About Hearts and Paws

Reward-based training in Austin

Hearts and Paws is a dog training, daycare and boarding center at 13291 Pond Springs Road in Austin that says it has provided professional training for Austin dogs for over 25 years. Its reward-based programs are taught by Certified Professional Dog Trainers, with the motto "Together for Life."

The team

Founder Diana Smith is a canine behaviorist, CPDT-KA and CGC Evaluator credited with over 25 years of training experience and over 2,000 hours of study with behaviorists including Dr. Ian Dunbar, John Fisher and John Rogerson. She is a charter member of the APDT, helped train shelter volunteers for the Austin Humane Society's BRATT program and has shown dogs in obedience, agility, rally and other sports. The team includes general manager and instructor Anthony Carlin (CPDT-KA), behaviorist Paul Mann (NADOI-C, CGC Evaluator) and nosework instructor Kathryn Butts (CPDT-KA).

Programs

Options include group classes, private lessons at the center, at home or both, board and train, behavior counseling, advanced classes and dog sports. Canine Good Citizen classes and tests run several times a year. Club Pup Camp is a summer program where kids and their dogs train together. Daycare and boarding playgroups are offered to clients.

What owners say

One owner wrote: "We took our puppies through the puppy course and through basic obedience. We receive compliments all the time about how well behaved our dogs are."