This place is an absolutely outstanding choice for training. After trying a few other training facilities in town, we took our energetic lab to the beginner behavioral course with Anthony Carlin. Anthony was personable, full of good information, and helpful with anything we needed. The class was reasonably priced and I would actually pay more for the quality we received. On top of that, the facility itself is clean and organized. Our dog learned so much here and we will be returning for the more difficult classes. Highly highly recommend! read more

Hearts and Paws - Dog - Pet Training Near Me - Austin, Texas

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4 years and two dogs later, we still love this place. We initially found Hearts and Paws 4 years ago after taking their puppy start class. It is the PERFECT place to bring every new puppy. Your dog is given the best type of socialization with other dogs of similar size and energy. Along with the solicitation, you get to learn valuable lessons on how to train and prepare your dog to be the best pet around. What makes this place better than the rest is the property. After touring multiple day cares in Austin, you soon learn that they all give the dogs a box the size of a bedroom to try and get their energy out. HP takes it to the next level with a massive field with toys and obstacles that they can run until they're tired. Our pup would come back each week, and instantly pass out. One word of advice, if you have a dog like ours, be prepared for a bath when you get home, because they will come home dirty. This is definitely not the place if you are trying to keep your dog clean. That being said, it is worth the bath. read more

We have been to Hearts and Paws for training, certifications, trick training, agility training..... This place loves therapy dogs!!! read more

Great caring atmosphere combined with a lot of knowledge. We have been bringing our puppy to puppy class which has been great.

Incredible group of people work at this place. My dogs have gone thru leash training here and have shown great improvement in walking on leash. Staff are courteous and very kind to the animals. I have also participated in various training programs at Hearts and Paws and have been impressed with the results. You will enjoy working with Diane, Emma, Erica, Elliott and others. There are just not enough words to express how great the experience's are that I have had at Hearts and Paws. Thank you for helping my two dogs, Nina and Maya. John read more

Do not recommend board and train at all. Spend your money elsewhere. I sent my dog for 2 weeks and he came back the same dog. He is terrible on a leash and doesn't always come when I call. He could sit and lay down before I sent him- he is learning stay and better with his bed but also still jumps on people. The boarding and training departments do not communicate and so while the trainers spend an hour a day trading it is never reinforced during boarding and so it's a wash.you would be much better off saving your money and going in for training or sending your dog elsewhere to a successful board and train program. They knew it was bad so they took my dog for an extra week and when he came back from the extra week he was better with stay but when I went to pick k him up he was jumping all over the staff while they pet him - a behavior that should not be encouraged. I let them know everything above with no response except pay your bill. I payed my bill of $1600- they had to refund me $150 because the dog bed they asked me to bring hot completely ruined. Now that o have paid my bill which I should have w spent elsewhere because $1600, 3 weeks and a ruined dog bed later I still do not have a trained dog I am not getting responses for a follow up lesson. The trainer was good but but I guess at this point I'm not sure what one lesson would do anyway if 3 weeks had these results. DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON BOARG AND TRAIN. On a positive note - the trainer seemed to be good she just don't have enough interaction to produce results and the staff clearly really loves dogs so I'm sure if you were only boarding g or brining your dog into classes you could have a much more positive experience read more

Adopted a 5yr old pooch who was all wigglebutts and bulldozer. She didn't seem to have a lot of handling other than doggie play groups. I was skeptical we'd make progress in a group class but the trainer did a great job problem solving. We learned some good basics with positive reinforcement. Great space to build relationships with new pets. read more

Hearts and Paws - 5year old Old English Bulldog looked forward to every class - Pet Training Near Me - Austin, Texas

My puppy has been here a few time for doggie daycare. They always seem to remember her - and are enthusiastic to see her! Makes me feel so good! I just boarded her for the first time this weekend - when I picked her up she was tired - which means happy! Thank you for taking such good care of my girl Sydney! read more

