Call Us Free Assessment
Back to Local Training

Military / Retired Vet Programs

Dog Training Elite in Chicago

Call Us Pricing

Request Free Assessment

Call Us
Book Online
Texting Terms and Conditions

Request Free Assessment

Call Us
Book Online
A military veteran and service dog - Dog Training Elite offers elite veteran service dog training in Chicago, IL.

Dog Training Elite

Military Veteran Service Dog Training in Chicago, IL

At Dog Training Elite in Chicago, we strongly believe in the healing power of service dogs for military veterans. That’s why we dedicate our time and passion to providing veteran service dog training in Chicago, IL.

Service dogs can greatly assist with both the mental and physical challenges veterans may face after serving our country. Many veterans experience PTSD, physical disabilities, or other impairments, and our service dogs have been proven to help reduce symptoms and support veterans in returning to their daily routines.

Learn more about our programs designed for veterans and discover why Dog Training Elite is committed to making a difference in the community.

See Training Packages
A service puppy in training - Dog Training Elite offers veteran service dog training in Chicago, IL for those who have served our country.

Dog Training Elite in Chicago

Why We Offer Service Dog Training for Military Veterans

Read More
Read Less

At Dog Training Elite in Chicago, we are passionate about helping military veterans through the support of service dogs. We offer specialized service dog training options in Chicago, backed by scientific research and proven by our own success stories.

In a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans paired with service dogs experienced a significant reduction in PTSD symptoms and fewer self-harm ideations. The mental health and medical communities increasingly recognize service dogs’ positive impact on emotional well-being and independence, making them one of the most effective tools for veteran recovery.

At Dog Training Elite, we are dedicated to providing exceptional dog training services that provide the tools and support needed for our veterans and their dogs to thrive, offering a path toward healing and better quality of life.

A beautiful golden retriever service dog - Dog Training Elite in Chicago.

Popular Service Dog Breeds

Read More
Read Less

Finding a service dog that fits your individual needs is important, especially for military veteran support. While most dogs can be trained to become service dogs, a few breeds stand out due to their personalities and inherent traits.

Here are a few of the most popular service dog breeds:

  1. Labrador Retrievers: Labradors are intelligent, versatile, and eager to please, making them ideal for PTSD service dogs. Their trainability allows them to excel in roles like guide dogs, mobility support, and emotional support, making them highly adaptable for veterans.
  2. Golden Retrievers: Golden Retrievers are known for their calm, gentle nature and strong work ethic. They are excellent at providing mobility assistance and emotional support, especially for veterans with PTSD, due to their patient and loving temperament.
  3. German Shepherds: German Shepherds are strong, loyal, and highly intelligent, making them excellent service dogs. Their protective instincts and trainability allow them to assist with mobility, search and rescue, and provide emotional support for veterans.
  4. Malinois: Belgian Malinois are known for their deep loyalty and intelligence. Malinois are not for everyone due to their energy and drive, but for retired veterans who appreciate discipline, structure, and a deep connection, they can be life-changing companions.

Get Your Free Assessment

You and your canine companion really can have it all. See how easy it can be to become a member of the elite pup society by requesting a free consultation today!

Call Us Free Assessment

Photo Gallery

See An Elite Dog in Action

An adorable golden retriever puppy service training Dog Training Elite in Chicago. See Gallery
An adorable Australian Shepherd on a place platform with Dog Training Elite in Chicago. See Gallery
A group of dogs being trained by experts at Dog Training Elite in Chicago. See Gallery
An golden retriever at a show demo with Dog Training Elite in Chicago. See Gallery
An adorable dog obstacle training with Dog Training Elite in Chicago. See Gallery
A service dog and his veteran owner - Dog Training Elite in Chicago.

Our Veteran Service Dog Training in Chicago, IL

Read More
Read Less

Service dogs undergo extensive specialized training to perform their tasks and assist their owners. Our training process involves a combination of obedience training, task training, and public access training.

