South Austin Dog Center

Programs begin with a Behavior Consultation ($25) and Evaluation Day ($100) to assess the dog’s needs. Puppy Right Start (15 days) is for puppies 3–5 months; Better Best Friend (15 days) is for dogs 6+ months with mild issues; Peace of Mind (20 days) targets moderate to severe behavioral issues like fear or aggression. All include daily training, socialization, hikes, and 1–2 human lessons. Alumni can enroll in Grad School (group sessions), Post-Grad Day School Days, or Grad School From Home (in-home visits). All programs are individualized and include access to a student resource center.

Pricing Summary

Initial Behavior Consultation: $25. Evaluation Day: $100 (with $25 credit toward a program). Puppy Right Start: $1,700–$1,750. Better Best Friend: $1,875–$1,925. Peace of Mind Behavior Modification: $2,700–$2,800. Additional human lessons: $100–$125. Add-ons include daily chews ($5/chew), weekday boarding ($32/night), and alumni programs (e.g., Grad School: $40–$256). Payment plans available for all programs.

Policies

Dogs must be able to settle in a crate to attend Day School. A $25 credit is applied from the Evaluation Day fee to any training program. Travel fees may apply for home lessons beyond South Austin. Payment plans are available for all programs. No explicit cancellation or rescheduling policy is stated.

South Austin Dog Center is a day training facility in Austin, Texas, offering positive reinforcement-based dog training and behavior modification services. They specialize in helping dogs with fear, anxiety, reactivity, aggression, and other behavioral issues through immersive day school programs that include structured training, socialization, hikes, and outings. Their approach emphasizes environmental cues over constant verbal commands, helping dogs learn to behave appropriately without human intervention. They do not use any aversive tools such as choke, pinch, prong, shock, or electronic collars. Trainers Erica Ashkenazi and Lynnette Chaivre bring nearly 30 years of combined experience and hold certifications as Certified Behavior Consultants Canine (CBCC-KA) and Fear Free Certified Professionals. Clients receive personalized programs, human lessons at home or in public, and access to a student resource center. They also offer alumni programs, weekday boarding, and products like harnesses and snuffle mats to support ongoing training.

Their day school model is designed for dogs of all ages, with programs tailored to puppies, adolescents, and adults. They use helper dogs to model appropriate behavior for reactive or fearful dogs, and their facility is climate-controlled with crates for rest periods. They prioritize safety, ethics, and building a strong human-dog relationship.

Additional services include weekday boarding, post-grad training days, home visits for alumni, and a variety of training-related products. They serve clients in South Austin and surrounding areas, and communication is primarily via email.

They offer payment plans for all programs and require an initial Behavior Consultation and Evaluation Day before enrollment in any training program.

Accomplishments

Trainers Erica Ashkenazi and Lynnette Chaivre are Certified Behavior Consultants Canine (CBCC-KA) and Fear Free Certified Professionals. Lynnette is also an AKC CGC Evaluator. They have nearly 30 years of combined experience in canine behavior and training.

How to Get Started!

Client engagement begins with a Behavior Consultation ($25) followed by an Evaluation Day ($100), which is required for all dogs over 6 months old. These steps assess the dog’s behavior, safety in crates, and suitability for the facility, allowing the trainers to create a personalized training plan.