I can’t say enough wonderful things about Dog Training Elite—and especially about Mia. From the very first session, Mia has brought so much heart, skill, and intentionality into training my dog, Ruthie, as a psychiatric service dog for my private practice. As a therapist and small business owner, this journey has been deeply meaningful to me, and Mia has been an incredible partner in the process. She approaches every session with patience, professionalism, and a deep understanding of the unique bond between handler and dog. Mia has helped me grow in confidence as a handler, and she’s supported Ruthie with such care and attunement—always meeting her where she’s at, while gently challenging her to grow. Thanks to Mia and the Dog Training Elite team, Ruthie and I are well on our way to becoming a working service dog team. I feel so supported, not just in the technical training, but in the emotional and relational side of this journey too. If you’re considering psychiatric service dog training—or any advanced training—Mia is someone you want by your side.

Working with Dog Training Elite has been an absolute game-changer for us! We wanted a dog we could hike with and take anywhere. We have that now — and it is so worth the investment! We had been struggling with focus and reactivity around other dogs. Donny at Dog Training Elite didn’t just teach Juni commands—they helped us understand her nervous system, her body language, and her unique needs. Every session was structured, positive compassionate training that respected Juni’s individuality. We practiced not just obedience, but also tools that helped Juni feel safe, confident, and calm in different environments. We were amazed at how quickly we started to see changes: better focus on walks, quicker recovery from excitement or stress, and a deeper sense of connection between us. What we appreciate most is how much care Donny put into educating us as the handlers—this wasn’t about “fixing” Juni, but about helping us work together as a team. Thank you, Dog Training Elite! We feel more confident, connected —Juni is thriving. She gets to have a big, full life now - and we are so grateful! Highly recommend!

Gray has done such a wonderful job helping me learn how to train my newly adopted, pretty fearful rescue dog. These sessions helped me to make sure I was using the E collar correctly and held me accountable for different teaching him different commands. My dog has come a very long way and is doing great with the training thanks to Gray! Both Gray and Denise were fantastic to work with, I would highly recommend them!

Gray is very detailed and thorough! He is also very helpful and has a good sense of humor! I enjoyed working with him and my dog is.doing very well as a therapy dog!

Gray and Denise with Dog Training Elite Hill Country are the BEST!! Gray is an amazing trainer, such a delight to be with and Nacho adores him. We look forward to every visit. Hopefully Nacho will become a great Therapy Dog and bring joy and comfort to many in need!

I did a Google search for in-home dog training and found Gray and Denise with Dog Training Elite Hill Country. I am so thankful and grateful I did! If you are interested in their program, Denise will send you information and will also be the go to person for scheduling your upcoming sessions. She will work with you to ensure the training date is convenient for you. When Gray comes to your house the first time to meet you and your fur baby, he will go over the procedures and commands you will be learning. During your sessions he will talk about how you have been doing with the previous command and how practice has been going and if you have any questions. He will work with you on your next command explaining the importance of how this command is used and using it properly. Zephyr, our Cavapoo, is so sweet and loving and has the energy of two year-old triplets - all in one! We began training with Gray when Zephyr was 5 months old. I cannot say enough good things about Gray. He is wonderful working with me and Zephyr. If I am not understanding how to use a command, Gray will show me repeatedly - however long it takes (without being intimidated), until I understand. He wants to make sure I am confident with the command and how to use it properly. Gray and Denise are sincere in helping you train your dog. They are available via text with any questions you may have and are very prompt responding. They really do care!

THANK YOU, DONNY! Our one-year-old Swissy is very playful and energetic, and we were having a really hard time with some normal daily life activities. We had worked with 2 dog trainers previously but without much success. Our pup had a hard time when we were eating dinner (we'd bribe her with a bully stick every night just to leave us be) and we found ourselves avoiding inviting friends over, since we'd be too distracted by the dog to enjoy the company. Thanks to Donny and DTE, this has all improved!! She now happily hangs out on her cot while we have dinner and we have so much more confidence keeping her in check around other people. This has made our daily interactions with her so much more positive and we feel like we are able to enjoy having a dog again!! We have already recommended DTE to many friends.

I cannot say enough good things about this business. They have truly been a God send from day one. Their level of compassion, and understanding, as well as knowledge of dog training is absolutely outstanding. They are and forever will be part of our family. I initially looked into board and train, I met other trainers as well as an initial consultation with Denise and Gray. Unfamiliar with the Pros and cons of each in reguards to my needs with Princess, Denise had no hesitation to help me by answering all my questions from a professional stand point, and made everything make sense. Working with these two have been one of the most rewarding experiences for not only myself, but Princess too. I have complete confidence bringing Princess everywhere i go! I recommend this duo hands down 1000%.

Training with Gray is a great experience for us and Bailey. We are looking forward to the group training in the coming weeks. Dog Training Elite Hill Country is a great outfit and I recommend they to anyone who is concerned about their Dog's behavior.

