I am writing this review to express my deepest gratitude for the care and love Zion Chatelle and Austin Dog Zone have provided to my best buddy, Nacho! When I'm out of town, Zion sends me photos and videos, which are extremely reassuring and ease all anxiety about leaving him behind. She even puts up with my 21-year-old cat, Thelma! Nacho loves Zion!! Her expertise, patience, and positive reinforcement techniques have made a world of difference in my daily life. We adore Zion and look forward to seeing you soon. read more

We had such a great experience with Austin Dog Zone--especially with our amazing trainer, Zion! She truly went above and beyond for our two girls, Aspen (5) and Sofia (9 months). Aspen had been struggling with some behavior issues toward Sofia, and we weren't sure how to handle it. We also wanted Sofia to learn some manners. Zion came in with so much knowledge, patience, and kindness. She took the time to really get to know both dogs and customized the training to fit their personalities and our household, since we also have another dog, Bowie (6). Thanks to Zion, we've seen a huge shift in Aspen's behavior, and Sofia is thriving too. The tension between them is lessening and it's so rewarding to see them getting along and building a friendship. Zion was supportive every step of the way--we felt heard, never judged, and always like our dogs were in great hands. Highly recommend this service if you're looking for a trainer who truly cares. Thank you so much, Zion! read more

We have been attending the reactive dog meetup/walk each month and it has been amazing! Austin Dog Zone sent Karin to do an evaluation and she was amazing to work with. We did 10 sessions where she gave instructions while she had her dog at a distance and each week we were able to get closer, while keeping my dog under threshold. I am so grateful to Laura at Austin Dog Zone for offering this monthly meetup walk for reactive dogs! It is a great group who are dedicated to helping their dogs. read more

Karin has been so helpful in training our sweet pup! Austin Dog Zone is great at teaching both you and your dog on how to better communicate with each other! Karin is great and gives us weekly homework to work on before our next lesson. It is also super safe and convenient that ADZ travels to YOU, and masks are worn as a COVID precaution. I spent WEEKS researching different Yelp reviews for different dog trainers in the area, and I couldn't be happier with my decision! Train your pup here, you won't regret it! read more

Austin Dog Zone - Pet Training Near Me

My reactive dog, Bob, recently went to day training and two private sessions with Leighann. From day 1, Leighann went above and beyond helping me better understand Bob's behavior and sharing tactical steps we can take at home to reinforce what he was learning with her during the day. The private sessions were always really efficient and informative with her sending post-session email notes which helped me know what to do between sessions. Bob is already showing improvements in his reactive behavior and we understand him so much better now. I'd highly recommend Austin Dog Zone. read more

Austin Dog Zone - Pet Training Near Me

I breed Australian Labradoodles, Sweet Breeze Doodles, and I have 4 puppies who did not get adopted at 8 weeks of age. I knew I needed help figuring out how to start training that many young puppies. I contacted Austin Dog Zone and they sent Trainer Z, Zion, out to work with us. We did a reverse board and train where Zion would come out for 3 hours at a time a few times each week. With 4 two and three month old puppies, it was crazy at our house. I needed some order to come back into my life. Zion was nothing short of amazing! She promised me on the first day that by the end of the week, things would be calmer. I thought, "Sure. Whatever! Not gonna happen." But I was so wrong! She rotated through the puppies, working several minutes at a time with each one individually. Once they had some foundation skills individually, she then moved into working with them in groups. She was absolutely right, by the end of the week, calm had made an appearance in my home again. I could tell she really cared about each and every pup and she picked up on their individual strengths and weaknesses almost immediately. She would show me what she was working on and I would practice with them between her visits, following her advice on how to interact differently with them. After only 14 days, I took the two oldest puppies to a restaurant and a park with me. They behaved perfectly. They settled on their "magic mat," never barked at anyone or anything. I've seen adult dogs behave much worse than these two little sweeties. I was amazed at how far they had come in just a few days! Zion is simply amazing. I highly recommend her. If you are on the fence, just do it. You won't regret it. read more

Austin Dog Zone did an amazing job with our pup Ollie during his 2 week Board and Train Program. Laura was great and summer communicative during the process, and Ollie's trainer Brianna was amazing. She sent pictures throughout this stay, and did such a great job with Ollie's training. He came back so much better than when he left for the board and train program. Can't recommend Laura, Brianna and the whole team at Austin Dog Zone enough! read more

