Christie and team did a fantastic job with my 6month old Belgian malinois. She had some basic obedience down, or so i thought. When i got her back after her 30 day board and train she was a whole new dog. From day 1 I knew she was in good hands by the way she handled her. If you're hesitant about it, don't be. Training is always ongoing and ultimately it's up to you to keep up with it, but she gives such a solid foundation to build upon. read more

K9 Mastery - Pet Training Near Me - Bastrop, Texas

Christie and her team are pros! They can handle any kind of dog and have all the accommodations and activities to make your dog feel at home while you're away. I've been taking my dog there for 3 years. He's not the easiest pup to manage and her team does a great job. I also did Christie's training program. My dog was 10 at the time and after 30 days I had a new dog. He walks perfectly in lock step and his anxiety has diminished significantly from where it was. My friends have done this same program with the same results. 10/10 would recommend. read more

K9 Mastery - Old dogs can learn new tricks! - Pet Training Near Me - Bastrop, Texas

My husband and I could not be more thrilled with the results of a board and train experience at K9 Mastery for our Belgian Malinois mix, Zeus. At the end of 2022, I became pregnant and we started to notice more territorial and protective behaviors in Zeus. He was 1.5 years old at the time and still demonstrated intermittent destructive behaviors every couple of months. He also had a traumatic experience with crate training as an 8 week old puppy where he escaped and ended up sustaining a complete fracture of his leg. Due to this event, we had not been successful with crate training because of his anxiety. We tried increasing his exercise, using mentally stimulating toys, hiring a trainer who came to the home, and gradually re-attempting crate training. None of these efforts worked and Zeus' behaviors worsened. We had two incidents where Zeus bit another dog in the dog park that backs up to our home (which he thinks is part of our property) and where he barked at and cornered a 10 year old boy. My husband and I lost hope and, as our due date approached, we made the very difficult decision to post Zeus on a re-homing page. The next day after making the post, we had someone interested in taking Zeus. On that same day, a good friend recommended we send Zeus to K9 Mastery and generously wanted to gift us the opportunity. Christie was extremely accommodating in taking Zeus on short notice due to the urgency of the situation with our first baby arriving in a couple months. Zeus stayed at K9 mastery for 6 weeks and we got weekly updates. He was a handful when he first arrived as Christie dealt with his extreme separation anxiety and fear of the crate. Despite Zeus somehow escaping a heavy duty crate, digging under the fence, and chewing through dry wall, Christie did not give up on Zeus. She tried a variety of techniques ("puppy" heartbeat next to his crate, CBD oil, a steel welded crate, increasing his exercise in addition to training, etc.) to help get him past his separation and crate anxiety. Things got better as the weeks went by and when we arrived to pickup Zeus, we saw a new dog. Christie gave us the tools to adequately meet his mental and physical needs in a way that worked for our family and lifestyle. She taught us how to take control and lead Zeus so he doesn't feel the need to dominate and protect. In the several months that we've had him home, we have not had any issues with destruction, crate training, or aggressive behaviors with people coming into the home. He maintains the boundaries we've instilled with the new baby. We've received several compliments from strangers and neighbors while we've been out with Zeus on his excellent obedience. He listens despite distractions (food, toys, other dogs, loud noises, sudden movements, and his ultimate weakness, squirrels). We are so grateful to Christie for allowing us to keep our dog. Our home would not be the same without him and his sweet, goofy, and loving personality. We highly recommend K9 Mastery for all your dog training needs! Thank you, Christie, for your dedication to the dogs you train and your thoroughness in how you conduct your business! read more

K9 Mastery - Pet Training Near Me - Bastrop, Texas

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My 120 lb Saint Bernard "Simon" had not had any training at all. He pulled on his lead so hard that I would have to sit down to hold onto him! After a broken fibula in attempting to walk him I knew we needed help. Simon attended a 4 week board and train with Christie Miller, owner/trainer of K9 Mastery and we got back a totally different dog! I could walk him anywhere with perfect obedience! We attended a weekly Intermediate class with amazing results after his Board and train. If it wasn't for my after Covid decline of health I would still be attending. Witnessed miracles with other dogs in training also. My appreciation for the blessings received from excellent training of our dogs is epitomized at K9 Mastery with Christie Miller. read more

K9 Mastery - Simon in a Sit Stay - Pet Training Near Me - Bastrop, Texas

Our experience with Christie and K9 Mastery has been nothing short of amazing. We were at a loss for what to do with our unruly six month old puppies, as we couldn't seem to stop their constant nipping, jumping, and roughhousing. We couldn't believe their transformation after a month of board and train with Christie. Our dogs came home responsive and well-behaved, and we've been able to actually enjoy them instead of feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. Christie truly transformed our relationship with our pups. Christie did a great job of setting expectations, both in what we could expect and what would be expected from us. She was patient in teaching us how take over training of our dogs, and explained her approach in a way that helps us understand why it works. Her training methods are straightforward, easy to follow, and effective. Cannot recommend K9 Mastery highly enough! read more

Christie and the team at K9 Mastery are highly skilled and passionate dog trainers. Christie's knowledge of canine behavior is unparalleled and it was with her help that we were able to lay down foundational obedience training with our dog and thus making all of our lives much more enjoyable. Our sweet boy was a stray who was abandoned by his owner in our neighborhood park. Without having any knowledge of his history we quickly discovered that we were going to need help from a professional in order to ease the transition into our home. A reliable source told me that she had worked with Christie in order to curb some of her dog's undesirable behavior and so we contacted Christie and soon he was off for a month learning how to respond appropriately to the equipment used to correct undesirable behavior and enforce basic obedience. Christie has an amazing 43 acres where dogs get to both learn and play under the care of a dedicated team. I was initially intimidated by Christie as she has a very direct and clear approach to working with dogs and their owners. But I soon learned that she is fiercely protective of the well-being of dogs and she has made it her mission to train their owners in order to ensure safety for all. I grew to appreciate the ways in which Christie pushed me to be a more confident dog owner and human being. I am forever grateful for her guidance and genuine desire to create healthy and secure relationships between dogs and their owners. Thank you Christie!! read more

