About Viva Dog Life

Respect-first training in Houston

Viva Dog Life is a Houston dog training business run by Steffan Golt, a Training Without Conflict® Certified Professional Trainer. He credits that certification, and learning from IGP world champions Ivan and Natalia Balabanov, with deepening his understanding of play, motivation and clarity. His approach puts the relationship first: build trust and play, and a happy, self-motivated dog with reliable behavior follows.

Training programs

Four core programs target reliable recall, loose-leash walking, impulse control (drop it, leave it and a down at a distance) and crate training. Puppy Foundations builds confidence, curiosity, play and communication, and Behavior & Relationship Coaching takes on recurring struggles. Training happens where the dog actually lives, in parks, on streets and at home, and owners learn to handle their dog rather than just watch.

The guarantee

Owners pick one behavior, define "reliable" in writing at the evaluation, and train until the dog gets there, with 90% of the money back if the result falls short. A free two-minute online assessment comes first, followed by a more detailed dog evaluation and an in-person meeting to set the plan. Sessions follow the Respect Framework™: respect, trust, communication, motivation, harmony and cooperation.

What to ask

Ask what each program costs and how many sessions a typical plan includes.