South Austin Dog Center

Service area: South Austin, Texas. Travel fees may apply for areas more than 10 miles from their facility for home/public lessons.

South Austin Dog Center offers immersion Day School Programs tailored to each dog’s needs and family goals. Dogs attend scheduled drop-off between 7:15 am and 9:00 am, and pick-up between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm.

A typical day includes morning learning sessions, social sessions, enrichment activities, or short rest sessions. Longer individualized sessions begin after all dogs have arrived. Activities may include properly monitored social interactions with “role model helper dogs,” structured hikes on local trails using 25-foot long lines, and mandated rest periods in climate-controlled crates with access to water and chews.

Dogs receive multiple training sessions throughout the day, with one longer session focused on specific needs like decompression, skill work, outings, social interactions, or confidence building. Public outings to parks, patios, or dog-friendly stores are introduced when dogs are ready. Enrichment activities allow dogs to engage in natural behaviors like sniffing, exploration, and training games. At the end of the day, owners receive a verbal report and relevant homework.

Pricing Summary

An initial Behavior Consultation costs $25. An Evaluation Day is $100, with a $25 credit applied to a training program.

Training programs include:
* Life Skills (for dogs 6 months+ with no behavioral issues, 9 Day School Days, 2 Private Human Lessons): $1,115 (cash) / $1,140 (card/Venmo).
* Puppy Right Start (for puppies 3-5 months with normal puppy behaviors, 15 Day School Days, outings/hikes, socialization, 2 facility lessons, 1 home/public lesson): $1,650 (cash) / $1,700 (card/Venmo).
* Better Best Friend (for dogs 6 months+ with manners or mild behavior issues, 15 Day School Days, outings/hikes, socialization, 2 facility lessons, 1 home/public lesson): $1,875 (cash) / $1,925 (card/Venmo).
* Peace of Mind (for dogs of all ages with moderate to severe behavioral issues like fear, aggression, reactivity, 20 Day School Days, customized plan, 2 facility lessons, 1 home/public lesson): $2,500 (cash) / $2,600 (card/Venmo).

Payment plans are available for all full programs. Additional services include Daily Chews ($5/chew), Human Lesson Upgrade ($35+travel), Weekday Boarding (Varies: 15 Day Program: $325, 20 Day Program: $450, Individual Days: $25), Grad School (8 sessions/$256, 4/$148, 1/$40), Post-Grad Day School Days (8 days/$685, 4/$365, 1/$95), and Grad School From Home (50-60 min visits: 8/$570, 4/$295, 1/$80; 30 min visits: 8/$350, 4/$180, 1/$50).

Policies

Normal drop-off hours are 7:15 am to 9:00 am, with 9:00 am as a strict cut-off. Normal pick-up hours are 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm; dogs picked up after 6:00 pm are subject to a $45 late pick-up fee. Early pick-ups before 4:00 pm are generally not allowed but can be an exception with advanced notice for specific circumstances like vet appointments or weather.

For Day School programs, consecutive weekdays are preferred for consistency. All dogs are required to have age-appropriate core vaccinations (DHAPP), Rabies, and Bordetella, with current records needed before facility entry. A 48-hour notice is required for appointment cancellations; cancellations within 48 hours may incur a fee at the discretion of the business.

South Austin Dog Center provides relationship-based, ethical, positive reinforcement dog training and behavior modification services. They aim to help dogs learn environmental cues to respond appropriately without constant commands, fostering a deeper connection and enhancing life together for dogs and their owners.

Their programs are individualized, meeting each dog where they are and gently pushing them to achieve desired goals. They specialize in immersion Day School Programs that maximize a dog’s learning capacity through structured training sessions, social interactions, outings, and hikes.

The center emphasizes that they do not use choke, slip, pinch, prong, shock, or electronic collars in any of their training. They also utilize well-adjusted “helper dogs” to assist with behavior problems involving reactivity, fear, and anxiety, believing that dogs can teach other dogs effectively.

In addition to training, they offer weekday boarding options for enrolled pups and provide a “Learning Center” with articles on dog safety, training tips, and living with dogs. They also recommend and sell various dog products like enrichment toys, treats, chews, and training gear.

Accomplishments

The trainers, Erica Ashkenazi and Lynnette Chaivre, have almost 30 years of combined canine behavior experience. Both are Certified Behavior Consultants Canine (CBCC-KA) and Fear Free Certified Professionals (FFCP). Lynnette is also an AKC CGC Evaluator and holds a Bachelor of Science from Western Michigan University, with 20 years of practical experience. They have continued their education by attending conferences and workshops with notable experts such as Suzanne Clothier, Michael Shikashio, Nicole Wilde, Dr. Kristina Spaulding, Grisha Stewart, and Dr. Tim Lewis.

How to Get Started!

To begin, dogs over 6 months old must attend a Behavior Consultation, a 30-45 minute meeting at the facility to observe the dog’s behavior, discuss history, and define training goals. This is followed by a required Evaluation Day, where the dog’s behavior elements are safely tested, including their ability to settle in a crate. Puppies aged 3 to 5 months can enroll directly in the Puppy Right Start program after an evaluation.