Christie is an amazing trainer and dog boarder. I went to her with my rescued husky who was quite anxious and dominant and within 10 minutes Christie had him figured out. I have never met someone with a greater understanding of dogs in general. Christie's classes will really transform your dog and make life better for both pet and owner. One thing to know is that Christie's trainings can be a bit intense but it truly comes from a place of love and wanting what's best for your dog. She loves all dogs and wants what's best for them. Anyone who talks to Christie will realize this quickly. read more

I wish we had experienced the wonderful things everyone else did. We came to Christie hopeful and excited for what she could do for our puppy. Unfortunately we had a completely different experience that I feel like I need to share because I would want to know about it if I was bringing my dog here. The whole event from beginning to end was shocking and confusing. We arrived at a field full of about 10-15 dogs and got in line to check in. When it was our turn, Christie helped me fit his prong collar and as soon as we handed the leash over to her she told us that we might not want to look because "it wasn't going to be pretty." This was before he had even done anything besides bark, which is not unexpected since he is a puppy with confidence issues, in a new experience, surrounded by foreign dogs, being handed over to an unfamiliar human. Within seconds she had him suspended in the air by his prong collar, thrashing like a rag doll. He was terrified, his leash was tangled around his leg while he was being held up in the air. He thrashed around trying to get the collar off as I'm sure he was terrified and in pain... And then she punched him multiple times and stomp KICKED him! That image will be forever ingrained in my brain. I was shocked, horrified and filled with instant guilt for handing him over to her. I started crying and she told me it was my fault he was thrashing around. Not her fault, for suspending him in the air, punching and kicking him, but mine for becoming so upset watching my puppy get kicked. Mind you, I started crying AFTER he was thrashing around and she kicked him. I was then sent to my car. We should have left right then. I can't believe we stayed. But honestly, we were in shock. That's the only way I can describe how I felt. Shock and guilt. Afterwards, she literally said "He's not aggressive at all. He had the chance to bite me over 8 times and never did," yet she still punched and kicked him and then put him in a choke collar AFTER the prong collar suspension. So she didn't find him to be a threat, yet was so violent with him anyway. I understand she was trying to subdue him. But if you are the professional trainer, who has a dog in a prong collar, you should not need to punch and kick him. Ever. Especially if he is not trying to bite you. We went to K9 Mastery because our puppy was exhibiting aggression when feeling scared. He would growl and bark. He also jumped up on people in greeting and would pull when walking. He didn't bite, was loving to us and everyone who visited us in our home, but was scared when out in public. I spoke with Christie before I signed up and she told me his actions were "just mild aggression." Our treat-focused training worked up to a point but his progress had plateaued so I was happy to find a place that offered a different option that was still humane. I did my research on prong collars and watched many videos. Kicking and punching was not involved EVER. I also reached out to her regarding the other review on Yelp describing how she kept a dog in a choke collar until he passed out and then whipped him. She shared that this was an exaggeration and no whipping occurred, but now I question that. I expressed to her that I was not interested in shock collars and extreme measures. She promised everything she did was humane. Suspending a puppy in the air with a prong collar is not humane. Punching and kicking an animal is not humane. Also, she knew she was wrong because she announced it to all of the other students there, but what is odd is that she waited until my partner and I were out of hearing to tell the class that she handled the situation incorrectly. We saw texts from other students stating this along with their concern about how she handled the entire situation. I can't understand why she wouldn't have apologized to us as it was our dog she punched and kicked. As a result of her actions, our puppy's right thumb was swollen and mangled and he had a ring of swelling around his neck for a week. I did get a refund and I did eventually get an apology. And she did say she didn't expect him to resist the prong collar so much and mismanaged the situation. But this was only after I wrote her an email expressing my concern and horror with the way our puppy was treated and asked for a refund. She also admitted she kicked him when she normally would have just kneed him. I know that other people have had a lot of success with Christie's training, and maybe we got her on a "bad day". But to me, punching and kicking an animal is never okay, especially as part of training. I just want everyone to know that this happened to us because I know I would want to be aware of something like this when looking for a trainer. read more

K9 Mastery has completely changed everything I thought I knew about dog training. When PJ started acting out vocally and physically in overwhelming situations, I consulted with many trainers only to find PJ's habits worsening. I didn't like prong collars and was wary of K9 Mastery's methods when Christie was recommended by a friend, but I gave it a shot, and it's turned our lives around. After our first class I was able to control PJ's behavior, and for the first time I got him to truly LISTEN to me. Though those problems were immediately fixed, I learned about additional behavior issues -- behaviors I hadn't even realized were issues -- throughout the course, and how to fix them. I learned so much about how PJ thinks and interprets situations and can now communicate with him in a way he understands. PJ completed the basic obedience and intermediate levels and is about to adventure into advanced. The training is time consuming, but our experience has made PJ a MUCH happier, more confident dog, and me happier person. On top of PJ, Christie generously offered to help train my foster dog Gurtie, who had very different issues. Gurtie was incredibly dog aggressive and I couldn't foster her unless she could get along with my dog. Never having worked with an aggressive dog, I was intimidated and didn't have high hopes, but sure enough Gurtie immediately began to relax around other dogs during her first session. I was AMAZED. Gurtie, who couldn't be in the same room as PJ before we began training, is now best friends with him. She follows him everywhere and has even started cuddling with him. The transformation was unlike anything I'd ever experienced. The vast knowledge Christie has about dog behavior and training is incredible. If you have a question, she'll have an answer. I recommend K9 Mastery to any dog owner who's willing to put in the time. Whether your dog is uncontrollably aggressive or you're just looking to strengthen the bond you share with your furry friend, K9 Mastery is for you! read more

