I have had my dog Tom for 5 years; he was a rescue, and a bit of a handful (all 12 lbs. of him). I just wrote off this naughty behavior to being a rescue, and thought I would always have to live with a wacky dog. He's an escape artist, and I've had him run away so many times, and have seriously just been lucky with the kindness of others to grab him and return him to me. I had some behavior training done with him, and tried what I thought were the right things to make me the 'pack leader' to get him to listen to me, but it was never effective. Over the years, I would basically just yell at him when he was doing wrong. He became such an escape artist, that he could dig under the fence in mere minutes of being outside in the yard. It got to the point where I would just take him outside to go to the bathroom on a leash in our own backyard. Again, I just thought this was the kind of dog I had, and this is how we would live. I love him, as dog owners do, but when he actually got booted out of a dog day care, I thought 'this is it, there has to be another way'. I started looking online for dog training in Austin, and came across Karma Dog Training. I filled out the online survey just to get some information, and Jeffrey emailed me within the hour asking more questions. I was blown away. We connected over the phone, and Jeffrey really understood what my fears/concerns with Tom were; he set me up with a trainer named Briana. Briana and I spoke over the phone for about half an hour to talk about my dog's history, what he does, what I would like, etc. She was so thorough just in our first conversation, I was really encouraged. She gave me 'homework' to work on until we had our first session, which just encouraged me further that I had reached people who could help me. We set up our session in my home. It was for a little over an hour. We started again talking through my dogs 'quirks'/bad behavior, and what I wanted to accomplish. Although my dog is older and a bit more set in his ways, I was still encouraged. And then, the training started. It was amazing. The training was just as much about training me as Tom's owner (if not more), than it was training him. It was incredible and so eye-opening with all the things I thought I was doing right, that I was doing wrong! And, I know it was wrong, because when Briana showed me how to do very simple things the right way, Tom responded so quickly. Briana was great at explaining everything, and I learned how the slightest actions/behavior on my part had such a large impact on how Tom reacted and behaved. In our first session (remember, it was a little over an hour, and part of that was spent in conversation), we were already taking Tom outside in the backyard to do some training, which I never thought would happen so quickly. At the end of that first session, I set up two more private sessions in my home, and each time, it was just amazing and overwhelming what she taught me and how Tom was responding (in a great way). After just one session, I could feel my relationship with Tom improving, and my stress level with Tom decreasing. Instead of having to constantly watch what he was doing, instead of constantly yelling at him to stop doing the wrong thing, we were practicing the right behaviors, and I was just rewarding him for the good decisions he was making. Tom and I finished our third/last session a couple of weeks ago, and things are still going very well. I am practicing all of the things Briana has taught the both of us, and I don't stress about Tom and his behavior nearly as much. This review really doesn't capture all of the benefits that I have received out of my sessions with Briana. And, if I think I need some tips or help down the road, I will definitely set up more sessions with her. The most important thing I can say is that I know what it is like to feel helpless with owning a 'bad' or 'naughty' dog, and I am so incredibly grateful I found Karma Dog Training, and so very appreciative of all that Briana did for Tom and me. read more

