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Puppy Obedience Training

Dog Training Elite Columbus

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

Dog Training Elite

Puppy Obedience Training in Columbus, 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 Columbus, 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 Columbus 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 Columbus 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
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Positive Reinforcement Training
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Agility Through Basic Obedience Training
An adorable golden doodle puppy with Dog Training Elite Columbus.

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 Columbus, 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

  • Joanne Beyer
    Dec. 12, 2024
    I am very happy with our choice of dog training. Seeing how much not only our dogs have learned, but ourselves as well. I couldn’t be happier. Thank you for all your help! Joanne and Dave / Buster and Eva
  • Tiffany Bettac
    Dec. 14, 2024
    Brennan has been amazing with our super smart high energy Australian shepherd collie mix. He’s always willing to adapt and try new things with her until we get it dialed in. Callie looks forward to all her sessions with Mr. Brennan.
  • Haley Shots
    Dec. 12, 2024
    We found Elite Dog training at the pet expo, and no other trainers caught our attention like they did. They were very welcoming , understanding, and instantly came up with a plan that was executed perfectly . She’s stubborn but caught on quickly. I’m so proud of my dog Lady and how far she has came. If it wasn’t for Brennon who knows how lady would be. We got her training just in time . I am unsure of her background history, I found her running through traffic , she was severely matted and scared. Couldn’t find the owner, and now she goes up to people , she isn’t as shy, and she really is so loved and living her best life … thanks to Elite dog training !!!
  • Haley Shots
    Dec. 12, 2024
    If you knew my dog, The picture would say it all… the fact she was able to stand on a bucket! When my lil Lady would be so scared to even be near a step… We found Elite Dog training at the pet expo, and no other trainers caught our attention like they did. They were very welcoming , understanding, and instantly came up with a plan that was executed pretty . I’m so proud of my dog Lady and how far she has came. If it wasn’t for Brennon who knows how lady would be. We got her training just in time . I am unsure of her background history, I found her running through traffic , she was severely matted and scared. Couldn’t find the owner, and now she goes up to people , she isn’t as shy, and she really is so loved and living her best life … thanks to Elite dog training !!
  • Monica Rickrich
    Dec. 11, 2024
    My rescue used to snap at everyone! After training with Brennan, she now sits on the couch with strangers after 5 minutes of meeting them! Brennan is amazing! You can't go wrong with him and Ami!!
  • Edward Solano
    Dec. 11, 2024
    They are great experts in dog behavior. Their training has been life-changing for our 9-mo the old puppy!
  • Sue Schlairet
    Dec. 11, 2024
    Very knowledgeable and helpful. Extremely pleased and would definitely recommend!
  • Sue schlairet
    Dec. 11, 2024
    Great experience - well worth the money!!
  • Laura Lawrence
    Dec. 11, 2024
    Enjoy the extra weekend sessions. My dog Cosmo is getting used to existing with the other dogs. I have learned myself how to handle him in different scenarios. Brennan had done a great job teaching us how to be comfortable around other dogs.
  • Brandi Orsini
    Nov. 16, 2024
    Very pleased with our experience with Brennan and Dog Training Elite Columbus! My girl can be a little stinker and Brennan never gives up on her (or me!)…and keeps coming up with new ways for me to challenge her and work toward our goals. Thank you, Brennan! I think you are stuck with us for a while! 😉
  • Kathy
    Nov. 9, 2024
    I would like to say our trainer Brennan was amazing ! I learned so much that I would have not thought about doing with Pickle! How to give Pickle commands when needed, and obedience training . Pickle was excited to see Brennan each visit ! Thank you Brennan!
  • Leann
    Nov. 9, 2024
    My family is so grateful for the training that Brennan was able to share with us and our dog Pickle. The training helped relieve a lot of stress we had been feeling before reaching out for help. He went above and beyond to answer any questions that we had along the way. Our lessons felt personalized, and we were grateful that he would take whatever time was needed until we felt comfortable practicing that week’s lesson on our own. Pickle also had a lot of fun during the lessons and got some treats along the way. Two months later, Pickle is still doing really well with all that he has learned from Brennan. Thank you for all that you do!
  • Simon Freitas
    Nov. 1, 2024
    Brennan is my one and only dog trainer. I got my dog army last summer and she has come so far because of all the work that Brennan has put in with us. If you need to train your animal to be a service dog, listen to your commands, or do fun tricks then sign up with this guy!!!
  • Emily Heath
    Nov. 1, 2024
    Brennan is amazing! He was a pleasure to work with and he was great with our Frenchie, Tully. It was amazing to see her quick transfomation in the short time we worked together. Thanks to Brennan we have a really great relationship with our pup now. 10/10 deff reccomend, worth every penny.
  • Emily Heath
    Nov. 1, 2024
    Brennan is amazing! He was a pleasure to work with and he was great with our Frenchie, Tully. It was amazing to see her quick transfomation in the short time we worked together. Thanks to Brennan we have a really great relationship with our pup now. 10/10 deff reccomend, worth every penny.
  • Natasha Schafer
    Oct. 20, 2024
    I can't recommend Dog Training Elite enough! Brennen, our trainer, is exceptional. His kind yet firm approach creates a positive atmosphere for both dogs and handlers. He takes the time to assess each handler's abilities, ensuring everyone is equipped to train effectively. With a focus on positive reinforcement, Brennen's methods truly work. He has been working with my Doberman, Minnie, who is in training to be a therapy dog in a behavioral health setting. If you're looking for top-notch dog training, look no further!
  • Nick Smith
    Oct. 16, 2024
    Brennan is the best dog trainer in town. He is the third trainer I used for my dog Kaden. The other two trainers did not get my dog where I wanted him to be. Brennan went beyond my expectations. My dog used to react to other dogs, now he can be around any dog. My dog can now be off leash and still have the obedience as he is on leash. I used to be nervous to have Kaden near my daughter, but now I feel 100% confident with him around her. Highly recommend Brennan and his dog training methods.
  • James Owen
    Aug. 18, 2024
    Best trainer ever. Trained my Golden Retriever beyond all expectations! And Mabel loves him.
  • Dave Hamlin
    Jun. 3, 2024
    Brennan and Dog Training Elite Columbus have been fantastic in helping with the training of Ozzy. Brennan has been involved since Ozzy was a young puppy and continues to provide great training. Brennan is enthusiastic, caring and is timely. I highly recommend him to help with training. -Dave H
  • Janelle Miller
    May. 5, 2024
    We’ve loved this experience! Brennen (our trainer) has been amazing to work with. He adapted to the needs of our dog and continued review basic training commands in the mix. Our dog was timid with loud sounds and he brought all the ideas and tools for each training session. We get 1:1 at our house and group sessions at the park. No matter what your end goal may be, Brennen is supportive and hard working to get to that goal.