I am pretty upset about something that my dog trainer sent in an email to me tonight. He emails me often, and most of them I don't open because they are fluff about cool dogs, but if they are intersesting or seem important, I will look...

The email that arrived tonight had a provocative title, so I opened it, and found it linked me to a site that displayed a very extreme political viewpoint, that I not only disagree with, but quite frankly I find disturbing. I am not going to go into detail, but my question is:

Do you find it unprofessional to send emails of political nature to your dog training clients?

I am astounded...and I am so upset I am considering "firing" him, based on this alone. Am I overreacting here?

If my trainer and I were in the habit of discussing politics and we held the same views and he sent me something he knew I might find of interest...I wouldn't be pissed.

If my trainer just up and sent me something political out of the blue, and especially something I don't agree with, I would be pissed and I would dump him. Yes, that's unprofessional.

Maybe it was an error. I'd give him the benefit of a why did you send me that? Maybe he has you accidently cross referenced on a list.

Is he a good dog trainer? Does it matter if he voted for McCain or Obama? The only reason I'd fire him, is if the material that he sent made you realize that you disagreed with him on such a deep moral level that you no longer wanted to support him financially. does that make sense?

As far as sending political material to my clients, I think the obvious answer is that I'd never dream of it. In the last 20 years the political landscape has become so much more fervent and emotional that it's unreasonable to try to interject your views into casual relationships. It's inflammatory.

Well, I just checked the list of people he sent the emails to, and compared it to a class email, and they are the same, so he sent them to the whole class...I wonder how many others will find this unnerving?

So, I can say that he didn't accidentally add me to a list of his friends that he was sending it to. But, he also could have accedentally sent them to the whole class, I guess...so there is still a chance there was a mistake. But I doubt it.

I just can't frickin' believe this! Honestly blows my mind...

Level with us, Rick. Was it PETA stuff?

hahaha. sorry. Don't level with us. I honestly don't want to know.

Sleep on it, see how you feel in the morning.

David,

Not Obama v. Clinton v. McCain or any of the other Democan or Republicrat stuff. Deep, important, and very, extreme.

I am about 50/50 on the training...I have learned a few things from him, and he seems to do a good job, but this is completely unprofessional.

Oh, and it's hard to sleep when I am pacing a hole through the carpet ranting and raving! But that is wise, and I will take your advice...

Rick,

Impossible to tell who he sent it to besides all your classmates, as there could be one name or a whole slew of people who get a "bcc:" version. Those addresses wouldn't appear in your copy.

I don't think I'd call it unprofessional as it apparently isn't related to his training techniques or beliefs (I assume). There are a lot of nut jobs running around out there. You're paying him for dog training. I'm sure you didn't do a background check or delve into the non-dog-training part of his life before you picked him. None of us do for any of the "service" people we deal with. I think you have a couple reasonable choices here.

If what he did is that offensive or disturbing that you're just uncomfortable dealing with the guy in any capacity or you don't feel you want to patronize his business, then terminate his services.

OTOH, I doubt you're looking to become close friends with him, no more than you would with an appliance repair guy, carpet cleaner, plumber or whoever you had an occasion to use. This is just a short term business relationship. If his training is worth the money you're paying, reply to his email. Tell him something to the effect that you furnished him your email address for the purpose of receiving dog training notices or articles and that you do not want to receive any email on subjects that don't relate to dog training, whether they be advertisements, jokes, political sites, etc.

You have to decide whether or not the principle of the thing outweighs the training benefits.

JMO

Mike

I would reply politely in an email that you only be sent dog and training info. and would rather not recieve political spam. What if next he starts emailing his fave porn sites? Sounds like he's fishing for like minded people who share his views. Its also a good way for him to lose customers.

Rick I don't know about you, but I'm pretty much; 'hey what ever floats your boat man, just don't make any waves' kind of guy. How ever like David, there are a few areas, completely legal, I would find so morally repugnet I won't support them in any way shape or form. Even if it was the bestest damn gardener, barber, mechanic, or for that matter the foremost renown dog trainer. They'd get not so much as a single cent from me. Earned or not.
I vote: get another trainer.
Randy