With Hurricane Harvey bearing down on us, we grabbed our kitten and young dog, both recent shelter rescues, and evacuated to Fayetteville for 2 weeks. During this time, our female visla mix, Kalani, started to really terrorize our kitten, exhibit anxious behaviors such as scratching and using the restroom in the home, barking, etc. By Divine Intervention(!), I found K9 Mastery and was able to board Kalani for a 4 week training and boarding program with Christie since our home was destroyed and we needed to find new living accommodations. It is hard to describe our joy when we showed up at her "graduation" and we were trained on how to maintain and continue her training at home. Not only is she the best behaved dog we've ever had, but is a joy to have in a roomful of people since she is no longer jumping up on people. She runs to us when we call her name and while she still loves to harass the kitten, we are able to break her focus in the middle of play and redirect. I can't thank Christie enough for training Kalani while keeping her clever, sweet personality. We are now renting a home with another family and there are 3 cats and 2 dogs - happy to say our dog is the best pet of all. Team Christie- we are a fan!!!! read more

K9 Mastery - Pet Training Near Me - Bastrop, Texas

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My dog walker, Ken (KenWalksDogs.com), recommended us to Christie. Our sweet Boxer had always struggled on walks or interacting with other dogs. I can't tell you the number of trainers, group sessions, obedience schools, etc. we've taken her to and she always comes out with glowing reviews. OR the trainer has made recommendations that we've incorporated and yet still struggled. Before making the decision to train with Christie, I wanted to talk to her and share more about Amber to get her thoughts. Within two minutes, she quickly identified some cues we were giving that were CAUSING Amber's poor behavior. She was so patient and extremely thorough in explaining her method of training. At this point, we figured we had nothing to lose (except a 1.5 hour round trip drive from Austin LOL) and Christie suggested a 1:1 session - which she doesn't offer - so I greatly appreciated her taking the time to focus on Amber. She gave us a full rundown of how she trains, corrects and praises. I was ready to see it in action and as I watched Amber walk with her to a pack of dogs, cats, chickens, etc. I was floored. With every correction, Amber would look right at Christie and stay focused on her - it's like she had her under a spell. I've never seen Amber so attentive and so responsive. It made my puppy mama heart sing. After our session, my husband and I felt hopeful. For once, the training wasn't confusing or overwhelming. Everything *clicked* and we knew what we had to correct (within ourselves) because we'd see immediate changes with Amber. I'd highly recommend her. You can tell she loves her animals and will love (and train) your pup as her own. You can't put a price on that type of dedication and Christie was worth every penny! read more

We took our dog, Ronan, to Christie for a board and train several months ago, and we had a wonderful experience with her. He's since stayed with her to board while we traveled several times, and it's always been great. Ronan has had major problems with reactivity and aggression towards people and dogs since puberty. After years of training with various trainers and methods, we tried Christie and Ronan can now we can walk Ronan through a park without him blowing up at anyone. It is an incredible difference. If your dog is reactive, give Christie a shot. It could literally change your life and your dog's as well. Her facility is gorgeous, her kennel techs are friendly and kind, and Ronan is genuinely happy to see them when we get there. If that's not the best recommendation, then I don't know what is. read more

Christie is one of, if not the most knowledgeable person I've ever had the privilege of working with. She's patient, informative, kind and goes above and beyond to ensure you and your pet are at the very best. Our beloved Bhuja stayed with Christie at her awesome facility for 6 weeks to not only train Bhujanga to behave and respond appropriately, but to ensure that we had all the knowledge and skills we needed, as well. Bhuja, almost instinctively from her training, knows proper behavior and seeks cues from his humans. Christie taught us proper muzzle usage and techniques, commands, the proper way to "reward" good behavior and stop any inappropriate behavior. Christie is NEVER judgmental with dogs and their shortcomings - she merely wants every dog to have a wonderful life with appropriate behaviors and humans that know how to instill and continue those. I have referred many of my own clients to Christie and will continue to do so. I have complete faith in her abilities and utilize her any time we need to have someone look over Bhuja - I'd never trust anyone else to do so. Anyone who knows me will tell you - I abhor Austin traffic and tend to stick to my own 'hood. I won't make a drive for ANYTHING that I don't love. I make the 2 hour round trip drive for this. Her facilities are just fantastic. Setting up boarding is so easy with her website; extremely user friendly and so many activities to choose from! When you leave your dog there, you can choose everything from a one-on-one walk, to group play, to swimming or water play to doggie ice cream and more. Your dogs are going to have a GREAT time with Christie! Bhuja is so happy to see her every time he does - to know that he's happy makes me so happy - he's had a rough time in his short life. Oh - and if you don't want to make the drive - don't worry! Christie offers pick up and drop off for your sweet pooch, as well. Thanks for all you have done and continue to do to improve the quality of life for our four legged kiddos, Christie! We appreciate your dedication, knowledge and endless work. read more