Hearts and Paws - Fast asleep after bringing her home. They always say a happy dog is a tired dog... - Pet Training Near Me - Austin, Texas

We can't believe the amazing changes we have seen in our pup since he's been going to Hearts and Paws! Couldn't imagine how social our dog was so the staff actually sent videos of him playing with others! All the staff and the trainer have been so supportive, positive and informative. read more

We love Hearts and Paws! After driving past their fun mural on Pond Springs, I inquired about doggie daycare. It is super affordable, and I love the fact that it is local. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. The true test, of course, is Tiger! He loves it! He is always thrilled when we pull up in the parking lot--tail wagging, butt-twitching happiness! We have taken their basic companion class, and my 10 year old daughter participated in their Camp Pup. All great! HIghly recommend this place to anyone looking for doggie care or training. read more

Great service and the best owner! She is very accommodating and is the sweetest lady ever. I will continue to use her boarding services just due to how sweet she is. Thanks Diana read more

I really love Hearts and Paws, and so does my dog. Each time we drive into the parking lot, my dog gets so excited. She hops and does her little happy dance and can't wait to get out of the car! It's the cutest thing! I have used other boarding places in the area in the past (for my older dogs who are no longer with us), and they were kind of, well, just okay, but Hearts and Paws is completely different. The staff at H & P know my dog, and she is very comfortable with them (Justin is always so good with her at intake). We take her there for doggy day care on occasion, and for boarding when we need to; I won't take her anywhere else. Also, H & P does a fantastic job with training. Diana, the owner, has a vast amount of knowledge, and the same is true for her training staff. I see more classes at Hearts and Paws in the near future. read more

We absolutely love Hearts and Paws. My daughter attended camp there last summer and begged to go back -- so she wound up there for three weeks, and they were three of the best weeks of summer ever. Our Lab came out much improved in terms of obedience, and the bond between my daughter and Lab is very real. Everyone there is very caring. read more

Diana Smith (owner) and her team of trainers are amazing. We have had 5 dogs trained by Hearts and Paws in the classroom, in home training as well as board and train. We would not take our dogs anywhere else. read more

Hearts and Paws is just what the name implies. Diana Smith and her team are just that...nice loving knowledgeable and professional folks, with big hearts who love doggies. We first met Diana almost 14 years ago when we enrolled Stretch, our mini Dachshund, in a Hearts and Paws puppy manners class. First off, dachshunds are very stubborn, and difficult at best to train. Hearts and Paws puppy manners class was AWESOME! Stretch learned about manners, behaving and obedience. Stretch has grown up to be a sweet kind and gentle 11.1 lb Dachshund who behaves most of the time, that's because he knows how to use all his Dachshund traits! BTW...he still rules the roost! Now an introduction of my little blonde girlygirl...Rosie who's approximately 8yrs, we rescued each other in 2012 when she was about 1-1.5 years. Rosie was found in a culvert covered with fleas and had been abandoned. Rosie had absolutely no manners and plenty of bad, very bad habits. After several weeks of trying to work with Rosie, we determined that Rosie was not going to work out as a family member, but, I had fallen in love with her. Fast forward...I called Diana extremely upset about this and after a lengthy conversation, decided that Diana would take Rosie and board and train her for serval weeks, while stretch would be R&R from back surgery. About 8 weeks later Rosie was returned to us to take home. Unbelievable...Rosie was such a pleasurable and much more rounded out dog! Rosie came home and has been part of the family since. Rosie has turned out to be a fantastic companion. Rose has completed several agility classes at Hart's and Paws and also was a Agility loaner dog for 2 summers at The Hearts and Paws Dog Agility Camp for kids. You should consider Hearts and Paws for your needs. You also will enjoy having a great companion! Enjoy! read more

I have taken my 2 jack's there for over a year. Just recently they have cancelled my day care days twice, which was paid for in advance. This isn't how to run a business. I had a day care scheduled during spring break and they said they said they have cancelled that too. read more

