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Houston Obedience Training (HOT) Dog Club
Building better bonds through positive, practical dog training in Houston.
3.4(5 reviews)
Business
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Building better bonds through positive, practical dog training in Houston.
Houston Obedience Training (HOT) Dog Club is a dedicated training facility in Houston, TX, offering a range of group and individual classes for dogs of all ages and skill levels. We focus on practical obedience, basic manners, and competitive skills to help owners build strong, trusting relationships with their pets. With experienced instructors and a supportive community, we provide affordable, hands-on training in a structured environment. Whether you're starting with a puppy or advancing to competition-level work, HOT Dog Club is committed to fostering well-behaved, happy dogs through effective and compassionate methods.
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Group classes for young puppies focusing on socialization, basic commands, and early manners to build a strong foundation.
Affordable group sessions teaching essential commands like sit, stay, and leash walking for dogs of all ages.
Specialized training for owners interested in competitive obedience, agility, or other dog sports.
Individualized support for addressing specific issues such as nipping, aggression, or anxiety in a structured setting.
Hands-on, instructor-led workshops that provide practical tips and community interaction for ongoing learning.
I attended a puppy class where the instructor asked us to hold our dogs up under their armpits and away from our bodies, like you would pick up a child. The exercise was to get them to relax in that position; when my puppy got too wiggly I put him down. At that point, the instructor stepped in to demonstrate and my pup again got wiggly, whiny and eventually mouthed at her arms. The instructor continued to hold him in that position, even though he was clearly communicating discomfort by yelping and mouthing at her to let go. When she bent down towards the ground, he was still trying to get out of her grip and mouthed towards her face. She roughly grabbed him by the mouth, shoved him to the ground and yelled at him to not bite while she held the inside of his mouth with her hand and he screamed and yelped. At this point I was in shock and told her to stop and that it wasn't ok to do that. She justified this behavior saying that it teaches him that the human is in charge. She denied teaching dominance/alpha style training, but reiterated that this teaches the dog that the human is in charge and can be trusted. I responded that she was a stranger to my dog, and that there was no trust established between them and that it was not effective. This isn't my first dog or first puppy, and my breed is considered a primitive breed, which requires gentler approach and a true partnership in training. Her method was inappropriately rough, and I am withdrawing from the class and requesting a refund. If you have a docile, people-pleasing dog like a lab this method might work, but if you have an independent breed do not come here.
Three years ago, I had a great experience at Hot Dog Training with my dog McLovin. So when my wife got a new puppy, I said, “Let’s go back to Hot Dog.” I deeply regret that decision. We arrived early with our 16-week-old puppy, hoping to get some help for her nipping and early signs of aggression toward people and dogs. Instead of support or guidance, one of the trainers — after just 5 to 10 minutes of observing her — looked me in the eye and told me I should return the dog to the breeder. This wasn’t just hurtful — it was horrifying. I got this dog from Bark, a rescue, not a breeder. And returning her to Bark would almost certainly mean she would be put down. A professional dog trainer told me, in essence, to kill my dog. Instead of saying, “She’s not ready for basic training, she needs behavioral work first,” I was told to leave and never come back. In full transparency, our puppy did nip one of the workers. There was no blood, no serious injury — just a scared, overstimulated puppy in a new environment. The next day, my wife called the facility, hoping to talk calmly about next steps and possible help. The same trainer was so rude and cold that my wife ended up in tears. When I took the phone, I wasn’t even allowed to speak before being berated again and told to take our puppy back to Bark. Who tells a family that their 16-week-old “fur baby” can’t be helped and should be euthanized? We went in looking for compassion and expertise. We left shocked, hurt, and angry. Hot Dog Training broke our trust, and I would never recommend this place to anyone. Not every dog is easy, but that’s why places like this are supposed to exist — to help. Instead, we were met with judgment and cruelty.
We are so grateful for Houston Obedience Training. My pup is still learning, but I appreciate their practical approach to training. They offer affordable group classes. I feel like my dog learned more quickly seeing other dogs in the group doing the commands. I highly recommend HOT training. We will start Basic 2 soon.
First time taking a class here. My Mini Schnauzer and I are currently enrolled in obedience one with Sally. We love attending class! Sally is extremely informative, funny, and personable. She's always ready to answer questions when asked which I appreciate. I also appreciate the hands-on approach and individual attention that she provides to the pups and dog parents in the class. My dog and I are looking forward to taking another class at the HOT dog club!
Absolutely love this place! All the instructors and volunteers that help during the classes are wonderful and so informative. My puppy and I have completed 3 classes so far and plenty more to go and learn! Highly recommend HOT for all dog owners in Houston looking for anything from basic manners to competitive skills and competitions. Best training facility I have been to.
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