If it wasn't for Christie, I would have surrendered my newly adopted dog who was attacking our other dog. She saved our baby! and gave us a new lease on life. Her program works and I would recommend her training classes to everyone! read more

I'm so glad I found Christie Miller and K9 Mastery! Aftet a tradegy in my life, I was at a point where my dogs were fighting each other and life was just unhappy at my home. I started with Christie in November of 2014 and I have successfully completed basic with my 1st dog, Pearl. Pearl's entire attitude has changed. She is happy and playful now. Before she was always on guard and depressed. She and I have developed a strong bond through training and our lives are much more balanced. I have started with my 2nd dog, Nova. She is a hard-headed bulldog, but Christie isn't giving up on her. I will be using K9 Mastery for training my other dogs as well. I am confident I will be able to have a complete, happy family again! I have also used the boarding services here. The bungalows are a perfect solution for my bulldogs that can't handle the heat. Even though my the two dogs I boarded are difficult, one doesn't like people and the other is protective of her space, Christie handled them great. She is the first boarding facility that didn't tell me I couldn't bring them back. She is wonderful with her ability with animals. Definitely a gifted person. read more

K9 Mastery - Pet Training Near Me - Bastrop, Texas

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Christie and Ryan are angels. After a horrible accident in 2015 they worked with our dog and treated him like family. I would definitely recommend them if you have a dog with aggression issues. They will not judge, and are there to help. We live all the way in Oak Hill, and it's a LONG drive out to the facility (sometimes in the opposite direction of where we are going), but it is the only place we will take our baba where we know he will be taken care of. They are truly animal lovers, and have always been super accommodating when we have had to drop off or pick up at odd times due to travel plans or family emergencies. If it weren't for Christie and Ryan we would never be able to go anywhere overnight, and would have had to miss numerous crucial family events. read more

If you're like I was and seeking out a trainer because you just don't speak the same language as your pup and she ate your glasses, your night guard, an inhaler, a head lamp, and so many shoes don't mess around with anyone else. After the first lesson I was filled with so much hope from seeing an immediate response from my dog pal. I'm spending more fun time with her and finally feel like we are communicating in a way I'd been really needing. After the second lesson I continue to be impressed. All the instruction is simple and easy to do. Christie is super responsive in between class and in class you feel like you've got her undivided attention while she instructs dogs learning at all stages. Drop the cash, buy the collar, enjoy your dog! read more

My fiancé and I took our dogs to K9 for training and had relatively good results. However, after leaving my fiance's dog with them for boarding over thanksgiving I have nothing but regret and anger. Our 5 year old Pittie mix has been boarded at nicer kennels where the dogs are allowed more outdoor and social time. However k9 was cheaper and we thought we were familiar enough with the trainers to be comfortable. When we picked up Jasmine she was at least 5 lbs lighter (noticeably skinnier), was shedding like crazy, and had wounds all of her mouth, and back legs. She also had two giant gaping wounds on her front paws, that (due to the amount of puss, blood, and induration) were by no means brand new. We noticed these things as soon as we saw her, but the boarders/ trainers acted as though they had no idea, and then tried to play it off as though they were self inflicted lick spots. I have seen lick spots before and these were deep wounds, and look severely infected. I have no idea how this happened to our dog, like I said before she does great with other dogs, and had been ok after boarding before. The boarders only cared about payment and did not even care hat our dogs paws and mouth were bleeding. We just wanted to get our baby out of there! They were so unprofessional and rude!!! I would never go back to these people or recommend them to anyone. They obviously were not checking on our baby or attempting to feed her (she is the most food motivated dog I've ever seen, and has never avoided any food in front of her!) unless you want to go spend a lot of money on emergency vet bills do not ever take yours dogs here!!! PS I will post pictures of the wounds too! read more

K9 Mastery - Wounds somehow inflicted upon our dog while boarding with k9!!! - Pet Training Near Me - Bastrop, Texas

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Words cannot express how much I LOVE K9 Mastery! Christie, the Owner and Trainer at K9 Mastery, has completely changed my life and I would never, ever recommend any other dog trainer. I brought my dog, Beau to K9 Mastery for fear aggression issues. When I adopted him in May 2011, he was so scared of people that no one, besides me, could get within 10 feet of him without him barking and growling at them. I was terrified that he would one day bite someone and have to be put down. I had previously taken him to a trainer that only used treats for positive reinforcement, which did absolutely NOTHING for him except make him puke the whole time (his sensitive tummy cannot handle excessive amounts of treats). Christie specializes in working with severe aggression issues. She taught me that truly balanced training methods require corrections for unwanted behavior, in addition to positive reinforcement in the form of verbal praise and petting. I immediately saw a drastic change in Beau in the very first training class. In September 2013, Beau became the 8th dog to finish all three levels of obedience training (Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced). He is now a completely different dog. Beau and I have an incredible bond, and his confidence has increased dramatically. I can take him with me anywhere and everywhere and not have to worry about strangers approaching us. In fact, Beau now welcomes petting from strangers (especially kids)--in May 2014, Beau became a certified Therapy Dog through Therapy Dogs International. I just adopted my 2nd dog, Molly, in July, and we are already almost finished with Basic Obedience. Even though Molly doesn't have any aggression issues, I will definitely be taking her through all the way through Advanced Obedience training, as well. There is nothing like having the peace of mind that your dog will listen to your commands in any and every circumstance without any equipment (leashes, collars, etc.) needed. Training with K9 Mastery has been worth every penny (and so much more) to us, and I would highly recommend it to all dog owners in the Austin area and beyond! Furthermore, there is no other facility that I would EVER board my dogs at besides K9 Mastery. It is ALWAYS worth extra 2 hour drive from Georgetown to Bastrop and back to drop the dogs off for boarding, even though there are tons of other boarding facilities that are much closer to where I live. When I go out of town, I know that Christie and Jessica will take care of Beau and Molly like they are their own dogs, and they even accommodate their special dietary needs. read more

