AUSTIN’s dog training club

5-star google rating
With 190+reviews

Working with Traction was the best decision we've made for our 2 year old Coton, Bean. We've worked with a lot of trainers before, but didn't see nearly the same results as we did in the three weeks working with Will.

Bean originally had leash reactivity and aggression, and was incredibly bark-y in our house with any guest. We couldn't have friends or family over, and didn't feel comfortable taking her on walks. Will did a great job of creating a foundation of commands that we could use to help settle her, and was also incredibly patient when it came to teaching us how to be more confident and supportive pet owners.

After three weeks of training, we've now had guests over (multiple times!), have taken her to coffee shops, and have walked her on busy hiking trails. Our quality of life has improved, and so has Bean's!

I went through a couple other local trainers while trying to train both my dogs once I moved to Boulder. I spent weeks with these trainers and too much money (it’s embarrassing) and they couldn’t accomplish what Mara did in ONE DAY. She was so kind but firm with her training. My dogs Juniper (7years old) and Aspen (just turned 1) loved to listen to her and she taught me how to properly communicate so we can continue our loving relationship. Before Mara, Juniper pulled on leash when other dogs where around and REALLY wanted to chase deer and rabbit.

Now she stays glued to my side (and gets rewarded generously). Aspen, being the Australian Cattle Dog that he is, is FULL of energy and pulled aggressively when running. Now he doesn’t pull at all and is working toward not having to greet every dog when passing. WE ARE SO HAPPY with Mara! We opted for the Homeschooling sessions and the repetitive training really stuck.

Wow, just wow. This was our third attempt with our crazy leash reactive 8 year old lab mix, Rosie. My husband said it was a lost cause and that it couldn’t be done but . . . enter Will. After just a few sessions, he had her totally under control. But the real trick was that he was able to transfer those skills to us — with clarity and lots of patience. We can now confidently stroll into just about any gauntlet and Rosie barely tugs at the leash. The whole thing was done with total love and respect — no harsh moments or reprimands. Will is exceptionally talented at his profession and also a joy to spend time with. I think both we and Rosie will very much miss our time together. Truly cannot recommend this program highly enough.

I was grateful and lucky enough to be able to have Eric as our dog trainer. Eric was exceptional and patient not only with our 14-week-old pup, but with us as well. Eric demonstrated great professionalism, communication skills, and incredible knowledge and experience with dogs. As first-time puppy owners, Eric answered all of our questions and concerns while making the whole process very smooth. The progression from her first day of training to the last is a night and day difference. We are extremely happy with the results of the training to say the least! I understand how difficult it is to determine which dog training company to go through and I know we made the best choice by choosing Traction Dog Training Club and being able to work with Eric.

Mara makes Cesar Millan look like a rookie...seriously. Our pups have all responded so well to her teachings. We have three dogs, ranging from a pup to 13 years old. All of our dogs are more obedient, and I believe happier. They don't jump on people at the door. They don't jump on the couch (unless invited). They peacefully sleep in their kennels. Our relationship with our dogs has never been better. Mara is a true professional. She also watches our home while we travel. It's a great feeling to know our pups are happy and our home is safe. Thank you, Mara. You are great teacher and even better person.

private
1 on 1 austin dog training programs

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in-home
we come to you.

in public
at real life locations.

abroad
stay with a trainer.

in-home
we come to you.

in public
at real life locations.

abroad
stay with a trainer.

flexible payment options

Private in-home Austin dog training programs to suit any budget.

Payment plans are available.

Schedule A Consult

Mara was absolutely fabulous, I highly recommend. We have a 3-year old pup who was pretty well behaved until we brought in a puppy. The presence of the puppy fully reverted our adult dog to old behavior, both fed off each others bad behavior and we lost all control. Our biggest issue was with guests and barking. They started jumping on guests, wouldn’t leave them alone and barked incessantly.

After speaking with Mara on the phone she was confident both were easily correctable with a 5-session booking and we may not even need all 5 sessions for it. I was skeptical but also desperate with the holidays coming up and many guests to come. Within 3 sessions, both dogs were sitting and staying back when guests came in. We tested it with some who bring out their worst and we had complete success. They are also 1000x better with the “quiet” command. They did so well with her that we moved on to some leash training which the puppy now has down beautifully. She walks at my side and sits whenever I stop. Highly recommend. We will call Mara with all future needs.

ellie sanchez

Jumpstart programs

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Mara was incredibly helpful with training me to train Maze. I reached out to her with a dog that would not recall after trying every treat in the book and working on it for about an hour each day. She would also pull and chase skateboards; anything with wheels. Mara sat down with us and helped create a training program specifically tailored to Maze and her needs. She connected with maze instantly and helped me immediately control the pulling. After just 4 sessions Mara was able to train Maze as well as myself to get Maze to a point where her recall was flawless and she could walk around the park without a leash and ignore any distractions. We now go backpacking, backcountry skiing, and have a much tighter bond. The training always continues and Mara still responds to my texts when I have questions that come up. She helped us out tremendously and I have and will continue to recommend her to my closest friends and anyone else that needs the help. Thanks!

