We recently did a 2 week board and train at Taurus with our 8 month old puppy, Pluto. Our trainer was Kaitlyn and I can't say enough great things about her. Sending my brand new puppy off for 2 weeks was a little scary but Kaitlyn and the rest of the Taurus team made it such a great experience. I was sent daily progress reports with a ton of videos and pictures of my puppy & Kaityln would respond back to me promptly if I messaged her with any questions. My puppy is home now and all his training is paying off. I feel so good taking him on walks & out into public with our new skills from training. If you have been debating doing training at Taurus, I 100% recommend it, they will take care of you and it's so worth it! read more

Taurus Academy McNeil - Pet Training Near Me - Austin, Texas

I recently started taking my one year old chug for doggie play days, and it has helped her become much more social with dogs and people. It's been a lifesaver when I have a busy work day to bring her for a play day, so that she gets exercise and enrichment. After getting my dog's profile with all her vaccine records uploaded, it's been super easy to schedule her play days. The staff are so nice and friendly! My dog literally jumps out of the car when we arrive because she is so excited to be there. read more

Ever since my dog was a puppy, I've loved Taurus Academy for training, daycare, and boarding. The workers communicate clearly about how my girl is doing, and I'm a big fan of how they structure play groups and rest. My dog always comes home tired and happy, and the board and train program we used last year was super effective, and the trainer remained supportive after the program. This is the only place I'll board at in Austin! read more

My dog was boarded last Thursday through Sunday, and when she came home she had a bad wound on her head. You can see the raw flesh, fur is missing, and it has crusted over. When I left on Sunday I asked how she had been, and they said good, great, she was so sweet, but no one mentioned her injury. I didn't even notice it until I got home. The injury is clearly old she must have gotten it pretty soon after I arrived because the wound had already crusted over and was healing. When I complained they said they would find out what happened, but they were unable or unwilling to tell me in the end. They offered me free boarding, but I will never bring her back. They are negligent. Either someone saw it happen and decided not to say anything (maybe it was their fault) or they truly weren't present or paying attention like they are supposed to be. Like we pay them to be. read more

Taurus Academy McNeil - crusted over would with raw flesh exposed and fur missing. some of her fur hides the rest of the wound. - Pet Training Near Me - Austin, Texas

I had dropped my pup off for her evaluation day. They loved him (of course) and he was beyond tired when I picked him up. I was happy about this as my husband and I had plans for later in the evening. It is a more expensive option but well worth it in my opinion. I love the report cards!!! read more

Our pup Thea absolutely LOVES this place and playing with all of her pup friends. The staff is SO kind and sends adorable updates with photos of how our furbaby's day is going. HIGHLY recommend! read more

I LOVE Taurus on McNeil. More importantly, my dog lives Taurus! I have an energetic, enthusiastic Yorkiepoo. I take her to doggie daycare 2x a week so she can run around and play with her doggie friends . When I pull into the parking lot, she starts wagging her tail. If that's not an endorsement, I don't know what is! I've boarded my dog there, too. I know she's well taken care of. We also did their two-week board/train, and her at-home behavior became so much better. Lauren, the trainer, was awesome to work with. She gave us the tools to have a better relationship. (I'd had her two months and was considering re-homing because she was so hyper/crazy.) It wasn't cheap, but it was worth every penny. Taurus has been a lifesaver. Highly recommend. read more

I've been going there for 28 years and all my dogs have loved it. The oriental owner has sold it but, they did not change how they work. Manager Billy is great and easy to talk to. They have helped me with crisises with my dog. I definitely trust them all the way. read more

Picked up Buddy last night and the girl at the front desk was rude/monotone and proceeded to tune me out. she had long dark hair and glasses, and just walked away, IGNORING me, after I had been standing there for 10 minutes waiting For help. I was then greeted by a young man named Kadin, who had excellent customer service, and the only reason I did not rate just 1 star. This location constantly rotates through a lot of staff. Got to the point where no one is recognizable from just a few months back. The young girl at the front desk before, Ashley, was personable and great. Always had a smile on her face. Wish they held onto their employees here or at least hired some that care about dogs, are amiable and pleasant instead of hiring anyone that walks in. read more

