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Dog Training Elite Austin

Austin, Texas

4.9/5· 165 Google reviews

About Dog Training Elite Austin

We are a professional, family-owned dog training company with over 40 years of experience that specializes in strengthening the bond between your dog and your family, with a strong emphasis on teaching your dog the highest level of obedience, despite even the toughest level of distractions. Our unique in-home dog training model is designed to teach owners how to train their dog alongside a professional dog trainer in their home environment as well as in small group settings. We strongly believe that the key to sustained obedience is to empower owners to be an integral part of the training experience. Once you begin the training process with us, you become a part of the DTE family. Contact us for a free in-home evaluation.

Training & services

Training goals

  • Behavior consultation
  • Canine Good Citizen preparation
    Program details

    Build manners, focus, and public obedience to pass the AKC CGC test. Calm greetings, leash skills, and reliable recall. Free in-home evaluation.

  • Crate training
    Program details

    Make crate training positive and stress-free. We teach dogs to see the crate as a safe space, helping with housebreaking, routines, and confidence. Free evaluation.

  • House training
    Program details

    Housebreaking for puppies and adult dogs using structure, routine, and positive reinforcement. Reduce accidents and build consistency. Free evaluation.

  • Leash training
  • Obedience training
    Program details

    Private, personalized training for obedience, behavior challenges, and confidence. Tailored to your dog’s needs at home or in real-life settings. Free evaluation.

    Teach your dog Sit, Stay, Come, Heel, and Place with balanced, real-world training. Build manners, confidence, and control at home and in public. Free in-home evaluation.

    Teach foundational commands, socialization, manners, and confidence in fun, structured sessions designed for growing puppies in your home. Enroll today.

  • Recall training
  • Socialization

Behavior support

  • Aggression training
    Program details

    Dog Training Elite Austin helps dogs overcome fear, reactivity, and aggression using balanced, proven methods. We build confidence, improve focus, and create calmer behavior at home and in public. Free in-home evaluation available.

  • Barking
  • Fear and confidence
  • Reactivity training
    Program details

    We help reactive dogs stay calm around triggers using balanced training and confidence-building. Reduce fear and improve focus. Free in-home evaluation.

How training happens

  • Group classes
    Program details

    Build obedience and focus around real-world distractions. Practice Sit, Stay, Heel, and social skills in a fun group setting. Join a class today!

  • In-home training
    Program details

    Professional training brought to you. Fix barking, jumping, reactivity, leash issues, and more with personalized at-home sessions. Free evaluation available.

  • Owner coaching Customer-reported
  • Private training

Dog age

  • Adult dogs
  • Puppies
    Program details

    Expert guidance choosing the right puppy based on breed traits, temperament, and family lifestyle. Start your journey with confidence. Free consult.

  • Senior dogs
    Program details

    Gentle, customized training for older dogs to refresh obedience, build confidence, and support age-related needs. It’s never too late to learn. Free evaluation.

Training level

  • Advanced obedience

Class options

  • Small classes

Support between sessions

  • Follow-up support
  • Personalized training plans
    Program details

    Balanced, proven training combining structure and positive reinforcement for lasting obedience and trust. Effective for all breeds. Free in-home evaluation.

  • Photo updates

Assistance and working dogs

  • Medical-alert and mobility assistance
    Program details

    Dog Training Elite Austin trains diabetic alert dogs to detect blood sugar changes.

    Dog Training Elite offers service dog training for diabetic alert and other medical conditions. Call for a free in home evaluation.

  • Protection training
    Program details

    Dog Training Elite Austin's personal protection training packages teach your dog to become a reliable protector in any situation. Starting with basic alerting skills and advancing to full independent protection. Call for a free in-home evaluation.

  • Psychiatric service dog training
    Program details

    We train autism support dogs to provide calming pressure, interrupt behaviors, ease transitions, and increase independence. Customized, family-focused training. Free evaluation.

    Our PTSD service dog training program helps individuals manage symptoms related to PTSD, including depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. Dogs are trained in tasks such as 'deep pressure therapy,' 'nightmare interruption,' and 'room checks' to

  • Service dog training
    Program details

    Customized service dog training for mobility, retrieval, alerts, and daily assistance tasks. Build confidence and independence. Dog Training Elite Austin trains service dogs for PTSD, anxiety, and mobility. Dogs learn tasks like DPT, medication

  • Therapy dog training
    Program details

    Train your dog for therapy work in schools, hospitals, and community programs. Focus on calm behavior, social skills, and certification prep. Free evaluation.