Our trainer Brianna was awesome during the 3 weeks she took care of Penny! We always received photo and video updates and can tell Penny has made great progress. She's still the happy energetic pup with more impulse control than before. We took her out and about today and she did a great job and kept her paws on the ground during greetings at Tomlinsons and didn't pull towards folks when my wife and I took her to a nearby coffee shop. Thanks again, and we're looking forward to our follow up sessions! Also we are already thinking we might do another round in September :). read more

Austin Dog Zone - @pennypastapup enjoying her first shake shack experience! - Pet Training Near Me

My fiance and I have used Austin Dog Zone twice in our puppy's first 6 months of living with us. Both times, our cavapoo pup went home with Brianna. And both times, he came back much more calm and well behaved. Brianna gave us the groundwork to continue working on the new tricks and skills she taught him as well as teaching him on our own in the future. I would highly recommend Austin Dog Zone, Laura, and Brianna to all new puppy owners. They've helped us a ton! read more

Great experience with Austin Dog Zone and specifically with Zion. She was really amazing with boarding and training our new puppy. Not only is she very smart about raising and training dogs but you can tell she is passionate about what she does as well. Highly recommend! read more

My 8 month old pup just completed a 2 week Board & Train program with Amanda at ADZ and we couldn't be happier. Prior to the training, he was mouthy, very vocal/reactive on leash and a puller. With ADZ's help, he's done a 180. Best of all, we received the insight and training we needed to ensure he doesn't go back to his old ways. Would recommend to anyone! read more

Leighann was an amazing trainer! She was so patient with my Border Collie/Malamute mix and did such a good job with her reactivity. She put up with Raven's size and worked around Raven occasionally not being in the mood to train. She was able to work on Raven jumping on people while meeting and her pulling on the leash. Somehow she taught my dog to relax and calm down so much that people noticed within the first week of training! Leighann has a knack for training both you and your pup and has such a good attitude. She is very good at praising the dog but keeping them focus. Raven and I loved working with Leighann, 10/10 would recommend. read more

I would give ADZ 10 stars if i could ... I have a rescue dog who, upon adoption in 2015, was in need of a whole lot of manners. Laura and her team turned my lawless black lab puppy into a well mannered side kick with impulse control to boot (she wouldn't even take treats from my hand until I gave her the okay). Laura is extremely easy to work with and she was extremely communicative and prompt in that communication. She was flexible about scheduling to make sure it fit our schedule and her trainer was early and came prepared with everything we'd need to have the most efficient sessions we could. The prices are competitive for the market and the trainers are knowledgeable and so good with animals. She was extremely kind to my dog and had gained her trust in record time. I would refer anyone with a dog, big or small, with any problems, big or small, to Austin Dog Zone with absolute confidence in their ability to deliver both training and kindness. Call Laura - you will NOT regret it. read more

I highly recommend Austin Dog Zone for your training needs. Leighann, our trainer, was great with our seven-month-old puppy! She was super professional and helpful, and we were able to combat some of our dog's biggest problem behaviors, particularly her excessive biting and aggression with guests. Leighann provided a lot of very useful guides and resources to help with training outside of visits and followed up on our questions quickly and clearly. She was extremely helpful and we're very happy with our dog's progress! read more

After many hours researching dog trainers/companies around Austin, I decided to reach out to Laura at Austin Dog Zone for assistance in preparing my 4.5 month old rescue puppy to fly home for winter break. On the phone she asked me numerous questions trying to get a better idea of what behaviors I wanted the trainer to focus on correcting and the timeframe it would take to do so. She also reassured me that their trainers only use positive reinforcement to train, unlike many other companies I looked into. After our conversation, I felt confident that this was the place for Buddy so I scheduled him for 14 days of overnight training plus two follow up sessions with one of their trainers, Amanda. When I dropped Buddy off at Amanda's house she showed me where he would stay which mimicked his sleeping conditions at my house to help make his transition as smooth as possible. Throughout the 14 days she sent me updates via text as well as videos of him in training at her house, restaurants, stores, etc. It was abundantly clear how much progress she was making with Buddy and how much he was enjoying his time with her and her dog, Sully. Two days after he completed his training, we headed to the airport for our flight back to Indiana. The airport was buzzing with holiday travelers. I was sure all the commotion and attention from people would cause Buddy to forget everything he learned and go back to his old ways, but he proved me wrong. He stayed so calm in the airport as well as on the airplane, even with 4 other dogs aboard. I scheduled our follow up session with Amanda about a month later where she observed Buddy's current behaviors and illustrated how to correct them as I continue to work on his training. After his initial 14 day training, I chose to board Buddy with Amanda on multiple occasions as I knew he was comfortable at her house and she would keep up with his training commands. I highly recommend the Austin Dog Zone and Amanda to anyone looking for a puppy/dog trainer in the greater Austin area! read more