We love the Taurus team! Our coonhound, Higgins, is so pumped when we drop him off for play days and drags his feet when we pick him up to leave! We completed the Board and Train with Jordan back in July, and loved how well mannered our puppy became after his time in the program. The team is quick to listen to concerns and questions. They also accommodate so well! For example, Higgs started having more accidents after being neutered, and the team offered to document and note if he had any accidents throughout his play day to see if any patterns develop. I can also tell how loved Higgins is when I drop him off, and that makes us so happy! Thanks for loving our sweet hound so well! read more

Taurus Academy McNeil - Pet Training Near Me - Austin, Texas

We took our dog Brox to the McNeil location for the 2 week in house training and it was amazing now you puppy Bandit goes there for play dates to socialise him until he is old enough to get fixed and go to the dog park. But he will still go with n for once a week supervised play dates. The facility is great and the play yards have lots of shade. Bandit loves it when we drop him off and he breaks our hearts a little when he doesn't want to jump in the car and come home. Super happy we found them and will keep on using them for all our dogs. read more

I can't believe the exceptional service we received at Taurus - McNeil. After all the good reviews I wanted to set up an evaluation but we could not since she did not have her CIV vaccine. I was slightly annoyed and decided to check out other daycares (She's a puppy and has been getting vaccines routinely since she was born, I didn't want to an an "optional" one on top of it.) We went to PetSmart which was...ok... nothing special about them. Their evaluation was only and hour so we were able to drop her off and pick her up for a half day. Then we tried Dogtopia-North Austin and had the absolute worst experience- everyone was rude and she came back smelling awful. I went ahead and scheduled her CIV and try out Taurus. And WOW. They were super responsive and great. When we got their our puppy was kind of nervous so they played with her for a little bit and she warmed up quickly. She had no problems saying goodbye to us! We got an update at 12:30 that gave us a very detailed update on how she was doing and another at 3:30. When we picked her up you could tell she had a bath. - she smelled great and was super soft. We feel very confident taking her back and look forward to her next reservation. read more

We enrolled our pup in the 2-week train-and-board program because she was an extremely anxious pup. We had her for about 3 months and she barely ever left the corner of our home. After the two weeks, we noticed an insane difference. Jordan and her team trained our pup all the commands and how to walk on a leash. She followed up with us to address some further concerns we had and those got resolved too. While we understand no pup is perfect, Jordan and her team helped out little girl to be close to it. I highly recommend Taurus at Mcneil, worth every penny! read more

Horrible. The dogs are mostly in little cages most of the day. Outside areas are very small. How can a big dog run in a small fenced in area? read more

Do not take your dog to Taurus Dog Training in Austin. Dirty. 70 dogs barking in kennels stacked up like lab rat cages. (1) 20-minute outdoor break AM. (1) 20-40 minute outdoor break PM. 8 hour day in a kennel with 70 barking dogs and only the two potty breaks. We stopped in a grassy area on the way home because she was shrieking and panting in the car. She had to pee and poop immediately. Last $35 they will be getting of our money. Did not give us a tour before we checked her in. No streaming video so we could see what was going on. Don't insult me by filling out this stupid report card. Of course she was an angel, even though the environment was horrible! Maybe you should have been "PLAYing with my dog instead of putting stickers on a stupid report card. I feel completely guilty for not touring the back-room facilities before leaving her there. read more

Clean, friendly and knowledgeable staff make this place the perfect place for me to board the apple of my eye ( a young Boston Terrier ) for a week or more at a time. I can call and check on him and they don't get annoyed with all my over-protective hyper-vigilant "will-he-be-ok" fussing. I love the daycare option, it seems like they are really in it for the dogs. The staff knows all the dogs by name, they all looked happy when I got my tour. I like how you can bring your dogs own blanket, food and toys. Yes, they are a bit pricey for a daycare place, but you really get what you pay for in this business. Do I want to take my dog to a mediocre place who may not keep such a close eye on him? Or will I shell out the extra $10 and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he will be as loved at Taurus as he is at home. read more

