FAQs. DTE in Des Moines, IA

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Dog Training Elite in Des Moines, IA

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Frequently Asked Questions

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What is involved with a free assessment?

One of our trainers will visit your home to meet you and your dog and discuss any issues you're facing. We will then demonstrate one of our model dogs so you can see what you can expect after hiring our trainers. From there, we will discuss the various packages we offer and which we feel best suit your (and your dog's) needs.

How do your services differ from your competitors?

We provide full obedience training that covers all basic commands, both on and off-leash. Our in-home visits target specific issues like counter-surfing, digging, and more. Unlike some trainers, we work with all breeds, including those often considered challenging.

Will I (or my family) be involved with the training?

Yes. You (and anyone in your family who wants to be involved) are integral to your dog getting trained. We need you to practice 5-6 days a week, about 15-20 minutes a day for optimal results.

How often are the training sessions?

Once a week. We come to you (with the silver, gold and platinum packages) once a week to start your dog off, then you come to park sessions which are held once a week in Des Moines.

I just have a few issues with my dog, can we cover those issues only?

To effectively resolve specific issues, we need to start with a solid foundation in obedience. This approach helps you become a confident leader for your dog, which is key to addressing and preventing behavioral problems.

Can you train husbands, wives or kids?

Nope. Those are dangerous grounds to tread upon. We'd much rather train a vicious dog!

Do you train all breeds, shapes and sizes?

We train dogs of all breeds, sizes, and temperaments. Whether your dog is a tiny Chihuahua or a large Mastiff, we have the experience and expertise to work with them.

Do you work with aggressive dogs?

Yes. Working with and controlling aggression is one of our specialties in Des Moines.

What kind of service dogs do you train?

We focus on training companion dogs for veterans and individuals with PTSD and other psychological conditions. In addition to service animals, we also train therapy dogs that visit hospitals, nursing homes, and treatment centers.

What kind of temperament does my dog need to have to be service trained?

To be a service dog, your dog needs to have an even temperament. Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Standard Poodles, Goldendoodles, etc. typically have a great temperament for service work. For some types of service work, your dog will need to have AKC certifications (such as Canine Good Citizen or Community Canine) which we are able to certify. As always, we would be happy to assess your dog's aptitude for service work for free!

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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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About Dog Training Elite Des Moines

Dog Training Elite Des Moines - Meet Our Elite Team. Dog Training Elite in Des Moines

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Dog Training Elite Des Moines - Local Dog Trainers in Des Moines, IA. DTE

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Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

Arianna Saultz

Oct. 3, 2025

I would recommend this place to EVERYONE if I could. We have a 2 year old dog and human reactive German Shepherd mix. Before coming to this facility, we couldn't go on walks without having barking outburst, him leash pulling so hard he was basically walking us, and not being able to be within 500 feet of another human or dog without him wanting to go after them. With him being in day camp classes twice a week for only 2 months, we have noticed a big improvement already. We can go on walks with NO leash pulling and NO barking outbursts. He just graduated day camp on October 1st 2025 and he is a completely different dog. He is no longer scared of people. We are currently in group classes to help socialize him more with dogs and he is doing amazing already. He is able to be in the same room as 10+ dogs and just mind his business. Kathryn has been our trainer and she has been PHENOMENAL. She has worked with us every time we had private lessons and even after day camp day she was there to explain everything he worked on and answer any questions we had. She has even gone out of her way to schedule appointments (that came with our package) and make it somewhere other than an at the facility or at home, to better allow him to be more exposed to real world factors he doesn't normally see. This place has been amazing for us and if you are in the same boat or know someone who may need the extra help with their dog, please give this place a shot. It has been worth every cent.
Cena Caterine

Sep. 15, 2023

Kimberly was very sweet and experienced. I have been breeding dogs since the 1980’s so I’ve known several trainers over the years. Kimberly is one of my favorites. She has a natural, easy manner in her training methods and helped correct my flaws in training. My dog was purchased during the Covid pandemic and is not socialized. He was such a cute puppy that we always held him in our laps, he still sits on our laps but he’s huge now. He was trained to go on the treadmill an hour a day to help burn up some of his energy. The one negative side affect is that he is super strong so he’s a handful. He is also very protective leaving me so afraid he would bite someone. Kimberly informed me that Tony was picking up my fear making him more aggressive. She is a joy to work with.
katie Krug

Apr. 15, 2025

I highly recommend Dog Training Elite! Katie has been our trainer for our dog, Honey, and she has gone above and beyond with training her. The team is very knowledgeable and caring.
Jackie Marino

Feb. 14, 2025

We have a 9.5 lb Morkie, who has been the stubbornest dog we have ever had, and we've had multiple miniature schnauzers over the years. We signed Teddy up for the Day Camp program where we dropped him off in the morning, one day a week, and picked him up in the evening. He did very well and graduated from Day Camp. Then we went on to the group classes, which we feel are very important for us to work with Teddy ourselves. I was pleased that within a few weeks, he was able to pass his Canine Good Citizenship test. He still has a few issues for us to work on, but with the help of Dog Training Elite Des Moines, I know it's just a matter of time and patience to get him to be the little dog with perfect behaviour. We are very happy to have had him involved with Dog Training Elite Des Moines.
Sue M

