About The Confident Hound

At-home positive training in Waco

The Confident Hound offers at-home training for dogs and puppies in the Waco area, run by trainers Lisa and Mike. Its mission is to build confidence in the dog and the owner, so both can worry less and enjoy life more, and it teaches people how to reach their own training goals.

Services

Basic dog training covers manners and leash skills. Puppy training and socialization builds a strong foundation. Behavior modification helps dogs with anxiety, fear or aggression, from barking and lunging to dogs with a bite history. Do-it-yourself digital guides include a canine enrichment guide and a Puppy Primer, and shelter and rescue support includes behavior evaluations, adoption counseling and training for staff and volunteers. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

The trainers

Lisa (M.A., VSA-CDT) graduated from the Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training and Behavior and holds bachelor's and master's degrees in psychology. Mike (M.S., CSB-D) is a Certified Shelter Dog Behavior Consultant through the IAABC, completed Michael Shikashio's Aggression in Dogs course in 2020 and served as a rifleman in the Marine Corps. The pair started the business after their first dog, Artemis, struggled with fear and anxiety.

Approach

Training relies on positive reinforcement, replacing old habits with new rewarded behaviors without force, fear, pain or intimidation.

What owners say

One client wrote that Mike and Lisa helped her shelter dog overcome fence aggression.