My puppy is pretty shy. With that said, he LOVES going to Taurus. His tail wags a mile a minute (yeah I know that saying doesn't make sense, it wags FAST). He had a great time at daycare on his first day. They do ask that you come in for a trial day. More recently I boarded him there for 4 days. I picked him up today, and I've been noticing the differences already! He's been much more outgoing with people and animals. He's just all around happier! The only reason why it wasn't 5 stars is that I requested a bath and nail clipping for him and they didn't actually give him one. They didn't charge me for it though. Edited: they recently raised prices significantly and I can no longer afford to send my dog to Taurus. Stinks because it was great place for him, but $23 a day was a stretch....$35 a day (for daycare) is just way too much. read more

I've been bringing my German Shorthaired Pointer here for about 10 months. Whether it's a Play Day while I'm at work or boarding when I'm traveling, my dog is always well taken care of -- and burns a ton of energy running/playing, which is always a plus with a GSP puppy! Any training you've already made progress with is only perfected with their team, and if your dog isn't trained, expect their staff to begin with the basics! Their staff & trainers are knowledgeable, friendly, and extremely loving with the dogs. It always puts you at ease knowing your dog is in good hands when you're away! Very thankful for the Taurus team!! read more

We have been a Taurus family for about a year and a half now and look forward to another 10 years with them. Blu goes to daycare and board there regularly which is so awesome for him, but what really changed our life was the Board and Train. Initially, I thought it was pricey, but after all they did for him I'm shocked it wasn't 3 times the price. I know dog daycare and training for some is a luxury, but for our family, Taurus is a necessity. We have a well trained, social, silly dog that I know is safe because of the foundation they laid and the structure they taught us how to maintain. The staff up there are such dear friends of ours after seeing the love and care they pour into Blu every day. They are truly amazing people and I am happy he has a second family there. When it is time to go, Blu knows what, "Do you want to go to daycare?" or simply, "Taurus?" means. When he sees Taurus folks in public he freaks our he gets so excited. It's his favorite place on earth. They have been so transparent since day one letting me see the facility and calling to check in him. I have even peeked in on him playing and to see my boy so happy brings so much joy to me. We will be moving soon, and we have discussed continuing to drive him to McNeil since he has such a close bond with them, though if they were ever full, we have met Taurus staff from so many locations and I'd trust any of them with Blu's safety and happiness without thinking twice. I could rave on and on. Thank you, Taurus Academy! You have changed our lives for the better. read more

Taurus Academy McNeil - Blu on a playscape at Taurus McNeil. He loves school more than anything! - Pet Training Near Me - Austin, Texas

I've been coming for awhile now and it's great. Minka loves it and is always excited to go play with her buddies. The staff is always super friendly and most of them know her and me so it's a super easy drop off and pick up. Minka is usually pretty tired after she gets home so it's wonderful for me. I love their report cards and a few months into taking her I got a picture frame of Minka while she was playing. I definitely like the personal touches they add when they have a chance. read more

After more than 2 years in Austin, and going to several horrible places first, we've finally found an amazing place to take our dog for daycare and boarding. Every single person on staff at Taurus is incredibly nice, helpful and, most importantly, trained appropriately for the safe care of your dog. You can feel the positive energy as soon as you walk in the door. They genuinely love each and every dog. Our dog is always excited to go to Taurus, and for the first time ever in his life, he actually seems revived and refreshed when we get him home. He's happy and playful, rather than immediately collapsing into exhaustion after over-stimulation from an improperly managed play space. Very grateful to have found such a wonderful place where we can completely trust that our dog is in good hands! read more

They are pretty amazing! There was a couple hiccups with our first day but after that first time it was smooth sailing. I always got feedback on any physical or behavioral issue that they witnessed. They're pretty busy so plan ahead for overnight and I would've gotten into a bind if I didn't have a backup for last minute emergencies. They seemed to keep a close eye on the dogs while they played because even the smallest issue was brought to my attention. I felt safe leaving my puppy there, despite her anxiousness and sometimes human social fearfulness. They were worth every penny! read more