Your dog’s background

  • Rescue dogs

Training approach

  • Balanced training
  • Positive reinforcement

Consultations

  • Free consultation

Other listed services

View 6 additional details
  • Dog Training Methods
    Program details

    Balanced, proven training combining structure and positive reinforcement for lasting obedience and trust. Effective for all breeds. Free in-home evaluation.

  • Free In-Home Evaluations
    Program details

    Meet with a trainer in your home for a free assessment of your dog’s behavior, needs, and training goals. Personalized plan included. Book your visit today!

  • Military/Retired Vet Training
    Program details

    PTSD and mobility support training for veterans. Dogs learn grounding, task work, and confidence-building skills. Proudly supporting veterans. Free evaluation.

  • Mobility Support Dog Training
    Program details

    Training for balance, retrieving items, opening doors, and mobility assistance tasks. Build independence with a skilled service dog. Free evaluation.

  • Public Access Training & Testing
    Program details

    Public Access Prep & Certification Prepare service dogs for public access with training in obedience, distractions, and ADA-ready behavior. Certification support included. Free evaluation.

  • Off leash dog training

Confirm current programs and availability directly.

Questions & answers

From Google

What people have asked about this business.

Do you do in home training?

Hi Kari, yes. Thank you for asking. We do all of our training in home, in the neighborhood, in the community, and at a local park for our group classes. In addition - we never take your dog from you to train. We always include you in the training program as there is a lot of human training to be had in dog training!

Community answer · Dog Training Elite Austin · 2023-09-21

Question on Google

Public community answers. Authors are not verified as business representatives; details may have changed.

Customer reviews

Google listing
4.9
out of 5165 Google reviews

Mentioned in reviews

  • Confidence building 45
  • Group classes 27
  • Answering questions 21
  • Dog behavior improvement 13
  • Leash pulling 8
  • Anxiety reduction 7
All 10 topics
  • Dog confidence improvement 7
  • Reactive dog training 5
  • Detailed training 4
  • Free evaluation 3

Google review topics, not confirmed services.

100 collected reviews

Text reviews first · newest first
Max
5/5

A 5-start rating is not accidental. Donny is one of the best trainers I’ve ever worked with. Definitely the best in Austin area. I was a bit hesitant in the beginning because of the use of e-collar but with some education, patience, and trusting the process now I realize it was the best decision for both me and my dog. I strongly recommend hiring Donny. He will not disappoint.

Stephanie Bomely
5/5
Donny has been absolutely amazing! He gained our trust during the free evaluation, and we were very excited to work with him. During the 4 weeks of training, he did not disappoint. He taught our two dogs (4 yo terrier/poodle and 9 mo terrier/chihuahua) practical skills, which gav…Read full reviewClose full review

Donny has been absolutely amazing! He gained our trust during the free evaluation, and we were very excited to work with him. During the 4 weeks of training, he did not disappoint. He taught our two dogs (4 yo terrier/poodle and 9 mo terrier/chihuahua) practical skills, which gave us and our dogs more confidence, and he helped us all be less anxious. Donny is extremely knowledgeable and had solutions to every unwanted behavior. He was patient with us and took the time to answer every question. He has given us a new life with our dogs!

Lea Campbell
5/5
After months of attempting different forms of training for our 7 month old Golden Retriever, Molson - my partner and I both felt we had reached our wits end with the constant biting, pulling and jumping. We were told by other programs he was just stubborn and defiant and that cou…Read full reviewClose full review

After months of attempting different forms of training for our 7 month old Golden Retriever, Molson - my partner and I both felt we had reached our wits end with the constant biting, pulling and jumping. We were told by other programs he was just stubborn and defiant and that couldn’t be changed. I was constantly scouring the internet for any advice on training dogs with similar personalities, but always ended up completely hopeless. After a referral from a friend, we got in touch with Dog Training Elite (Donny) and from the first visit, we immediately saw a change in his demeanor. After fives weeks, we’ve been absolutely blown away by the progress he’s been able to make. Molson now confidently walks on and off leash by our side, plays with other dogs/people and we’ve been able to build trust that has allowed him to truly be a dog. We cannot thank Donny enough for his dedication to Molson and the confidence he’s brought us in training, it’s truly been invaluable.

