Golden Retriever Training in Austin, TX

My wife and I wanted our Vizsla puppy, Polo, to be service trained with the goal of him becoming a full service dog when he's grown. We found Dog Training Elite and were paired with Mike — and it's been an great experience. Mike is an expert with dogs. He has a great ability to read them and always knows the right approach to take. He's respectful, friendly, and great at communicating with us as owners throughout the process. He's also realistic, which we appreciated. Life gets busy and he was able to suggest ways we could fit quick training sessions into busier weeks. That said, there's no substitute for time, care, and attention. If you want your dog to behave, you have to work for it. The good news is that the work pays dividends. In just 1-2 months, the difference in Polo is amazing. Mike has given us so many tools and commands to manage our puppy safely, whether we're at home or out in public. Highly recommend Mike and Dog Training Elite to anyone looking for a trainer who genuinely cares and knows what they're doing!

I adopted a 4 month old puppy female from Austin Pet's Alive she was a parvo survivor labeled as a terrier mix. After visiting my vet she was convinced that she was a Belgian Malinois and Gray also agreed. I had no idea what that was...... She was out of control jumping, biting, bouts of aggression. She was in the crate too long one day and Gray warned me this breed can't be in a crate more than 8 hours. I didn't listen. She was my third puppy I was not new at having a dog and training a puppy. I met Gray at Georgetown Market Days. I was impressed by how well behaved his dog was. I looked at the price of personal training and I thought there's no way. After entering into PetSmart training and nothing the trainer told me worked. I either hired a professional or I was looking at not keeping her. Gray worked out a payment plan that worked for me, after our first class she was already improving I've now finished my fifth private session and it's been life changing for her (Gigi my now 10 month old puppy) and for me. Gray is patient, he's kind, he's caring. His wife does all the scheduling and billing and she's been just as wonderful I've had many issues come up with Gigi in this journey and he's always just a text away more than willing to help with any challenge that came. We still have a bit of work to do and I will now enter into group training which I'm really looking forward to. Be honest if I had the money I would be paying Gray even more because his giftedness in training is just amazing. Gigi and I aren't in a perfect place yet but we are very well on our way. Here's a picture of us off leash in a store today something I never thought I would see. I do have to say as a dog owner you have to be committed to training and doing exactly as Gray instructs. He's been such a gift 🙏🏼

Michael from Dog Training Elite has been absolutely amazing to work with. From the very first session, his knowledge, patience, and ability to connect with both us and our dog really stood out. What impressed us most was how he helped us understand Cricket’s strengths and showed us how to use those to guide his training. After just one session, we could already see a noticeable shift in Cricket. He became more focused, more eager to please, and started moving out of that chaotic puppy phase. Michael doesn’t just train the dog. He teaches you how to communicate and work with your dog in a way that really sticks. We’re incredibly grateful for his guidance and couldn’t recommend him and Dog Training Elite more highly. If you’re considering training for your dog, you’ll be in great hands with Michael.

Michael has been working with my dog Snoopy for a little over a month now and has helped so so much with overall obedience and her reactivity. Looking forward to continuing to work with him!

Payton, Jennie and the team at Dog Training Elite Austin are AMAZING! My puppy has learned so much, alongside my senior dogs who wanted to get in on the lessons. SO grateful for their help. Most certainly recommending them to all my puppy parent friends.

We had our first training session today with Payton and our puppy, and it was a fantastic experience. Our little guy is incredibly smart — sometimes a little too clever for his own good — and Payton did an excellent job quickly addressing our biggest concerns. Within just a few minutes, we were already seeing noticeable improvements. She also took the time to highlight the positive behaviors we had already helped develop, which was both encouraging and reassuring as new puppy owners. Her approach was patient, knowledgeable, and very effective. We’re looking forward to our next session and continuing the progress we’ve started.

It was great working with trainer Michael. He is very knowledgable and helpful and we recommend him highly!

Elite training transformed my biting puppy into a well-trained happy little companion. I nearly gave her back to the APA but Jenny intervened and rescued both me and my little pup. We’ve made it through the program and I am so happy that I never surrendered her. Jenny’s first visit made the biggest difference and it was downhill from there!!

