Therapy Dog Training in Austin, TX

Mike has been incredible to work with. He immediately had our dog’s trust and was able to train our dog with each command. He was then patient with us as he taught us the skills to replicate. We also loved that he came to us. It’s hard to believe what we’ve accomplished with him in just a few sessions. Our dog went from not listening and barking like crazy to being the best boy ever!

We’ve seen such a huge improvement in our 3-year-old pup since working with Mike! He’s not only helping our dog learn, but he’s also helping us gain confidence as owners. What stands out is how Mike explains the reasoning behind each piece of guidance—it gives us the tools to stay consistent at home. Our pup’s leash pulling and reactivity have already improved so much, and she’s doing great with place training and building confidence when we’re out of sight. Mike’s knowledge, calm approach, and clear communication have made all the difference — we couldn’t recommend him and Dog Training Elite more!

Working with DTE has been phenomenal. Everyone has been kind, professional, and understanding every step of the way, from our initial evaluation, through our individual training classes, to group classes. We have nothing but gratefulness for the DTE Austin Team. Our doggo has always been a good boy, but we needed some professional guidance on leash manners, general recall, and some anxiety related behaviors. Working with the DTE team, we not only learned how to work with our dog in various situations, but also the 'why' behind the training, and of how a doggy mind works. All of our questions were always met with patience and in depth explanations which made me feel how passionate the team is about what they do! My dog went from pulling, barking at other dogs on walks, me not having the confidence to let him off leash, or take him to busy areas – to by my side & chill, (and me knowing how to better handle situations if they come up). I have bonded so much more with my dog, and have so much more confidence in our mutual understanding, and am excited to continue enjoying life with my best pal! :) Highly recommend for any of their services. Thanks DTE!

I definitely recommend getting your puppy or dog with Dog Training Elite! This is my first time ever getting a trainer and Bruce is learning so quickly with his trainer, Mike!! Bruce is a 4 month old Doberman and you can see Mike’s work progress with Bruce. They have such a great bond, I can’t wait to see more as Bruce is growing up.

DTE helped me so much with training my service dog. They helped me pick a breed and breeder, and met with me and my dog the day after we brought him home. They gave me specific tasks to train by myself between sessions, and were always willing to answer questions over a text or call. Group classes were amazing, and when it came time for my dog's final test, I had no doubt that we would do well because of how much they helped with the training process. If I could give bonus stars, I would!!

Gray has taken my new puppy from a menace that terrorized my other dogs and chased and nipped at my children to a solid citizen that my entire family can enjoy. We haven’t even got past the puppy training yet and my only regret is we didn’t start sooner! If this much can be accomplished with my wild child I can’t wait to see where we go with our platinum program! I always thought my dogs were pretty well behaved, but now I see just how much is possible with a professional like Gray in your corner!

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!