Taurus Academy McNeil - Their lobby area - Pet Training Near Me - Austin, Texas

I'm so disappointed with Taurus on Burnet. I can't even tell you how many problems I had with the one time my dog Stanley went to the Day Care. First, I show up and they didn't have my reservation that I made the prior week. I was told by the woman who took him that the systems don't communicate with one another (I made it through the Metric Location manager, Angela, who said the Burnet employee was mistaken when I called to confirm). By the way, during his evaluation day, when they put his collar back on, they put it so tight I could not put a single finger between it and his neck. Back to when I went to pick him up on his first day care day, he seemed extremely skiddish and I felt his tummy and it was SOAKED with urine. I called back immediately and told them. The front receptionist (Bailey) went to find out what happened. She got back on the phone and said that "a male tech" went to get him and he peed on himself and sat in it. That is NOT like my dog. He loves all people (men and women) and never is scared. Plus they didn't bother to tell me or wash him off. They just delivered him to my car soaking in urine without warning. Now my car reeks of dog urine. The only thing Bailey offered me was a free dog wash the next time I brought him in. There won't be a next time. So disappointed. I had hoped to use them regularly. read more

I called in early November to book boarding over Xmas for my dog, spoke to April and was told that they were full, but I would be first on the waitlist. I took my dog in for the day of evaluation that is part of the signup process. The staff was not very friendly, and even though they schedule the review of how your dog's first day went, noone was available when I arrived and I had to wait 15 -20 min. They rushed me through but I assumed they were just busy that day. I called 12 days before Xmas to see if my dog was still on the waitlist, spoke to April again, and was told that now there were people ahead of us and that as it was getting closer to Xmas, I should look elsewhere. I had heard good reviews about other Taurus locations from friends and neighbors but am NOT impressed with the McNeil location at all. read more

We enrolled our catahoula, Rafa Beau, here for the two-week Board and Train program and could not be happier with the results from our trainer, Jordyn. It's worth every penny. Though he was only 16 weeks old and full of puppy energy at the time he enrolled, he has taken to his training like a duck to water. The before and after difference in his behavior is night and day! He's our same lovable, silly, goofball puppy but his manners are so impressive. We finally feel comfortable bringing him everywhere with us, and he is so much gentler with our older dog and his human toddler brother now than before he attended the Board and Train program. It has enabled our family to enjoy him so much more. We fully intend to take him here for regular play dates as he is clearly super happy to be there. Cannot say enough good things about Taurus and Jordyn. read more

Taurus Academy is fantastic, for doggie play days and boarding both! I've been bringing my Boston Terrier Zoey there since she was a 6-month old puppy. She's almost five now. The staff there are all wonderful, caring people, always very positive. Zoey loves going there to play with the other dogs and the staff members, too. They have an excellent reservation system, as well. I can't recommend Taurus highly enough. They make you and your dog feel like part of their family. read more

I do not board my pet often, but 2 years ago I left my dog with Taurus on McNeil for 1 week. I was pleasantly surprised with the way they treated him, and with his condition when I picked him up. He was happy, and interacted with the staff indicating they had spent time with him. Just this week (Oct 26) I left him for 2 days. The difference could not have been greater. 1) 2 Years ago, the inside smelled like dogs were kept there, but it was not strong, and you could tell the smell of cleaning also so you know they were trying to keep it as clean as possible. This time, the smell of animals was strong, and no indication of recent cleaning. 2) They were going to charge me $133 for 2 days. When I asked about the high charge it was due to a poop&pee cleanup additional charge. I was quite surprised that keeping a dog at 48$ a day did not include cleaning up after them ! I would expect all dogs poop and pee most every day. 3) When I got him home his anus was red and inflamed, and he had diarrhea. Well, I thought that sometimes happens with food and environment change. Still a disappointment. 4) Then we noticed one of his eyes was almost completely red, looks like he got an eye infection while there.. so I'll have a vet bill to go with the boarding bill. We will never leave our pet there again. I thought it would be nice for him to have 2 play days while we were away, I didn't expect it to be 2 days of suffering for him. read more

