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Puppy Obedience Training

Dog Training Elite in Cincinnati

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An adorable puppy being held by their owner - get professional puppy obedience training in Cincinnati, OH with Dog Training Elite today.

Dog Training Elite

Puppy Obedience Training in Cincinnati, OH

When it’s time to bring your new puppy home, one of the best things you can do for their well-being and your sanity is to start obedience training as soon as possible. Puppies are eager to learn and starting training early can prevent unwanted behaviors like chewing, whining, nipping, and accidents.

At Dog Training Elite, we offer professional puppy obedience training in Cincinnati, OH. Our team has the resources and knowledge you need to feel confident in controlling your new companion and setting your puppy up for lifelong success.

Learn more about our specialized approach to obedience training and book a free consultation with our team to eliminate those unwanted behaviors!

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A little puppy sitting in grass, contact Dog Training Elite in Cincinnati today.

Puppy Essentials Webinar

Free 70-Minute video

$45 Value

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Our trusted puppy class is now available "on-demand" from the comfort of your home! This webinar video is designed for owners of puppies age 8-16 weeks old, and will be accessible to you for free after completing the form below or with the purchase of one of our puppy packages!

Access Webinar

Our webinar includes education on the following topics:
  • Introducing a new puppy to your home
  • Health & well-being
  • Veterinary care & vaccines
  • Nurturing a good temperament
  • Scruffing & calming signals (e.g. dog yoga)
  • Basic Treat Obedience Including: Come, sit, loose-leash walking, and down
  • Puppy Corrections (Stop biting, digging, jumping, etc.)
  • Crate Training / Housebreaking
  • Socialization Tips
  • Environmental Hazards
  • Puppy Enrichment
  • Caring for Your Puppy

Understanding Puppy Obedience Training

Dog Training Elite

Many behaviors that puppies exhibit are completely normal during the “puppy stage,” but if left unaddressed, they can develop into more serious concerns as your puppy grows.

Early obedience training is key to preventing these issues from becoming ingrained habits. Below are some common issues puppies often display, along with the underlying causes:

Puppies explore the world with their mouths, and teething puppies chew to soothe sore gums. While this is natural, it can become a problem when they chew on furniture, shoes, or other household items.
Nipping is a way for puppies to play and communicate, but as they grow, this behavior can become painful and unwanted. Puppies often learn bite inhibition from their littermates, but without proper guidance, they may continue to nip or bite when interacting with people.
Puppies often whine to express discomfort, fear, or a desire for attention. While it may seem cute at first, persistent whining can be a sign of anxiety or other underlying issues, and it may lead to attention-seeking behaviors if not addressed properly.
Jumping is a natural behavior for puppies as they seek to get closer to their handlers. Puppies jump to greet people, but as they grow, this behavior can become overwhelming or even dangerous, especially for small children or elderly individuals.
Puppies are still learning bladder and bowel control, so accidents are common. Without consistent training and guidance, house soiling can become a persistent issue.
Puppies are naturally excited about exploring their surroundings and often pull on the leash to get to where they want to go. Without proper leash training, this behavior can lead to difficulties controlling your dog on walks as they get bigger and stronger.
Puppies bark to communicate, get attention, or out of excitement. However, excessive barking can indicate boredom, fear, or territorial behavior. If not addressed, barking can become a nuisance, especially in social settings or shared living environments.
Digging is often a natural instinct for puppies, especially certain breeds. They may dig to bury toys, cool off, or out of boredom. Without proper intervention, this behavior can lead to damaged lawns and gardens, as well as unwanted messes.
Some puppies develop anxiety when left alone for extended periods. Signs of separation anxiety can include destructive behavior, excessive barking or whining, and even accidents inside the house. Without addressing the root of the anxiety, this behavior can escalate into more severe emotional and behavioral problems as the puppy grows.
Puppies have a natural prey drive, causing them to chase after fast-moving objects, such as squirrels, cars, or even children. Without training, this instinctual behavior can become dangerous, putting the puppy and others at risk, especially in busy areas or near roads.
An adorable puppy being trained by the experts at Dog Training Elite - get Cincinnati puppy obedience training today.