ryan kelly

not your average
Dog trainers

Mara Soo

Lion, Bear & Elk Trainer

Apprenticed under Olympic sport horse trainers
Trained lions, bears, and elk professionally
PSA protection sports competitor

learn more about mara

ashley
Blackburn

Degreed & Certified Behaviorist

Earned Masters Degree in Animal Behavior – Psychology & Neuroscience from UT Austin
Certified K9 Behaviorist from Triple Crown Academy in Austin, TX

learn more about ashley

Mara
Soo

Lion, Bear & Elk Trainer

Apprenticed under Olympic sport horse trainers
Trained lions, bears, and elk professionally
PSA protection sports competitor

learn more about MARA

ashley
Blackburn

Degreed & Certified Behaviorist

Earned Masters Degree in Animal Behavior – Psychology & Neuroscience from UT Austin
Certified K9 Behaviorist from Triple Crown Academy in Austin, TX

learn more about ashley

We are forever thankful for Mara and Traction Dog Training. Our new command words "Right, Wrong, Nope, Off, Wait, Free" are our new way of life! Flash now sleeps in a crate - might I say perfectly too! He does very well with climb cot time, and we can take him for walks without the constant pulling and lunging at other dogs! Flash's resource guarding and genetically fearful personality is a fact for us, but with the help of Mara she has taught us what our new way of life can look like. Our goals were in line with Mara's, and she has helped provide us all the resources we need. We are forever thankful for Mara and Traction Dog training. We didn't want to give up hope on our 8-year-old dog, and with the help of Mara she has restored confidence in our family. Highly, highly recommend Traction Dog Training!

kenyon willis

FAQ

What makes traction different?

Quality of trainers. We spend an average of 6 months vetting Austin dog trainers before hiring, and we only take superstars. Not only are our trainers the ones the Whitehouse chose for themselves, it’s also ensured they have exceptional communication and human-training skills.
Program structures. We break away from the usual Austin dog training options, private lessons or board-and-train. Instead, we come to you for training and can provide as little or as much hands-on support as you need. We then offer a one-of-a-kind maintenance and social training membership.
Professionalism & community. We are a training club, not just a service provider. An emphasis on community means that we expect a high level of professionalism among our trainers and club members. If you’re looking for a group of high quality people you can rely on as friends and dog trainers, this is it.

What services do you offer?

We offer private training programs for all family pet dogs, overnight boarding in trainers’ homes, protection and guard dog training, and our monthly social event, Agility Drop-In & Drinks, where you can play on an indoor agility course and enjoy free adult beverages.

We also offer apprenticeship programs for future dog trainers.

What if i have more than 1 dog?

Your dogs can share one training program, although a phone consultation with a trainer will be needed to determine the best way for your specific dogs to learn together.

Every dog has different goals and a unique learning style. However, two separate programs isn’t typically necessary. Instead, these dogs may have the option to increase the length and price of training sessions by 50% so there’s ample time to work with the dogs individually as well as together.

what training methods do you use?

We use the methods that are most fair, kind, and effective for your specific dog. No two dogs are alike, and neither are the training methods that best suit them.

For a detailed view of the scientific foundation of our training philosophy, read about our training methods here.

Do you offer payment plans?

Yes! Varsity allows you to pay for training sessions on a monthly schedule and at a discounted rate.

Alternatively, Affirm is available and offers 4 payments over 2 months with no interest or credit checks as well as monthly installment plans from 2 to 36 months long.

Mara makes Cesar Millan look like a rookie...seriously. Our pups have all responded so well to her teachings. We have three dogs, ranging from a pup to 13 years old. All of our dogs are more obedient, and I believe happier. They don't jump on people at the door. No longer jump on the couch (unless invited). Finally, they peacefully sleep in their kennels. Our relationship with our dogs has never been better. Mara is a true professional. She also watches our home while we travel. It's a great feeling to know our pups are happy and our home is safe. Thank you, Mara. You are great teacher and even better person.

cole jacobs

invest In years of happiness

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training
options

jumpstart
Programs

Thank You Mara, We are so pleased with the results of your training. Archie is a very active and high energy Australian Terrier. We tried two previous trainers to no avail and had almost given up hope.Thanks to you he is now becoming a much better, happier, well behaved dog. It's so nice to take him for a loose leash walk, by our side, without feeling like we are flying a kite. Also at home, among other things, he will stay in place when asked, instead of terrorizing the house. The skills you have taught us and Archie are truly appreciated. Your professionalism and reliability is exceptional and we would highly recommend you to our friends.

joe & cindy kelly

location

Our Austin dog training service area includes any address within a 20 minute commute from 6203 N Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX 78731.

There are 3 location options for training:

We’ll come to your home if you’re in our service area or willing to pay out-of-service-area fees ($1.50/min beyond the service area).
Meet us in Austin for dog training.
Use the Study Abroad program and only travel to Austin 2-3 times total.

Schedule a phone consultation to determine the best fit for you and your dog.

schedule a CONSULT

Mara was amazing and a joy to work with. Teddy, our three year old corgi is an opinionated soul and really struggled with barking, leash manners, and car anxiety. We did the 3 week homeschool session and Teddy is a completely different dog. She really created a plan that worked for Teddy and us. Teddy now exhibits excellent on leash and off leash manners, is calm/ not barking for attention, and is improving with his anxiousness in the car. We also love that he can stay with her when we go out of town. We can’t thank Mara enough!

sophia starkman

the learning is only
the beginning

We don’t just improve behavior, we invite you to join a community dedicated to training dogs in Austin.

schedule a CONSULT

AUSTIN’s dog training club

5-star google rating
With 190+reviews