My husband and I have a 9 month old chocolate lab, Grace. She is a little terror. We should have seen it coming when we got her- she came to us at 4 months old with scars on her inner back legs from jumping a chicken wire fence to attack a chicken in just the first month of her life. We were too blinded by the puppy kisses, goofy uncoordinated puppy run, and desperation for attention and love exuding from her. We were fools. Because of Grace, we now have no baseboards or window sill corners in a portion of our home and the edges of our outdoor deck and wooden columns holding it up are all decorated nicely with gnawed edges and puppy teeth marks. Walking her was a nightmare tug-of-war game that lead to many ugly-cry breakdowns in frustration. Potty training was still questionable at times and leaving her unattended for even just a second was not an option. Crate training was not something we had the knowledge, time, or patience to go through and only lead to more frustration and less sleep. After countless dog beds, sleepless nights, and hundreds of dollars in other lost items, I had one last ugly cry and decided to google. I wish we had called Karma sooner. I wish Jennifer Burns had come into my life when I still had all my baseboards. The idea of their "reverse board and train" program gave me hope. I didn't have to go anywhere - better yet, I didn't have to put myself through the agony of taking Grace out of the house, in the car, and into public, where there was extreme potential for embarrassment and apologizing for my dogs bad behavior. Jennifer came to us. She trained Grace in the very place that Grace was familiar with- which I believe is what made the world of difference for us. Grace took to Jennifer the very second she walked in the door (I'm sure the pocket full of treats helped). Grace spent every second Jennifer was with her following her lead and learning. She was so dialed in and focused on Jennifer and learning that she would be exhausted and pass out for the remainder of the day as son as Jennifer would leave - which is not an easy feat. Six days. Six days made me love Grace again. Jennifer came to the house for many hours a day, six days in a row and I now have a completely different dog. Grace knows "sit", "down", "stay", "wait", "leave it", "drop it", "in your bed", and many others that we have taught her ourselves since. She is now happy to be crated when we leave during the day and through the night, and walks nicely on leash without any problems. Jennifer not only trained Grace, but she taught my husband and I how to train Grace at the same time. She was helpful in showing us everything she was doing and explaining things in a way we would easily understand. She was always available to answer any questions and went above and beyond to make sure Grace succeeded. The only thing I wish we had done different is call them sooner! read more

We got our puppy Nash, from Austin Dog Rescue (ADR) when he was 9 weeks old. We knew we wanted to start training Nash immediately and after a few training sessions with a personal trainer, he was a pro with the basics and even picked up a few fun tricks. As he grew (and boy did he grow) and entered his early teens, he became a bit too excitable for me to handle, so I tried a class environment this time with someone who seemed to know the needs of a "high-energy" dog. That was a complete waste of time. The trainer/class did nothing to help us with his energy and lack of focus. I thought I'd never be able to take Nash anywhere again...until I found Kelly at Karma Dog Training... I was expecting to have to send Nash off to board and train, but on her first visit to the house, she immediately connected with Nash, and reassured us that she could help us help Nash...so we got to work. She was like the "Nash Whisperer." Every time we met for a session he would test the boundaries...Kelly didn't let him get away with that. She knew his "type," even though we didn't. She thought he looked and acted like he had some Pyrenees in him, but ADR had him listed as a Catahoula mix. We had to know...So we had a DNA test done and I was just blown away...Primary breed...HUSKY?!? oh boy, not expecting that!! Secondary was Australian Cattle dog, and you guessed it...Great Pyrenees, with a little GSD thrown in for good measure. Now that we knew what we were working with, we got down to business. Kelly knew just what to do with this new information. She helped us find some great off leash locations that we could take Nash to help him burn off some of that Husky energy and in the process work on his recall skills. Nash was doing great...until he developed some medical issues. Training would have to wait. But Kelly never left us. She was still there for us, answering questions about what kind of training we could work on in while on hiatus. After 6 months, Kelly was able to pick up right were we left off and we did more training then ever in parks and public locations where she brought in her own dog do help. Kelly gave me the confidence to take Nash anywhere and be in control. I don't think I would have survived the teen years without her. Every trip we take is an opportunity for to use the tools Kelly gave us to strengthen our bond with our dogs and give them a rich and fulfilling life they deserve. Thank you Kelly and Karma Dog Training, can't recommend you enough! read more

We recently contacted Karma Dog Training to help out with our new English Bulldog puppy. At first we were concerned because she was only 10 weeks old but Jeff was very nice and answered all of the questions we had. We decided to do a reverse board and train in our home, so that our pup could learn in the environment that she would be living in. Unfortunately at the last minute the trainer he had chosen for us wasn't able to make it. He quickly remedied the situation and had one of his trainers in Austin contact us (we live in Dallas.) Since we wouldn't be able to meet in person, Uyen-Anh skyped with us to answer any questions or concerns we might have. We loved her right off the bat. She traveled all the way from Austin, and stayed with us in our home for a week. She was a trooper seeing as I was home the whole time. She worked extremely hard the entire time she was with us and was just a joy to work with. We couldn't have asked for a better fit for our dog or our family. Each day our pup learned something new, and Uyen-Anh helped me understand the how and why of everything she was working on. Not only did our dog learn a lot, but I also learned a ton of useful tips and tricks on how to continue her training once we were alone with her. At weeks end we were very sad to see her go. Our pup definitely missed her, and looked for her for two days after she left. Everyone at puppy class (also done at Karma) and at the vet, etc always comments on how smart and well behaved she is. We couldn't have done it without Karma and Uyen Anh. I'd recommend them every day of the week!! Oh, and we've also received several follow up emails and calls from bothJeff and Uyen- Anh to check in on us, which is really nice. You can tell that they really care about their clients, and love dogs!! What more could you ask for? read more