Jenny at Dog Training Elite is fantastic. Her training approach is clear, effective, and tailored to my dog’s specific behaviors. She took the time to explain the “why” behind each technique and made sure we felt confident continuing the training on our own. We started seeing results in our very first session, and we’re so grateful for her expertise. Highly recommend!

Working with Mike through DTE's psychiatric service dog training has been such a positive experience for both me and my dog Sugar. From day one, she’s been completely comfortable with him, and it really shows in how quickly she picks up what he teaches. Mike takes the time to explain every small detail and why it matters, which has helped me become more confident and consistent as a handler. He also gently holds us accountable for practicing between sessions, and that structure has made a big difference in our progress. I’m genuinely very happy with the training and the growth I’m seeing in my dog. Highly recommend Mike if you’re looking for someone knowledgeable, patient, and truly invested in your success.

Michael has been incredible to work with and learn from! My dog, Gio, absolutely adores him. He has made me feel so much more comfortable handling Gio & working towards our goal of becoming a therapy dog. Thank you DTE!!

We had a great experience with dog training elite!! Michael was so patient and attentive with our pup and was able to help us in all the areas we were concerned about! He was always available via text or call if we had questions and I felt so supported through out the whole training process! I’m excited to continue with group classes! Highly recommend!!

Mike Kwan is phenomenal. He has an incredible ability to understand and connect with my dog and family. What sets Mike apart is his consistency, patience, and intuitive handling skills. Every session is structured, positive, and engaging. I have seen remarkable progress in my dog’s behavior, confidence, and overall well-being. I wholeheartedly recommend Mike to anyone seeking a knowledgeable, compassionate, and highly effective dog handler.

I worked with Michael, and he was great with my dog Oliver, who is a terrier mix. Michael was very patient and showed me exactly what to do when trying new commands with Oliver and then made sure I was doing everything correctly on my own. He also encouraged me to text him with any questions or issues that came up in between our one-on-one sessions and responded promptly. Oliver was always excited to see him for our sessions, and I now have a much calmer, less anxious, and happy dog!!

Gray and Denise with Dog Training Elite Hill Country are amazing! Their communication was clear and timely, making the entire process stress-free. The training sessions were highly effective—my dog showed noticeable improvement after just a few visits. They are incredibly helpful, offering practical tips and ongoing support that made me feel confident in continuing the training at home. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for professional, caring, and results-driven dog training!

Jenny was incredible. Our two golden’s were borderline unmanageable with energy levels. Within 4 weeks, Jenny was able to transform them from uncontrollable dogs to very well mannered pups. Highly recommend.

We have had three sessions with Mike and my dog Huey has made amazing progress. Sessions have been very informative, supportive, and professional. Mike is great at teaching and encouraging me along with my dog. I’m excited to see how Huey continues to progress!

Michael is a phenomenal trainer! He is very patient, calm, and extremely professional. His gentle and kind disposition puts my dog, Apple, and me at ease right away. It’s clear that he knows what he’s doing and has a lot of knowledge. With Michael’s training, I’m impressed by how quickly and confidently my dog is learning basic obedience. Michael also empowers me to carry the torch in between sessions and feel confident about lovingly training Apple. This was the best decision I could make after getting my little scrappy dog!

I’ve used 3 training services in Austin and this is by far the best! Instead of telling you how the others missed the mark, I’ll focus on what makes Elite the best. First off, they took the time to listen to me on my goals and timeline. Then they came to my house the next day for an assessment to see if and when the goals could be met. They catered a plan and walked me through what to expect. They paired me with a trainer who not only met my expectations, but exceeded them. But the most important part, they care out my dog and circumstantial needs. They check in and follow up. The progress has been almost immediate. We’re 3 sessions in and I feel like a have a dog who is finally achieving what I always dreamed. Know this requires the handler (you) to take the time to learn the commands and practice discipline. But my dog loves the training and gets excited each time me start. This bond is simply amazing. You will not be disappointed! I’ve already personally sent 3 of my pups dog friends to Elite because they were so impressed with the accomplishments. Look no further, go with Elite!

Jenny and Donny are amazing. My dog had obedience training, we’re still going to group lessons and now, I upgraded to service dog training. They truly understand dog behavior and how to work with your dog. If you read a horrible review, please double check that it’s valid and not a scam. I’ve been a client for almost 6 months and nothing has happened to ever justify a poor score.