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Every time I train my dogs in the park, people come up to me and ask how I am able to make them stay in a "down" position over 100 feet away with no leash. I tell them "K9 Mastery" and give them Christie's card. We tried several other trainers before we found Christie. None of them showed us how to teach our dogs simple commands that they would actually follow. The K9 Mastery way works and will help you feel confident that your dogs will actually listen to you and do what you say. The only thing that is stressful about being in public now is the fear of dealing with untrained dogs and careless owners. Once you have been to K9 Mastery it will annoy you to no end to see dogs that are not being walked properly or being commanded in the right way. We even "met" our second dog through Christie's boarding service. She has a great gift to tell which dogs will get along well with each other and we couldn't be happier with our two little friends who really like each other's company. We use her boarding service every time we go out of town and our dogs always come back happy, freshly cleaned, and full of wags. read more

We just got our 2 South African Mastiffs home, from being boarded over Christmas at the K9 Kennels. They were boarded for the first time ever as my husband and I went to London for 2 weeks. We were very anxious to board our girls, as not many places have the experience to understand the nature of mastiffs. Christie and her team took such good care of my girls! She was happy to update me periodically with how they were getting on whilst we were away, which was very reassuring. Both my girls are exhausted from all of the fun they had! They both look in great shape and were bathed before we picked them up, which was an additional fee but well worth it as they smell great and have lovely glossy coats! Thank you K9 for being so knowledgeable and giving our girls the care and attention that all dogs deserve! Will definitely be using you guys for our next trip away! read more

K9 Mastery - Our girls, back home from being boarded at K9 Mastery. Super happy dogs = super happy Doggy Mom! - Pet Training Near Me - Bastrop, Texas

In 2017 I adopted a cattle dog who turned out to be way more of a handful than I had bargained for! Going beyond regular obedience problems, he was a devoted biter who used his teeth to get his way and punish you if he didn't. Taking him in public or around friends was impossible without a muzzle and not easy even with. Finding Christie was a godsend. I went from a timid, embarrassed dog owner to being able to walk him through stores full of people and dogs without problems, trips to the park became leisurely instead of a burden. Christie has gone above and beyond for us, modifying lessons when the norm didn't quite mesh with my dog, always available if I had a question be it after class or via email. She tells it to you straight, but is also one of the most encouraging people I've ever met. My relationship with my dog has been greatly strengthened, and friends have marveled at how much calmer he is now! If you need help with your pup, don't hesitate to contact K9 Mastery! read more

Christie, We wanted to thank you for your phenomenal work. K9 mastery exceeded our expectation. We looked at many different professional dog trainers. In sixty, you trained our dogs from uncontrolled chaos to very well-mannered and behaved dogs. We traveled 30+ hours through airports, around thousands of people, 3 different airports, elevators, escalators, etc..the dogs did great. We did not have one issue. We've had them with us for 30 days since boarding. We're following your written guidance. The dogs are still very well behaved. During the flight and in the past two weeks, we've had over 10+ unsolicited comments from different people in Singapore saying they're the most well behaved dogs they've EVER seen. Now, I'm able to walk Ripley to Starbucks in the peak of the day, she'll sit, stay, down, etc...without one bit of distraction. We keep Layla out of the heat. When contractors or visitors come, she'll hit the brakes, stop and sit on command. If anyone has any questions about the value or results of your board/train solution feel free to have them contact Teresa or me. Ravings Fans! Rob and T read more

This is the very best place to board your fur babies or have them trained. They take such great care of your dogs and its very clean!

I took my dog Wedge to K9 Mastery a couple of years ago for some behavior problems. Specifically, Wedge was having issues with dominance and aggression. Since I have two small daughters, I was afraid we would have to take him back to the pound. Wedge and I completed the basic level training, and I was really impressed with the level of work and commitment that Christie put into training him. She often stayed late to work with us. The training program was definitely effective. We were able to keep Wedge and he is the best friend I have in the world. I will say that Christie's training methods consist of a lot of tough love, and people should make sure they know what they are getting into before they start the program, but if you are on the brink of putting a dog down or taking it to the pound, this lady can definitely help you. read more

My husband and I have entrusted Christie with both of our beloved German Shepherds for boarding and training and she is without a doubt the best person you will ever find to take care of and train your dogs. We moved away from the area and miss being able to train with her. My husband boarded his six-month old German Shepherd with Christie for her board and train program while we were both away at Army training. Ajax returned to us with the basic obedience covered; she even called my husband when Ajax (his dog) had jumped up in his kennel and possibly hurt his hip. She had a vet at the kennel for another dog and had Ajax checked out to make sure he was okay, because that's the kind of person she is. She also recommended some supplements to add to his food to help his hips and the best place to get them. We were very happy with the care and training that Ajax received from K9 Mastery. When I adopted a rescue German Shepherd mix, I enrolled her in basic obedience with Christie. The first day I showed up, my dog slipped out of her collar and took off around the field. Christie showed me the prong collar and leash to use and demonstrated loose leash walking, a godsend with my stubborn and headstrong dog. As our training progressed, I noticed a positive difference in Jessie's behavior not only in our training sessions, but in our daily activities as well. She didn't rush the door, her food bowl, or the car door as we got out to go do something. Overall, she seemed calmer and more content, because she knew that I was in charge and understood the behavior I expected from her. I also boarded Jessie with Christie on multiple occasions, including a 10-day stretch, and never doubted that she was well-cared for. Christie is a very dedicated and straightforward person; she cares passionately for her animals and possesses a true gift with them. I highly recommend her training and boarding to any dog owner. read more

