The Naked Dog

The Naked Dog changed my relationship with my dog in so many positive ways. Their process requires commitment — dogs are rewarded with attention, not food — but it pays off if you stick with it. I had a large, very independent-minded, overgrown puppy who I thought was mostly untrainable. He was a sweetheart but completely lacked self-control; he would jump on strangers and other dogs, unable to contain his love. After a couple months, I still have a dog who loves everybody and everything, but he no longer pulls constantly on the leash and he knows how to down-regulate when he gets excited. He no longer put his head under the dog food as it rains down; instead he sits patiently until I tell him it's okay to eat. I feel much more in control of this well-meaning but clumsy beast, and the relational skills the Naked Dog teaches will last a lifetime.

We did the 2 week board and train with Haley and it was amazing! We couldn't leave our dog home without her howling and she lacked basic manners on and off leash and in the home. After training, she is a well-mannered dog and can walk on and off leash while being very responsive to commands, gives us space, and can be left at home without barking and howling. Haley was super easy to work with and sent us updates and photos during our dog's stay. We are so glad we sent our dog to The Naked Dog Austin!

Haley and Allegra at the Naked Dog have completely changed our lives! For the first time since we adopted our pit-mix, we can enjoy stress free walks, sleep through the night without him barking, and truly enjoy a peaceful co-existence with our dog. We adopted Harley knowing that he had some behavioral issues. He was wonderful in the house, but any time he met a new human or dog, or heard an unfamiliar noise, he would immediately become stressed, start barking, and lunging if he was on leash. After a bit of research, I knew the Naked Dog was our best choice. Our group meetings were incredibly informative (and Covid-safe) and having other dogs around while with worked with Haley and Allegra was so helpful and encouraging. Additionally, they are always available to answer random questions, and they have SO many online resources to help with specific needs. Our 1-on-1 training sessions were with Haley and can’t express our gratitude enough. The way she worked with Harley helped us understand his cues and how to communicate with him was essential to our success. It was amazing to see him so focused, happy, and responsive when she worked with him (he literally pranced around listening to every word and cue she gave!), and she taught us how to get that attention from him as well. After spending about 6 weeks in their training program, he is NEW dog. He is calm, walks in heel, listens without treats, and his behavior toward other dogs has improved immensely. The Naked Dog taught us how to understand the language of our dog - to read his micro-communications, and to communicate with him in a way that he can understand, rather than confusing him. I could sing their praises for days!

This was an amazing two-fer. Sadie (my little diva pup) received perfect training and I did as well! Sadie, I fear, was a much easier student than me. I have worked with another trainer and I MUST say that the experience with Allegra and Haley was far superior in every way. We were treated with respect and care. At every moment in the group training we received individual and targeted attention. I believe that every dog would benefit by working with these talented women. If you do what they suggest, every training tip works. Plus (!) provide so much online information to refer to and answer every little question about how to mold an active, headstrong pup into a loving and perfect companion.