Puppy Training 101

How to Train a Puppy

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The #1 mistake new puppy owners make when learning how to train a puppy is waiting too long to start puppy training. Other common mistakes include:

  • Avoiding Crates: Crate training is not meant to be a form of punishment or isolation for a puppy or dog. Not only can it help with potty training, as dogs instinctively don’t want to soil their own space, but a crate can provide a safe place for a puppy or dog to go when they are feeling overwhelmed in their environment.
  • Not Puppy-Proofing Your Home: Much like baby-proofing, puppy-proofing a home is necessary to prevent the destruction of personal items, as well as to protect a puppy from harmful things like wires or toxic chemicals. Make sure these things are out of reach, or protected with a gate or another kind of barrier.
  • Scolding or Harmful Punishment: Pushing a puppy’s face into a mess or scolding them after an accident is a prime example of when focusing on positive reinforcement is far more effective than punishment. Puppies don’t understand what they’ve done wrong after the fact. Instead, they’ll associate their owner’s anger with the mess, which can lead to anxiety and cause them to hide their accidents in less obvious places around the house.
  • Failing to Socialize: The window of time between eight weeks and 16 weeks in puppy time is critical for learning to socialize with other dogs and humans. This can lead to antisocial, anxious, or even aggressive behavior when the puppy becomes a dog. Puppy classes at Dog Training Elite are a great way to achieve socialization.

Additional Obedience Training Info

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Classical Conditioning Training
Dog Training Elite in Cincinnati - Positive Reinforcement Dog Training in Cincinnati, OH. DTE
Positive Reinforcement Training
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Off Leash Training
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Agility Through Basic Obedience Training
An adorable golden doodle puppy with Dog Training Elite in Cincinnati.

Puppy Training with Dog Training Elite

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Dog Training Elite can help puppy owners learn how to train a puppy and avoid common mistakes, empowering owners to train at home with all the right tools. This is accomplished with our comprehensive in-home puppy training. For the first 4-6 weeks, trainers use “treat training” before moving on to more advanced puppy training. Treat training helps with the following behaviors:

  • Come, sit, loose-leash walking, and down
  • Puppy Corrections (Stop biting, digging, jumping, etc.)
  • Crate Training/ House Breaking

Trainers will also help owners learn about the following:

  • Socialization Tips
  • Environmental Hazards
  • Puppy Enrichment
  • Caring for Your Puppy
  • And more!
A dog being trained with {Fran_brand_name} - puppy obedience training in Cincinnati, OH.

Start Puppy Obedience Training Today


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After initial training at home, obedience classes are also a great option for exposing a young puppy to other dogs, people, new sounds, and sights. Combining obedience classes with training at home will ensure a well-behaved puppy that learns quickly.

The Dog Training Elite training method focuses on encouraging proper behaviors with positive reinforcement. Punishment is never used as a form of training as it can lead to aggression and fear in dogs.

Positive reinforcement teaches a puppy that performing obedient behaviors wins love and affection from their owner. Our professional puppy trainers include owners in the training process so that puppies learn who is in charge. By working alongside owners, trainers will help owners and puppies build a strong, healthy relationship founded on loyalty and trust.

Contact us today to start your puppy training journey!

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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!