The staff is friendly, kind, and caring. My dog has been going daily, since the pandemic started. The no-contact pick-up and drop-off is great, and the staff also wears masks. This helps me feel safe, as my dad is going through cancer treatment. We also have two people in our household providing services in response to the pandemic, working to help keep our community healthy. This has also meant increased work hours + stress. Taking my dog here has been a huge help and relief. After she eats her breakfast, she asks to go to school (she will come and stare at us, then go to the front door!). She is so much calmer and at ease, despite all the stress at home. I also want to add that when my dad came out of his first surgery, they sent her home with a free bath. That is above and beyond-it was the silver lining on a very difficult day. These people truly care, and we love them!! My Bear has also been more confident, since going. Thank you, Taurus Academy!! read more

My pup has been going to Taurus at McNeil since he was born almost 4 years ago. About 6 months ago we moved to south Austin to be closer to work. Because the McNeil crew has been so amazing I have continued to drive from south Austin to 183/McNeil twice a week since moving. Sadly he will be transferring to the new airport location next week but I'm THRILLED he will still be with the greater Taurus family. As he started going there as soon as I got him as a 4 month old puppy and he has been there for daycare and over night stays since, I attribute the MANJORITY of his ability to behave himself to the girls, and Andrew, at Taurus McNeil. He is a very happy dog with a good personality. He loves to go and is ALWAYS worn out from a great day playing with his friends when he is there. It/they have been amazing for the past three plus years and I can't say enough good things about them. So if you live north you'll love them. One final note about McNeil's awesomeness. When I called to break the news he was transferring they (Deidre I think if I recognized the voice right) 1) answered the phone and said hello to my by name (gut wrench #1). And when I told them he was finally going to the new location they were very sad but informed me that they were going to give him a going away party on his last day (gut wrench #2, which just about brought my ass to tears). So morale of the story is TAURUS IS AWESOME!! ALL THE GIRLS AT MCNEIL ARE AMAZING, COMPASSIONATE AND CAPIBLE people. There is no where else in Austin I would/will ever take my little guy. read more

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When we adopted our Annie (a huge sweetheart of a Golden Retriever) six months ago, she was a BIT over aggressive toward other dogs: if one looked at her wrong she was ready to throw down and kick ass. A little bit of the Deniro "you talkin' to me?" attitude followed by teeth, claws, automatic weapons fire, etc. Our trainer recommended Taurus so she could spend some pack time and socialize with some other fur balls, and maybe tone it down a bit. We noticed a difference immediately- while in obedience class she was more relaxed around the other dogs although she'd still react if someone challenged her. We kept up the weekly play dates and she got better and better. We boarded her here for 5 days in April while we were in Key West, and now she wants to play with all the other dogs as opposed to kicking the living s***t out of them. Last night (she's now in the ADVANCED training class) she met and trained with FIVE Pit Bulls.....and got along GREAT. She was all kisses and smiles with these "dangerous breed" (my ass!) dogs and had a fantastic time. I couldn't have pictured this 6 months ago. Pack exposure has made an amazing difference in my darling Annie. read more

The staff seem nice, but I just get the impression that the dogs don't get any direct one on one contact (other than shampooing or being led out to play) that would benefit them during their stays. I also feel like I see a new face each time I've been in there, and in that respect the service has appeared less and less personal. I get the feeling that they are going the route of Austin's Pizza and Toyota, expanding too quickly and worrying more about $$ than customers. I actually heard that the management told one of their employees to seek out professional counseling in order maintain a better attitude at work! What kind of crazy management style is that? I wouldn't want my boss to tell me that I need to see a mental health professional. Not the most professional management style I've heard of. If they treat their people this way, just think about how the dogs must feel... read more

We love Taurus Academy McNeil for boarding and play days! Our dog is very "stranger danger" to people but loves other dogs. The staff are attentive to that and let Banjo do his thing while giving him lots of puppy play time! I feel that the prices are affordable and the small amount of training they've done has been beneficial! I am a worrier and miss my babies while I'm away but with Taurus I never have to worry and they never seem annoyed when I call to check in. read more

