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Beyond the Dog - Dallas — Dog Training in Dallas, TX

Beyond the Dog - Dallas is a dog training business in Dallas, Texas offering board and train and virtual training, working from a home-based setup. They describe their approach as reward-based training, accept aggression and reactivity cases, and publish pricing from $775 per course to $6,250.

Dallas, TX • Home-based trainer • 4.9 ★ (62 Google reviews)

Verified listing

Last reviewed: Oct 10, 2026

Transparency Score

98 / 100

Highly transparent

How clearly this listing publishes the details owners need. See our methodology.

Price transparency: 100%
Method transparency: 100%
Program clarity: 93%

About Beyond the Dog - Dallas

Based on what the business publishes about itself

Beyond the Dog's Dallas operation is led by founder Kristyn Echterling-Savage, who holds a PhD in behavioral psychology and is both a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. According to their site, she is one of roughly 50 CAABs in the country and has published research on canine behavior. Co-founder Sean Savage holds CDBC and CPDT-KA certifications with over two decades of training experience. The Dallas team, which the company states has a combined 50 years in animal training, includes staff credentialed through IAABC and CCPDT.

The company expanded to Dallas in 2023 after operating in Houston and Austin since 2017. They describe their approach as science-based, grounded in operant and classical conditioning with reward-based reinforcement. Their site states they do not use aversive tools like shock collars. Rather than working from a central facility, sessions take place in clients' homes and throughout the community, wherever daily life happens.

Their listed specialties include reactive dogs, resource guarding, fearful dogs, separation anxiety, and cat-related aggression in dogs. They also offer cat training and virtual programs. The board and train retreat has dogs stay with the founders' family, learning in real-world settings with follow-up lessons afterward. According to their materials, staff backgrounds span zoo keeping, marine mammal training, horse training, and service dog work.

What dog training programs does Beyond the Dog - Dallas offer?

Two programs are available: a 5-week virtual puppy course covering manners and socialization at $775, and a 4-week board and train retreat starting at $6,250. The board and train through Beyond the Dog - Dallas includes handoff and follow-up sessions, with both programs led by Dr. Echterling-Savage.

Dr. Echterling-Savage's Board and Train Retreat

From $6,250

The dog lives in the trainer's home for four weeks, working on obedience commands, manners, crate training, and leash walking, with practice across parks, trails, shops, and other public places. Owners receive progress reports and updates during the stay, followed by in-home follow-up lessons after pickup.

The dog boards at the trainer's home for four weeks, then owners receive 4.5 hours of follow-up lessons in their home and neighborhood.

Best for: Puppies needing obedience, manners, and behavioral issue correction such as play biting, chewing, and jumping.

Duration: 4 weeks

Focus: Puppy training, Basic obedience, Leash training, Socialization

Includes: Owner handoff sessions, Follow-up sessions

Virtual Full Puppy Manners and Socialization Starter Virtual Training Program with Dr. Echterling-Savage

$775 per course

This is a virtual program with Dr. Echterling-Savage, a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, who evaluates the puppy's behavior and designs a customized training plan. Ongoing guidance and troubleshooting continue over the five-week program.

The owner connects virtually with Dr. Echterling-Savage for assessment and ongoing coaching sessions.

Best for: Puppy owners seeking manners and socialization support, delivered remotely.

Duration: 5 weeks

Focus: Puppy training, Basic obedience, Socialization

How much does Beyond the Dog - Dallas cost?

The virtual puppy program runs $775 for the full 5-week course. Board and train starts at $6,250 for four weeks, though final pricing may vary based on the dog's needs.

Board and Train pricing

Board and Train pricing at Beyond the Dog - Dallas in Dallas, TX
Program	Price	Length
Dr. Echterling-Savage's Board and Train Retreat	From $6,250	4 weeks

Virtual Training pricing

Virtual Training pricing at Beyond the Dog - Dallas in Dallas, TX
Program	Price	Length
Virtual Full Puppy Manners and Socialization Starter Virtual Training Program with Dr. Echterling-Savage	$775 per course	5 weeks

What training methods does Beyond the Dog - Dallas use?

They explicitly identify as force-free in their approach. The program accepts dogs with aggression or reactivity issues. Public materials reviewed by Barklen do not specify which training tools are used.

Their public materials state they do not use e-collars. Which tools they do use is not specified, so ask the trainer directly.

Who runs Beyond the Dog - Dallas?

As described in the business's own materials

Kristyn Echterling-Savage, CEO, Founder, Owner

According to their site, holds a PhD in behavioral psychology and is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst; the site says she is one of only around 50 CAABs in the country and has published research on canine behavior. She has over 20 years of experience teaching obedience and addressing behavior problems, and mentors the company's trainers.

Credentials listed on their site: PhD, CAAB, and BCBA. Barklen has not independently verified these.

Sean Savage, CFO, Founder, Owner

According to their site, has over two decades of experience training obedience, manners, and complex problem behaviors.

Credentials listed on their site: BS, CDBC, and CPDT-KA. Barklen has not independently verified these.

Alexis Mitchell, COO

Credentials listed on their site: BS, CPDT-KA, and CBCC-KA. Barklen has not independently verified these.

Megan Magarian, Expansion Manager and Mentor; leads the Dallas training team

According to their site, grew up around rescued dogs in California, pet-sat as a child, worked as a veterinary technician and later a doggie daycare supervisor before joining the company in 2018. She was promoted to Training Mentor and specializes in training dogs and cats across many behavior issues.

Credentials listed on their site: BA and CPDT-KA. Barklen has not independently verified these.

Allison Conrad, Scheduling Manager

Credentials listed on their site: BS. Barklen has not independently verified these.

Where does Beyond the Dog - Dallas offer dog training?

Beyond the Dog - Dallas runs a home-based training operation in Dallas, TX, offering board and train stays and virtual sessions online.

Their site says they dog, puppy, and cat owners throughout the Dallas area, including neighborhoods such as Highland Park, University Park, Preston Hollow, Lakewood, Frisco, Plano, Southlake, and several surrounding suburbs.

The business does not rely on a single training facility; sessions take place in clients' homes and throughout the community rather than at a set location, aside from an office address listed for the Dallas team.

The listed address is a suite on McKinney Avenue in Dallas. Parking and accessibility information aren't provided on the site.

What should you ask Beyond the Dog - Dallas before booking?

Generated from what their public materials leave open

Ask which training tools, if any, they use and when.
Ask if anyone is on-site overnight.
Ask how often you will get photo or video updates.
Ask how many dogs each trainer handles at once.
Ask about current availability and whether there is a waitlist.

Location and hours

3232 McKinney Ave Ste 500, Dallas, TX

Monday – Friday: 6:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday – Sunday: 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM

How Barklen reviewed this listing

Barklen reviewed Beyond the Dog - Dallas against the business's public materials and published this listing. That is not a check of licenses, insurance, or certifications. See our methodology for what a verified listing does and does not mean.

Details the public materials do not address (progress updates, overnight staffing, guarantee, dogs per trainer, years in business, and waitlist) are turned into the questions above rather than filled in.

Last reviewed by Barklen: Oct 10, 2026