Austin dog training

Well, hello there!  My name is Laura, and I'm the founder of Major Darling. 

I got started with dog training about 8 years ago, when I was at a breaking point with my own difficult-to-manage dogs. With the help of some great mentors, my dogs and I learned how to communicate with each other - and I fell in love with all things dog behavior! I am a volunteer with the behavior department at Austin Pets Alive and I devote most of my free time helping naughty shelter dogs overcome challenging behaviors to become more adoptable and be successful in the home.

I have dedicated much of my personal research on dog cognition, and I love helping people understand their dog's behavior and how to better communicate with them. Many problem behaviors can be quickly eradicated by meeting a dog's needs, instead of just trying to stifle those natural instincts. I use force-free methods, focusing on creating positive associations and choice in learning. I have experience with all kinds of challenging behaviors such as leash reactivity, resource guarding, and overarousal in addition to basic obedience for both puppies and adult dogs. 

I take on a limited number of dogs at a time, but occasionally hold group workshops for things like leash reactivity, so please don't hesitate to reach out. I am happy to provide referrals to other positive-reinforcement trainers if we aren't able to work together at this time.

-- PRIVATE TRAINING --
My basic rate is $120 for an initial in-home session with you and your pup, and $85 for follow up sessions (for both of you, or just your pup if you'd like me to do the heavy lifting.)  Sessions generally last around an hour, with our first session a bit longer so that we can get started with a strong foundation. If this is not in your budget right now, that's okay - we can figure out something that works for both of us, so don't hesitate to reach out!