An image of two labradors - Dog Training Elite offers labrador training in Des Moines, IA for puppies and adult dogs.

Professional Training For

Labradors

Dog Training Elite Des Moines

Booking Request


Dog Training Elite Des Moines online booking

Request Free Assessment

Booking Request


Dog Training Elite Des Moines online booking

Request Free Assessment

Our Labrador Training Could Help:

Excessive barking
Chewing and destruction
Separation anxiety
Jumping
Leash pulling
Overexcitement and hyperactivity
Begging
Digging
Mouthing and nipping

Labrador Training in Des Moines, IA

If you are starting out with a brand new Labrador puppy or need some help with your full grown dog, Dog Training Elite's personalized in-home training programs can help you develop a strong bond and harness all of the incredible benefits of the breed.

Labradors are a highly intelligent breed that loves to please, making Labrador training in Des Moines, IA a breeze. Working in your own home, a Dog Training Elite trainer will create a personalized training plan for you and your pet, addressing any unique needs or issues they may have.

If you need training for you puppy, socialization is a great place to start. Once they have completed obedience training, Dog Training Elite Des Moines offers puppy group classes which is a great way to help your puppy socialize with other dogs and people, as well as learn to obey you in a distracting environment.

While beginning Labrador puppy training at an early age can be important and extremely helpful for dogs, if you adopt an older Labrador dog don’t worry! Our specific breed training works with older dogs too, and training your Labrador will be a snap with their eager-to-please attitude.

See Training Packages
Three labrador dogs of different coat colors - contact Dog Training Elite for adult or Des Moines labrador puppy training services.

Labrador Traits and Characteristics


Read More
Read Less

Labradors have been the No. 1 most popular dog breed in America for close to three decades. It’s not hard to understand why – Labradors are playful, energetic, smart, and friendly. They make great companions for individuals and families and generally get along with children and other pets.

Although high-energy, Labradors are laidback and easy going, unfazed by the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Bred originally to be working dogs, their intelligence makes them a great option for service or therapy dogs.

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!

Video Gallery

Videos

FAQs

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Sue B
    Oct. 6, 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!
  • 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!
  • 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!
  • Olivia Mele
    Aug. 30, 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. 19, 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 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.
  • 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.
  • Jeremy R. Hall
    Dec. 13, 2023
    Amazing trainers and very helpful when i have questions, im very glad i took my puppy there, and I'll be taking my older dog there too because of how good things have worked out. Best place in town I've found for dog training
  • Warren Huggins
    Nov. 22, 2023
    great training facility for our service dog for our sons service dog. I cannot say enough good things about all the trainers we have worked with in at home 1st trainings/group/obedient/sdit trainings. The owner has always been there for questions or adding value to our training. We started our journey in Oct with a consultation, then went with their preferred breeder. Which is also was a great experience. We cant thank them enough for all the help and support we have gotten in our long journey
  • Jennifer Sharp-Kopf Blohn
    Nov. 12, 2023
    If you need a dog trainer for any reason, go to Dog Training Elite! They have been training my 6 month old German shepherd mastiff mix since she was 3 months old and I am so incredibly pleased with her progress and can't wait to see her learn more from Kim and Anna. They don't just train your dog. They also train you! So it's a 2 for 1 deal really. And they have answered every question I've had about my puppy from feeding to sleeping and everything. Kim and Anna are the best trainers! I also love the fact that they are with us for the long haul. They don't just train your dog and send you off, they are there to help with any issues that may come up. Kim and Anna know dogs and they know what they are doing and they do it right! I can't recommend them enough!!!
A labrador sitting outdoors - with professional labrador training in Des Moines, IA from Dog Training Elite, your labrador will be a great companion.

What Makes Labradors Unique?

Read More
Read Less

There are many reasons to love Labradors. Here are just a few:

  1. Labradors Love the Water: You may have already known this fact, because Labs are pretty famous for loving the water. They’re actually made for it! A Lab can use their thick tail – sometimes referred to as an “otter tail” – as a powerful rudder. They also have wide, webbed feet to help them swim fast and waterproof coats that help them remain comfortable even in cold water.
  2. They were Bred as Hunting Dogs: Initially, Labs were bred as duck retrievers, and then later as game-hunting companions. They tend to excel in retriever field trials and retriever hunting tests. They’re incredibly versatile as sport dogs, excelling in agility, rally and obedience sports.
  3. Labs Come in Three Colors: Labrador coats come in three colors – black, yellow, and chocolate.
  4. Labs can do Almost Anything: Their intelligence, energy, and affectionate nature makes them a popular choice for service and therapy dogs, as well as for search and rescue teams, and bomb and drug detection. Suffice to say, all Labradors are very good dogs who do very good jobs.