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Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Tony Venosa
    Dec. 29, 2024
    Our family just completed a 6-week program with our dog, Desi, a mini Australian Shepherd. Our trainer, Alex, exceeded our expectations for helping us resolve our issues with Desi, who has a tendency with nipping/ biting, reactivity issues, and general obedience. Alex was extremely attentive to our concerns and his knowledge about dog training is beyond reproach. We cannot say enough things about our satisfaction with Alex and Dog Training Elite. He took time to answer all of our questions we bombarded him during the training days. We are shocked how well Desi is doing after 6 week program. We no longer are worried about having guests into our home because of Desi's growling and nipping. We will continue to work with Desi with the knowledge and skills we learned from Alex. We highly recommend Alex and Dog Training Elite Greater Cincinnati!
  • Tammy Lynn Morgan
    Dec. 14, 2024
    I cannot express enough gratitude for Alex and his incredible service dog training program. From the very first meeting, it was clear that Alex is not only highly knowledgeable but also genuinely passionate about his work. His patience, dedication, and understanding of both dogs and their handlers are truly exceptional. Our service dog, Ryker, has undergone a remarkable transformation under Alex's guidance. The training sessions were well-structured, informative, and tailored to meet our specific needs. Alex took the time to understand our goals and challenges, and he provided us with the tools and techniques necessary to succeed. The results speak for themselves. Ryker, while already a smart doodle, is even more well-behaved, confident, and a highly reliable service dog. The positive impact on our daily lives is immeasurable. We feel more independent and secure, knowing that we have a highly trained companion by our side. I highly recommend Alex to anyone in need of service dog training. His professionalism, expertise, and compassion make him a standout in the field. Thank you, Alex, for everything you have done for us! You aren't 'just our dog trainer', but you're now a family friend in our household, including your dog Buddy! You're welcome at our home anytime just to visit or for a playdate with Ryker & Buddy. Much Love Jeff & Tammy Morgan
  • J Kaster
    Dec. 12, 2024
    Alex did an amazing job training me to train our dog. I saw an immediate difference after just the first session and the week following of short (5 min) daily training sessions. She is much less anxious and has learned to follow our commands. I couldn't be happier with the results.
  • Shannon Rokey
    Dec. 11, 2024
    After finishing all of my one-on-one trainings with Trainer Alex, I feel so much more confident in my ability to work with my dog’s reactivity. Alex helped me navigate my dog’s food aggression and helped me grow in my confidence around redirecting my dog and correcting unwanted behavior. My dog and I are so much happier and healthier for it! Dog training, elite helped bring out the best in my dog and taught me how to use the appropriate tools for each of these challenges.
  • takeitha lawson
    Dec. 2, 2024
    I couldn't have chosen a better establishment to help my dog become a service dog. The professionalism and care demonstrated throughout the training process were excellent. It is clear that the trainers are true experts when it comes to dogs, and it's evident that they genuinely love them.
  • Annie Venerable
    Dec. 2, 2024
    Very helpful teaching me how to get my rescue to walk on a leash.
  • Kim
    Nov. 23, 2024
    Wow. Just wow. I can not say anything but amazing things about Dog Training Elite! We were looking to get a service dog for our little girl but were running into the issue if the extreme cost of it so we decided to go a different route and get a puppy and get it trained as a service dog. We searched for the best of the best and we stumbled upon Dog Training Elite and boy were we happy we did. After sending in an interest form we were contacted within the day and set up for a FREE in home consultation! We were wowed by everything they had to say and the price was not too bad for all we got! We signed up right on the spot! From the first visit to the last visit our trainer was amazing with our non verbal 4 year old daughter and the dog and our dog learned so so fast. They are not only there for your dog but to train YOU to train your dog when they aren’t there! If you are ready to take the time to invest life long strategies and skills for your dog… click to get more information. You will not regret it!
  • Kawartha Ohio
    Nov. 22, 2024
    We engaged Dog Training Elite to help with our young German Shepherd puppy, Rolo. Because we had owned and trained dogs previously Rolo already had many basic commands but we had issues with reactive barking and with getting him to focus on us instead of whatever was getting his attention. Because of his reactivity calm leash walking was a problem. We worked with Scott, who introduced us to the slip leash, the e-collar, and several new commands. With these new training aids we gained a much greater level of control over young Rolo and gained a lot more confidence in our ability to walk him. Scott was wonderful to work with. He soon made a friend of Rolo, who greeted Scott's arrival each lesson with great enthusiasm. Scott was clear in communicating with us too so we understood how to apply the training to Rolo. We also appreciate the group training sessions which help us work on Rolo's behavior around other dogs. We highly recommend Elite Dog Training, and Scott in particular.
  • Kody Pierson
    Nov. 19, 2024
