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Over the past decade there has been a rise in the number of people with Emotional Support Animals. This has caused some confusion around what it means to have a service, emotional support or therapy animal . Here, we explain briefly the differences between each of these animals, the training required for each different type, and debunk some common myths. Read on to learn the differences between each type of animal, which one might be right for you or your loved one, and how Dog Training Elite in Atlanta can help.
Not all training packages may be available at our Dog Training Elite in Atlanta location, please reference our pricing page for complete information on services offered.
ESA vs. Therapy vs. Service Animals: What's the Difference?
Service Animals
Service animals are animals that have been trained to assist individuals with tasks specific to their needs.
- Redirecting attention when an individual is beginning to feel overstimulated
- Reminding owners to take medication
- Waking someone who is having a nightmare
Service dogs are valued in the mental health, health care and disability community and are protected under ADA laws which allow owners to take their service dog with them everywhere they go. Dog Training Elite in Atlanta trains dogs to serve individuals with autism, diabetes and PTSD.
Dog Training Elite in Atlanta trains autism service dogs to benefit and assist children with autism. Autism service dogs can be trained to track their child in case of wandering and redirect a child’s behavior when they are starting to become overwhelmed.
PTSD service dogs help ground owners to reality, especially in public settings. These service dogs can also be trained to recognize signs of a panic attack and regulate emotional responses through pressure.
Diabetic service dogs can alert their owners to their low blood sugar and provide stability, safety and support.
Visit our individual web pages to understand more about the differences and benefits of autism service dogs, PTSD services dogs and diabetic service dogs.
Emotional Support Animals
Although all dog owners may feel the emotional benefits of owning a dog, the dog needs to be prescribed by a licensed mental health professional to a person with a disabling mental illness such as anxiety or depression to legally be considered an ESA. Emotional Support dogs can be of any age and any breed whereas service dogs usually begin training as puppies.
In addition to being prescribed by a mental health professional, owners may wish for their dog to undergo more specific training. If you are looking for emotional support dog training in your local area, Dog Training Elite in Atlanta has you covered.
The professional dog trainers of Dog Training Elite in Atlanta are experienced with training various types of therapy animals. Trainers work with a dog’s natural temperament to ensure a strong, loving bond between dog and owner. Training can be personalized to fit the needs of the owner.
It is important to note that Emotional Support Animals are meant for just that - emotional support. Dogs trained to assist with specific tasks that may be associated with a disability are service animals. Training a dog to be an Emotional Support Animal or a therapy dog is less intensive than training to be a service animal.
Therapy Animals
Therapy Animals are very similar to Emotional Support Animals, except that they are often used to bolster the mental health and wellbeing of a community, as opposed to just an individual. Therapy dogs are often seen serving in hospitals, rehabilitation or care centers with their owners.
Owners who feel their dog may be a good fit for this kind of community service can have them receive top-notch training from Dog Training Elite in Atlanta.
The most important thing to note as a difference between Emotional Support Animals, Therapy and Service dogs, is service animals are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act which states service animals must be able to accompany their owners wherever they go. Emotional Support and Therapy animals do not have the same protections and public establishments may have their own rules about ESA and therapy dogs.
Whether you’re ready to get a new lease on life with the help of a service dog, or strengthen the existing bond with your dog, Dog Training Elite in Atlanta has the experience and resources you need.
Our Balanced Theory
We base our training around the "Classical Conditioning" model (a.k.a. "Pavlovian" or "respondent conditioning"). This includes developing conditioned or automatic reflexes to commands. In its simplest form (after proper conditioning), when the owner says "sit," the dog automatically sits without thinking about it. Our unique techniques ensure our program is a success no matter what behavior we encounter.
Empowering Owners
We empower owners to train so their dog knows who to obey at all times.
Personalized
We deal with problem behaviors on a personal basis.
Environment Specific
We train wherever issues tend to arise (i.e. jogging, park, home).
Supportive
We support owners in the off-hours (when training is "not in session").
Involved
We work with all members of the household.
Simplified & Customized
We plan training around the owner's schedule and require only 20 min/day follow-up practice.
Continued Training
Additional programs / group sessions offered after in-home training.
Lifetime Investment
We follow up & are invested in the owner's success long-term.