See all

I got my puppy, Peach, when she was 10 weeks old. As a first time dog parent, Peach kept me very busy. I was also very stressed because she barked a lot and got very excited when she met people and other dogs. I was nervous when I took her for a walk. When I saw the good reviews for ADZ, I decided to give it a try. I signed up Peach for puppy prep school. After 3 days with her trainer, Leighann, I already see hugh improvements on Peach. She is a lot more relaxed, doesn't bark much. She is much calmer when she meets people. I feel comfortable taking her to the school to pick up my kids. Everyone said Peach was very well behaved while waiting for the kids to come out. I like our traniner, Leighann. She is very easy to communicate. She kept me posted when Peach was with her. She also trained me how to train Peach. Peach will stay with Leighann for 3 more days. I can't wait to see more progress. read more

We just finished our first class with Caitlin and Austin Dog Zone. Not only did our eight month old Jezzibel learn so much, we really learned the right ways to act both when she is doing something good and when she's acting naughty! Not to mention we had a blast while doing it! Jezzibel adored Caitlin...she just has this incredibly special relationship with all dogs that you will see the moment your dog meets her. I cannot highly recommend taking a class with Caitlin enough. She has helped us train Jezzibel with the basics and given us the skills to keep up the training so Jezzibel will improve even more. We can't wait to sign up for our next class with Caitlin! read more

I heard about Austin Dog Zone and Caitlin's training class on Facebook and thought it would be just perfect for my new puppy! I had recently adopted my Maltese puppy from a rescue service and she was incredibly hyperactive. No amount of instruction or discipline was working. I signed up my puppy, Relevé, for the small dogs training class (which was a steal of a deal!). I can't express how much Caitlin helped not only Relevé in learning, but myself as well when it comes understanding my puppy and how to get the response I want. I would highly recommend Caitlin and ADZ for any training needs! She did a fabulous job with Relevé and helping me to continue at home training! read more

Austin Dog Zone has been Amazing!!! We have learned so much while working with Caitlin and Laura. We learned how to better communicate with our puppies. Lady our newest addition has come so far and has started coming out of her shell in only a few short months since working with Caitlin. Sammie has learned the down command finally & after years of trying to teach this to him on my own Caitlin got him laying down in just minutes! Kylie & Ally have also learned so much in the four session we worked With Caitlin. We now have the tools to continue training with our dogs on a daily basis. We will definitely continue to work With Caitlin & Laura at Austin Dog Zone. Austin Dog Zone Is Amazing!!! read more

I've had a great experience with Leighann as my puppy's trainer. I've seen a lot of improvement in his behavior after using the puppy school and board and train. I will definitely be using Austin Dog Zone for my future training needs. read more

We love Austin Dog Zone! If you support positive training methods and if your dog is definitely a family member to you, you should not hesitate to work with Austin Dog Zone. We are two busy adults who didn't have the knowledge or the time to train our chocolate Labrador puppy as much as we wanted to. First we had a reverse training with Kelly where our dog's obedience, walking on leash, disregarding distractions etc. improved tremendously. She taught us how to improve what he had learned and about our dog's personality. When it was time for us to take an overseas summer vacation, we figured it will be great to have a board and train for our dog. That way, he will stay in a good place under supervision and get some training while we get updates. And yes, it was a great decision. Brianna is an amazing trainer! I asked her if it is possible to work on his obedience while he swims because, as a classic labrador whenever he gets into water, he just forgets about us and tries to cross the town lake!!! Guess what, they have a giant pool to train dogs!!!! It was over 100 degrees in Austin and knowing our pup is enjoying this awesome pool, improving his obedience and swimming while playing fetch and swimming with Brianna and all other great pups totally saved us from feeling guilty at our beach vacation :)) We were even worried he may not like our house when he gets back! We will definitely work with Austin Dog Zone again. They train your dog, they take good care of the pup, they train and update you as well. It is much better than locking your dog in a kennel all day, he gets to stay in a loving environment with lots of fun and positive training:) And of course a huge thank you to Laura for finding us great trainers and walking us through every step in detail! read more