Christie has been my dog's trainer since he was about 8 months old or so. He could walk on a leash after the very first training session with her. She is honest and effective and anytime that I have questions, she is willing to answer them. When he bit someone I contacted her right away in a panic because he is a pit bull and I didn't want him to get put down or bite anymore. She was very helpful in getting me to calm down and get him back in training. Christie is by far the best dog trainer that I've seen. She loves her job, loves what she does and loves the dogs. She loves to help dogs that other people have labeled as hopeless, which is something that makes her great. If you are looking for a good trainer, this is the best one there is! read more

Not to long ago we decided to adopt a couple of pups from Austin boxer rescue and we couldn't be happier. But when we would go the park or out in public we had a hard time getting them to walk on the leash with out getting our arms ripped out of socket. I mean we tried everything from different control harnesses to some weird clicky thing. All a bunch of trash. We then found K9 Mastery and decided to give them a shot. - we didn't try other places simply because I wasn't into "reward" training and I wasn't impressed with how the classes looked. - after the first lesson with Christie our on leash problem was just about fixed. I mean I couldn't tell you how big of a difference she made. We went on and trained thru advanced classes and even adopted a puppy from her which made our little family that much better. We can now take our dogs in public without worries or embarrassment. The thing about training is, you have to keep it up. Can't just go to class and not do the practices at home or out and about. Just like being a parent if you let them get away with it. They will test you every time. ! Thanks Christie, our pups are awesome and by far better than I ever would of thought they could be. read more

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Christie is absolutely amazing. We had a very aggressive dog that was aggressive towards other dogs. It became an OVERWHELMING issue and we couldn't handle it anymore. We had been looking and asking many people for different options and came across Christie. We had already been through training at another place and it worked for a little bit but wasn't a noticeable change. Christie was our last option- we ended up doing the board and train for 30 days. Hardest part was leaving my dog for 30 days! After the 30 days we went to pick up our dog- Winston. To say he was a different dog was an understatement. The amount of changes in the short time she had him was AMAZING. We now have a dog that we are still working with but we can actually take him on a walk without him wanting to attack other dogs. He ignores them and only focuses on us. I couldn't recommend her enough and I am excited for the future classes that we are taking with both of our dogs. If I could give more stars I would!!! Thank you read more

Christie at K9 Mastery is the place you go when all efforts have been exhausted, and you thought your dog had zero hope OR just go there first, and skip all the rest. Either way, you are getting true, real world dog training...not to make a dog that is only obedient in "training sessions" but to get a dog that is solid and reliable everywhere. No treats or "bribing" the dog to learn, it's about developing a REAL relationship between dog and master, to develop a companion that respects and looks to you for guidance. Heck, I AM a professional dog trainer, and Christie helped me with a dog that I was struggling with, from which I learned something new. Christie takes her job VERY seriously, cuts through the BS and gets to the root of the problem. I have high drive, high energy working dogs, and I would not hesitate to leave any of them in her care. read more

Within the very first class, I knew we were in the right place. Christie is a miracle worker! We have an Australian Shepherd who has had aggression issues and could not walk on a leash to save his life. He now walks on a leash (learned the first day) and now looks to us for all of his ques and commands instead of doing his own thing. She is so good and really knows what she is talking about, cannot stop talking about how much we love this dog training! We just finished her first 8-week course and are moving on to do the Intermediate class next! read more

To those who may read this review, please note this is from a long time dog owner, horse owner, livestock owner (kids 4-H and FFA projects) and part-time trainer of those mentioned animals and pets. We have been around professional trainers most of our life and without reservation Christie is one of the best in any field we have been around. Every field of training has those select individuals that has the " positive little unexplainable" difference that makes them special and able to do things others cannot or will not do. That without a doubt is Christie and it is proven time after time after time. Yes, we have our own success story with Christie and her name is Katie. She is a Black Russian Terrier and is 21 months old and since she was 18 months old has weighed about 80 pounds. Katie be and aggressive around our grandchildren and that is not allowed at our house and the training methods I used on working dogs and other pets were not working. After a lot of crying and discussion about sending Katie back to the breeder, we read about Christie and the many others that had success with similar situations as ours. We decided on one final chance for Katie. Simply, not only did it worked for Katie it worked for us!!! I today still don't know who received more training and benefits- Katie or us!!!! You must be prepared to listen, learn, be teachable and coachable as much as the dog!! Frankly as many animals we have been around in our lifetime (yes, I am that old-55) most animals want to please us, love us and be a part of our lives. Many times, as we learned, there is as much wrong with what we are doing or giving off as cues to the dog as real issues with the dog. I could write a journal on what Christie has taught us and Katie but you would stop reading. We have gone through basic and intermediate and starting on our advanced. The first night of training we went home crying with JOY because of the difference it made in Katie and us. Katie is more confident and assured of herself and that has changed her disposition beyond belief and description. That goes for us as well, we are changed for the positive - forever!! If you want to grow and have your dog grow and together have a better relationship and life then call Christie - !!! Christie knows how to reach us and if you want to see Katie or talk to us let Christie know and we will be happy to meet and talk with you. read more

Christie is absolutely amazing! When James took Rocket to her, she didn't have any training. She is a five month old Hanging Tree Cow dog with high energy. In just a month, Rocket knows all her leash commands and is like a different dog. You will not be disappointed! read more