  • Obedience Training: This training focuses on teaching a dog basic commands, such as sit, down, heel, come, as well as proper leash manners and socialization skills.
  • Task Training: Task training is tailored to fit the needs of each individual. It involves teaching the dog to perform tasks that mitigate the person’s disability, such as retrieving items, opening doors, or providing deep pressure therapy.
  • Public Access Training: This type of training is crucial to ensure the dog remains calm, well-behaved, and non-disruptive in various public settings. This training includes exposure to different environments, distractions, and social interactions to provide a dog that can confidently navigate public spaces.
A beautiful service dog standing outside - Dog Training Elite in Chicago.

Service Dogs for Veterans & PTSD

Get Specialized Training with DTE Today

Read More
Read Less

Training with Dog Training Elite is tailored specifically for military veterans dealing with PTSD and other service-related challenges. Our programs focus on helping veterans regain independence, emotional stability, and confidence through the support of a well-trained service dog.

At Dog Training Elite, we are dedicated to providing service dog training that strengthens the bond between veterans and their dogs, guiding them toward a brighter future and supporting their healing journey.

Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Alexandrea Robinson
    Feb. 17, 2025
    First training went extremely well! Julz had a blast and immediately went for a nap! Jess was great with adjusting to our environment and customizing areas of improvement.
  • Ashley Wiejak
    Dec. 3, 2024
    Jess is absolutely wonderful to work with.
  • Lara Muldoon
    Feb. 18, 2025
    Jessica is absolutely amazing. Our dog Murray had terrible separation anxiety and was nervous and poorly behaved around most other dogs especially larger dogs before we found her. He no longer scratches things up when we aren't home and he actually likes being around other dogs and listens better to us.
  • Gabrielle Schmidt
    Jan. 29, 2025
    Jess has been working with my dog, Jack, and me for nearly a year, and I cannot recommend her enough! Thanks to her incredible guidance, support, and professionalism, Jack, at just over a year old, is now a certified therapy dog with Canine Therapy Corp. She also helped him earn his Canine Good Citizen certification and AKC Novice Trick Dog title. Jess is not only an exceptional trainer but also incredibly flexible, always working with my schedule to make training possible. If you’re looking for the best trainer to help you and your dog succeed, look no further than Jess!
  • Lauri S
    Dec. 17, 2024
    Friendly, knowledgeable, and very patient with me. I really appreciated her taking the time to ensure that I understood everything. Excellent job, looking forward to working with you.
  • Kevin Minard
    Nov. 21, 2024
    Chicago DTE is amazing! My sessions with Jess have been great, and every lesson so far has been effectively tailored to my dog’s needs and abilities - way beyond your run of the mill standard program or curriculum.
  • Laura Simpler
    Nov. 11, 2024
    Very accommodating, knowledgable, and comforting. Our dog is going great!!
  • steven gore
    Sep. 30, 2024
    Jeff is the real deal. I have a sweet but stubborn pit bull. I have went to a couple training classes over the years but nothing stuck. She was an extreme puller and was stubborn coming a command. Also when the doorbell rang we could not control her. After 6 sessions with Jeff, and some homework, we have the most well behaved dog at the park. She comes on command, places when told and I am even able to walk her off leash. Jeff is punctual, knowledgeable and I highly recommend.
  • Kelly
    Sep. 20, 2024
    We had a great experience with Dog Training Elite! Our trainer, Rich, was incredibly knowledgeable and patient. He took time to understand the specific needs of the family. Before training with Rich, our dog was a typical puppy – full of energy, easily distracted, and a little bit mischievous. Not only have we seen improvement in Apollo’s obedience, Rich helped us understand how to reinforce good behavior. Apollo is now a well-mannered member of the family! If you're looking to strengthen your bond with your dog and see real, positive changes in their behavior, Dog Training Elite is the way to go. Our experience has been nothing short of fantastic, and we can’t wait to continue our training journey!
  • Desiree Martinez
    Sep. 16, 2024
    My dog Boog and I have been going through the Puppy Platinum training program at DTE with Jess and it has been such a tremendous help with raising him! Boogs been with DTE since he was 20 weeks old and he’s about to be 1 next month. He is so well behaved and gets a lot of praise about it from everyone he encounters. Jess has done a great job with providing both Boog and I with tons of resources and knowledge on dog obedience. Boog absolutely loved having his 1 on 1 sessions and loves his group classes even more.