We love Taurus ... so does Austin Dog (twister) & Boy Howdy (thumper). It's clean, friendly, organized and nicely geared towards making the humans feel good (they sent us a report card the first time they stayed for daycare ... it's all about the parents, right?). On day one they had better control over our guys (one is nervous, one a puppy jumper) than we did. They're popular so schedule ahead especially around the holidays. To qualify for overnight, the dogs have to have a one-day daycare test run ... makes sense. woof. read more

Above and beyond these guys went. We had a special need and they helped us through it with pure patience and a wonderful attitude. They've taught us so very much about ourselves and our dog's behavior issues. We truly appreciate and really like these guys! By the second call I had made to them, they knew my name, my dog's name and my situation as if they had all been discussing it. I truly appreciate their help! Thanks everyone at Taurus (if you're reading this). read more

I needed a boarding kennel for a few nights and since I'm new to town, I asked for recs from friends and family. They raved about this place so I thought I'd try it. Nothing but the best for my beagle. I called twice for information and, never getting a call back, I went to the place to ask for more information because I was then getting short on time to find a kennel. The staff couldn't have been ruder, and wouldn't preview/evaluate any dog except for Mon/Tue or Tue/Wed, I don't recall which. That info would have been very helpful to find on their website, as it was now Thursday afternoon and I needed a Friday drop off. Needless to say I did not use them. I found another place that actually likes dogs and takes good care of mine when I have to leave town. Maybe it's just the staff at this location, but I couldn't recommend any stronger to avoid Taurus Training. read more

I LOVE Taurus. Even more importantly, my dog LOVES Taurus. I can't pack his bag until we are about to walk out the door because he gets that excited. He loves his doggy play-days but I know when I travel, I can entrust them with my fur-kid. I've had two situations where they literally reduced my stress level from a 10 to a 0 regarding my dog. First, was when I was told I needed to pack a bag and rush to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy. The second was for a trip home due to an unexpected death of a younger family member. They took great care of my baby and even sent me pics and videos to cheer me up while I was home. Even without that, I would still give them a great review just based on how excited my dog gets when he is there and how happy the other dogs are. You guys are THE BEST. Thank you for all that you do. read more

We have a high-energy, fairly difficult lab + German shepherd mix that regularly goes for daytime play at this Taurus location. My experience with these folks has been that 1) they're knowledgeable in their domain (i.e. dogs); and 2) they legitimately care about the pets they're sitting for and playing with. read more

When we travel and have to leave our Golden Retriever Cassie for an overnight visit I can't think of any other place in Austin I would feel as comfortable with. Cate and her team/pack always treat us and our dog like family! I'm so happy that we found Taurus Academy! read more

The girls who work here were very friendly and made me feel comfortable leaving my dog while I was out of the country for a week. I was sent pictures of Gus on his daily walk with a sweet message. When I picked him up after 6 days away: his hair was extremely thin from being stressed, he had lost weight, and contracted "kennel cough." I paid nearly $500 for his stay including an extra $20 a day for a walk for peace of mind that he'd be getting some one-on-one attention while I was away. I was later informed by someone that around the same time another pair of dogs (who didn't know each other) had been kenneled​ together and got into a bad fight. So bad they had to be taken to the vet. It's rather frustrating paying for vaccinations, to ensure his health while kenneled there, to then pay a steep boarding fee-- only to return home and pay an additional $120 at the vet because my dog has a horrible cough. I worry "what if" they'd kenneled my dog with a stranger and he'd been hurt while I was out of the country. I hate to leave this review because I felt so confident​ they'd take phenomenal care of my dog. I'm really disappointed​ and feel bad for leaving my dog in their care. Even after warning them he would probably have separation​ anxiety-- I picked my dog up with obvious signs he'd been very stressed. And now that I have him home he will spend the next week sick with kennel cough. Leaving me with the inconvenience of another bill, making sure I give him his meds on time throughout the day, and avoiding walks so no one else's dog is infected.​ read more

Our pups LOVE it here! Adam is an amazing trainer and has been vigilant in making sure the training programs transfer and progress at home. We will definitely do play days in the future. Our babies seem to love the staff like they are their very own family! read more