Firstly, I want to note that I commute a round trip of over 2 hours to bring my boxer and dachshund to stay here under Christie's care. I have done this for many trips over the past 2 years of living in Austin. We travel often and I am completely comfortable with my 2 boys staying here when I am away. My Boxer was abused at a kennel in Midland, TX when he was about a year old. He is now going on 6 years old. My husband and I have moved 3 times since having our Boxer. Each time we have had such a difficult time with kennels due to our Boxer developing a bad association with kennels from his one bad experience. They are a real trigger for his worst behavior and he has been kicked out and banned from several due to the facilities not wanting to take a risk for their staff that is handling. We always warn kennels of his issues prior to his stay and they are accepting of him until we return for pick up. I totally understand why. That is why I cautioned them beforehand. We finally found a man that did clicker style training and he was willing to watch our boy at his personal home with his other Boxer and another big mop looking dog. We would get pictures of our boy laid out in the living room with the other 2 dogs so relaxed. He's never been able to relax around other dogs before. I was so happy to have found this type of situation for him. He even slept with the husband and wife in their personal bed. My husband and I regretted the day that we knew that was coming when we needed to move for my husbands job because we would never find a better place for him to stay. We moved to Austin after a while and our first trip was also near. We had to begin the dreadful task of finding a place that was willing to accept to our guy with ... special needs ... I spent several hours at the computer searching through kennels and making phone calls. Some needed to make an assessment of him prior to his stay. I didn't want people grading him to see if they could handle him. What if he acted out after I left? I needed someone special that was confident in handling dogs that might get spooked in certain situations. My search failed that day but my husband found K9 Mastery somehow in his search shortly after. Christie and he discussed our Boxer's issues and history and she was confident and willing to take him and I am so grateful we found her. They have a wonderful setup and a clear passion for taking care of animals. Our stranger-danger dog goes straight to her when I drop him off and I cannot explain he comfort that that brings me. She grabs him right by his leash and takes off with him. Other aggression specialized dog trainers that have worked with my boy have been so hesitant in handling him which gives me and my dog anxiety. Me mostly because I'm wondering why they seem so anxious and wondering if they can handle him. Then, my dog senses fear and acts out on it. This is truly a wonderful place to take your animals for boarding. There is a reason I don't think twice about the 2 hr commute I make for their stay here. read more

Christie has done incredible work with our Australian Shepard pup. We started him in her basic obedience training class when he was 4 months old and it has been so fun to watch his transformation. You take ownership of your dogs training and Christie helps guide you every step of the way. We'll be back for her intermediate training class! read more

I enrolled my 3yo female Doberman for basic obedience with Christie. Olive has had obedience training from multiple trainers, but most were predominantly positive reinforcement only/treat-based. It is clear that treat-based training absolutely does not work with olive. If treats were present, she would behave. If not, she knew, and she wouldn't follow obedience commands reliably. Olive has now finished basic obedience with Christie and has moved on to the first two lessons of intermediate. She is a totally different dog now and I couldn't be happier! I recently tested her new-found obedience by taking her to the Austin marathon where I volunteering to help get a team prepped and to the start line. Olive was absolutely perfect! She held her sit and down stays while I was busy helping with the teams, even while a bunch of kids hung all over her. She even did great heeling in the crowds while we walked back and forth along the route. Multiple people even commented on how well-behaved she was. I was a pretty proud mama! We practice daily at different public places and stores. Don't think your dog will learn this stuff if you don't practice. It takes work and time from you. Every time we practice, strangers are so impressed with her. Who wouldn't be?? She can hold a down stay in the front of Petsmart while I stay 100' away. Are you imagining how many people walk in/out of the store right there with their dogs? And olive doesn't move. It's great! Soon after starting this training with olive, we realized it was the answer we were looking for. One week into Olive's beginner training we decided to sign our newly adopted puppy up for beginner as well. We have been nothing but pleased with the results for both of our dogs! Don't waste your time and money with treat training; it just doesn't work. But Christie's methods do. You'll be thoroughly impressed! read more

