We entrusted Taurus Academy of Lake Travis with our two dogs while we were on vacation, just as we…read morehad done multiple times before over the years. Because of our history with the facility, we had no reason to believe there would be any problems. What happened instead has been one of the most upsetting experiences we have ever had as pet owners. Four days into our trip, we received a phone call informing us that one of our dogs was in serious condition. She could not stand or walk. She would not eat. Staff could not get her to take her medication - don't worry, the treats used to give her the medication were unopened so I'm not sure how they attempted to even give her the medication. She was vomiting bile and suffering from bloody diarrhea. Faced with the possibility that our dog was critically ill, I cut my vacation short and booked an immediate flight home. All along, Taurus repeatedly stated that she must have picked up a bug while here; however, according to our vet, the most likely explanation was not some minor stomach issue but a massive anxiety response. Taurus has repeatedly characterized what happened as simple "GI discomfort," but that explanation does not align with what we witnessed, what our veterinarian treated or the lasting changes we continue to see in our dog weeks later. The physical symptoms eventually improved, but the emotional and behavioral damage has not. More than two weeks after bringing her home, our dog is still not the same dog we left in Taurus's care. Before this stay, she was remarkably independent, confident and friendly. This is a dog who routinely stayed home alone for 8-10 hours without issue. She was fully house-trained, comfortable meeting new people and rarely showed signs of significant stress. Today, she can barely go ten minutes without someone nearby before having an accident in the house. She has become fearful of unfamiliar people. She is noticeably more anxious and clingy. Situations that never bothered her before now seem to overwhelm her. Rather than the confident and secure dog we knew, she behaves like an animal that has experienced a traumatic event and no longer feels safe. Perhaps the most heartbreaking change is that she has begun displaying behaviors we have never seen in her before. In all the years we've had her, she has never growled at me and never bitten me. Since returning home, she has done both. For a loving, gentle dog who has always trusted her family, that change is deeply disturbing and speaks to just how profoundly something has affected her. Anyone who has cared for a traumatized dog recognizes these signs. Trauma doesn't always leave visible scars. It can manifest as separation anxiety, loss of confidence, regression in house training, heightened fear responses, hypervigilance, emotional dependence and even defensive aggression from a dog that previously showed none. Watching those changes unfold in a 5 year old dog who never displayed those behaviors before has been heartbreaking. What makes this situation even more frustrating is the complete lack of meaningful answers. Something clearly happened during her stay. Healthy, well-adjusted dogs do not suddenly become unable to stand, refuse food and medication, vomit bile, develop bloody diarrhea, and return home exhibiting signs of severe anxiety and behavioral regression without a cause. Yet despite the severity of the situation, Taurus's explanation amounts to little more than "GI discomfort." That explanation is simply not credible based on what we experienced. The financial costs of veterinary care are one thing. The ruined 25th anniversary vacation is another. What hurts most is seeing the lasting impact on our dog. We left a happy, confident, independent companion in Taurus's care. We brought home a dog that was physically ill, emotionally distressed and behaviorally changed. We trusted Taurus Academy of Lake Travis because of our prior experiences there. After what happened to our dog and the lack of accountability that followed, we will never board our pets there again. Pet owners deserve transparency, honesty and confidence that their animals will be safe and cared for while they are away. Based on our experience, Taurus Academy failed on all three counts.

We went to Taurus because the day we were leaving for a family vacation, that the dogs couldn't go…read morewith us ,the place we have already booked told us they couldn't. We couldn't be happier with how things went. At Taurus they received us with the best service and love for our dogs. Totally recommend anyone to bring their furbabies here. If I could give them more than 5 stars I would.

Once again, our dog had a great experience at Bobbi Colorado's (Canine Camp and Kennel). The staff…read moreis so welcoming to Mike (dog) and us. We'd sent paperwork in advance re Mike's health/vax records--very reassuring to know your kennel and the staff is organized and available. Mike was smiling at drop-off (he really was) and recognized a few folks. Two weeks later when we came to pick him up, all was ready! And Mike was wagging his tail. Best kennel we've found in 35 yrs of loving dogs!