I recently brought a 4 year old, 80lb Labrador home. Everything was great until we attempted the stairs in my home. He had never been up or down stairs before. With some encouragement, he was able to make it up the stairs on his own. The problem started when I tried to get him down the stairs... :) Understandably, he was very nervous to attempt going down the stairs. I tried encouragement, treats and even pulling him with his leash with no success. It was late on a Sunday evening and I was very concerned that I wouldn't be able to get him downstairs. I had called at least a dozen different resources for help with no success. I was grasping for straws when Donny from Dog Training Elite returned my voicemail. He was very calm, polite and professional. He walked me through how I needed to take a leadership role and coached me through the steps w/ my dog. In less than 15 minutes, I was able to successfully walk my dog down the stairs w/ great relief! I've been continuing to work w/ him and now he's going up and down the stairs with more confidence each time and i expect he'll be doing it on his own soon. I want to thank Donny for helping me AFTER HOURS on a Sunday evening in a desperate situation. I highly recommend this company!

These guys are incredible, super sweet but firm. They really do care and take the time to answer your questions. They are straight to the point and don’t sugar coat anything. If it weren’t for my young German Shepherd’s training here I’d be in a very bad situation and having to give up a dog I love. About 6 months ago I moved into an apartment with my small child and still going strong! There were a few hiccups getting the dog adjusted to a completely different living situation and our trainer was easy to get a hold of and issues were fixed on the spot! I would recommend this company to everyone total life changers.

I love Gray's patience and knowledge of my dog breed. His type of training allowed us to work through some issues. Thank you agray.

Have really enjoyed working with Donny and team both individually and in group classes with our Aussie. Dog Training Elite put together a customized plan to work on Badger’s areas to improve and her behavior is sooo much better. Donny was available both in and out of session to answer questions and encourage us when things were tough. Lately, Badger has been joining the Saturday group classes to continue to socialize and grow. We couldn’t be happier with the results and wholeheartedly recommend DTE for your dog.

Mia is amazing!

Before Donny and DTE Austin while walking my dog Khalifa if I saw another dog coming towards us, I would move into a driveway or a yard to let them pass. After the first class with Donny I was actively looking for dogs to walk by on the sidewalk. Donny taught me how to have confidence to walk Khalifa by any dog. Fast forward five weeks, we've completed our 5 private lessons and both Khalifa and I are enjoying our walks together. She makes better decisions, is more relaxed, and I no longer have anxiety while walking my dog. Choosing DTE will be the best decision you make for you and your dog. The moment you meet Donny, see how professional he is and how positively your dog responds, you will know you made the right decision. You're the best! Diane & Tim

We cannot express enough how grateful we are to have found Dog Training Elite Austin. From our very first session, we knew we were in excellent hands. Our dog, Olivia, has made incredible progress thanks to the expertise and dedication of Donny, the outstanding trainer and owner. Donny's deep understanding of dog behavior and his patient, positive training methods has made our first experience as dog owners wonderful! Donny's passion for what he does shines through in every interaction. He is always professional, encouraging, and genuinely invested in Olivia's success. It's clear he loves what he does, and his enthusiasm is contagious. We always look forward to our training sessions, knowing that Olivia is in the best possible hands and meeting plenty of furry friends along the way. Thank you, Donny and Dog Training Elite Austin, for helping us build a stronger bond with Olivia and for giving her the tools to thrive. We highly recommend Dog Training Elite Austin to anyone looking for top-notch dog training services!

Donny is the man! I love my 4.5 yr old shelter pup, but I could not get him to stop barking at every door knock or new visitor as our family got ready to add a baby to the mix. Within 5 weeks, not only is the excess barking pretty much a thing of the past (it’s on me to be a good trainer and get him the last 5% if the way), he’s also a much better walker/heeler, does better interacting with other dogs, and is much more calm in general. Thanks Donny!

I wish it were possible to give more than 5 stars. We have worked with DTE Austin since bringing home our puppy in September. Between September and April, we have seen our puppy transform from being nervous on walks and a destructive girl inside to being confident off leash and a joy in our household. Donny does a great job of caring for your pet, but also making sure that you have the resources to train them properly. Donny does a wonderful job of making himself available at all times. We have called and texted him more times than I can count with questions or updates on how our girl is doing. While this program is a big investment, both financially and in time, it is SO worth the commitment.

Fantastic experience all around. Thorough, detailed, helpful, insightful, and willing to adapt to any experience your dog brings to training

We are so glad that we chose Dog Training Elite Hill Country to help us train our young golden doodle. Gray really knows dog training. He is patient, understanding, and knowledgable. He is like the "dog whisperer". When someone can get your dog to do something in a minute that you have spent an hour on you know you have hired the right person. We knew that the training would include come, sit, down, heel, but for our dog "place" was an unexpected, much used benefit. Gray gave us a systematic approach that could be used to train and even re-train with. It was all done with sensitivity and kindness. Denise was very good at the communication side also. She made it easy and fast to get appointments and answer questions.