I really thought this was my last resort after losing hope for my dog's behavioral issues. Kristie made me believe that my dog's problems would almost vanish as long as I practiced different exercises with him. He needed help walking on the leash, learning to heal, and with not using his mouth on people. The training we received was basic obedience. I worried that the class wasn't exactly what he needed because we had behavioral issues, we didn't just need help with sit and down stays. The first day that I took him he had a choke collar, and she took him out to walk, she warned us it wasn't going to "look pretty". Little did I know what she meant. She took him out onto the large field, he tried biting at the leash and she brought him into the air within a couple seconds. She held him up with the choke collar in the air. She said she would do this until he decided to submit to her and let himself fall onto the ground and not try to keep himself up. She also said sometimes the dog's pass out from this and although that's not preferred it unfortunately happens when they don't submit soon enough. Well my dog did not submit fast enough for her so she took out a whip and began to whack him on his back about 5-6 times. Everyone in class that day saw exactly what happened. Don't ask me why I didn't just walk away then and there, I really was misguided and believed this was my last hope for him. Little did I know that it could make his problems much worse. You are supposed to have a relationship of trust and respect with your dog, how can you achieve that when all you do is beat them with a whip? I, stupidly, purchased the whip because she told me to use it when he barked at strangers passing by our house. Well we never received actual training for the behavioral issues he had. Every class was just more and more obedience and once he finished the 8 weeks she thought he was ready for the second level which is where you have your dog in a down/sit stay far far away from you. If you saw my dog, if you knew what he was like you would know that is the last thing I should do. After just the second class she thought he would be perfectly fine going out to a store such as Lowe's. My dog is not good with people or dogs, there was absolutely no way I was going to do that. After spending 8 weeks in her class, about $360 later, my dogs same behaviors continued. Could I blame him? No, not after the abuse he endured because yes that is abuse. Holding your dog into the air meanwhile choking him, whacking him until he submits? I'm not training my dog to be a fighter, I'm training for the exact opposite. She said that I may have to do that a couple times throughout training to get him to really listen to me. I will say he walks better on the leash, he knows how to stay and heal, but what I needed was behavioral help that she said she could give me. The problems worsened, we are now doing training with the Canine Center and I have spoken to several trainers about the methods taught here and they all agree that this has made my dog worse, and that it was clear abuse. They don't even want to risk him wearing a collar now because of how they've been used on him. I regret taking him here, the worst decision I could have made by far. Before enrolling in these classes I specifically asked and made sure she was able to help with what I needed, had she been honest instead of just wanting my money, I wouldn't have been upset. She would have saved us time and money. It may work for dogs who just need basic obedience, but I sought help with other issues, and I guess those issues involved him having to be physically hurt by her. Edit: The first email I sent to K9 Mastery was asking if they helped with aggression and the response I received was, "There is no specific course for dogs with aggression issues. All dogs attend the same classes and each dog's behavioral issues are addressed with their owner throughout the course of training". I understood that there was no specific class that focused on the aggression, but I believed that throughout the class we would work on our issues. There was never any different exercise given to us that would help his aggression. Also, during the first class when you took him out to walk you made sure to be far away from everyone else and their dog's because of his bite history, so he never even had an opportunity to lunge at someone at that time. You popped him for not following the direction you were going and when you did that he turned and snapped at the leash. I communicated with you that I was not comfortable taking him into a store and I offered that maybe instead I could continue walks around my neighborhood and introduce him to friends. You agreed. I stated above that basic obedience improved, proving that I DID continue to train even after finishing the class. It is no surprise to me that you would have a negative opinion about them, as you did with Training by Tara when I asked you about her methods. read more

Upon booking I had a bad feeling about this place. It's not a traditional dog boarding business. I feel like boarding is a secondary means of business for them as they are really a training site. They are home based and by appointment only. If you're late you're charged $15 late fee. To get there it is on a dirt road so don't wash your car before you go. I have a small indoor dog and wouldn't recommend this place for small dogs. Also having small talk with the attendant may lead to you receiving an email about questions you asked during the talk from the owner. I believe my dog was fed but they didn't feed my dog the food that I provided for him. The bag was returned to me full and he had diarrhea for 4 days after picking him up. I scheduled a pickup time in advance because thats required and because I mentioned in an email conversation post boarding and while at my destination what time my flight was coming in, the owner decided to change my pickup time to what she thought would work for me. The whole time I was worried if they would mistreat my dog so this really put a damper on my birthday trip. read more

Wow. Christie transformed our little Molly. Prior to the month long board and train, Molly pulled on her leash, went to bite other dogs smaller than her, barked at EVERYTHING, and would not listen to save her life. Christie not only taught Molly how to listen and behave but she taught us how to handle her. Our main concern was Mollys aggression towards small dogs and to our baby. We now have boundaries with her and continue to reinforce them daily. We do a lesson each day with Molly to keep this going but it is very much worth it. Her anxiety is lower, she is more trusting and relaxed and seems overall happy. Strangely, she is more affectionate and loving towards us now than before and before, if we'd leave for vacation, she'd be SO mad at us and not "speak to us for days/weeks". It was this or rehome her and we are SO glad we made this investment to keep our girl in our home. read more

If it's the only thing you do for your dog(s), bring them to K9 Mastery. When 3 other dog trainers told me I needed to re-home my dog in a single dog, no child home (she was and never had been aggressive toward children) AND they were ok with euthanizing her as another option.... I was at my wits end. Christie changed all of that. Back story: Giggsy (my Pitt mix) had almost killed my older dog Bailey. On more than one occasion. Giggsy was aggressive towards other dogs. Plain and simple. She was unruly and not trustworthy. After the first class with Christie my jaw dropped. Had this woman poured pixie dust on my dog and made her different!?! Yep. That's how quick I noticed the change. And not just in Giggsy.... In ME! I felt and was in control. Since then we have advanced to intermediate and are doing amazing things. All 3 dogs at the house get along. I don't stress about my home situation or something happening to Bailey or Lilly (my other older dog) because I know that Giggsy will listen to me and that we have a common respect for one another. And she trusts me to make the decisions instead of her making them. Let Christi help you. Let her educate you. Let her train you so you can train your dog. Life doesn't have to be stressful with unruly dogs. But understand this: (and something you should have realized when you adopted or purchased your dog) you are responsible for them. Your dog is not a robot that you can train for 8 weeks and then never do anything with again. If you think that.... Well like John Wayne said, "Life is Hard. But it's harder when your stupid." I mean do you go to the gym, lose weight and then go back to eating cake? No. So understand you will always have to be involved with your dog. Maintenance is required. In ALL training. But I am here to tell you, after 3 trainers, stressful nights, lots of tears, separate living conditions for all 3 dogs, trips to the vet.....and then putting all I had left in faith in Christie.... IT WAS THE BEST DECISION I EVER MADE. Watch her videos. They're real. I've met those handlers and dogs. It'll blow your mind. I've posted some of my own pics from training OUT IN PUBLIC PEOPLE....come see what she's all about. You won't regret it. read more

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