An obedient puppy receiving expert puppy training in Cleveland, OH from DTE.
Dog Training Elite

Puppy Training in Cleveland, OH

Request Free Assessment

Request Free Assessment

Our Puppy Training Could Help:
Leash and potty training
Food guarding and begging
Destructive chewing and digging
Stealing food, clothing, or other objects
Barking, howling and whining
Aggression and anxiety
Jumping and hyperactivity

Dog Training Elite

Professional Cleveland Puppy Trainers

Bringing home a new puppy is exciting, but it also comes with challenges like chewing and accidents. The most common mistake new owners make is underestimating the knowledge, commitment, and effort needed to train a new puppy.

Once a puppy begins to grow, its energy can quickly feel unmanageable. It’s all too common that a well-meaning and loving family takes on a puppy lacking the knowledge and skills to train correctly. This often results in overwhelmed owners rehoming or taking these puppies to local shelters, feeling the puppy’s disposition is bad or simply that they are not cut out to be dog owners.

At Dog Training Elite, we focus on building that bond through effective training to foster trust and communication. Our experienced Cleveland puppy trainers use proven methods to help you and your puppy succeed together.

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A little puppy sitting in grass, contact Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro 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
Three puppies receiving expert training from Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro.

The Importance of Puppy Training


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Almost everyone and everything a puppy will encounter will be brand new, which can be exciting. However, puppies may not know how to respond positively and safely to new experiences without proper training. That's why Dog Training Elite believes in starting puppy training as soon as possible, so you and your pup can bond and start your adventures on the right foot!

Training the DTE way provides puppies and owners with a nurturing environment where they can learn to communicate and trust each other. Puppies have an innate desire to please, so training can be fun and even easy! Of course, it can be daunting to try and figure out how to make puppies understand concepts like potty training or commands like sit and stay on your own. That's where puppy training comes in.

Keeping a puppy safe should be the number one priority of new dog owners. By working with puppy trainers in, new puppy owners can learn how to teach their pup both basic and complex obedience skills effectively. Training a pup to be home alone, walk on a leash, wait on the threshold, and avoid consuming non-edible objects will help keep them safe when out of sight.

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!

Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Barbara Barresi
    Sep. 22, 2025
    Kevin and Andrea at Dog Training Elite, plus their team, helped us reach our goal to have Tucker become a therapy dog!
  • Heather Cappy
    Sep. 17, 2025
    We LOVED everything! We have a lab that is going to be very big, and wanted to nip training in the butt! We could tell a difference in just two days! Everyone did an amazing job training our dog Bruno! Bruno was excited to go to training and would start waging his tail as soon as we pulled in, which showed the love and care they gave him while training! I highly recommend!!!!!
  • TJ
    Sep. 17, 2025
    I can’t say enough good things about my experience with Dog Training Elite Greater Cleveland. From the very first session, the trainers brought a calm, confident energy that helped both me and my dog feel at ease. Their collective knowledge and professionalism really stood out, and their consistency across sessions made it easy to build momentum and trust the process. What impressed me most was how patient, understanding, and encouraging each trainer was—especially when my dog had those high-energy, impulsive moments. The basic obedience lessons were clear, effective, and adaptable to real-life situations. The whole experience felt structured but never rigid, and always supportive. If you’re serious about results and want trainers who truly care about both you and your dog, this is the team to work with. Easily the best dog training experience I’ve had in the Cleveland area.
  • Jill Petras
    Sep. 11, 2025
    Kevin was excellent with our dog. His directions for her and us were very clear. Our dog really learned a lot during these lessons. I would highly recommend his service.
  • Kay Rose
    Sep. 4, 2025
    DTE is fantastic! Our pup was resource guarding and bit my wife and I. We have grandchildren and this behavior was unacceptable. We were devastated as we thought we would have to rehome her. I began searching for resources and contacted DTE. Hailey came and did an in home evaluation. She was knowledgeable and honest. Despite the cost, it has been worth every penny! We now have a well trained dog that no longer resource guards. DTE is knowledgeable, patient and kind as they want what is best for your dog and you. All of the trainers that worked with our Holly were exceptional. Hailey was Holly’s primary trainer and we can’t thank her enough for saving us and our pup. No matter how many times we asked the same question or needed a review of a command she was 100% engaged and helpful. We highly recommend Dog Training Elite Greater Cleveland to anyone looking for friendly, effective dog training. Thank you for all of your dedication and hard work!!
  • Giovanna Ciaravino
    Aug. 30, 2025
    The team at Dog Training Elite Greater Cleveland demonstrated remarkable kindness, patience, professionalism, and sense of humor, making the dog training experience both enjoyable and informative expertly guiding our dog through Basic obedience lessons. As a dog owner, it was comforting to have a patient and knowledgeable Dog behavior expert working with my aggressive dog towards achieving necessary skills to take him out in public. Josh was extremely knowledgeable in answering many of my questions and patient with my dog’s progression and my family members while learning how to train my dog. Truly if it wasn’t for Dog Training Elite my dog would be in a very tough spot. With this organization I felt confident in my dog and am very proud of the progress we have made! I highly recommend this dog training especially for aggressive dogs that are deemed intolerable.
  • Jack Johnston
    Aug. 29, 2025
    The Dog Trainer at Dog Training Elite Greater Cleveland was extremely professional, knowledgeable, and patient, fostering a supportive environment that helped my dog thrive during basic obedience lessons and in-home training. Her kind approach and expert guidance earned her a reputation as a reliable Dog behavior expert and top-notch Service Dog Trainer in the Cleveland area.
  • Laura Stephens
    Aug. 29, 2025
    Dog Training Elite Greater Cleveland's trainers exude patience, kindnes, and expertise, all of which transformed my unsocialized, wild animal of a 13 wk old mini schnauzer that I couldn't even get a leash or collar on when we got him, into a "walking through the park" on a loose leash dream. The transformation is nothing short of a miracle. I highly recommend Elite. Everyone on their staff is absolutely amazing!
  • Margaret Sohnlein
    Aug. 21, 2025
    Our puppy Charlie had an amazing experience at Dog Training Elite! We can’t believe how much he learned in his two week training camp. Thank you to all of his wonderful trainers!!
  • Laycee Wojo
    Aug. 15, 2025
    Loved this experience and getting to learn more about my dog and train her the correct way, working with Dog training elite has brought me closer to my dog and understanding the correct methods on how to train them without hurting them. Thank you Dog training elite for a wonderful experience!
  • Cali Fleming
    Aug. 15, 2025
    Karly taught us that excited praise motivates our food driven pup better than any treats!
  • Fahmi Adam
    Aug. 15, 2025
    Kevin specializes in service dog training and helped us understand our golden retriever's amazing potential.
  • Ulfatul Hamidah
    Aug. 14, 2025
    (Translated by Google) The dog is so cute, I really want to keep a dog but I'm Muslim 😭😭 pretending to be cute 😘😘 (Original) Anjing nya lucu bgtt,saya pengen bgt memelihara anjing tapi saya islamm😭😭sok cuteee 😘😘
  • Dina Shasi
    Aug. 14, 2025
    Josh quickly changed separation anxiety using techniques that address root causes.
  • Hayes Browning
    Aug. 14, 2025
    Hayley taught us excited praise motivates better than any food treats 🦴
  • Reed Benson
    Aug. 13, 2025
    Hayley quickly changed jumping behavior, taught us effective prevention techniques completely.
  • Nabilla Naser
    Aug. 12, 2025
    Hayley taught us patience works, consistency is key to training success.
  • Siti Rohmah Nurhasanah
    Aug. 12, 2025
    Hayley and team are incredible, service dog training expertise is unmatched!
  • Lance Matthews
    Jan. 31, 2025
    The team at Dog Training Elite are very effective and knowledgeable. They go the extra mile to make certain you understand and possess the skills needed to maintain the trained tasks for your family member. The patience, encouragement, kindness, cleanliness, and effectiveness of Dog Training Elite Greater Cleveland is truly exceptional, making it easy to follow along with all of their tasks & obedience lessons as well as their tailored instructions for my pet. My pet was additionally trained for specific tasks needed for my home care as well as care in public as a Working Service Dog; which is needed for myself. As a result, I've seen significant improvement in my dog's behavior under the guidance of a Master Dog Trainer whom specializes in Service Dog Training and is knowledgeable in In-home training methods. I would like to personally thank Josh Lopez and Team for their professionalism and genuine care/concern for the effectiveness and skills we’ve learned thru the process!!!!
  • Deborah M
    Aug. 5, 2025
    I was impressed with the patience, knowledge, consistency, and compassion exhibited by the dog trainers at Dog Training Elite Greater Cleveland throughout my dog's basic obedience lessons, remarking on the expert guidance provided by their certified Dog trainer. Thanks to their helpful communication and tailored In-home dog training, I witnessed significant improvements in my dog's behavior, as well as her brother. He is a very nervous dog, but everytime Hayley came in to work with my girl, my other dog just started doing all the commands playing copy cat. He does not like people outside his family, but became good buddies with her. Elite Dog training is a trustworthy resource for dog owners seeking top-notch Service Dog Training.
A Cleveland puppy trainers giving a puppy positive affirmation during an in-home training session.

Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro, OH

In-Home Puppy Training

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Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro offers comprehensive in-home training. For the first 4-6 weeks, trainers use “treat training” before moving onto more advanced puppy training. Puppies will learn the following behaviors:

  • Come, down, loose-leash walking, and down
  • Puppy corrections (Stop biting, digging, jumping, etc.)
  • Crate training/ housebreaking
  • Focus around distractions

Trainers will also help owners learn about the following:

  • Socialization tips
  • Environmental hazards
  • Positive reinforcement techniques
  • Puppy enrichment
  • Caring for your puppy
  • And more!