Update on 06/09/2011: I've recently found out that Hearts & Paws longer boards dogs; they've handed this operation over to another facility which I've never used. I believe they still train dogs but I'm not sure of the location. Now I'm searching for an extra-awesome place to board my sweetie-pie, Ozzy, in case we go out of town and can't take him with us. First review: Diana, Trevor, Brittany and the rest of the crew REALLY know their stuff and they really LOVE dogs. Ozzy, my Bichon-Poodle mix puppy started going there for training late last year. Not only does he now get along with our three kitties but he can not wait to get in the car when he knows he'll be spending time with his human and doggy friends at Hearts and Paws. p.s. My vet recommended them because she takes her dog there for daycare and boarding. She told me about a free class they have for integrating a new dog into your home. This 2-3 hour class was priceless. If you're overwhelmed and/or frustrated about your new family member, I urge you to look into taking this class. Two out of three of our cats now love to play with Ozzy and he's working on the third. : ) read more

I have had a number of dogs go through training at Hearts and Paws over the years they've been in business, and have been uniformly pleased with the result. No matter the type of dog, Diana can reach them and get on their wavelength for training. I have also made extensive use of the daycare and boarding facilities. I've been very satisfied with those services as well. I would recommend Hearts and Paws to any of my friends with dogs! read more

Wow!!!! We took our 16 week puppy to Super Dog Camp where he stayed for two weeks. After our pup came home he was calmer and more well behaved. In addition, Diana taught us all the basic commands (verbal/and hand signals) that he had learned. It didn't matter that our dog was in a different environment as he could easily do all the commands. Our 9 year old son was able to continue the training easily. The nipping, chewing, and jumping up dropped dramatically. He now only chews on his dog toys and not the furniture. We didn't have the tools to best each our pup and they taught as what we could do-everything was tailored for our specific needs. Thank you!! We continue to go for socializing purposing and more advanced training too. I even signed up my son for companion summer camp. Oh, and the ENTIRE staff was complimentary of our dog and were extremely nice and welcoming. read more

We have not used the training classes yet, but have taken our 2 pups to daycare many times and have boarded them several times as well. We've boarded anywhere from overnight to a full week without issue. Very reasonable pricing, too. We love this business! Our dogs are always well-taken care of and are happy when we arrive for drop off which is not common with these 2. Both are a bit anxious in their own way but as soon as they figure out where we are, they get so excited to see their friends. We never worry when we are away and the staff's care of our dogs have allowed us to really relax and enjoy vacations and getaways. Definitely recommend for daycare and boarding. If we take training classes, I will be back to report on that as well. read more

Our dog loves going to hearts and paws. We have had her attend the 6 week puppy training and doggie daycare once/twice a week. The staff is knowledgeable, kind, and caring towards the dogs and dog owners. My dog is a rescue and at 2 months she was scared of new people, other dogs, and had some bad nippinghabits. She did not want to be touched and would almost bite us and others who tried to pet her. Due to having an early difficult start she didn't like to be petted and would be a bit aggressive. After a few training classes and them working with her during her daycare time she became more docile, sweeter, confident, and now is so friendly. Loves meeting new people and dogs now. She loves her cuddles and lets hug/love on her. Pepper changed due to the techniques, love, exposure to loving/patient trainers, and being around other dogs during these times. Of course, I also did my homework and asked a lot questions along the way. So, if you are looking for a knowledgeable trainer, loving, safe, and socializing opportunity for your dog or puppy join this awesome place! Perla read more

Rip-off! At first they were nice, but never gave us all of our lessons. Tried in vain to get the last lesson (which we PREPAID FOR), they kept dodging our phone calls. read more

We took our dog for the basic obedients training, and we walked away feeling like we got ripped off. A couple of the people in our class agreed with me, they were bored and the dogs were bored. Their philosophy is training with tons of treats and our dog got to the point where he didn't want his treats. One more thing they talk alot about nothing in the class which burns up time. I'm sorry but I wouldn't recommend this company. I wish I could get my money back. read more