    We are truly grateful for Scott and Jen. when we moved here , our dog was anxious, unruly, and struggled with listening to us. After just a couple training sessions we saw a remarkable improvement. Training with Scott has not only helped our dog learn to relax, but also strengthened our bond. I highly recommend Scott and Jen to anyone looking for exceptional dog trainers.
  • Kody Pierson
    Nov. 19, 2024
    We are truly grateful for Scott and Jen. When we moved here, our dog was anxious, unruly, and struggled with listening to us. After just a couple of training sessions, we saw a remarkable improvement. Training with Scott has not only helped our dog learn to relax but also strengthened our bond. I highly recommend Scott and Jen to anyone looking for exceptional dog trainers.
  • tim tuttle
    Nov. 17, 2024
    We recently re-homed a 4-year-old border collie named Alfie, who, although smart and active, had issues with reactivity both in the house and on the leash. Truthfully we were scared when Alfie was acting out. Alex from Dog Training Elite was a game changer for us. His patience and expertise not only helped Alfie but trained us as well. He introduced us to an e-collar, which became an invaluable tool in managing Alfie's behavior. In just a few weeks, Alfie developed great recall and would quickly go to 'place' even during reactive episodes. Alex also taught us proper leash-walking techniques, putting an end to Alfie's leash-pulling. The e-collar helped keep Alfie focused and discouraged his reactive behavior. What stands out the most is the confidence we now have in handling Alfie, knowing he's becoming an integral part of our family. Alex was always punctual, incredibly nice, and patient, and Alfie loved his visits. We highly recommend Dog Training Elite and Alex for anyone in need of professional dog training assistance.
  • Jillian Hegemann
    Nov. 12, 2024
    I cannot say enough good things about our experience just that I wish I did this sooner! I truly thought my dog was untrainable, I was scared to let him outside in our fenced in yard because he’d charge the fence and don’t get me started on walking him. We got to the point where only my husband could walk him. After training all of that has changed! I feel like I know how to control my dog in the yard and on the leash. And I can tell my dog is way more relaxed! Like he knows I’ve got it under control for the first time. We worked hard with our dog because we needed him to be successful! We have a baby and live by an elementary school and it was worth it!! The time, energy and resources are worth it for you and your dog!
  • Madeline Rieman
    Nov. 4, 2024
    Hands down the best decision I’ve made is choosing Cincinnati Dog Training Elite. The depth of knowledge I’ve learned & applied over the course of our training sessions has been incredible. I’ve seen my one year old puppy transform in so many positive ways & it goes without saying how impactful the Training Elite team has been, ensuring we are focusing on areas of concern I had at the beginning & tailoring the courses to fit my (and Boo Radley’s) needs all throughout. Huge shout out to our favorite dog trainer, Alex (who we now call Uncle Alex 😊), he’s so incredibly knowledgeable and patient with not only Boo Radley, but me as well. You’re in tremendous hands & you will see immediate results even after session #1. If your new puppy parent, or even want to brush up on overall training techniques for an existing pet, you will not regret making this decision. It’s well worth every penny, I promise!
  • Kylie Champagne
    Nov. 4, 2024
    An amazing program very helpful and patient did an amazing job working with my dog. I highly recommend there services.
  • Jeff Caldwell
    Nov. 2, 2024
    From the initial evaluation of the situation with our dogs through the final training session, Scott and DTE have been excellent. The thorough assessment from DTE resulted with us switching which dog needed the training. As training progressed, we included both dogs with wonderful results. Scott, thanks for the expertise, experienced handling and insight you provided us. I would definitely recommend DTE.
  • Sean Cox
    Oct. 24, 2024
    Our family’s dog learned so much in our sessions. My confidence as an owner increased and it has changed the relationship I have with my dog. I highly recommend this staff. Everyone involved is very professional.
  • Jim Swift
    Oct. 23, 2024
    Dog whisperers! Great in house training for our two terriers.
  • Lauren McRae
    Oct. 16, 2024
    My pup and I have had the best time working with everyone at Dog Training Elite Greater Cincinnati! Responses are always timely, at-home training and group training have been informative, and scheduling has been easy. They also go above and beyond ensuring that training, even at group class, works for me and my pup. We’re getting close to achieving a leash-less life in every scenario that we can. Pup pics included for fun
  • Shiann Massie
    Oct. 12, 2024
    The trainers were great! Worked with me for my crazy schedule and a payment plan! Very helpful. My dog is behaving and listening much better!
  • Holly Gooch
    Sep. 23, 2024
    Elite Cincinnati East was amazing! We had Alex as our trainer and he was wonderful! We bought our puppy for our daughter to eventually become a service dog for her. Alex was able to teach us the skills and work with us to train our puppy to perform the basic commands and have a strong foundation for further service dog training. Alex did more than show us how to work with our puppy; he taught us about how to read our puppy’s actions/body language and the best ways to communicate with our puppy what behavior we expect from her. Thanks to Alex we were able to figure out what was the best approach for training our puppy to get the best results. I would highly recommend Elite Cincinnati East and Alex!