Alyssa R
5/5
I am proud to say that Dog Training Elite is my 4th and final dog trainer. Persistent, aggressive and dangerous were all words that have been used to previously describe my dog, Elton. Strangers now approach us regularly, complimenting on how well-behaved he is. Before discoveri…Read full reviewClose full review

I am proud to say that Dog Training Elite is my 4th and final dog trainer. Persistent, aggressive and dangerous were all words that have been used to previously describe my dog, Elton. Strangers now approach us regularly, complimenting on how well-behaved he is. Before discovering DTE, I had invested time and resources in training Elton since he was four months old (he is now 2). Despite my best efforts, his reactivity and aggression seemed to worsen over time. After a negative incident at a dog park, his reactivity heightened, causing extreme stress for both of us. Taking him outside, even for a simple potty break, became a source of anxiety due to his unpredictable behavior. My anxiety only seemed to feed his, but after numerous trainers I thought I was out of options. We resorted to tailoring our schedule to avoid potential incidents in my apartment complex, and I honestly thought making our world a little smaller was the only way to protect him and others. Choosing DTE was a turning point. From the initial consultation call with Donny, I felt supported and heard. Instead of recommending avoidance strategies suggested by other trainers, Donny outlined the goal to bring Elton to "neutral" outside and towards other dogs (his main triggers). He even said by the end of in-home sessions, Elton would be riding in elevators with other dogs (I honestly had trouble believing this one). After the phone conversation, Donny provided an in-person consultation, and he remained confident in Elton's ability to succeed. In just a few weeks of weekly home visits and trusting the training and guidance, there were significant improvements. Elton began looking to me for direction, and walks became more enjoyable. Previously, he made decisions on walks, driven by fear. Now, he was heeling more, walking safely off-leash at times, and sitting by a busy street in a down position. Instead of avoiding triggers, I began to seek them out for practice (passing dogs, bikes, etc). Over time, I was building trust in myself and Elton, because DTE empowered me with the control and confidence leading to these major improvements. DTE's approach goes beyond dog training; they deeply understand both dogs and humans, and worked patiently with me to build confidence in myself and my dog, providing me tools to feel confident and calm in situations that were previously stressful and frightening. They were there every step of the way. In just a few weeks, they surpassed my expectations and ultimately Elton took an elevator ride with two other dogs - completely calm. The group classes haven't even started yet, and I can't believe how far we've come. For anyone dealing with a reactive dog, the stress of avoiding triggers can take a lot of energy. The trust I’ve built in myself and Elton has been one of my biggest achievements, thanks to the tools and support from DTE. Thank you Donny for making this incredible impact on our lives.

Aydin Coskun
5/5
I recently had the pleasure of working with Dog Training Elite Austin for my dog, Dena. Dena, a rescue, had always been a bit anxious and faced challenges in various situations, especially during our walks. From the start, Dog Training Elite Austin stood out with their approach. …Read full reviewClose full review

I recently had the pleasure of working with Dog Training Elite Austin for my dog, Dena. Dena, a rescue, had always been a bit anxious and faced challenges in various situations, especially during our walks. From the start, Dog Training Elite Austin stood out with their approach. They didn’t just offer generic training; instead, they tailored a program specifically for Dena’s unique needs. What truly amazed me was their willingness to go above and beyond. They didn’t limit the training to a standard environment. Instead, they took the time to visit the specific areas where Dena was struggling the most. This hands-on approach made a significant difference. The results? Nothing short of remarkable. Not only did Dena become more confident and less anxious, but our walks turned into enjoyable experiences rather than stressful ones. The follow-up group classes provided by Dog Training Elite Austin have also been incredibly beneficial, reinforcing what Dena learned and helping us both grow even more. Thanks to Dog Training Elite Austin, Dena and I are now living a much happier and more enjoyable life together. I can’t thank the team enough for their dedication, expertise, and the personalized care they provided. If you’re looking for a dog training service that truly understands and caters to your dog’s needs, Dog Training Elite Austin is the place to go. Highly recommended!

Original customer experiences from the collected Google data. Ratings without comments follow written reviews.

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