen and we heard two big yelps and thought puppy stepped on something or hurt her paw. She immediately wouldn't put her right paw down on ground and within one week, I had an $800 expense and was told she would need surgery to fix fluxating patella. A week after that puppy had double ear infection and that was over $200. One week after that puppy wasn't walking on her left leg and was told it was same thing as the right leg. After a recheck of her ears that required another treatment and pain medication for her knees, I have paid over $1,200. I had surgical consult which cost another $185 and was hit with a blow I would of never expected. It is going to cost $10,000 for surgery on both of the puppys legs and that doesn't include follow up appts and post operative xrays. The Barking Boutique has said they would reimburse me the cost of the dog per the contract when I purchased her. I am a single mom of 4 kids and originally got the puppy for my daughter who suffers with anxiety, now we can't imagine life without this puppy. She has become a lap dog and has to be carried everywhere. She doesn't walk for long before she face plants and can't run and play. She whimpers in pain daily. I don't know how I'm going to come up with the rest of the money for puppies surgeries and feel that the Barking Boutique should have to cover the full cost of puppys surgeries. They claim to know their breeders and according to the surgeon our puppy should of never been bred because it's stage 4 and worse they have seen in such a young pup. They knew or didn't follow through on genetics of the mom and dad dogs. Our puppy's quality of life has declined in just 6 weeks and i still have to come up with $6,000.

  Business Response

  Date: 03/02/2023

  This customer and myself have had several discussions regarding this puppy's condition. Our warranty for hereditary and congenital conditions is part of the contract a customer acknowledges and signs at time of purchase. For a congenital issue we waived the right to have our veterinarian examine the puppy as long as the diagnostics were given to our veterinarian for examination. The customer provided the x-rays and other information and our veterinarian concurred with the findings. I let the customer know that they are entitled to reimbursement of all medical bills up to the purchase price of the puppy. Our warranty states, "Under no circumstances will Barking Boutique be liable for any expenses or testing in excess of the original cost of your puppy."

  We stand behind our warranty and will comply with the terms of the warranty contract.

  The customer and I also discussed the option of receiving a new puppy and she declined because she had discussed the option with the surgeon and she wants to opt for the surgery. 

  Thank you,

  *******************

  General Manager,

  Barking Boutique

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/03/2022

  Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Complaint on False Advertising, and Employee Conduct:On the evening of 12/3/22 I had heard the companies radio advertisement claiming to provide pure bred and purpose bred dogs. Having been interested in a new active companion dog, I first checked their website to see their puppy offerings and noted that they advertise many crossbred dogs that are not recognized by the *** (Labradoodle, Golden Doodle, ******, etc.). Upon seeing the listed on their website, I called to inquire about the nature of their Purpose Bred dogs as to the jobs they are bred for, and was answered by their store manager. When I had tried to ask about their advertising of Mixed breed dogs as being Purpose Bred, the only explanation that could be given was that they were bred for Hypo Allergenic purposes, with the verbal certainty given that they would not trigger allergens (hypo as less than, not zero, not certain to be allergen free, no purebred dogs are officially recognized to have zero allergen triggering qualities). When I asked for further clarification, that was the only purpose that these dogs had been bred for despite the large amount of mixed breeds advertised that do not share this quality, and the Manager was exceptionally rude in saying that sometimes I have to educate people further, so I understand if you do not get it. The term purpose bred is meant for dogs bred for work or sport. The catalog of puppies on display from ***** are purely to entice unsuspecting owners, and confuse them to the dogs true genetic makeup. Breed parent clubs in the U.S have made statements regarding to rejections of these designer breeds. The advertisement of these dogs for well over 2x the price ($2400-$5000) of what a reputable breeder sells puppies for, with full Genetic testing and health clearances on both the parents, puppy and proven within their respective venues. The advertisement needs to reflect what they are actually selling, unpredictable mixes and mill puppies.

  Business Response

  Date: 12/14/2022

  I personally apologize for any misunderstanding or perceived rudeness of my staff here at Barking Boutique. I have spoken with the staff and, I make sure they invite people to come and see our puppies and visit our site for themselves. There are many nuances that one can only pick up by taking the time to visit as well as learning about our breeders, where our puppies come from, the warranties and health promises, OFA's and pedigrees that come with our puppies. *** only recognizes purebred dogs for their traditional registration.