See all

Just trying to figure out if this is the place for my dog was a huge ordeal in braving passive aggressive innappropriate behavior from Laura. She immediately started a barrage of texts which is annoying and I work on my phone so it was disruptive without asking me if that was a good way to communicate. Just kept selling me on the free meet and greet. I finally agree and she tells me 10% down is required which she didn't mention before and I am evaluating another place as well. It is fine, but I don't like how she slipped that in. I asked for pricing and payment info and never heard back after she made it such a big deal. I asked to schedule a time and have her trainer contact and she spoke to me like I was an idiot inconveniencing her because she is SOOOO busy with other customers she TOLD me she would email me at the end of the day. She didn't but her attitude and lack of customer service was enough to make me cancel. I got the impression her trainer would have to take time out of training another dog to meet and greet with me. She might have great dog trainers, but her customer service skills and passive aggressive behavior is unacceptable. I am not interested in taking the chance with my dog and my money to be treated so poorly! read more

My dog Ritzy is the sweetest rescue, but a harsh past left her with some baggage. She had leash aggression and due to not having been socialized as a pup, nearly everything excited her to the point of anxiety. She's on anti-anxiety meds and even still, she was a bit much. I was dedicated to helping her learn to be a normal dog and fit in in our world, but as a new dog owner I was overwhelmed. Thankfully Kelly was there to help. In our first session she showed me how quickly Ritzy could learn. She taught me to recognize when Ritzy was reaching her anxiety threshold, how to keep her below it, and how to gradually raise it. Ritzy used to tug at her leash constantly, one time even gnawing on it; now, she'll walk right by my side and I trust her to stay by me on off-leash trails. The mere sight of another dog used to push her over the edge; now she's actually manageable and I have techniques to keep her in check and bring her back when she starts to get riled up. Instead of reacting to everything, she's learning to think and put her amazing brain to use. We're at the point where we're starting to wean her off her anti-anxiety medication. The difference is immense, friends and family comment on it often. The sessions with Kelly are always enjoyable. She's always enthusiastic and gives great advice. I'd definitely recommend Austin Dog Zone. read more

I recently adopted a 6 yr old Aussie who had never had any formal training at all and who I hope will eventually qualify for her Canine Good Citizen Certificate and be able to do pet therapy work. My dog was in the 2 week board/train program with trainer Brianna and we are AMAZED by what she was able to accomplish in those 2 short weeks. Brianna has tremendous experience and expertise as a trainer and very successfully focused on my goals for the dog. She has given me a solid foundation from which to work with my dog going forward. I highly recommend Austin Dog Zone and Brianna - wouldn't want to go anywhere else! read more

Caitlin is a gifted dog trainer. We have had four private lessons (plus preliminary consultation) for our five month old puppy (now seven months), and Caitlin's demonstrations, tips, and insights have been invaluable. She has a real knack for this; it's obvious that she can relate to dogs and vice versa. Did I mention it is fun? When Caitlin came to our house and worked with our little Zoe, it was like being treated to a show! read more

Caitlin is an amazing dog trainer. I've worked with her in both private lessons and group lessons and she has been a great help every time. Caitlin has 3 qualities that make her the perfect dog trainer: she has a natural connection with any dog I've ever seen her meet, she's always ready to go above and beyond to help a client, and she really knows her stuff. Her classes are great fun for both dogs and owners. There are never so many dogs that you feel like you aren't getting enough one-on-one time with her. Private lessons are wonderful if you have a specific problem to work on. Caitlin helped me address my dog's leash reactivity in just a few lessons. The change was impressive and made my life, and my dog's, so much better. read more

Caitlin has been so awesome with my six month old puppy Abbey. She's only had four sessions, but she can do so much! She learned to sit in the first half of the first class. She's now a very confident little pup who is comfortable going anywhere, and she's so well behaved that I'm comfortable taking her anywhere. read more