Our little boy Berwyn just completed his 4 week board & train training course. We could not be…read morehappier with this experience! Jagger Scott kept in touch constantly with beautiful videos showing our little boys' progress week by week. Berwyn had confrontation issues in public with other dogs, and people, and now he is calm and poised and responds immediately to commands. The beautiful part,,- in all the videos he is wagging his tail during training, he was obviously having a blast training with Jagger during the training sessions. Jagger is truly our local Austin dog whisperer , and we are truly appreciative of all his work that he did for our little boy Berwyn . This is a really wonderful investment, because for the next 10 or 12 years at least, Berwyn is now going to be able to come to restaurants with us, go shopping at stores and most importantly, go with us to outdoor concerts to watch our son in concert! This has opened up a whole new life for him, he's going to get to go everywhere with us and share life with us, I am so excited and looking forward to the future, thank you, Jagger!

Gusto Dogs is really the best! I first contacted Kristen when I moved downtown, and my biggest…read moreconcern was not being able to come home in the afternoons to take my dog out. Kristen and David (one of Gusto's dog walkers, and really, like, the greatest guy) came out to my apartment to meet my dog and set up a game plan. Everything clicked. I wasn't worried about not being there for my dog, and even more important, my dog was happy. But it's been all of the extra stuff that really makes these guys the best. 1) They're pros. These are not neighborhood kids trying to make extra money over the summer. I have absolutely no incidents to speak of. My dog is safe and happy when he's with them. 2) They go out of their way to provide the best service. Whenever I've had to make a last-minute change in my schedule, they've ALWAYS found a way to work around it so they can be there when I need them, even going so far as to rearrange their own schedules. One weekend, my fiance and I had overlapping trips and neither of us would be home for a 24-hour period. Kristen and the team were ready with a plan for swinging by throughout the day, making sure our dogs were fed, taken out, played with, and then put to bed. Oh, and my fiance's dog -- a very big ridgeback mix -- had just undergone serious knee surgery and had a strict medication schedule. No sweat for these guys. When I got home, everyone was happy and healthy. 3) Speaking of my fiance... it actually took me a little while to convince him that it was worth it to get his dog out for the daily walks. He had gone two years without needing someone to take his dog out in the afternoon, why pay someone to start doing it now? But it only took a week for us to notice a difference. His dog is BIG and VERY energetic, but with a 20-30 minute walk in the middle of the day, he's much calmer when we get home from work. Still a big barrel of fun and energy, but not running laps around the coffee table. 4) (And last one, promise) Our dogs love these guys. Their reaction when David shows up is hilarious. It's like their super-fun uncle just got there to take them out. As a dog owner, it makes me really happy to see my dog so happy. So, like I said, the Gusto team is amazing. We plan on using their services as long as they're offered (hopefully, forever). Could not recommend more highly.

The name Gusto Dogs makes it obvious that they provide care and services for our canine friends…read more But they do so much more. We have utilized their services frequently for giving food, medicine, and lots of attention to our cats when we travel. I know that my sweet (and very affectionate) elder cat is in great hands when we are away from home, and am especially comforted when texts and pictures are sent letting me know that everything is ok. Gusto Dogs even has a special little helper who loves to give plenty of gentle pets when she has the chance to visit. They are insured, reliable, trustworthy, and so compassionate about animal care. I never worry for a second when we are away from home.

Every Dog is amazing. All 4 of my dogs have taken various classes at Every Dog. All of the staff is…read morevery knowledgeable and goes above and beyond to make sure you and your dog have a wonderful experience. I love their business model of offering discounts to people who need help with their dog but may be on a limited income. I highly recommend them!

I brought my best bud Kya to Every Dog Behavior and Training to learn some basic manners. They…read moreteach you how to teach your dog behaviors for success from a basic sit, wait, come, and drop it. Our instructor Eric was really sweet, patient, and encouraging with Kya. He's instruction was clear, easy to use in daily life, and fun. We've seen drastic improvements in her behavior and we plan on attending intermediate classes soon for more complex training.

