Your first step toward a new future with your dog!
Working with the horse is a way of life for me. He’s my livelihood, my hobby, my passion. If given a little thought, a little understanding, and a little common sense, the horse gives back in full measure. If the human can give 5%, the horse will come from the other side with 95%. The horse never ceases to amaze me with what he can get done with very little help from the human.
~ Ray Hunt
It’s the same for me with dogs, only more so.
~ Spence Wood
Educators, first responders, and active military families always receive 10% off all services! Reach out and I’ll get you set up! Thanks for caring about all of the rest of us!!
Adopted a shelter/rescue dog? Thank you! You qualify for a free training session. Just contact me.
ABOUT
I am an experienced dog trainer and educator located in the northern suburbs of Austin, TX. Here’s what you can expect from me:
- honest and clear communication
- 100% commitment to you and your dog
- great results
- a competitive fee structure that focuses on outcomes first
- ongoing support for the life of your dog
- a commitment to our community. I provide free training for area shelters and rescues to assist in the successful placement of these dogs.
My focus is helping you build a better relationship with your dog. This means improving how you understand and think about your dog. While dogs are amazingly in tune with us, they are not fluent in human let alone our word-based languages. It is up to us to improve our relationships with our dogs by improving our ability to communicate in ways that dogs inherently understand. When we do, we have far fewer points of conflict and find that our dogs will offer many more of the behaviors we are seeking. This is the essence of Relationship Based Behavior Modification and Training.
Recent Reviews
Jenny
“I honestly don’t know what I would have done without the help, insight and ongoing support we have had from Spencer Wood after getting our golden retriever puppy last Christmas. Not only does Spencer genuinely care about dogs and their families, he has an incredible connection with animals & a gift for teaching.”
Yahel
“I have been handing your business cards to my “rough doggie” patients (which are mostly my regular clients 😁)
Most of the time my clients just want drugs to keep their dogs “calm” and anxiety free, but I tell them… puppy don’t need to be medicated, puppy needs to go and meet Spence !😁 and that’s when I give them your business card and tell them how you showed Jason how to WORK with our obnoxious puppy 😁”
Gail
“Spence changed our lives! Seriously. When we met, my dog was dragging me down the street. I had to coordinate my walks to avoid being seen! Spence changed all of that!”
Allison
“I want to recommend my dog trainer, Spence Wood Dog Training ! He’s changed our lives. We have a lovable, energetic one-year old Greater Swiss Mountain Dog who was jumping on people as they came into our house, pulling on the lead, excitedly reacting to other dogs and people we’d walk by, and generally not behaving well enough that I could take her to outdoor patio dining, etc. No fun for us or the dog. While at a swim meet one day, struggling to keep her calm like everyone else’s dogs, the lady next to me cheerfully whispered, “You need Spence Wood….“”
Erin
“This dog has been completely transformed. From sever fear based reactivity to a gentle and (mostly) relaxed good boy. I’m so proud of him (and myself for not giving up on him)! I honestly never thought I’d be at this point with this dog. I can’t wait to start taking my other dogs through the same class with Spence.”
Leona
I had no idea what had gone wrong. My dog was getting progressively worse. She was more and more reactive. Spence found us walking through a festival with my dog reacting constantly. She sounded like a storm moving through the crowd. Spence took us out of the traffic and took her lead. She went from excited and reactive to calm as he explained what was happening. We’ve been going to the Sunday pack walks ever since. Huge changes and she loves the regular gatherings!”
Michelle
“With just what you taught me, he has done so much better thank you!!”
Natalie
“Things are going awesome she is heeling and retrieving very well. She is working through her reactivity like a dream. She barely barks anymore and when she thinks about running off during retrieving all I have to do is call her name and she remembers what she is suppose to be doing. I can walk her by kids at the park and she doesn’t pull. We’re really amazed with how quickly she has came along. We really appreciate you getting us to a better place with her.”
What I Will Teach You and Your Dog
I aim to improve your lives together. This means learning elements of basic obedience (sit, down, loose leash walking, recall, and place) and understanding two general behavior rules; don’t be rude ever and stay with me when we are outside. Combined we end up with dogs that are a pleasure to be around, that we understand more fully, and that in turn offer desired behaviors to us easily.
When we learn to think like a dog, our dogs gain confidence in us as their partners. When this happens, behaviors such as anxiousness, reactivity, tugging, and misplaced aggression all begin to diminish.
What Your Dog Will Experience Staying With Me
Your dog will be part of my family, living and being trained right here at my home. We live on a beautiful 3.5 acre piece of hill country. Our neighbors are about 100 yards on either side with no one back behind us. It is quiet, serene, full of deer, squirrels, rabbits, ringtails and more.
Our main training yard is about an acre and offers low to medium levels of distraction for the dogs. It includes large boulders for environmental agility, tall grass for sniffing, tons of trees, and a makeshift agility course. In addition we have an enclosed potty yard where your dog will have an opportunity to run off leash and take care of business. Finally, we have a giant cedar and oak forest just north of our home where our property connects with many of our neighbors.
