UPDATE: Owner called, was very understanding and supportive. We're going to give them another try…read moreand do a re-do review once appropriate. On 8/9/2020 our puppy went for the 1st time in his 3 short months of life to puppy socialization classes at the S. Lamar location (12 noon slot, as he's 17 pounds). We were so excited for him, taking his first step into puppy training/dog training which we're big supporters of. Both of our other dogs have had training including getting their AKC Good Citizen Certificate, but we lived in a different state at the time, hence our quest for a new trainer in Austin. Well, we were so disappointed with the quality of the experience we had to share this with others. We returned to pick him up about 10 min early and, like many others there, we looked through the glass at the puppies playing. What we observed were two very frustrated employees dealing with out of control puppies. The pups were given no guidance, they were knocking plastic dividers down (one fell on our pups head), and given treat after treat with no command- just stuffing them in their mouths. The "class" is finally over and we go in to speak with the employe and the conversation was shocking- She first said our dog cried at the door for 20 minutes "his separation anxiety needs to put under control". Well, we realize he's scared to be left alone. He was rescued at 5 weeks from a bad situation, we're all working from home and he see's us all day and the fact that we took him there indicates we realize there's a problem we'd like to help not get criticized about. Secondly, and this was the part that really, deeply saddened me. She said "he seems to have a short fuse, you know how his breed is". He's a pit bull, we have 2 others. No, we don't know "how his breed is", we don't make breed generalizations, we know it's the owner not the dog and I'm shocked a 'dog trainer' would say something like that. All with a look of 'I hate my job, hurry up and leave. so I can get on with my day' look on her face. Needless to say, it was a tough first experience for our puppy and even tougher for us to sit through when someone is making ignorant remarks about a dog's breed because of frustration or dissatisfaction in her job.

As a new puppy owner, this was a dream come true! For the past 6 weeks, my puppy Woody and I have…read morelooked forward to these classes. I first took him to these classes when he was about 10-weeks old, so it's a great way for him to socialize with other dogs while he's still in the midst of getting his vaccinations. The trainers are great. They are always open and eager to answer any questions I may have. Just knowing that I have the team in my back pocket helps ease any anxiety I may have about being a new puppy mom. Kate has been especially fantastic! I had to go out of town for a work trip pretty last minute, and she was able to watch Woody for a few days while I was gone. She even gave him a little nail trim :) I felt completely at ease and comfortable knowing that my puppy was in good hands. Thank you so much for everything you do!

Hi Caitlin. I just wanted to drop you a note to tell you how…read moremuch we LOVE Dakota! She just "gets" Bailey and is always coming up with new and different strategies to deal with Bailey's issues. I felt 100% at ease leaving Bailey with her while we were gone for Thanksgiving, and loved getting the daily updates, pictures and videos. Bailey is truly a different puppy than the one that arrived at our home a little more than 2 months ago. She went from a puppy who was scared of her shadow to one who is conquering fears daily and is so much more carefree. Our house is often a revolving door of kids and Bailey is really starting to enjoy the activity! I no longer have to introduce Bailey to new people outside fearing that she will submissive pee or need distance. Bailey may never be the most confident dog in the room, but she is happy and so much more comfortable in her skin now and we couldn't be more thrilled. There's still a little work to do but we have come such a long way and that is in large part due to Dakota. Thank you again. Debbie

Good luck getting a response. I tried calling a handful of times and left at least three messages…read moreabout puppy training and boarding. either they're no longer in business or don't wish for new business, in which case you should probably take down your information. So sad, I was really hoping to get some help training my pup.

I cannot recommend Conscious Dog Training enough. Our pug Hemingway is the best dog ever, but he is…read morealso a pug, and if you know anything about this breed, you'll also know they are stubborn to a fault! I picked Conscious Dog Training because the reviews show they have experience with pugs, and when Hemi had some naughty behavior that needed to be nipped in the bud, CDT stepped in and helped my husband and I better understand what was going on. I love the attention to detail and the customization done with these guys. Our trainer was Rebecca, and she showed up to our house ready to take on Hemi, who we learned, just needed boundaries and more structure in his routine. Training your dog is primarily the effort you make. So if you're ready to do the work, CDT is ready to take you on. They have a zero tolerance policy with electric shock therapy/shock collars, or anything leaning towards negative reinforcement.