  • Stephanie Roatis
    May. 3, 2024
    Jeff completely transformed our border collie/blue heeler mix. When we moved back to Chicago, our dog was anxious of everything in the city including buses, bikes, and even runners. He pulled on his leash constantly and lunged at moving objects. We were active with him physically but not mentally. With the private lessons, Jeff handled Tucker so well at the at-home lessons, giving him tasks to calm his mind & setting him up for success. After, the group lessons were also incredibly effective, since it gave us a chance to interact with other dogs. I will say, you HAVE to do the homework *every day*. This is a course for owners as much as the dogs. Our dog is so much calmer now; still an incredibly energetic herding dog who needs LOTS of activity, but you can tell how much more collected he is on walks, at the park, or when guests are in our home. This course transformed my dog & we couldn't be happier with the results! Also, dog aside, I really jived with Jeff's communication methods & attendance policies. He was always on time, so I was always on time. The mutual respect of everyone's time was much appreciated.
  • KEN BRANDT
    May. 3, 2024
    Our dog, Rodney, was 5 when he started developing a serious barking problem. This happened when our grandchildren started coming to us for daycare 3 days a week. He was so loud with an almost constant barking that we couldn’t stand it. Finally we found your company. Karen, our weekly trainer, came to the house and worked with us and Rodney to get him back to his normal self. We use the training vibration collar with remote and that almost immediately curbed his loud bark. Karen also helped us keep control during walks with on leash training. We didn’t think an older dog could learn new tricks but this company and staff did it. We’d recommend Dog Training Elite!
  • Lara Lambrecht
    Apr. 30, 2024
    Jeff has been working with our dog Max for nearly three years now. I am simply amazed at the relationship that he has built with Max and all the dogs that he works with.🙂
  • Bodhi U
    Mar. 18, 2024
    We had a wonderful experience with Jeff and Elite dog training. Currently our Goldendoodle “Buster” is almost done with service dog training and his transformation has been nothing short of extraordinary. Jeff and his wife came to our house and did a great presentation and they are both very personable and knowledgeable of the training processes. Our Buster was extremely timid and at same time extremely energetic which gave Jeff, self admittedly, doubts about Busters ability to become a service dog. With the EZ educator and Jeff’s guidance we’ve been able to turn our dog into a very successfully trained little ball of awesomeness. Was the best money I’ve spent as the benefits of having a dog that doesn’t need a leash and listens well is priceless. Thanks Jeff and Lara from Mike, Caitlin and Buster!
  • kealy ditchfield
    Feb. 14, 2024
    We had Jessica Arundale work with our Labrador Butch on leash walking as he started to pull a little on his daily walks, and she has hosted him for boarding on many occasions too. She’s really responsive and sweet and nothing is too much trouble. Butch aways gets excited when he goes to see Jessica!
  • Victoria Lee
    Feb. 13, 2024
    Jessica’s great!! We left Hailey to train with her and Hailey learned all the commands well. She also left us “homework” to do so Hailey can reinforce her learning. Highly recommend Jessica as a trainer!!
  • Calena Winfield
    Jan. 24, 2024
    Ask for Jess. Awesome, kind and attentive dog trainer❤️❤️❤️❤️
  • Helen Wallace
    Dec. 4, 2023
    Jeff did a fantastic job with obedience training for our energetic, larger than life Newfoundland, Burly. After 6 sessions Burly, successfully mastered sit, down, come, place, heel, and was even able to walk off leash in heel and come when called across a large field. He tremendously improved in his response and listening skills and Jeff taught us how to better train and reward Burly moving forward. Our family was very impressed by his new skills when we brought him home for the holidays. Burly has also loved the one on one time to work on his skills and it is easier to bring him to new places and have visitors at the house with his improved temperament and listening skills. Thank you Jeff!
  • Jessica Godt
    Nov. 27, 2023
    Jeff is a fantastic trainer. I worked with him on getting my 2.5 year old dog properly trained to be a service dog. I wasn't sure he'd actually get to that point as he still has puppy energy, but within just a few months working with Jeff I saw incredible changes and in less than 6 months my dog was able to pass his public access test. Jeff is extremely helpful and guides you through the training process as an owner, understanding that sometimes we need just as much (if not more) training than our dogs! Jeff was truly a pleasure to work with and I would definitely recommend him for training dogs of all ages.