Oct. 5, 2023

We can't express our gratitude enough to Dog Training Elite! Their training has transformed Archie into an incredibly well-behaved and obedient companion. Our home life has improved dramatically, thanks to their expertise. Archie is now a 'good boy' in every sense, and it's made our days together so much more enjoyable. We highly recommend Elite! Worth every penny!
Leeja Kubik

Sep. 12, 2024

Thank you to the whole team! I can now take Cerberus for a walk instead of him taking me for a walk. He has become more accepting of humans and we are both learning more each time we go to class! I would highly recommend DTE for anything from the minor things to complete service dog training!
Sam Charnetski

Sep. 12, 2024

Kim and the DTE team are fantastic! Our dog, Winston, was stubborn to say the least and his leash skills were awful - to the point that my wife hated walking him because he pulled her around the neighborhood and would go wild if he saw any sort of animal while he was out. We signed him up for their obedience training course and saw drastic improvements in his behavior and temperament after the first class! Once he got all the way through training he was a completely new dog. He is a joy to take on walks and my wife has even started running with him. As a busy body, I was skeptical, to say the least, that he would ever do place. To my surprise, after the third class, he was laying on a cot minding his own business while other dogs were training and people were coming in and out. A sight to behold. The trainers are fantastic to work with. Each day when you pick up your dog, they do a quick demonstration and then have you work on the prompts as well. They are sticklers though and expect you to do your homework with the dog. The trainers also will provide updates about the training including pictures and videos of your dog performing the training cues. Having worked with other trainers in the past, I can confidently say Dog Training Elite is the best dog obedience training program in the Des Moines Metro. If you are thinking about signing up for obedience classes for your dog, Dog Training Elite is the best bang for your buck!
Sam Charnetski

Feb. 8, 2024

Kim and the DTE team are fantastic! Our dog, Winston, was stubborn to say the least and his leash skills were awful - to the point that my wife hated walking him because he pulled her around the neighborhood and would go wild if he saw any sort of animal while he was out. We signed him up for their obedience training course and saw drastic improvements in his behavior and temperament after the first class! Once he got all the way through training he was a completely new dog. He is a joy to take on walks and my wife has even started running with him. As a busy body, I was skeptical, to say the least, that he would ever do place. To my surprise, after the third class, he was laying on a cot minding his own business while other dogs were training and people were coming in and out. A sight to behold. The trainers are fantastic to work with. Each day when you pick up your dog, they do a quick demonstration and then have you work on the prompts as well. They are sticklers though and expect you to do your homework with the dog. The trainers also will provide updates about the training including pictures and videos of your dog performing the training cues. Having worked with other trainers in the past, I can confidently say Dog Training Elite is the best dog obedience training program in the Des Moines Metro. If you are thinking about signing up for obedience classes for your dog, Dog Training Elite is the best bang for your buck!
Olivia Mele

Aug. 29, 2024

Where do I begin? We took our sweet golden retriever, Honey, to elite dog trainings platinum 8 week training course. It was a big investment for us, so we had really high hopes. They were exceeded! Kim and Anna aren’t your typical dog trainers. In the past, with other dogs, we’ve dealt with trainers who beat your dogs personality and excitement down into submission- so I was nervous because Honey is so sweet and I didnt want her to loose that. But Elite works with your dogs personality and you can tell they actually LOVE dogs and what they do. Honey became friends with them while respecting them within 30 min of our first session. By the end, she became an independent, obedient, and happy dog who lives to please my husband and I. We will be lifelong clients of Elite!
DennisDiane Harmening

Aug. 22, 2024

We have been so impressed with Dog Training Elite, from the first meeting at our home with Kimberly and Kathleen that left us with confidence that their training could help with a a hyper ambitious 15 month old Boston Terrier female. They both knew from our meeting that I was the spoiler of our baby girl and took her under their wing to training camp and completed a well behaved and obedient (with love) 10 day course of correction that changed her and me to a wonderful life together. Many kudos to their great trainers😊
Codi Deaver

Jul. 30, 2024

Dog training elite is literally the best. Me and my coworker felt very mislead by other training facilities in the metro because they said “our type of dog is not a good breed” for therapy dogs. DTE said that they train all breeds and sizes and don’t give up on the dogs or the owners. They have done that and so much more! We are excited to see what is to come for our therapy dogs as they start their journey helping us heal and others around us.
Angie Beaudet

Jul. 30, 2024

I am so happy and fortunate that I found Dog Training Elite. These are the BEST trainers. They are very positive and encouraging. They are always there to help when you need it. No one believes that my puppy is 7 months old because she is so well behaved in public. If you want to have a well trained dog and work with great trainers I HIGHLY recommend DTE!
Julie Sparks

Jul. 18, 2024

Kim the owner is the best. Her real passion and love for your precious pups really shows. She and all of the trainers are truly amazing at what they do. I trust and recommend this facility and each one of the trainers 100%.
Becky Sue Johnson