Satisfaction Ratings
Our high client satisfaction rating sets us apart from competitors.
clas·si·cal con·di·tion·ing PSYCHOLOGY noun A learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired; a response that is at first elicited by the second stimulus and is eventually elicited by the first stimulus alone.
We help your dog become a valued companion and beloved member of the family. Read what our customers have to say and then give us a call!
Our pup is almost 2 years old and very headstrong. We have had 2 trainers before without being able to get him to obey. Mike was great with him. He runs to his place, runs to me when I call and does a great heel. I highly recommend them to anyone trying to get a well behaved dog!— Gail Walker
Posted June 22nd 2024
I have been working with DTE for about 8 months now on training my mini goldendoodle, Maya. Gosia and Mike have been extremely informative, kind, generous, helpful and encouraging since day one, and it has not dwindled one bit in these 8 months. Gosia helped me day - 10 (10 days before getting a dog) pick a pup with a good temperament for my needs and has been beyond amazing and wonderful every day since. They provide helpful documents, info and reminders; encouragement and availability via phone; clear communication with scheduling and payments; and personalized training in my house, out in public, and at the Saturday group classes. This has been the best set up for dog training for me: affordable, Mike and Gosia come to me, and they continually give me vision and aid when training is challenging. Together, we are training Maya as a service dog, but I know any level of training through them is nothing less than personal, doable, and enjoyable! Thanks DTE!!!! You’re changing me and Mayas lives for the best!!!!— Ellie Hamstra
Posted June 17th 2024
Whit and his family are incredibly talented at making sure that obedience training is accessible to the dog owner and to the dog. Whit is always available to answer questions, and he always shows up if help is needed. My dog Duke used to be dog reactive and was horrible at obedience. Now, Duke is a service animal. Whit changed both of our lives for the better, and his knowledge and expertise has not stopped since Duke passed his training. He continues to be a support and continues to offer classes. The customer service experience became more familial over time, and we are so grateful as a family to have him and his team be a part of our lives.— Ruth Lambert
Posted June 1st 2024
Whit and his family are incredibly talented at making sure that obedience training is accessible to the dog owner and to the dog. Whit is always available to answer questions, and he always shows up if help is needed. My dog Duke used to be dog reactive and was horrible at obedience. Now, Duke is a service animal. Whit changed both of our lives for the better, and his knowledge and expertise has not stopped since Duke passed his training. He continues to be a support and continues to offer classes. The customer service experience became more familial over time, and we are so grateful as a family to have him and his team be a part of our lives.— Ruthi Lambert
Posted June 1st 2024
The training sessions were great. Very detailed and left a guideline after every session to get more practice in with our Wesley. He has learned so much and loves showing off his new abilities.— Zach Edenfield
Posted May 30th 2024
This company is AMAZING! They are super patient and most definitely know what they are doing! I would def refer them to people! Started off as trainers and ended as a forever relationship! My dog can’t sit still as soon as she sees Gosia (who was her trainer) she gets super excited and happy and starts whining it’s soooo cute!! Mike and Gosia thank you for everything !! 💙💝— Ness Marie LLC
Posted May 22nd 2024
BEST TRAINERS OUT THERE! My dog started out a couple months ago and his progress is unreal! Gosia and Mike are FANTASTIC!!— jewelya nelson
Posted May 22nd 2024
Dog Training Elite have been phenomenal. They’ve been so accommodating with the insanity of my schedule. Mike’s professionalism, thoroughness, knowledge, and passion shows through with every session. Luger (my pup) has truly blossomed under his/their tutelage. I highly recommend their employment for anyone seeking top tier canine training.— Seth Jahn
Posted May 22nd 2024
Whit is an amazing trainer , we have now trained 3 of our dogs and the change is amazing. One of our dogs went through 2 other trainers and we never had success until we met Whit and now she is doing great and listens to us impeccably— nancy kilpatrick
Posted May 11th 2024
We are so happy with Dog Training Elite. Our puppy, Oliver, loves Gosia and we’ve learned how to handle his excitement while he is interacting with other pups. Michael and Gosia really know their business! Their one-on-one training plus group lessons are just what our little man needs . We highly recommend this training program!!!— patricia hubenthal
Posted April 30th 2024