I can't believe it has taken me over two years to write this review. Shame on me! We have a three year old Black Lab and he attended both the puppy K classes through Karma Dog and then was trained with one of their board and train trainers on two different occasions for a week each time. I can't tell you how AMAZING the whole experience was with both of these. First, puppy K classes were the best for our entire family (I have three young children - all under seven years old when we went to the puppy K classes). Our children learned how to handle their puppy around other dogs and our puppy learned important social skills. As a now almost 80 pound lab you continue to see the impact of being around other dogs so early - highly recommend anyone with a new puppy to do this as a family. Second, in-home training sessions. Incredible. First round was really for typical puppy training (potty and other simple behavior items). Our puppy came home 100% potty trained (trained to use the bells to ring to go out as opposed to barking). Amazing. He also came home knowing sit/stay (all by hand movements as opposed to speaking them). Second round of training when he was a bit older was for more socialization/leash walking and general behavior. Again, he came home happy and really trained on these points. All of this done is with 100% positive reinforcement training. Everyone that meets our lab is always comments on how well behaved/calm and trained he is for his young age. Can't say enough great things about Karma Dog Training. When we get our next puppy we'll use the same training program! read more

We took our Australian Shepherd, Jasper, to Puppy Kindergarten through Karma dog training when he was around 12 weeks old. I only wish we had started sooner! I was under the impression that you couldn't sign up for puppies until after 16 weeks when they are fully vaccinated, but as it turns out you can start class sooner than that. Since Karma keeps the puppy training area disinfected ( they were very thorough-even spraying off the soles of our shoes,) you don't have to worry about exposing your dog to anything contagious in the environment. This is great because early socialization for puppies is crucial. In the class you work on basic obedience as well as things like the importance of desensitizing dogs to noises and handling. The learning is broken up by equally important puppy play time. While after attending this class I think I gained enough knowledge to raise another puppy on my own, I would still attend purely for the socialization benefits. Totally worth it. In addition to puppy class, I've also gone through Karma for boarding. Jasper stayed with Caitlin, a trainer, at her house and had a blast with her Border Collies. We felt much more at ease keeping our young and very high energy dog with someone experienced rather than chancing a friend being overwhelmed by our pup. We also felt much more comfortable that we wouldn't be leaving our dog in a kennel where he might not get much human interaction-he's very people oriented. In fact, we're planning on having Jasper stay with Caitlin again soon since it worked out so well! All together a much less stressful situation for us and for Jasper. read more

I took my GSD, Aimee, to Kama Dog Training's Puppy Kindergarten program when she was a mere 8 weeks of age. Aimee is my first dog, and she is a handful, but the folks at Karma Dog Training gave me a good grasp on how to train her. Most importantly, however, is that the program allows dogs that are very young to socialize. This is incredibly important for the more anxious breeds like German Shepherds, but equally important for any dog. When we first attended class, she was very timid, and even afraid of the other puppies in the class. By the end of the 8 weeks, she was confident and boisterous, yet she played friendly. The friendly playing has proved to be one of the most valuable parts of the program, but the training tips that you learn are fantastic as well. The patience and understanding of the trainers was astounding. I was overwhelmed by the responsibility of training and socializing my dog, but I left class every sunday confident that it was completely doable. They even gave me one-on-one advice for training my dog, who happens to be more play-motivated than food-motivated. KARMA DOG TRAINING ONLY UTILIZES POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT, which has been proven to be the most effective way to train your dog. Not only is it fun, but it creates a bond between dog and owner that negative reinforcement could never achieve. My dog loves to work with me, and I her. I couldn't recommend Karma Dog Training enough -- ESPECIALLY if you are a new dog owner with a young puppy. read more