Do not give these people your money. They want the entire bill of $2,800 up front before they even…read moreschedule a time or month you can bring in dog for training. I offered half upon scheduling and the other half when I bring my dog to them. Initial they said no but kept calling me saying later that they would take half now and half when I brought in my dog. Which i agreed to. They hit my card for half of the amount as agreed then refunded my money the next day saying this wasn't going to work for them. This place is a scam and I knew it when they wanted all the money upfront and would not schedule a day or even a month. Don't give them your money!! Rodney C

Before Luna went for training she was so crazy, jumping on everything and everyone, lots of nipping…read moreand stealing so many items. We talked to Amber on the phone before booking and loved that our dog stays in a home and not a kennel. We decided on a Board and Train program with Amber! Highly recommend! Amber sent us pictures and videos of our dogs progress during the two weeks. When she brought our dog back home we got our homework and showed us everything that she taught our dog and advice on how to be successful coming back home. Luna was so calm! We were amazed! Luna listened so well and kept her happy, waggy personality and is more cuddly now because she is able to calm down. Amber also checked in on us a week after Luna came home and several weeks after Luna came home to make sure we weren't struggling with anything. I love seeing that Luna is also so excited to see Amber. We know she truly cares about Luna like we do and Luna loves her too. We already asked about a vacation stay with Amber in the future! Two of our neighbors already commented on how well behaved Luna is that is my favorite thing other people are noticing! My sister signed up for a board and train with her her dog this spring! I recommend Suburban K9 and Amber to everyone!

I'm thinking the service does not create the value of the high cost!! I had my two Frenchies…read moretrained for $6000. The dogs stayed at the sit means sit facility for 12 days for training. The people at the facility that I interacted with or capable and knew what they were doing. My dogs were obedient to the trainers when I picked them up. However, the two 30 minute to 45 minutes training sessions were supposed to be 1hour sessions but we're cut short because other customers were arriving. We did not have enough time with the trainers to become skilled at reinforcing what our dogs had learned. We did get written instructions and email instructions. But for the price, I thought we would get more thorough training. The owner Lisa is knowledgeable and nice. Austin, her son, answers the phone he is also very nice. Leaving my dogs at their facility was stressful. I was told I would have communication and pictures or videos daily. What they didn't tell me is the pictures our poses and videos that match canned statements, not real communication about my dog and only once daily. I was given the direct phone number of the owner but couldn't reach her until three or four calls were made. I felt upset that I couldn't determine my dogs well-being from the poses and the canned comments that were generic to every dog. It was upsetting waiting for a callback. I couldn't visit my dogs while they were boarded for training and one of the pictures they looked very stressed. So I was upset by the time. I finally got a callback. The owner Lisa was helpful when she called back. I did get more personal interaction from the trainers. After speaking with Lisa. When I had a scheduling issue, she was also accommodating. My issue is when we got our dogs home we were not trained to reinforce what they had learned. We are not trained to get the results we saw when we picked up the dogs from boarding training. Then there are the group classes. They last for six months. I had terrible health problems for two months and could not attend and they will only allow me one month credit even though I offered MD proof that I was sick. So two months later, our two, very reactive Frenchies in tow, we were late to class and exhausted due to late night, long flight delays. I called talked to Austin told him we would be 36 minutes late.. He said no problem come on in, we will take care of you when you arrive. After a 45 minute drive , we arrived and employee Jerry was very rude. Turned us away and said "I don't know what to tell you, class is over why are you here"? I explained what Austin had said, Jerry said again. "I don't know what to tell you class is over" and shrugged. I called Austin back, he said "I don't know what to say, sorry come back next week". Even though we arrived at the exact time, I told Austin we would arrive. I expect better customer service for $6,000. The sales pitch I was given, led me to believe they would be very present knowledgeable, and helpful. that has not consistently been our experience. We attended class today and were pleasantly surprised. Lisa was teaching and it was a good class. We went over the basics of what they had taught our dogs and how to do it at a very basic level. I feel like I should've had today's training and several other training sessions during the time my dogs were being boarded and trained. There would've been more value in boarding them if I was better equipped to deal with them when they got home.