  • Adrienne East
    Oct. 12, 2023
    Jeff did a wonderful job training my 4-5 month old Australian Shepherd. He helped Westley and myself learn quickly and effectively. Jeff is extremely knowledgeable and able to help with a wide variety of training challenges or issues that arise. This training program is WORTH IT! For a well trained and adjusted dog. You cannot go wrong with choosing this program. Thanks Jeff! Adrienne & Westley
  • Alexandrea Robinson
    Feb. 17, 2025
    First training went extremely well! Julz had a blast and immediately went for a nap! Jess was great with adjusting to our environment and customizing areas of improvement.
  • Ashley Wiejak
    Dec. 3, 2024
    Jess is absolutely wonderful to work with.
  • Lara Muldoon
    Feb. 18, 2025
    Jessica is absolutely amazing. Our dog Murray had terrible separation anxiety and was nervous and poorly behaved around most other dogs especially larger dogs before we found her. He no longer scratches things up when we aren't home and he actually likes being around other dogs and listens better to us.
  • Gabrielle Schmidt
    Jan. 29, 2025
    Jess has been working with my dog, Jack, and me for nearly a year, and I cannot recommend her enough! Thanks to her incredible guidance, support, and professionalism, Jack, at just over a year old, is now a certified therapy dog with Canine Therapy Corp. She also helped him earn his Canine Good Citizen certification and AKC Novice Trick Dog title. Jess is not only an exceptional trainer but also incredibly flexible, always working with my schedule to make training possible. If you’re looking for the best trainer to help you and your dog succeed, look no further than Jess!
  • Lauri S
    Dec. 17, 2024
    Friendly, knowledgeable, and very patient with me. I really appreciated her taking the time to ensure that I understood everything. Excellent job, looking forward to working with you.
  • Kevin Minard
    Nov. 21, 2024
    Chicago DTE is amazing! My sessions with Jess have been great, and every lesson so far has been effectively tailored to my dog’s needs and abilities - way beyond your run of the mill standard program or curriculum.
  • Laura Simpler
    Nov. 11, 2024
    Very accommodating, knowledgable, and comforting. Our dog is going great!!
  • steven gore
    Sep. 30, 2024
    Jeff is the real deal. I have a sweet but stubborn pit bull. I have went to a couple training classes over the years but nothing stuck. She was an extreme puller and was stubborn coming a command. Also when the doorbell rang we could not control her. After 6 sessions with Jeff, and some homework, we have the most well behaved dog at the park. She comes on command, places when told and I am even able to walk her off leash. Jeff is punctual, knowledgeable and I highly recommend.
  • Kelly
    Sep. 20, 2024
    We had a great experience with Dog Training Elite! Our trainer, Rich, was incredibly knowledgeable and patient. He took time to understand the specific needs of the family. Before training with Rich, our dog was a typical puppy – full of energy, easily distracted, and a little bit mischievous. Not only have we seen improvement in Apollo’s obedience, Rich helped us understand how to reinforce good behavior. Apollo is now a well-mannered member of the family! If you're looking to strengthen your bond with your dog and see real, positive changes in their behavior, Dog Training Elite is the way to go. Our experience has been nothing short of fantastic, and we can’t wait to continue our training journey!
  • Desiree Martinez
    Sep. 16, 2024
    My dog Boog and I have been going through the Puppy Platinum training program at DTE with Jess and it has been such a tremendous help with raising him! Boogs been with DTE since he was 20 weeks old and he’s about to be 1 next month. He is so well behaved and gets a lot of praise about it from everyone he encounters. Jess has done a great job with providing both Boog and I with tons of resources and knowledge on dog obedience. Boog absolutely loved having his 1 on 1 sessions and loves his group classes even more.
  • Stephanie Roatis
    May. 3, 2024