Additional Breeds We Train

Dog Training Elite Des Moines - German Shepherd Training in Des Moines, IA. DTE
German Shepherd
Dog Training Elite Des Moines - Goldendoodle Training in Des Moines, IA. Dog Training Elite
Goldendoodle
Dog Training Elite Des Moines - Beagle Dog Training in Des Moines, IA. Dog Training Elite
Beagle
Dog Training Elite Des Moines - Pitbull Training in Des Moines, IA. DTE
Pitbull
Dog Training Elite Des Moines - Doberman Training in Des Moines, IA. DTE
Doberman
Dog Training Elite Des Moines - Border Collie Training in Des Moines, IA. DTE
Border Collie
Dog Training Elite Des Moines - Golden Retriever Training in Des Moines, IA. DTE
Golden Retriever
Dog Training Elite Des Moines - French Bulldog Training in Des Moines, IA. DTE
French Bulldog
An image of a labrador outside with their owner - get professional training services with Dog Training Elite.

Breed Specific Tips & Tricks

Keeping Your Labrador Happy and Healthy

Read More
Read Less

Although Labradors are famously laid back and friendly, that doesn’t mean they don’t require attentive care. If you’re considering adopting a Labrador, or you already have one and want to learn more about how to keep your pup happy and healthy, consider the following:

  1. Labradors Need Plenty of Exercise: Although Labs are easy going, they need plenty of exercise – even up to two hours a day. This can be made up of long walks, training sessions, playing fetch, or going to the dog park. Though it’s important to make sure they get enough exercise, you also need to be careful you don’t let your dog overdo it, especially as a puppy while their joints and bones are still growing.
  2. Groom Your Lab Weekly: Labradors have short, smooth coats that are prone to shedding. Combing them weekly with a comb or bristle brush, or combing daily during shedding season, can help keep shedding under control. Make sure you have a good vacuum!
  3. Manage their Diet: As big, energetic dogs, Labs need to eat a lot – but they can be prone to putting on pounds, as well. Follow the recommended amounts on dog food packaging, or consult with your vet.
  4. Make sure Your Labrador Gets Lots of Attention: Labradors are very social. Socialization with other dogs is important, so trips to the dog park, doggy play dates, or group training classes at Dog Training Elite can be beneficial for both you and your dog. If your Lab has to be home without you for long stretches of time, be sure to have stimulating dog toys, puzzles, and chew toys available for them, and consider hiring someone to check on and play with them during the day.
A group of dogs being trained by the expert team at Dog Training Elite Des Moines.
Dog Training Elite Des Moines light star icon.

Educate, Empower, Elevate, Elite

Victory Begins With Elite Education

An adorable labrador puppy getting trained with Dog Training Elite Des Moines professionals.

Dog and Puppy Training For Your Labrador Breed

Schedule Your Free Training Consultation Today

Read More
Read Less

The Dog Training Elite Des Moines training method is based around classical conditioning with an emphasis on positive reinforcement. Classical conditioning means developing conditioned or automatic reflexes to commands, so when you say “sit,” your dog will sit automatically. Labradors respond especially well to positive reinforcement and our trainers will tailor your Des Moines Labrador puppy training to suit you and your dogs needs.

While all dogs share qualities of kindness, loyalty and intelligence regardless of breed, Dog Training Elite Des Moines recognizes that every dog is an individual and may require different training methods. We stand out by taking into consideration what breed your dog is when making training goals.

Regardless of your dogs specific breed, Dog Training Elite Des Moines can help you and your pup overcome any obstacle related to obedience and socialization. Our unique techniques ensure our program is a success no matter what behavior we encounter.

Ready to turn your Labrador into the best companion for you or your family? Contact us today to receive a free in-home assessment or Labrador training demonstration.