I've been boarding my dogs here for a couple of years. Sadie has special requirements due to a heart issue. Hearts and Paws takes great care of the dogs and I never have to worry about them. In fact, as soon as I walk in Sadie runs straight to Justin and doesn't look back!! It would hurt my feelings if it didn't give me such a good feeling knowing they are so happy here!!! read more

The folks at hearts and paws are amazing. My dog is always excited when we board him there. Chip and the other folks at Heart and Paws obviously love their work. Couldn't be happier with the service. read more

The training classes here are great; would not recommend boarding or daycare here though.

We've taken our six-month old Westie puppy to two 6-week classes (Basic puppy and companion) at Hearts and Paws and the results are great. They are very knowledgeable and helpful. Their new facility on Pond Springs is spacious, clean, and conveniently located. We plan to continue with agility training with them. read more

We have taken a couple classes with Hearts and Paws and now they are focusing more on classes and getting a larger space which is great. The people are very good with animals and kids and teach good dog and people behavior. My son, 10, loved his camp last summer also and really learned a lot about working with dogs. He'll probably do it again this year. read more

I am taking their Teaching and Day care service. My young Golden Retriever is learning a bunch from them. I can't wait till the class ends to see how much she has learned. Right now she learned how to lay down without treats which is awesome. She knows how to sit and knows her name. I only hope she can calm down with strangers and not try to jump on them. read more

We have been bringing our cocker spaniel here for daycare for years. This week was the first time we needed to board her, and I was worried about how she would do over the 4th of July weekend. My husband picked her up today and we could not be more pleased. Our dog was very well cared for. Staff checked in regularly and was very nice about answering my texts promptly when I asked how she was doing. One of the owners came up himself to make sure all the dogs were ok during fireworks. Hearts and Paws has always been excellent for daycare. The staff knows and cares for all the dogs there. They are warm and attentive. When we pick our dog up, staff can always answer our questions and tells us about her day. The same excellent care extends to the boarding as well. The staff at Hearts and Paws are very knowledgable. They not only love dogs, they know what to watch for and how to care for them well. We wouldn't take our baby anywhere else! read more

I love Diana and her staff! I have taken my puppies to train at Hearts and Paws from age 12 weeks and forward and their expertise and wisdom cannot be beat! My dogs love it there! We have taken so many classes and each one is just the best experience I could imagine! The classes are SO relevant to our needs in pet ownership. All the tips and tricks and solutions are endless for anything you may experience with your pet and need help with while raising your puppy, rescuing a dog at a shelter, creating a stronger bond with your dog, you name it! They can make this process for you and your dog such fun and so successful! read more

We just finished our foundations agility class and it was AMAZING. They are amazing, dedicated people. You get tons of one on one attention, even in group classes. Diane is an amazing, patient trainer..I wont go anywhere else and I send all my clients from the Animal Hospital to sign up for their free home manners class! Finn cant wait for his next class! read more

Incredible doggie day care! You can tell everybody who works here is a dedicated dog lover who is making a career out of this, and not some teenager/college student working a job until they find something "better". My dog is very nervous around new people and places, but she loves it here. The minute we pull up to the building her tail is wagging and she is dragging me to the front door. Great play area for the dogs, great trainers and care-takers, great attention to detail. read more

I love my dogs but they are kind of special if you know what I mean. They stay at Hears and Paws whenever we leave town. It is comforting to be able to leave them with someone you can trust. They have also become a lot better behaved because of the way they are handled. They have plenty of room to play and are located in north Austin close to our home. We love having a place where we can leave our "kids" and not have to worry about them when we are out of town. Loving care and attention for your pets. Chia's mom read more

