Dog Training in Bastrop, TXCreate A Lifelong Bond Between You & Your Dog with Our Training Programs
Our Training Programs
Thank you for considering us for your dog training needs! Whether you are experiencing extreme behavioral issues or just want to make sure your dog is the best it can be, we are excited to work alongside you to reach your goals!
At K9 Mastery, we prioritize real world training for real life situations. Through our training, you will form the bond of a lifetime with your dog as they learn to obey and follow you in any environment. This ensures trust and reliable behavior wherever you go — not just in your living room.
We offer three levels of obedience training: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced.
Levels of Obedience Training
Below you will find a description of what can be expected from your dog at the completion of each level of training.
Basic
- On a 6-foot leash
- Loose leash walking (no pulling on the leash)
- Heel
- Sit
- Down
- Stay
- Recall
Intermediate
- Off leash, collar only
- Heel freely
- Sit on command (in motion and stationary)
- Down on command (in motion and stationary)
- Sit stay for 5 minutes at a distance of 50 ft
- Down stay for 30 minutes at a distance of 100 ft
- Recall from 100 ft
- Only available to Basic Obedience Graduates
Advanced
- Equipment Free
- Heel freely
- Sit on command (in motion and stationary)
- Down on command (in motion and stationary)
- Sit stay for 20 minutes maximum out of sight and scent of the handler
- Down stay for 45 minutes minimum out of sight and scent of the handler
- Recall from any distance
- Only available to Intermediate Obedience graduates
Obedience Training vs. Behavior Modification
At K9 Mastery, we train all breeds, ages and temperaments of dogs, but we specialize in serious aggression and behavioral issues. We've successfully worked with many dogs other trainers had written off as beyond hope, and we've helped hundreds of dogs come off behavioral medications through our training. No matter what other trainers, behaviorists or vets have told you, we encourage you to submit an application for an honest, thorough review.
What's the difference?
Obedience training teaches your dog to do things on command, like sit, down, come and heel.
Behavior modification addresses problem behaviors like aggression toward people or other dogs, resource guarding, anxiety, destructive chewing and digging. We teach your dog an appropriate response to a situation (a stranger isn't a threat, for example) and help them trust you for guidance when they'd normally feel nervous or unsure.
Why you need both
Many dogs learn to heel on a leash just fine. But the moment they're released from the command, they're dragging their owner down the street again, because no one taught them how to walk on a leash without being under a strict command. Without behavior modification, a dog falls back on old habits because they don't understand how they're expected to behave overall.
Combined with obedience training, behavior modification teaches your dog what's expected of them and how to behave, even when they aren't being told to perform a specific command.
How we approach it
Behavior modification is only offered together with obedience training, and every dog starts from scratch with Basic Obedience. That way we know the foundation has been taught properly and reliably. Our goal isn't just a dog who sits and walks nicely on a leash. It's a well-behaved, trustworthy member of your family.
Additional charges may apply for dogs with aggression or behavioral issues, because of the extra time and liability involved.
Our Behavioral Modification Has Saved The Lives of Many Dogs...
We cannot thank Christie enough for her help with Bella! After boarding her at another facility over night Bella started exhibiting aggressive/fearful behaviors towards strangers and other dogs. We contacted another local training facility and were told we would need to medicate her....Christie proved that wasn't true. We finished basic obedience with her and can now take Bella anywhere. That same dog is now getting compliments everywhere we go on how well behaved she is! If you are looking for a trainer I would not look anywhere else! She is the absolute best!
Rachel C.
Within the very first class, I knew we were in the right place. Christie is a miracle worker! We have an Australian Shepherd who has had aggression issues and could not walk on a leash to save his life. He now walks on a leash (learned the first day) and now looks to us for all of his ques and commands instead of doing his own thing. She is so good and really knows what she is talking about, cannot stop talking about how much we love this dog training! We just finished her first 8-week course and are moving on to do the Intermediate class next!
Kelly H.
"Christie Miller took a fearful, aggressive and dangerous dog that had been given up for death and helped me turn her into a loving and confident companion.
A dog that habitually attacked other dogs in her own home now shows all dogs the proper respect. A dog that I never dared take out in public without extensive precautions I can now take off-leash without fear or worry about what she might do because I know what she’ll do; she’ll do what she is told she can do."
Sammy's Owner, Stephen J.
Board & Train: Our Recommended Program
Board & Train is the fastest way to get your dog the help they need. Your dog stays with us for intensive training, and you take home a well-trained companion, plus the skills to keep it going.
Who it's for
- New clients who want to get started right away, without waiting for a private lesson opening
- Dogs with more serious behavioral issues who need an intensive head start
- Owners who want a strong foundation built by an experienced trainer, who can take their dog further, faster than they could on their own
- Busy families who can't fit regular lessons into their schedule
- Families who live outside the Bastrop and Austin areas
What to expect
During the first month, your dog will complete Basic Obedience as described above, and we'll address behavioral issues as much as possible within that time. Along with training, dogs get play and exercise time, plus field trips into town to practice their skills in real-world situations at a variety of locations.