    Jeff completely transformed our border collie/blue heeler mix. When we moved back to Chicago, our dog was anxious of everything in the city including buses, bikes, and even runners. He pulled on his leash constantly and lunged at moving objects. We were active with him physically but not mentally. With the private lessons, Jeff handled Tucker so well at the at-home lessons, giving him tasks to calm his mind & setting him up for success. After, the group lessons were also incredibly effective, since it gave us a chance to interact with other dogs. I will say, you HAVE to do the homework *every day*. This is a course for owners as much as the dogs. Our dog is so much calmer now; still an incredibly energetic herding dog who needs LOTS of activity, but you can tell how much more collected he is on walks, at the park, or when guests are in our home. This course transformed my dog & we couldn't be happier with the results! Also, dog aside, I really jived with Jeff's communication methods & attendance policies. He was always on time, so I was always on time. The mutual respect of everyone's time was much appreciated.
  • KEN BRANDT
    May. 3, 2024
    Our dog, Rodney, was 5 when he started developing a serious barking problem. This happened when our grandchildren started coming to us for daycare 3 days a week. He was so loud with an almost constant barking that we couldn’t stand it. Finally we found your company. Karen, our weekly trainer, came to the house and worked with us and Rodney to get him back to his normal self. We use the training vibration collar with remote and that almost immediately curbed his loud bark. Karen also helped us keep control during walks with on leash training. We didn’t think an older dog could learn new tricks but this company and staff did it. We’d recommend Dog Training Elite!
  • Lara Lambrecht
    Apr. 30, 2024
    Jeff has been working with our dog Max for nearly three years now. I am simply amazed at the relationship that he has built with Max and all the dogs that he works with.🙂
  • Bodhi U
    Mar. 18, 2024
    We had a wonderful experience with Jeff and Elite dog training. Currently our Goldendoodle “Buster” is almost done with service dog training and his transformation has been nothing short of extraordinary. Jeff and his wife came to our house and did a great presentation and they are both very personable and knowledgeable of the training processes. Our Buster was extremely timid and at same time extremely energetic which gave Jeff, self admittedly, doubts about Busters ability to become a service dog. With the EZ educator and Jeff’s guidance we’ve been able to turn our dog into a very successfully trained little ball of awesomeness. Was the best money I’ve spent as the benefits of having a dog that doesn’t need a leash and listens well is priceless. Thanks Jeff and Lara from Mike, Caitlin and Buster!
  • kealy ditchfield
    Feb. 14, 2024
    We had Jessica Arundale work with our Labrador Butch on leash walking as he started to pull a little on his daily walks, and she has hosted him for boarding on many occasions too. She’s really responsive and sweet and nothing is too much trouble. Butch aways gets excited when he goes to see Jessica!
  • Victoria Lee
    Feb. 13, 2024
    Jessica’s great!! We left Hailey to train with her and Hailey learned all the commands well. She also left us “homework” to do so Hailey can reinforce her learning. Highly recommend Jessica as a trainer!!
  • Calena Winfield
    Jan. 24, 2024
    Ask for Jess. Awesome, kind and attentive dog trainer❤️❤️❤️❤️
  • Helen Wallace
    Dec. 4, 2023
    Jeff did a fantastic job with obedience training for our energetic, larger than life Newfoundland, Burly. After 6 sessions Burly, successfully mastered sit, down, come, place, heel, and was even able to walk off leash in heel and come when called across a large field. He tremendously improved in his response and listening skills and Jeff taught us how to better train and reward Burly moving forward. Our family was very impressed by his new skills when we brought him home for the holidays. Burly has also loved the one on one time to work on his skills and it is easier to bring him to new places and have visitors at the house with his improved temperament and listening skills. Thank you Jeff!
  • Jessica Godt
    Nov. 27, 2023
    Jeff is a fantastic trainer. I worked with him on getting my 2.5 year old dog properly trained to be a service dog. I wasn't sure he'd actually get to that point as he still has puppy energy, but within just a few months working with Jeff I saw incredible changes and in less than 6 months my dog was able to pass his public access test. Jeff is extremely helpful and guides you through the training process as an owner, understanding that sometimes we need just as much (if not more) training than our dogs! Jeff was truly a pleasure to work with and I would definitely recommend him for training dogs of all ages.
  • Adrienne East
    Oct. 12, 2023
    Jeff did a wonderful job training my 4-5 month old Australian Shepherd. He helped Westley and myself learn quickly and effectively. Jeff is extremely knowledgeable and able to help with a wide variety of training challenges or issues that arise. This training program is WORTH IT! For a well trained and adjusted dog. You cannot go wrong with choosing this program. Thanks Jeff! Adrienne & Westley
Reviews & Testimonials