This wooded area is a large green space that buffers our community from the traffic on 1431 nearly one mile away. It is a very private and secluded place where your dog will have a blast recharging and finding their best possible self. From here it is only about 3 miles to Veterans Park where your dog will experience various field trips and where our Sunday pack walks usually take place. Once your pup is venturing out to Veterans’ Park, it won’t be long before I’ll be taking him on more field trips to big box stores, soccer games, and track and swim meets. Your dog will definitely work while here, but she’ll also have a lot of fun.
Getting Started, Group Classes, and Package Options
Everything starts with an assessment. I need to see you and your dog. Talking about it is helpful, but less efficient and less accurate. Email or Call/Text to schedule.
Once we’ve met and learned about you and your dog, you’ll need to choose a package so we can move forward. I will have given you my recommendation when we met. With my opinion and your own thoughts, you’ll be ready to select the training option that works best for you. I have packages for all budgets. They all work.
Minor problems and working within a budget? The Group Classes, 1:1, or a Day Training might be what you need. We can always have one or two of the 1:1 or Day Trainings and see how things go. With either, if you decide to move into a Board and Train, I’ll apply up to $400 (that’s the cost of two sessions) of these expenses toward the cost of your Board and Train. More about my Group Classes is here.
What is the difference between 1:1 and Day Training? With the 1:1 Sessions you’ll get more personalized instruction to help keep your dog on track, but we’ll only meet for about an hour. With the Day Training, I’ll personally work with your dog multiple times throughout the day and head them in the right direction before giving you some basic instruction to maintain the progression. Most people like to have one of each to get a good start with their dog’s learning and gain significant personal coaching.
If you want to get your training well on its way so that you can really start enjoying your dog in all environments, then consider the Board and Train. With a Board and Train you’ll have a dog that knows all basic obedience and performs exceptionally well in a diverse set of environments. You’ll also get significant personalized instruction and have lifetime access to me for assistance and guidance. You will receive free annual tune-ups for the life of your dog. These are 3-night stays, once a year and can be combined with other boarding needs.
I’ve had clients with great success across each of these offerings. When we meet, I’ll give you my honest opinion regarding what I think you and your dog need. Let’s get started with an initial assessment and start making progress!
Next Steps
Look around and see what I offer. Then, when you’re ready reach out to me at my email or phone. I’ll get you setup to complete my Dog History form, schedule an initial assessment if needed, and get you on the calendar for your sessions. Below are short descriptions of my standard services. Need something different? Just ask, I’m sure we can work something out.
Services – Contact Me for Booking
Day Training
After we’ve met and assessed things with your dog, you can book Day Training sessions with me.
Jump start or tune up your dog’s obedience and behavior. I provide a structured environment that minimizes negative behaviors and focuses on improvements.
9am-5pm
Requires signed service agreement and copy of vet records showing that the dog is current on vaccinations and free of disease or communicable illness.
Email or Call/Text to schedule.
$200
Pay in full at time of booking
Boarding
I offer Boarding services on a limited basis and prioritize clients with dogs that I have worked with. If your dog has been part of my training, I will work to tune up his/her training while boarding. For dogs that I have not worked with, I will do basic work necessary for daily operations, but this isn’t a board and train so I won’t be engaging in formal training.
Requires signed service agreement and copy of vet records showing that the dog is current on vaccinations and free of disease or communicable illness.
Email or Call/Text to schedule.
$100 per night
Pay in full at time of booking
Board and Train
The most effective path for long-term transformations with your dog. Your dog will be one of no more than five training dogs living in a very structured environment in my home with regular progressive training and behavior management. Mastery of all basic obedience skills.
- Loose-leash walking
- Sit
- Sit-Stay
- Down
- Down-Stay
- Place
- Recall (come).
You will receive multiple training sessions prior to the go-home period and multiple follow-up sessions in your home and at useful training locations for your needs. You also receive free annual tune-ups for the life of your dog. These are 3-night stays, once a year and can be combined with other boarding needs.
Most dogs do great with around three weeks of training. Beyond 3 weeks we are usually dealing with behavioral challenges or simply more difficult dogs. There is no increased fee, just more time.
Requires signed service agreement and copy of vet records showing that the dog is current on vaccinations and free of disease or communicable illness.
Email or Call/Text to schedule.
3-6 Weeks
$3,500
50% due at time of booking.
Balance due at start of training.
Dog and Handler Classes
My Dog and Handler classes are a great way to get you and your dog headed down the right path. They are fun and low pressure! I offer one class. It is a 4-week introduction to relationship building and basic obedience. In these classes, I teach everything I cover in my 3-week board and train. You and your dog will learn to improve your relationship and an introduction to Loose Leash Heel, Sit, Down, Recall, Sit and Down Stay, and Place. It is suitable for anyone that wants to improve their dog’s responsiveness and behavior. I typically offer these monthly. We meet once a week, Saturdays from 10:00-11:30. I limit enrollment to 10 dogs and their handler. Children must be at least 16 to participate. Learn more and sign up.