Jennifer was a life saver. I had a very aggressive French bulldog that was attacking my other dog…read more It was a highly stressful living situation and didn't know where to turn. By luck, I found Jennifer and she was the perfect fit. She was patient with me, was always upbeat and practiced rewards based training that I could actually repeat on my own and really helped me understand my dogs. She's honestly not just a trainer, she's a shrink for the whole family. She was able to figure out our dynamic and tell me what the dogs were thinking just by their body language and signals and taught me how to read their signs too. The aggression took not only training but meds too. Jennifer helped with so much input and advise on that too. I honestly could not have gotten through the stress of two dogs in the same household not getting along without Jenn keeping everything in perspective for me. She would remind me where we started, the plan we were on and where we were going. I clearly am beyond thrilled with Jennifer's training!! Fast forward two years and I now have more to thank Jenn for! I no longer have my Frenchie but I do have two amazing Pugs. Jenn has reminded me of the basic training I've already been taught and we are back to using our magic mats. They have been great at getting the puppy to settle as one crazy dog usually leads to two crazy dogs. We have also started our amazing loose leash training again and see how the little bit of structure helps the dogs calm down and helps us build a closer bond. This is Jenn's calling as she is an amazing dog trainer/therapist for both dogs and humans...and don't kid yourself, this training is really for you, not the dog!

Our family used Christie to train our two Olde English Bulldogs back in 2013 and I have to say that…read morethose were the best dogs ever so, when I brought a new Oldie puppy into the home, I knew that I wanted to start training early. First of all, before even meeting or corresponding with Christie, the website gives a plethora of information. She details out the training methodology as well as options for training - board and train, group classes, etc. She also outlines her beliefs on training and dog ownership so there is no doubt what to expect when you arrive, but don't jump in the car just yet. There's an application process to sign up for training. Once you've completed your applications, additional information will be provided around what's expected of you as part of the training and it is very detailed as well. Right after our first lesson, I had a clear understanding of the first lesson, clear instructions on my homework, and expectations were set. I opted not for the board and train program but the group lessons. There were two other first-timers there and Christie was able to give all of us and our dogs the attention needed to make the session worthwhile. I look forward to our weekly Saturday morning training classes and already notice a difference walking with my Sadie. Whether you choose to board and train or attend group classes, you cannot go wrong here. Training your dog is part of responsible pet ownership and setting the groundwork early is one of the best decisions I've made, but there are plenty of older dogs in training too so if you have an older dog that lacks the behaviors you want, I can't recommend Christie ENOUGH. Just take a look at the videos on her website to see the effects of proper training in action.

If there was a lower rating to give for this experience, it would be warranted. I emailed Christie…read moreabout behavioral training for my dog, and all of her correspondence was rude, condescending, and exceedingly unprofessional. There was an obvious spelling error in addressing my name, and she was completely comfortable with being impolite with a possible customer she has never met. When her behavior was addressed there was complete denial. After I decided (and stated) that her services would be unnecessary she continued to email & explain how my pet and I no longer qualified for any of her programs. If you would like to be spoken to in an unprofessional manner and berated with emails after calling it out, this is the place for you. And after reading her response to this review on Google, where she states information about my application out of context, is another example of her character. It was too long to read completely, but I am so grateful I went to someone else who met with me, explaining my dog's nervous behavior, not aggressive, and was a professional. My terrible interaction with this "professional" led me to a real one.

Gave estimate of price for training. Does in-home training ---willing to focus on our needsread more

From the owner: Focused K9 helps owners achieve on or off leash control with their dogs. We focus on developing a…read morerelationship with you and your dog that leads to your dog being responsive to commands through clear communication, your dog will learn to be calm while at liberty, you will learn to fulfill their biological needs through training and they will have functional obedience in a variety of real life applications both at home and in public spaces.