Training a puppy can feel overwhelming. By pairing you with a professional trainer, not only will your puppy learn quickly, but you will feel confident and empowered to continue training your puppy after the sessions are completed. Training in your own home will help you bond with your pup so even after the professional trainer leaves, you and Fido can continue to progress together.

A puppy ready to start training with Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro.

Start Puppy Training Early

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First-time dog owners are often unsure of when to begin training their dogs. For the best results, it’s essential to start training your puppy as soon as possible. You can start socialization and basic commands as soon as you bring your new puppy home. Puppies are open to new experiences and people and learn quickly while they are young. It is beneficial to take advantage of this stage. Start with basic commands like "down," "come," and "stay." If you are searching for classes, Dog Training Elite offers puppy obedience classes.

Additional Puppy Training Info

Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro - Puppy Crate Training in Cleveland, OH. DTE

Crate Training

A well-manered puppy receiving positive reinforcement from their owner.

Our Puppy Trainers

The DTE Approach

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We have developed a highly successful and unique positive puppy training program empowering dog owners to train. Hence, their dog knows who to obey at all times, in all situations or environments. We offer personalized training to deal with specific issues and behaviors. We even offers customized training schedules to offer you the support you need as a dog owner.

Involvement is Key!

Most dog training programs don’t allow for the involvement of owners and families. Our trainers greatly encourage owners and their families to be involved in the training process. Why? This ensures you and your family know what’s expected, allows for continued education and means all the progress isn’t lost. Your puppy won’t come home and forget everything he’s learned.

Our puppy training program consists of two phases, early training and advanced training. Puppies as young as eight weeks can begin learning with Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro. Our process allows us to efficiently complete in-home puppy training services at your home or within the environment where behaviors manifest - such as in the park or around other dogs in the neighborhood.

A Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro puppy training outside.

Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro

How Puppy Training Works

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We use a positive puppy training method paired with an electronic collar - not a shock collar. Unlike shock collars, electronic collars do not hurt or harm the pup. They are used only to obtain their attention, not to punish bad behavior. We believe in using constant praise to encourage good behavior. The difference becomes apparent when comparing a puppy trained out of fear to a puppy who truly desires to please.

Positive Reinforcement for Positive Pups

Positive reinforcement is the best option in puppy training. Punishments will only scare your dog, and fear can lead to aggression problems later in life. Our trainers use a classical conditioning program focusing on positive reinforcement of basic commands.

Dogs are eager to please. When they learn following basic commands results in affection or a treat, they will be happy to do as you ask. With patience - and the assistance of a professional puppy trainer - you'll be rewarded with a lifelong loyal pal.

We base our training around the "Classical Conditioning" model, also known as the "Pavlovian" response or "respondent conditioning." This means developing conditioned or automatic reflexes to commands, so when the owner says "sit," the dog automatically sits without thinking. Our unique technique ensures our program is a success no matter what behavior we encounter.

Contact us today to learn more about our training programs !

A group of dogs being trained by the expert team at Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro.
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Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro

Tips on How to Bond

Training is a great way to establish a deep, loyal bond with your puppy. Outside of your training sessions, there is more you can do to strengthen your bond. Here are some more tips for how to bond with your puppy:

Your puppy may not understand the words you’re saying, but he or she will understand your tone of voice. Speaking in an excited tone of voice will get your pup excited and motivate them to do what you want them to. Speaking in a low, calm voice can help soothe and relax your puppy.
Puppies thrive on routine. A consistent schedule will help your puppy adjust to their new home, and to you and your family. A puppy’s schedule needs to include eating, playtime, puppy training, potty breaks, and nap times.
As mentioned above, playtime is an important part of your puppy’s schedule. Playing with your puppy will help strengthen your bond and stimulate their brains. Walks are an easy and great way to give your puppy much-needed exercise. Start small, walking around in your yard or driveway and gradually extending the distance around your neighborhood.
Creating boundaries in your home for your puppy helps strengthen your bond because your puppy will look to you for direction and guidance. It will also help your puppy avoid bad habits. Baby gates and playpens are a useful way to create physical boundaries.
Puppies can become overwhelmed about all the new things they’re exploring. Crate training is a perfect way to allow your puppy to have their own space where they feel safe and comfortable and help them develop some independence so they grow into a well-adjusted dog.
The most adorable way to bond with your puppy is by cuddling them! Snuggling with your pup can help him or her feel comforted and safe. The best time to get a cuddle session with your puppy is when they are sleepy. Cuddling also helps puppies get used to having their paws, belly, face, etc. handled, and can be a good time to introduce light grooming practices like brushing their fur.