We'll send you updates by email every week, with pictures throughout your dog's stay, so you can follow their progress and milestones. To keep your dog focused, we don't schedule visits during training.
Why we require 30 days
Many Board & Train programs are only 14 days. But it usually takes at least two weeks for a dog to feel comfortable enough in a new place to show their true personality, and to feel enough at home that guarding and other behavioral issues start to surface.
We believe true obedience and behavior modification go hand in hand. A longer stay gives your dog much more reliable obedience, and it gives us the time to properly assess and address any behavioral issues your dog has.
What's included
- Boarding and training for the length of your dog's stay
- Play and exercise time
- Field trips into town for real-world training
- Weekly updates and photos
- A 3+ hour private lesson at pick-up, so you and your dog have a smooth transition into this new way of life
- Three follow-up lessons to perfect your handling skills and your dog's new skills in real-world situations
- Priority for continued private lessons after your dog graduates
Reserving your spot
A $1,250 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your dog's spot, and the remainder is due before drop-off. If your dog stays longer than 30 days, you'll be billed every 30 days.
Need to drop off in 14 days or less? We offer rush accommodation for an additional fee.
Have questions about the program? Submit a training application, and we'll walk you through the details.
Private Lessons
Private lessons are reserved primarily for clients whose dogs have completed our Board & Train program and want to keep training to higher levels.
New client? We recommend Board & Train.
Openings for new private lesson clients are rare, and because Board & Train clients are given priority, we can't guarantee when a new opening will become available. Board & Train is the fastest way to get your dog the help they need. When you apply, let us know you're interested in Board & Train.
Private lessons are scheduled based on availability, Tuesday through Thursday during operational hours. To be considered, you must have a completed and approved training application on file. There's no charge to be placed on our private lesson waitlist once your application is approved.
All private lessons are held on site at our facility in Bastrop, TX. Occasionally an off-site lesson may be arranged based on individual needs, with an extra charge for time and travel.
All students, regardless of past training elsewhere, start with Basic Obedience.
Our Training Philosophy
Our dog obedience training is rooted in the time-tested balanced German training philosophies that have produced the most reliable dogs the world has seen. At K9 Mastery, we've honed these techniques over years and hundreds of dogs, adapting them to suit the unique temperament of your average household pet.
It is our belief that every dog needs a master and a job. Dogs thrive on structure and discipline, and through our balanced training methods you will see your dog not just obey but flourish, have more fun, and form an unbreakable bond with you.
Our highly disciplined and effective methods reject the common reliance on treats in training. Instead, we focus on shaping you into the Master of your dog, mirroring the success seen in police and military-trained canines.
Our balanced methods use both praise and correction to clearly communicate expectations to your dog. Through controlled distractions and gradual challenges, your dog will learn to obey commands the first time, every time, in any situation.
We prioritize real-world training for real-life situations. This is why we train outside, where real-world scenarios demand obedience the most. Your dog will master commands in environments that mirror your everyday encounters, ensuring reliable behavior wherever you go — not just in your living room.
Your dog is not just a pet, but a member of your family and a lifelong commitment. We acknowledge that training requires time and effort. Yet, the boundless rewards of a well-trained dog far surpass the investment. The lifelong companionship and enjoyment you will experience is easily worth the short commitment and investment you make in properly training your dog.
If you seek a family member deeply bonded to you, a daily joy to experience, and a companion you can confidently take anywhere, then K9 Mastery is for you.
To Apply:
We are focused on quality, not quantity and because of the care we pour into each client, we do have an application so we can make sure we can provide the best fit possible for each of our students. There’s a lot of work on our part in ensuring success for you and your dog, so we only assist people who are absolutely serious about making a lifelong positive change.
Our company is a small, family-owned business, and it’s important to us that everyone reach the greatest potential possible. Our students and their pets have become our family, and because of that we take extra time, attention, and care in making sure our working relationship is built on trust, understanding, as well as common goals and values from the beginning. We invest ourselves into creating the most welcoming and fun environment possible for everyone while pushing past barriers together.
Please note: we don't discuss training programs, pricing or availability until we have a completed application on file, so anyone who calls will be asked to apply first.
This application process allows us to make sure we accept people who are a good fit for our program, those who are committed to their dogs and serious about getting real results, and who are willing and able to follow instructions accurately, consistently, and diligently to ensure the enjoyment, reliability, safety, and success of everyone involved.
What happens next
- Fill out the training application. Be as detailed and thorough as possible. Incomplete applications, or ones with minimal information that would require extensive follow-up, will not be considered. The application is designed to give us as much information up front as possible. That saves us both time and helps us make an accurate assessment, so please include as much detail as you can. New client? Let us know you're interested in Board & Train.
- Christie reviews it personally. Most applications get a response within 3 business days. During holidays and busy seasons, it can take up to 2 weeks.
- Watch your email. We'll reach out by email with next steps, so make sure messages from k9Mastery@gmail.com and K9TrainingApplications@gmail.com aren't going to spam. No reply after a week? Feel free to follow up by email.
Emergency? (A bite incident, or a life-or-death situation.)
Fill out the training application first, then email k9mastery@gmail.com with the subject line “911,” and we'll respond as soon as possible.