Traction Dog Training Club specializes in addressing behavioral issues like reactivity and aggression in dogs, offering personalized programs such as study abroad and tutoring. Based in Austin, their expert trainers provide owners with the tools and confidence to foster calm, happy environments. With a focus on clear instruction and hands-on practice, they help dogs and their families thrive together.
Traction DTC are lifesavers! My partner and I adopted Molly from a local Austin shelter and, sadly, the information we were given about her was woefully inaccurate. Upon getting home, she was extremely dog and people reactive, and even the shortest of walks and time spent in our small yard were very stressful experiences. We were at the end of our rope, afraid her behavior was going to draw complaints from neighbors in our apartment complex, unsure Molly would be able to remain a member of our family. We were clueless on how to correct Molly’s behavioral issues. That said, when she was only with us, she was a sweet and smart dog with tons of potential. After working with two other trainers with little to no results, but still unwilling to give up until we’d tried everything, we found Traction. From the first consultation we had with Mara, I was optimistic that they could give us and Molly the tools we desperately needed. They prescribed a three week study abroad program for Molly. She spent two weeks with Ashley at her home, and then another week with Mara. “A completely different dog” is how I described Molly after we visited her during her stay with Mara. I was able to confidently walk her down busy South Congress, passing other dogs, kids, bikes (which were once a major trigger for her) with no explosions. I would have never dreamed of doing such a thing just a few weeks before. Ashley and Mara gave us the tools to be the best pup parents we can be to Molly and that alone has given us both so much peace of mind. Traction goes the extra mile - during our consult with Mara, I mentioned that I would love to be able to run with Molly. She made that a priority during training, taking her for a run on her own and then allowing me to go on a group run with Molly and other Traction doggos. I almost cried happy tears! Additionally, she came to our home to bookend our study abroad program so we could practice how to handle and correct reactivity to people and dogs near our front door. Now, Molly is a happy dog and we are beyond thrilled to have her home and to finally know how to be a functional family. I’d recommend Traction DTC to anyone. They are unbelievably skilled, treat dog training like a science, and provide dog owners with clear instruction on how to foster a happy, fun, and calm environment and home with your best friend. I cannot thank them enough!
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Andrew Lane
via Google
· 9 months ago
We worked with Mara and Mia to help train our 10-month-old golden retriever puppy, and the experience was fantastic. Before hiring them, we were feeling really frustrated with our dog’s behavior and honestly didn’t feel like we were in control of the situation at all.
The Traction team truly transformed our dog from being a bit wild and ill-behaved into a much more enjoyable, well-mannered companion. The difference has been night and day.
They were super easy to work with, incredibly knowledgeable, and consistently went the extra mile to make sure we felt confident and supported throughout the process. This was well worth the investment, and we would highly recommend them to anyone looking for professional, effective dog training.
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Delfi Blackshear
via Google
· 9 months ago
We had the best experience in Loba’s tutoring program with Mara and Mia! Before starting, Loba struggled with reactivity, which made walks and navigating our apartment complex very stressful. She would bark or growl at other dogs and even at people. By the third week of the program, her reactivity was almost completely gone!
Mia and Mara are knowledgeable, kind, and incredibly patient. What helped me the most was not just learning the commands and markers, but having them watch us and point out when we were unintentionally giving Loba mixed signals. It’s so easy to make mistakes, and having their guidance made all the difference!
Another huge benefit was that they could bring their own dogs to help us practice passing by calmly. On our own, this was impossible because anyone who saw Loba growling would naturally avoid us. Being able to walk past their dogs repeatedly until Loba felt confident enough to sit near them had such an impact on her training.
We’re so happy with Loba’s progress and can’t recommend Traction enough!!
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jordan g
via Google
· 12 months ago
Working with Mia was such a pleasure. Her calm, and knowledgeable presence put us at ease no matter the situation we were working on with our dog. She explained not only the training, but the 'why' behind what we were working on which helped us understand tings from our dog's perspective, which was really helpful. Our dog's behavior and anxiety improved greatly with her lessons and direction, as did our confidnece in situations on our own. She is incredibly knowledgable, kind, and cares about what's best for each dog, and their owner's concerns as well. We are very grateful for her & our time together! :)
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Krista Evans
via Google
· 1 year ago
We enrolled our dog, Rex, in the Homeschool program to help with his leash aggression in our apartment complex and when walking in busy places. Mara went above and beyond and not only corrected Rex’s behaviors, but she helped us to understand what to do as well. Rex is now walking like the god boy he is and is so well behaved. We would highly recommend her programs and Rex does too!