Rosie came into our lives as a 1 1/2 year old rescue Chiweenie from the Austin Animal Shelter. After a few days we realized that she was full of boundless energy. During our walks she barked wildly at everything that moved: bicycles, joggers, trucks, etc. We were desperate for help! Our first dog, Stretch, a miniature Dachshund, was a graduate with honors of the puppy class at the Hearts and Paws puppy class 6 years ago. So when we needed extensive training for Rosie we knew that Hearts and Paws was the place to go. Diana Smith came to our rescue. She enrolled Rosie in her 3-week board and train "doggy boot camp". Rosie returned home a changed dog, well-behaved and eager to please. Diana, with her skillful training, saved our family! Diana says that Rosie is a great dog; a busy little girl who needs a job to do. Upon graduating from Diana's doggy boot camp Rosie has been invited to participate in Hearts and Paws' summer Agility Camp. Kudos to Diana Smith and Hearts and Paws for their fabulous training program! read more

Hearts and Paws does it all! Boarding, daycare, training... It's a family run business which means they take great pride in what they do. The daycare/boarding staff LOVES our dogs and take really good care of them. We used to board our pets elsewhere and they'd always come home freaked out after a stay. Now our dogs actually look forward to playing with friends at daycare and boarding. The training staff is equally wonderful and caring. They take a real interest in the individual needs of each dog. They go out of their way to provide make up sessions, special training, and just help in general. Most of all, these are really great, friendly people. I've learned more from them in the year we've been going there than I have in the 20 years I've owned dogs. read more

I have been taking my 17 month old Rottweiler to Hearts and Paws for training and daycare since she completed her puppy shots. We started with a Puppy Party, followed by Puppy Start Class and then Basic Companion training. I hope to get her Canine Good Citizen certification over the next several months. She loves going to Hearts and Paws and gets excited half way there because she knows where we're going. Daycare has not only provided important socialization but it has reinforced her training despite the fact that I am not able to work her as much as I would like to. Diana has more than two decades of experience in canine behavior and her staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and love dogs. Hearts and Paws is a warm and friendly environment where my dog can spend a couple of days a week playing with her many friends and learning in a caring environment. read more

I went in one evening. They said they could take my dog in the morning. i told them all the details about his torn acl and what he prefers etc. the guy didn't write anything down. i took my dog in at 8am and she said ok i'll take him back. i said do you have the information i gave the guy yesterday. no. so i said it again. she wrote it on a post it and put it on her desk. i said i'd get him at 5. i get there at 4. i said i'm here for my dogs evaluation and he's never been here. He said that will be $40 and i'll go get him. I asked can i see the facility and was there an evaluation? he said sure that he wasn't there all day but mary was. she said he played with three dogs and did fine. i expected that i would get a form saying when he was outside. when he rested. which dogs he played with. etc. then i asked where he was. he was barking the whole time in a kennel in a dark room by himself. not a run. a small kennel. no water. then he was limping for 3 days. please keep your dogs safe and do not use these people. they do not care for dogs. just money. read more

We took our new puppy here for puppy socialization class, and then for an adolescent puppy class. I tried to be forgiving, since it seemed they were going through some changes. A new instructor was starting, this was her first round of classes, and things seemed disjointed. The owner consistently talked over the trainer teaching the class. It didn't improve much by the adolescent level class. Honestly, we really liked the new trainer who primarily taught our class (when she was able to teach on her own), but I found out that since then, she's no longer teaching at Hearts & Paws. The classes where the owner taught on her own were uncomfortable. I would say there's a level of customer friendliness missing. Also, her dog, who she praised as being really patient and good with puppies, snarled and snapped at my puppy when he was trying to play with her. The facility has a decent amount of space, but the equipment seems dated and the house is messy, for a customer-facing business. I really wanted to like this place--I went through two rounds of classes--but I'll probably go somewhere else with my next puppy. read more

We've been to their onsite training as well as private training in our house, and Diana works wonders!! We thought our dogs were beyond hope and getting too old to train. They jumped, pawed, didn't listen, and ran away and we were just about at our wits end. The dogs responded immediately - it's unbelievable! Thanks so much!! read more