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- blaming Austin's no-kill policy for adopting out dangerous dogs to avoid euthanizing them. "No-kill is responsible for putting aggressive dogs out there."--Patt Nordyke, Texas Federation of Animal Care Societies In the aftermath, dog trainers reached out to KXAN saying the city shelter and its partners are putting the public in danger by adopting out aggressive dogs in order to maintain its status as a no-kill city. Trainer Jennifer Burns say some dogs are too dangerous and should have never been adopted out. "There really needs to be... a lot more responsibility taken on where these dogs are going, what homes they're going to. I don't think the screening process is really all that great," said Burns.. But it's not just dog trainers criticizing No-kill. ------------------This dog training went on news and told millions of viewers that karma dog training backs the idea that no kill is bad and aligned themselves with the movement dogsbite.org -an anti pit bull and rottwieler organization who believe the best thing to do with ANY pitbull is to put it down. This trainer has done a LOT of damage and cost the lives of homeless animals because clearly she is not successful in doing her job to help teach dogs appropriate behavior. Is her belief to just kill the ones that wont "sit?" "Bring a trainer with you" to the shelter because they are the people who all tell you who you can or cannot adopt. is this who you want training your dog?! read more

I am in my fifth week of the Group Obedience class with Amy, and I am blown away by her training abilities with people as well as with dogs. I train people a lot at work, so I know how hard it can be to teach people how to successfully put into practice any new skill. It is one thing to train dogs, but being able to effectively train dogs and owners simultaneously is another thing altogether. Amy is able to explain something as subtle and fluid as the interaction between my dog, Holly, and I in such clear and understandable terms that I can actually use what I learn when new and unexpected situations come up (cat, flying garbage bag, etc). She is able to manage the unique issues of each dog/owner unit that attends the class in a way that allows everyone to learn something new no matter what level they are at. She explains, demonstrates, and then has us practice each new concept, which is really the best way for adults to learn. I am impressed with how quickly she is able to switch gears mid-demonstration to use an unexpected dog behavior or situation as a learning opportunity. She always works in tips for understanding our dog's ways of communicating with us. I have had many ah-ha moments in the last month. In short, it is hard to find a better trainer than Amy. She is energetic, confident, clear, and effective. Not to mention the incredibly affordable price of the group classes! read more

Mia and I attended our first puppy kindergarten class on 5/13 and I gotta say - I was really impressed with Karma Dog Training. I was hesitant about what to expect and how my 4 month old puppy would do around the other dogs and people. The trainers introduced the dogs cautiously and was really attentive to each dog in the class. I really love that the trainers do not single out their favorite dog and they do focus on each dog that is there. I love their techniques and the do not stop offering advice and constructive criticism. The training was a success for my sweet Mia and I and we are looking forward to returning. Mia had a ton of fun being around the other doggies, and of course, she really liked the treats :). Anytime I put the leash on her, she would just lay down and chew on it. But, she let me put it on her in class and she was having so much fun that she forgot it was on. When we got home - she got out of the car by herself which was also a first. And we went potty in the front yard while on the leash vs. running around in the backyard without a leash. So - not only did she learn 'watch me' and 'recall' but she also is getting the much needed training with having a leash on her. It's a win win and I highly recommend this place for anyone who has a puppy or is thinking of bringing a puppy home in the future. You will not be disappointed!!! read more

I attended my first Puppy Class this weekend and absolutely loved it. I wanted to ensure that my pup, Charlie Buttons, becomes well socialized and acclimated around other dogs so enrolled him just after a week of having him. I will admit that I was a little hesitant to have him meet dogs I don't know since Parvo is so rampant in Austin. After speaking to the owner-Jeffrey, who informed me that they have yet to have a case over the years and thousands of classes, I was able to rest easy knowing that the rooms and people's shoes are disinfected prior to class. Charlie Buttons was a little timid at first and overwhelmed, but the trainers (I believe Amber and Darci) were very encouraging and got him to explore his new environment. I felt like a proud parent witnessing him "sniff" his first dog and hop around with other pups . It was also very helpful to have the trainers go over basic commands and provide hands on instruction (which certainly beats the dozens of YouTube videos I've been watching). They really seemed to know their stuff as they made it seem so effortless, yet were able to provide detailed instruction whenever necessary. I would recommend Karma Dog Training to any of my friends. It is reasonably priced and provided everything I wanted in a Puppy Socialization class. Charlie Buttons and I will certainly be attending the full series! read more