Julia is impressive! Our dogs were experiencing anxiety because of our recent move. She worked…read morewith them and us and the problems were resolved. We were so grateful.

Julie is genuinely a dog and people lover! You will not find anyone more trustworthy, punctual,…read morereliable, loving, or smart. She is a wealth of knowledge and has so many tools in her bag to accommodate different temperaments. She is great at answering questions over text and providing resources. She is extra good with kids! I have already referred her to 2 other friends. Julie is amazing and compassionate. Her prices are a real value! Love her!

So surprised I'm the first to review! We found Adrienne wayyy back when she was working as a dog…read moretrainer at Petsmart, and she was FABULOUS. She gave us the skills to reinforce the excellent training our little rescue dog had at our dog manners course. When we added another dog to our pack, we needed help because he came to us with massive separation anxiety (if you've ever been through this you know how awful this is). We immediately got in touch with Adrienne. She does home visits, group classes, and boarding. Adrienne came right over to asses and help us. She only uses positive reinforcement rather than punitive training techniques and let me tell you, what she taught us did the trick. She recommended a program to desensitize our new guy to being left alone and it worked! Give her a call, she is worth every penny!

From the owner: A Refined Canine offers a Positive approach to dog training focusing on building the relationship…read moreand fostering communication between you and your dog.

I was skeptical at first especially paying so much money but it has been worth it so far. my dog…read morehas now been in training for about 2 weeks and I definitely see a difference. Just know that you and your dog will be getting trained so be ready to put in the work as well.

Our dog Pumpkin did amazing at class and has already made so much progress in short time. We…read morerecommend this program for anyone looking to train their dog.

I can't say enough good things about Chico and Chums. Alyson and her staff are so nice and you can…read moretell they will be very loving and caring with your animal. I like that they have a GPS tracker so you can see what time they came and left. Sometimes they even send a picture of your pet, which definitely brightened up my day at work. I'm sure this service has saved me from a lot of poop and pee on the floor. It was easier to focus at work knowing I wouldn't come home to a mess or feel a lingering guilt about them being alone for 9+ hours a day. I wouldn't hesitate to use Chico and Chums again.

I wouldn't trust anyone else with my fur child. This will be a long review. I have a lot of great…read morethings to say. Allison and I attended the same college for the same degree, so we knew each other back in the day. We ran in similar circles. But this was 20 years ago. We hadn't spoken since college. I ended up moving to Austin a year ago for a job which required A LOT of travel. I saw a Facebook post that Allison had a pet sitting business. I contacted her because I felt like I was abusing all my friendships by asking them to take care of my cat while I traveled. Allison and I had a quick and energetic catch-up on the phone and scheduled a consultation. Allison and her partner came over to my house, and met my cat, Dewey. They quickly bonded. What surprised me the most was how professional this business is. Allison had a bunch of paperwork to go over with me. It was a legit operation. They have a website with a login where I can schedule services and pay my invoices. This has become one of the most useful aspects for using Chico and Chums. I can schedule a service on my portal and know that everything will be taken care of. A few months ago Dewey had some bladder problems and was on medicine. I had to go out of town for work and was terrified to leave him. Chico and Chums took great care of Dewey, and gave him his medicine, and gave me detailed updates. I was still a bit worried, so I asked for Dewey to be taken to the vet to make sure he was still okay. C&C was able to interact with my vet on my behalf and it really was a relief to know Dewey was in good hands. Now when i have to go out of town, I just immediately schedule service with Chico and Chums. I stopped asking my friends to help out because, honestly, you get what you pay for. The ease of scheduling and peace of mind that comes from using Chico and Chums is worth every bit of money I pay them. This has eased my stress and guilt about leaving my cat while I have to travel. I'm so thankful that I found a reliable and trustworthy pet sitter. I know Allison personally and can vouch for her character, and she will love your pet like it's her own. Thanks Chico & Chums. You're the best!