  If you look further, *** has a partnership program. From their website: "While only purebreds can join the traditional *** Purebred Registry or *** Purebred Alternative Listing (PAL) programs, the *** *********************** allows all mixed and hybrid breed dogs of any age (and their humans!) to celebrate, and strengthen, the bond you share. When you enroll your dog, youll gain access to a wide range of activities you can take part in together, including most *** recognized titles and dog sports"

  This is the category that any of our purpose bred puppies would fall under. A companion puppy that is purpose bred may be bred because of the temperament or traits of a large breed with the desirable size and adaptability of a smaller breed or for any other number of reasons. Our puppies are microchipped and registered with the nation's largest registry. They come with a 30 day accident insurance through *** and Canine Partners.

  I encourage you to take a look at our website and blogs where you will also find our No Puppy Mill Promise:

  "The Barking Boutique is a community of puppy lovers, committed to connecting responsible puppy breeders of all sizes with caring individuals and families. Our puppy promise is a guide to this commitment.
  What Our Puppy Promise Means
  We hold ourselves and the breeders with whom we work to the highest and most humane standards of care. We aim to improve the life of each puppy, breeder and owner, and welcome people of all background into the The Barking Boutique family.
  As experts in animal care, we will connect you with the puppy that best suits your lifestyle and family needs, and we will provide for you our Puppy Package, a blanket of coverage and care to support you as you welcome this new forever friend into your home.
  Zero Tolerance
  The Barking Boutique has a zero-tolerance policy for puppy mills or breeders who have substandard breeding practices, and we are committed to providing everyone with a fully transparent understanding of who first raised your puppy and how humanely they and the mother were treated.
  While you may not know the source of your puppy from a rescue, shelter or pet store, you will always know where your puppy was born and raised when working with The Barking Boutique. The available puppies at The Barking Boutique are raised with love, respect and a high level of attention and personal care."

  Have you hear of the ***************** Responsible Breeder Program? There is a wealth of information on our site and in our store to help you find the puppy that suits your needs and will be a long-time loving companion. Again, I invite you to come in and speak with us.

  Thank you for your valuable input.

  Sincerely,

  *******************

  General Manager

  Barking Boutique *******

  
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/29/2022

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  We purchased our puppy from the Barking Boutique in *********, **. 48 hours after bringing him home, we found out after a vet visit for ****** diarrhea that he had Giardia. I have been trying to be refunded for the vet visit (or, at the very least, the medication as per our contract), and we have had zero success. You cant call it a 2 week limited puppy health GUARANTEE when you add fine print saying youll only pay for meds, not the vet visit or the diagnostic testing. Thats saying we guarantee their health, but if theyre not.. oh well! but its also ridiculous that the company can just go radio silent when it comes to what they legally owe to the consumer as per heir own contract.

  Business Response

  Date: 10/03/2022

  The customer and I resolved this complaint amicably. We are sending a check for $557.50 as reimbursement for emergency visit outside of our warranty agreement.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 10/10/2022

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/17/2022

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  We bought our dog ****** (******) from Grandvilles barking boutique in February of 2019. After only having ****** for almost three years, he one day went blind out of the blue. We took him to a vet who confirmed he was blind and it was due to having glaucoma. We as well went to see specialist (Optometrists) who also confirmed he was blind and it was from primary glaucoma, which is hereditary. I have a three year warranty with the company and they are refusing to reach back out and help. I have sent them all of the requested documents. Our dog went in for surgery and had to have a enucleation of both eyes. We are devastated over what is and has happened to our boy, he is too young to have to go through all of this. What this company does and lack of sympathy they have for a dog once it leaves their facility is horrible and disgusting. Dogs are more than just dogs. ****** is more than a dog, he is our family. All we are asking for is our refund or expenses paid for their lack of care and irresponsibly they had when breeding these innocent and poor animals.

  Business Response

  Date: 08/25/2022

  Hello

  We are also very concerned about ****** and wish he never had to go through this issue.  After reviewing the documents from the vet and specialist we determined this case is covered under our warranties.  We met with *************** last week and issued her a full refund.  We have also followed up with the breeder to be sure they were aware of this health issue and to be sure the mom and dad are no longer breeding.  While this doesn't give ************************* back his sight, we do hope he continues to bring happiness to your life and his sisters!

  Thank you