Genuine loving care. I do not normally post reviews on the Internet but this one merits one. I have had a great experience entrusting my 10 year old Lhasa Apso, the love of my life, to be pet sat at home by Karma Dog Training. He recently had eye surgery - which resulted in unforeseen complications, and is now almost blind. He needs constant care and medications several times a day. I was begining to worry as I travel frequently on work and needed someone gentle, loving, and reliable to take care of my dog, Poochi during the working hours. It was sheer luck that I ran into Uyen-Anh in the hood, as I was walking him. She was so sweet and doting on Poochi. She was training our neigbor's dogs and provided me Karma Dog Training owner Jeff's details. That was remarkably ethical and won my trust and respect. I contacted Jeff and requested specifically for Uyen-anh to pet sit Poochi the following week. Jeff was very supportive and Uyen-anh came over promptly to our house, so we could go over Poochi's needs - medications, walking routine, feeding etc. Uyen-Anh was wonderful with Poochi. I received daily updates, pictures, and texts of him. I know Uyen-Anh and Poochi bonded. He really has gotten to love and trust her - allowing her to walk him and medicate him, which is rare. I have nothing but gratitude that he was taken care of so well. Thanks! read more

Hi Jeff, We just wanted to pass along our thanks and to tell you what a great experience the classes were for Finn, Cheryl and I. Karma Dog is truly unique, what really stands out was the focus on the mental and spiritual aspects of training. Every class brought new ideas and realizations about the way Finn thinks about the world. We really enjoyed the insights you provided on what it's like to be a dog in a human world, the owners goal of being the 'perfect parent' and the benefits of emotional balance and consistency in training, these really made an impression on Cheryl and I. As you know Finn came into the world as a very confident and independent youngster, and these are two aspects of his personality Cheryl and I really enjoy. The techniques you taught us on how to convey leadership in a way that makes sense to Finn were key to our ability to teach him skills that keep him safe without breaking that innate confidence. I can't tell you how many compliments Finn gets on his calm and poise. And we sincerely thank you for that. The classes we took at Karma Dog taught us how to turn training into an opportunity to bond, making it fun for us and him. And since it was fun he responded well and learned very quickly. Again, thank you very much. We hope to see you all again soon. Best regards, Jeff & Cheryl & Finn Nye read more

Where do I start? We had such an amazing experience with Karma. My 8 month old golden retriever, Mabel, was boarded and trained with Erin Dunlavy back in June. We had no idea Mabel had ingested something before we turned her over to Erin, but within 48 hours it was clear something wasn't right. Erin, quite frankly, saved Mabel's life. She recognized the potential danger, contacted me (I was out of state), acted immediately, and got her to excellent care. Mabel is alive today because Erin got her to a surgeon who was able to remove the very serious, potentially life threatening obstruction. When I got back in town and visited with the veterinarian, she agreed that someone less experienced and compassionate might not have recognized the urgency and known what to do. Erin was Mabel's guardian angel. Even though it wasn't Karma's fault that they couldn't complete the training, they gave me a refund or the choice to apply our deposit to another try at training. Fully recovered and ready to try again, we opted to let Erin board and train Mabel this past week. Mabel had issues with impulse control and jumping. Erin transformed her in just a few days. But, most important to me, it was so obvious how much Erin enjoyed her time with Mabel and how passionate she is about what she does. Mabel and I adore Erin! read more

I recently finished the puppy kindergarten class with Karma Dog, and it was great! It was a safe environment to bring my puppy before she had all her shots. It combined the right mix of play/socialization and education, and my dog did really well. Kelly was an excellent instructor, who had an amazing presence with dogs. I had read many books, but the methods she showed us were so simple and effective to get our dogs to perform some basic commands - much better than any book. Even though it was a group class, Kelly took time to work with us each individually. She was also really helpful answering other questions I had about raising a puppy, as this is my first. The play/socialization part of the class was also key, as my dog didn't have many other opportunities to socialize prior to her complete vaccination series, and socialization seems key at an early age. This play time also helped pace the class well, as my 3-4 month old puppy didn't have a long enough attention span to spend too much time training at once. I tried one other training school. Although their method was based on positive reinforcement, like Karma dog, it wasn't the right pace, nor personalized, and we didn't get much out of it. I'll be back to Karma dog for our next class. read more

