About Firm Foundations K9 Training
Personalized Dog Training in Columbus, Ohio
Our Story
Hi! We’re so glad you’re here! We’re Austin & Claire, the humans behind Firm Foundations K9 Training.
Austin is our trainer and the heart behind our training programs. He has been working in the dog-training world for 10 years, with several years of professional experience training hundreds of dogs. His passion for training began in Texas, where he worked with service dogs. After moving to Ohio, Austin decided to turn his love for working with dogs into a full-time career. He joined a professional training company, where he continued developing his skills and gained extensive experience working with dogs and their owners.
As both a dog dad and a human dad, Austin started Firm Foundations K9 Training with a bigger purpose in mind: helping dogs and their owners experience more freedom through the bonding experience of proper training.
We believe life with your dog shouldn’t be confined to the walls of your home. It should include park days, traveling, hikes, patio dinners, and all the adventures you hoped you’d have together. Our goal is to help you build the communication, trust, and reliability needed to enjoy more of life with your dog.
Our Approach to Dog Training
At Firm Foundations K9 Training, we believe effective dog training starts with a strong foundation. We focus on clear communication, consistency, trust, and reliability so dogs can understand what is expected of them and owners feel confident communicating with their dogs.
Every dog and owner is different. That’s why our training isn’t a one-size-fits-all program. We take the time to understand your dog’s needs, your goals, and your lifestyle so we can create a training approach that fits your real life.
Whether you’re starting with a new puppy, building obedience, working through reactivity, or looking for greater freedom through Board & Train, our goal is the same: to help you and your dog build a stronger relationship and enjoy more life together.
Meet Austin, Lead Trainer
With 10 years of experience in the dog-training world, Austin brings extensive hands-on experience to every training program at Firm Foundations K9 Training.
His training journey began in Texas, where he worked with service dogs. After moving to Ohio, he continued his professional development with a dog-training company, where he trained hundreds of dogs and gained experience working with a wide variety of breeds, personalities, and training needs.
Today, Austin combines that experience with his passion for helping families experience more freedom with their dogs. He believes training should do more than create obedience - it should create communication, confidence, and a stronger relationship between dogs and their owners.
Who We Help
Firm Foundations K9 Training works with dogs and owners at all stages of their training journey.
We help new puppy owners establish a strong foundation from the beginning, families looking to improve everyday obedience and household manners, and owners who want to give their dogs more freedom through reliable training. We also work with dogs struggling with more challenging behaviors, including reactivity, resource guarding, separation anxiety, and aggression.
We serve dog owners throughout Columbus and Central Ohio, including Westerville, Powell, Dublin, New Albany, Worthington, Gahanna, Hilliard, and surrounding communities. For Board & Train programs, many of our clients choose to travel from outside the Columbus area because of the individualized approach we provide.