Maverick was just a 3 month old puppy when we got him but I wanted to train him right away. Laura was so very responsive to my initial inquiry via email. Donna was fantastic at getting us started and working with Mikkie to get us scheduled and then Katie knocked it out of the park with the board and training program of Maverick. Maverick learned crate training, bell training, leash walking, recall, and a handful of necessary basic commands. Our whole family (of 8) has been taught how to help him succeed in our home. I'm in awe that he rings a bell to go outside and potty. I've been around dogs my entire life but the tips that Katie has equipped us with are so very helpful and have made this transition to our home so pleasant. We love ADZ and our Maverick!! read more

After adopting a 4 year old golden retriever from a local rescue, we reached out to Austin Dog Zone to get help with her leash reactive behavior. We met with Caitlin and learned so much about how to best respond to our dog's behavior. We also utilized the Board and Train program for our sweet pup during a recent vacation and she had a great time! Caitlin sent pictures and updates everyday and she was able to be trained in a fun, safe environment. She was returned to us better than we left her with some new tricks to show off. I cannot recommend Caitlin and Laura enough! read more

We found Austin Dog Zone through Google when we were trying to find options for having our new puppy watched while we were out of town. We didn't want to go the kennel route, so board and training seemed like an excellent alternative. Jack was just about two months old at the time, though we'd only had him for about a week and a half. (Poor planning on our part to be going out of town so shortly after adoption.) He was making progress on his training but we wanted to keep it going and strengthen it while we were out of town, instead of having him forget. We couldn't have been happier with the overall experience! Laura was great to work with for coordinating and arranging options, and Caitlin did a wonderful job with him! We were incredibly pleased with the results; not only was his response stronger to the things we had started training on him, but he had also learned new things as well. We highly recommend them! Prices were reasonable and results were outstanding. Overall a great experience! read more

Donna Wasielewski was so wonderful with our shy puppy! We had her do a board and train with him while we went on vacation for a week and a half, and he had a blast and learned new tricks and manners too! She went out of her way to provide us with tips and advice for how to keep up with his socialization over the next few months. Thanks Donna! read more

We had a wonderful experience with Karin, who worked with our 2 dogs. They are both rescues, and one is a very stubborn beagle/boxer (age 6), while the other one is a rambunctious gsd/lab/staffy mix (age 1). Our biggest concern was that our dogs were MISERABLE to walk. They pulled so much to the point of chocking, and were just in general all over the place. We did a few lessons with Karin, which was my first experience with dog training. I wasn't sure what to expect, but luckily Karin was prepared! She was super knowledgeable, and equipped us with tools to help continue our training. We definitely have seen an improvement in our dogs, and feel more confident in working with them going forward. There was continued communication throughout, and she sent us tips and tricks in-between lessons. Karin will be our trainer for future work, and I would recommend her to anyone on the fence about training read more

I adopted a 9 month old rescue puppy with no manners but eager to learn. She pulled on the leash, jumped on everyone and simply had no prior discipline and didn't listen to anything. I sent her to a week of board and train with Donna W. and cannot say enough wonderful things about this experience. From my initial online inquiry which was responsed to by Laura the same day, to being connected with Donna, I am so happy I did this! Donna worked with me to identify goals and customized my pup's time with her. We focused on not jumping on people, leash training, not running in/out doors and being calm in the crate. My pup is 100 percent better on the leash and knows to "sit" when people come to the door. Prior to training, it was total drama getting her to go in her crate and be quiet. Now she gets right in the crate and lays down. Donna provided several videos throughout the week to keep me updated on my pups progress. I have also called Donna several times after training with follow up questions and she has been so very helpful and responsive. She also has made many recommendations for certain products to buy. This experience was worth every penny and it has also built my confidence as a new "puppy" owner (I've always had older dogs) by giving me an excellent foundation to build on to help my new companion be the best dog ever!! read more

My rescue pup, Mija, (and us, her parents) LOVED working with Caitlin! Since we didn't have much background info on Mija, we weren't sure how she would react to training, but with Caitlin, it was a fun and rewarding game that she loved to play. She learned so much in a short amount of time! Caitlin provided private lessons at our home, and it was an excellent experience, both in training Mija, and in training us on how to work with her. Caitlin was patient and definitely knows her stuff. We would highly recommend Caitlin and Austin Dog Zone and look forward to working with her in the future! read more