Walking my Great Pyrenees could be difficult because he would constantly pull as he wanted to explore all of the different smells. Furthermore, Great Pyrenees are known for their stubborn behavior, doing want they want, not always obeying their owners. With the training that Dog Training Elite offered us, our dog is more mellow, he listens, and he doesn’t pull when we go for walks. I wish I would have discovered their training sooner! I can’t believe the change in my dog’s behavior. I highly recommend Dog Training Elite!— LaTease Drawdy
Posted April 29th 2024
We did the alpha den puppy program for our rescue puppy and we couldn't be happier with our little guy's progress - highly recommend!— Abigail Foster
Posted April 27th 2024
We were looking for in home training as that is where our girl has the most troubles and they gave us the tools to be able to help her get through the scary stuff (doorbells, knocking, other dogs, school busses to name a few) So happy to have found them and that we are more confident and so is our dog. Big thank you to Mike for being our trainer. Very easy and accommodating to work around busy life schedules as well.— Malynnda Witkauskis
Posted April 3rd 2024
Klaus has been the most headstrong German Shepherd I've ever owned. Mike helped me develop Klaus into an obedient and confident dog. Using the skills Mike taught, I was able to spend a half hour a day to work on what Klaus learned during the weekly training sessions. The results were amazing. In addition to being obedient, he is less reactive to other dogs and very well behaved in busy public places. So here we are, a German Shepherd who was literally expelled from dog daycare, to a well mannered four legged friend. What a difference! I look forward to continuing with group training! If you have a crazy dog, you should give Dog Training Elite NE Atlanta a call. You will love the results!— Aric Ellis
Posted March 28th 2024
My husband and I and Zeus, our 9-month-old working line German Shepherd, have made strides with Dog Training Elite and Michael! Zeus's tenacity and strong will were initially a challenge, but Michael expertly harnessed his energy. And guess what? Zeus has even won over some fans, despite initially facing unfair judgment from some people due to breed stereotypes! Michael has always seen beyond the breed and recognized Zeus's unique personality. He can become overstimulated and reactive in the presence of other dogs, especially with dogs that challenge him, but Michael's expert guidance and patience have helped us make progress. With continued training and socialization in group sessions, led by Michael and his wife Gosia, we're confident that Zeus will learn to navigate these situations with ease. We're eager to explore new horizons and continue growing our bond. If you want a training team who can bring out the best in your dog, look no further than Dog Training Elite.— Tina Cherry
Posted March 26th 2024
We had Mike. He was awesome! Super patient with our crazy girl. He was always willing to answer any questions that we had even if it wasn’t a training question but just a general dog parent question!— Sam Luftig
Posted March 15th 2024
Wow, I feel so lucky that of all the dog trainers in my area I hit the jackpot with DOG TRAINING ELITE! I admit I was a bit out of my league trying to train my Pug puppy on my own. The trainers at Dog Training Elite come to YOUR home, it makes so much sense because issues can be addressed related to your needs and schedule. Gosia was my trainer for the Puppy Prep Classes, but they offer several options . They cover socializing, manners, leash walking and well you name it! Gosia was very encouraging, patient , sweet and so knowledgeable. I highly recommend DOG TRAINING ELITE, success beyond my expectations— Rachelle Son
Posted March 14th 2024
Wow, I feel so lucky that of all the dog trainers in my area I hit the jackpot with DOG TRAINING ELITE! I admit I was a bit out of my league trying to train my Pug puppy on my own. The trainers at Dog Training Elite come to YOUR home, it makes so much sense because issues can be addressed related to your needs and schedule. Gosia was my trainer for the Puppy Prep Classes, but they offer several options . They cover socializing, manners, leash walking and well you name it! Gosia was very encouraging, patient , sweet and so knowledgeable. I highly recommend DOG TRAINING ELITE, success beyond my expectations— Rachelle Son
Posted March 7th 2024
They were so knowledgable and helpful with training our puppy! Definitely recommend!— Brittany Fagan
Posted March 4th 2024
We highly recommend Dog Training Elite to anyone with a puppy or any age dog. They work amazingly beside you teaching both parent & dog/pup to become the best we can be. We have a beautiful & stubborn sweet Rottie we got as a puppy & have gone through the puppy classes & the platinum program. Goshia, our trainer is trustworthy, kind & has given us skills to help Piper be an obedient growing part of our family & society. Goshia has become part of our family and we continue training in their group classes. We are so thankful we found them. They’re the best! 💙🐶— Sandy Wilson
Posted February 1st 2024