Dog Training in Athens, TX
Private obedience lessons where your dog already lives, and one- and two-week board and train, for dogs in Athens and Henderson County.
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Off Leash K9 Training of Tyler trains dogs in Athens and across Henderson County.
Athens sits west of Tyler on Highway 31, and it is one of the towns our owners named as most important to them. We come to you for private obedience lessons, and our board and train programs are one drop-off and one pickup. Every program and price is on our plans and pricing page.
Why professional training is essential for Athens dog owners
Behavior modification
Address jumping, pulling, barking, anxiety, and reactivity at the root, not just the symptom.
Safety & control
A dog that listens the first time is a safer dog around traffic, other dogs, and people.
Stronger bond
Clear communication builds trust, so your dog looks to you for direction instead of guessing.
Skills that transfer
We hand the training over to you at pickup, so the obedience keeps working at home.
Family harmony
A calm, well-mannered dog means a calmer home for kids, guests, and other pets alike.
Our dog training programs for Athens dogs
Lessons happen where your dog already spends its days; board and train dogs live and train with one of our trainers. Here is how the programs break down.
Obedience lessons
Private lessons with a professional trainer, held at your home, in your neighborhood, or at the park you already walk to. You work alongside the trainer, so the training stays with you.
- Come, sit, down, place, heel and off
- Loose-leash walking
- Four or eight lessons, e-collar and leash included
Board & train
Your dog lives and trains with one of our trainers for one or two weeks, then you get a one-on-one handoff session before they come home.
- One-week and two-week programs
- Recall and manners around distractions
- Handoff session at pickup
Therapy dog preparation
A two-week board and train that builds the calm, reliable obedience a dog needs before future therapy dog work.
- Greeting manners and public behavior
- Focus around distractions
- Groundwork for the Canine Good Citizen test
Our most popular training programs
Flat-rate pricing, listed in full on our plans and pricing page. Not sure which fits? A free phone consultation sorts it out.
Basic Obedience
Four private lessons on come, sit, down, place, loose-leash heel and off. Includes e-collar and training leash.
Basic & Advanced Obedience
Eight private lessons: the four basic lessons, then four on advanced commands and extended distance.
1 Week Board & Train
One week living and training with a trainer, then a one-on-one session to hand the training over to you.
2 Week Board & Train
Two weeks of immersive training with daily photo updates and a before-and-after video.
2 Week Therapy Dog Board & Train
Two weeks preparing a friendly, steady dog for future therapy dog work.
Payment plans are available. Call us today to learn more about payment options.
Built for how Athens dogs actually live
Athens is the Henderson County seat, with lake country all around it. Dogs here spend time at Lake Athens, in Kiwanis City Park and Coleman Park, and around the courthouse square, and plenty live on land with room to roam.
Room to roam is also where a dog learns to ignore you. A reliable recall matters more around water, roads, and livestock, so we train in the places your dog actually spends its time. Where off-leash reliability is the goal, the board and train programs are where it gets built.
Lessons put the work in your hands over several weeks; board and train puts your dog with a trainer full time, then hands the training over to you at pickup. We will help you choose on a free phone call.
Where your dog will shine
- Lake Athens
- Kiwanis City Park
- Coleman Park
- The courthouse square downtown
- Your own yard and land
Zach and Holly Wheeler own Off Leash K9 Training of Tyler and brought it to Tyler, Longview and the surrounding East Texas towns. Holly started working with dogs at a veterinary hospital in Edmond, Oklahoma, at 16, earned her degree at the University of Oklahoma, and has worked with hundreds of dogs and their families as an Off Leash K9 trainer. Zach's training centers on clear communication, consistency, and training that works in everyday life, not just during a lesson.
Trainer Patrick Callahan, who has fostered and trained dogs since 2019, works alongside them.
Dog training service areas near Athens
We train dogs in Athens and the East Texas towns between Athens and Tyler. Our home base is Tyler, and our trainers travel to you.
Frequently asked questions
Do you come to Athens for lessons?
Yes. Athens is one of the towns we serve, and our trainers come to you. Private lessons happen where your dog already spends its days: at home, in your neighborhood, or at the park you already walk to. See the Basic Obedience and Basic & Advanced Obedience lessons.
How does board and train work?
Your dog lives and trains with one of our trainers for one week or two weeks. At pickup you get a one-on-one session that shows you everything your dog learned and how to keep it going at home. The 2 Week Board & Train also includes daily photo updates and a before-and-after video.
How old does my dog need to be?
At least six months for lessons and for board and train. We do not run a separate puppy program; for a younger puppy, the Online Puppy Training Course on our plans and pricing page is a good place to start.
How much does dog training cost?
Private lessons are $650 for four and $950 for eight. Board and train is $1,850 for one week and $2,850 for two weeks, and the two-week therapy dog program is also $2,850. Every program is listed on our plans and pricing page. Payment plans are available. Call us today to learn more about payment options.
Will the e-collar hurt my dog?
No. We use it at a low level as a way to get your dog's attention, like a tap on the shoulder, never as punishment. Your lessons and board and train programs include the e-collar, and we show you exactly how it feels and how to use it before you take it home.
Ready to train your dog in Athens?
Book your free phone consultation and we'll recommend the right program for your dog and your goals.