We took an obedience class from Caitlin with our foster dog. He improved dramatically over the 6 week time, and went from spazzing out constantly to responding to his name and following our commands. Charlie Tucker won "most improved" during the final class, and boy is he ever! Caitlin gave us a solid foundation in dog obedience and we learned a lot! read more

Our 4-month old Vizsla, Oliver, just got back from spending two weeks at Board and Train with Caitlin. Caitlin's positive training style really worked with our little guy, and he came home with all sorts of new skills. In addition to teaching him the basics of sit, down, wait, come here, among others, Caitlin helped Oliver out with housetraining and walking on a leash, two things we have struggled with. We loved working with Caitlin and Austin Dog Zone. We recommend the program to other dog owners and we plan to use her for boarding in the future. read more

Caitlyn with Austin Dog Zone is an excellent trainer. She not only came to my house but came prepared with an assortment of training props. I thought I knew what I was doing with my 8 week old puppy since I have raised many dogs throughout my life. It turned out I was the one that needed more education then my puppy. Caitlyn explained how some of the things I was doing was actually working against me to successfully train my pup. Within 90 minutes she showed me how my puppy could successfully do all the commands. I had planned to only have one lesson since the training was a little pricey, but the results I obtained was WELL worth the money and I am planning on obtaining Austin Dog Zone services again. When you call make sure to ask for their discount sales packages. I highly recommend Austin Dog Zone to anyone trying to train their pup. read more

We found Austin Dog Zone by doing a Google search for dog training in Austin. We had an 8 week old Chocolate Lab that we knew we needed help with her training. I liked the description of the training methods on their web site and decided to contact them. Laura Neiheisel (the owner) was very helpful in getting us with one of their trainers that could accommodate our busy schedules. We have been working with Megan Satori now for 12 weeks. This was our first time to work with a dog trainer and we have been so excited with the progress we have made with Luna. Megan comes to the house in the evening to work with us and also sometimes we meet at a local park. Megan has such a gift with dogs. It's really been great working with her. Luna responds so well to Megan and she just loves the training visits. We cannot say enough good things about the progress we have made so far. Thanks Austin Dog Zone and Megan Satori! Jim & Rose Berry read more

Gotta love Caitlin and the positive reinforcement techniques at Austin Dog Zone! I have a leash-reactive pup that I worked with to the extent of my abilities (which wasn't very far...) before I realized that I needed the help of a professional. I was very impressed that during the initial communications I was asked to describe the problematic behavior and my specific training goals. Apparently, my dog has a very high prey drive, which is not helped by the colony of stray cats that lives across the street. Yeesh!! Caitlin gave us some great techniques to redirect his energy around dogs, cats, squirrels, etc. and taught him some awesome new tricks ("sad puppy" might be the cutest thing ever). At the end of our last private lesson, we were even able to greet Caitlin's dogs -- ON LEASH! This is a HUGE accomplishment for my dog, and I feel empowered because I know that I have the tools to help him succeed. I'm aslo extremely appreciative of Laura. I've emailed her with random questions or explained situations to her, and she's been able to give great advice and point me to helpful resources. Thanks to the extensive work my pup and I did during private trainings and the homework in between, we're now enrolled in a group class and will continue to work on everything we learned in a controlled, supervised setting. Thank you, Austin Dog Zone! read more

After friending Austin Dog Zone on Facebook, I decided to enlist their help with my three dogs, 5, 2 and 8 month old. Anytime there was a knock or doorbell my guys went nuts, even if it was on the tv, but it made answering the door a nightmare with them crowding the door and barking away. Caitlin made the treck all the way down to South Austin to help us out. She was truly amazing with my dogs and us, puppy parents, too. She taught me how to teach the dogs to sit and wait on a mat for a release, which made the door situation so much more pleasant. Caitlin was super patient with my dogs and respected them and most importantly didn't give up on them. I would recommend this business to any and all of my friends and plan to get more help from them for one individual dog who was a problem with children. Both Caitlin and Laura are very sweet, easy to get in contact with and great to do business with! read more