We attended puppy kindergarten at the canine kingdom location in Round Rock. We absolutely loved the classes and trainers! The trainers really care about the puppies and take the time to get to know every one and are willing to help with any puppy problems and answer any questions. The trainers and the kindergarten gives you the tools to help your puppy succeed. The classes are a great balance of socialization play time and training time. The progress our puppy has shown through his weeks are amazing. On our first class, our puppy hid behind us and was pretty unsure of his new surroundings. In the next few weeks he was a new man, playing and running with his new friends. His confidence has increased, and he is exhausted after each class (bonus for us!). The way the classes are on a rotation, you might have some newbies and some graduates each week, which is great as it brings new interactions and personalities into the mix, and you end up meeting so many dogs and their owners. Now, he has graduated a much bigger (comparatively speaking) and confident little guy. Katie reminds us it takes a village to raise a puppy and we are so glad Karma was an integral part of our village. We definitely fully recommend Karma. read more

This a review with updates to come! We take our dog Uma here and so far have had a great experience. Initially, the class time we were told was changed, and we were so disappointed, especially when the trainer we called to discuss it with never got back to us. We sadly decided to get a refund and keep searching for a trainer. However, we tried reaching out to the owner Jeffrey first. He called back and told us about a class at the time we needed, apologized about the previous mistake, and even offered us some bonus classed for the trouble! Now to talk about our class today. The trainer took one look at our dog and told us she was a Pharaoh Hound mix. We looked into it, and she's right! No other vet/ dog person has been able to answer that question until now. Our dog has some fear/ excitement issues and they set up some barriers and assured us they had dealt with worse. The assistant ( whose name I forgot in the excitement, but I WILL find out and update this) worked with Uma the entire class and taught us quick and easy focus tricks. I plan on purchasing a private lesson at some point and definitely would like her to be the trainer. We have many classes to go and I will write a second review as we go along. read more

'Practical & positive' training for both canine & parent. At age 10 weeks, Valentino (aka 'T') was introduced to Karma's positive approach to training at puppy school under the watchful eyes of Sara Merrell. At that point, Sara identified that our Yorkie demonstrated 'underconfidence' behaviors and tailored his weekly group sessions so that 'he could develop socially at his own pace. It worked wonders. So we re-enrolled him for a second round of Puppy Classes; that is when he flourished both mentally and socially. Both T & parents learned and most importantly 'practiced' those skills for the next two years. As T approaches his 3rd birthday, we had noticed that one particular behavior had developed which was disruptive to our home life: Impulse Control. Any service person in our yard (worse if in the house) was met with T's barking frenzy. We returned to Karma Dog Training (Lakeway location) for Obedience Classes and was thrilled (so was T) to see Sara. She identified our issue and patiently offered practical suggestions. It was a 'eureka' moment when we found the right approach. Two months have passed and Valentino is frenzy free!!! Thank you, Sara and Karma Dog Training. Karen & T read more

Our dog Rusty, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever has gone through puppy and behavioral training courses through Karma. Of course we think our dog perfect but at only 7 months, we are constantly told by friends and strangers how well behaved our dog is and we have Karma and Kelly to thank for that. In particular, our instructor Kelly has been amazing. I'm not sure how she learns the behaviors of each dog but after only a class, but she already has a good read on each dog and very helpful recommendations. She also is incredibly caring and enthusiastic. By starting training early, our dog became well socialized and plays great with other dogs, which is great because his breed can have aggressive traits (as we learned from Kelly). We've not only learned basic and advanced commands but also worked on any specific issues such as leash pulling and jumping up. Rusty and I both love going to class and learn so much from each session. Having such a robust knowledge of all breeds, Kelly also consults on another issues such as diet, health, boarding recommendations and really anything that comes up. I'm so grateful we found Kelly & Karma and have been able to raise such a happy and well behaved pup. read more