Apr. 11, 2024

We rescued our Petra girl from ARL in August 2023, after our beloved Rosie passed. Petra was then 14 months old and a Siberian Husky Shepherd mix. High energy and reactive - but the best heart. She deserved a chance. Petra is our 5th fur baby and we thought we could train her ourselves. Our love and prior experience was just not enough to give her her best life. Special deserves special care and that’s where Dog Training Elite rescued us! Professional, compassionate, and exemplary training and care. Kim is so caring and knowledgeable - specializing in high energy and reactive breeds. Kim has created a trusting and loving bond with Petra, as well as us! Petra girl is making great progress and we are so much more confident as well! Knowing Petra has a lifelong facility to guide us and all the tools to get her towards her good girl halo is priceless! Love us some DTE!
Kimberly Cameron

Dec. 3, 2023

I absolutely love this facility? They have a team of knowledgeable trainers who look at the dog in front of them and not some program that doesn’t fit every dog. They treat the dogs as they would their own and teach the owners not just the dog!!
Ashley Henriquez

Mar. 30, 2024

We’ve been using Dog Training Elite Des Moines for the dog training program since October of 2022 for our puppy Jax. When Kim first walked into our lives, Jax was the co-captain of the hot mess express. He would jump up on everyone, bark at his own shadow etc. Along the way, we’ve encountered some obstacles( dog reactivity) and we enrolled him into day camp to have him evaluated to see if we could have this issue fixed because Jax is enrolled into the SDIT program. It was determined that Jax lacked confidence and I’ve been using the tools and knowledge that Dog Training Elite Des Moines has given me and each week there has been small baby steps improvements in behavioral changes in Jax. The improvement I’ve seen in him and others have mentioned seeing in him has been noticeable. I highly recommend using this company for any and all dog training needs.
Barry Williams

Mar. 2, 2024

If you have a dog that you have concerns about give dog training elite a try first before making any decisions. You get a free demo so they meet your dog and help figure out if their right for your dog. My dog Blue has come so far in just one class. Quin is amazing, she is so patient and kind with my dog. Give them your first call it's worth it. Barry
Mallory Snow

Feb. 11, 2024

From the first meeting with Dog Training Elite we were excited to work with them. Kim was so great to work with and made our life with our German Shepherd puppy so much easier. We loved that they offer in-home training with group class reinforcement for their training. Our puppy is almost a year old now and doing great! I'd highly recommend DTE.
Tim Hammond

Feb. 9, 2024

Dog Training Elite has provided therapy dogs to the college students I work with. I have never interacted with dogs that were so well trained. And the students are over the moon about being able to interact with the dogs.
Shelby Diane Harrison

Feb. 8, 2024

Thank you to the amazing team at Dog training Elite for all your hard work and dedication in helping me train Clifford for service work. We have really enjoyed working along side your team as we develop the skills as a team to work.

Reviews & Testimonials

Our Team

Kimberly Cameron

Trainer

I have always had a passion for animals and have groomed dogs since 2007. I became passionate about dog training while actually training my own dog to be a service dog. Since then I have gone to dog training school through catch academy and received my certification. I hold a certification as a CCDT and am working towards my IACP certification. I am attending the master aggression course with world renowned aggressive dog trainer Michael Shikashio. I have attended the Victoria Stillwell seminar, Aggressive dog conference put on by Michael Shikashio. I have a soft spot for the fearful and anxious dog so I specialize in dog aggression and reactive cases. I have 3 sons, two German Shepherds named June and Odin, a French Bulldog named Snarf, and a Sphinx Cat named Turkey. When not working you can find me in the sun doing anything near water or exploring nature.

Kathryn

Trainer

Hi, my name is Kathryn and I’ve been working and training dogs for over 10years. I started with 2 unruly boxers who desperately needed help with their behavior. I took some classes and was immediately drawn towards the training. I started taking online classes and following tons of trains and trying several techniques. Working with any dog I could get my hands on.

The beginning of 2019 is when everything changed, I took in a neglected young Dutch shepherd puppy and was introduced to the world of working/sport dogs. I started to take on more clients and found I really excelled in behavior modification as well as the process of service dog training. I’ve worked with everything from hunting and sport dogs, to personal protection dogs with a company in Florida to service dogs for all disabilities.

I currently have 2 Dutch Shepherds, a Belgian Malinois and recently took in a Rhodesian Ridgeback. I'm always up for a challenge and no dog can be too difficult. Watching the bond change between dog and owner has been the most rewarding part of my job and I can't wait for more years with happy clients.

Alissa

Trainer

Hello, I’m Alissa - I’ve loved animals my entire life and have made it my goal to center my career around them. I started in the doggy daycare/boarding business when I was 15, learned how to groom dogs when I was 21, started showing in 2022, and currently I’ve been training dogs since July 2025.

I own two Treeing Walker Coonhounds, Blair is an ex-show dog currently in training for therapy work and sports. My second, Pixie, is reactive/aggressive - she is the main reason for my passion when helping others with their reactive or less-biddable dogs, it’s so rewarding to see the same progress and know exactly how the owners feel watching their dog make that progress. My main goal is to help you and your dog build a clear understanding of each other and strengthen your bond. I hope we get to work together!

Meet the Team