Our 1.5 year old lab/Shar Pei mix is stubborn and resistant to training. Our at-home attempts were…read moreunsuccessful and had little lasting impact. She has problems with reactivity on a leash, poor recall, and general stubborn behavior. We are still working through these things, but in six weeks with Sit Means Sit the difference is huge. She will not bark at other dogs now. If she does, it is once and she stops when I ask her to. She does not pull on the leash like she used to. I can actually get her attention when I need her to do something now. We trained at day camp with Ashley and she was incredibly helpful and knowledgable. She was so supportive and even stayed late with us to work through some problems together pretty much every lesson. My husband is reluctant to enforce rules or make our pup do things she doesn't want to do, and Ashley helped him with a few pep talks to understand why training is so important, even if it can be frustrating and uncomfortable. We are still learning and still have group classes to take, but so far I've been impressed and grateful.

My one year-old, 13 pound cockapoo took the snake safety class here. It was phenomenal! Felt a…read morelittle traumatizing at the time, but we found a copperhead in our backyard a couple of nights ago. Magnolia steered straight away from it! Now, she's afraid to go in the garage where the boots and machete are located. Don't judge - we can't have another den of copperheads in our backyard after I was bit two summers ago. Thank you so much to Winter Kennels for helping us avoid another trip to the hospital, and even worse, a potential trip to the emergency vet. You were amazing! We will be back next year for a refresh. Literally, life saving!

Our GSP, Clytus was trained here by Cory. I have to admit he is the best hunting/fur family member…read morewe have ever had. He is amazing with our children, other dog and outdoor cat. In the field he knows exactly what to do with confidence.

Beware, your dog will be in a crate the majority of the day…read more I took my dog here for an eval day, followed by one day of daycare. While the staff was very nice, I will not be returning based on how long they keep dogs in crates throughout the day. (I skimmed reviews ahead of time but didn't see any mention of this so I feel compelled to let others know). My dog was at daycare for almost 6 hours and I did not see him anywhere on the cameras during that time. (He is friendly and gets along with all dogs so should not have been secluded). When asking the staff how much playtime he had, they could not tell me and they estimated he was probably outside two hours total (and that maybe I just didn't see him on camera). That means the other four hours he was in a crate. This is not the norm for most daycares, as my dog has been to three other ones before and all of them allowed dogs outside of the crate at all times except for an hour mid-day around lunch for quiet time/napping. Another staff member told me the dogs have two 30-45 min breaks before and after noon naptime. So you mean to tell me if I drop by dog off at 7 AM and pick him up around 7 PM he's only being allowed outside his crate for two to three of the twelve hours? Absolutely not. Additionally, upon daycare pickup I was told because he's a pitbull mix that he classifies as a short-nosed dog and they sometimes limit playtime for dogs like that because they don't want them to overheat. This is insane to me and was not discussed ahead of time or during the eval. My dog has a ton of energy and is not prone to overheating and loves to play for hours. Lastly, the pickup and dropoff times were unacceptable. Waiting 10+ minutes with one person working the desk is unheard of. I've never been to a daycare that only allows one owner/dog inside at a time. Not even a vet's office does that! Clearly they need more staff members.

Taurus Dog Daycare: Where Oliver Gets Pampered Like a Celebrity!"…read more So, I took my dog Oliver to Taurus Dog Daycare, and let me just say--his groomer deserves a standing ovation. This isn't just a "brush-and-bathe" situation; this is a doggy spa experience that makes my dog look like he's ready for his own runway show. Seriously, he's strutting around now like he's got an endorsement deal with a fancy dog food brand. Oliver walked in looking like a scruffy little mop, and 2 hours later, he emerged looking like he'd been personally styled by a celebrity groomer. I'm pretty sure if he could speak, he'd be telling me how perfect he feels. His coat is so shiny, I'm half expecting him to start catching the sunlight like a diamond. The staff is beyond friendly, and they treated Oliver like the precious floof he is. It's not every day you find a groomer who knows how to make a dog look like a million bucks without charging you an arm and a leg. Honestly, I think I might be jealous of how good he looks now. If you're looking for a place where your dog can get pampered and actually enjoy the experience, Taurus Dog Daycare is your spot. I mean, Oliver's ready to start his own Instagram account, and I'm just here for the photo ops. Brilliant Dog Spa!