A service dog and their owner outside - find elite service dog training in Grand Rapids, MI with Dog Training Elite.

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Service Dog Training

Dog Training Elite West Michigan

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Our Service Dog Training Could Help:

Veterans or civilians with PTSD, anxiety, or depression
Children or adults with autism
Individuals with epilepsy
Advanced medical training (participating locations)

Dog Training Elite West Michigan

Service Dog Training in Grand Rapids, MI

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service dog as “a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.” Disabilities include mental or physical impairments that affect an individual’s ability to perform one or more major life activities (walking, seeing, etc.).

Because service dogs play such a key role in the life of disabled individuals, they are protected by the law. Places of residence, employment, and commercial facilities cannot discriminate against disabled individuals with service animals. If you are wondering how to get a service dog, you can either purchase a fully trained dog or purchase a service puppy and train it.

With our service dog training in Grand Rapids, MI, we ensure that your dog is trained to meet the specific needs of your disability, providing personalized support and empowering both dog and handler for long-term success.

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A man and his support service dog - learn more about our positive training methods at Dog Training Elite.

Our Pawsitive Approach to Service Dog Training


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At Dog Training Elite, we believe that successful dog training requires dedication, patience, and balance. That’s why we are committed to using positive reinforcement techniques in all of our training programs.

Through positive reinforcement training, our team helps owners build trust with their dogs. This approach is especially important for service dog training because strong relationships and communication are essential for dogs to reliably assist their handler.

By focusing on encouragement rather than punishment, we created confident, well-behaved dogs that are eager to perform their best and impress their owners.

Get Your Free Consultation

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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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 Grand Rapids.
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

  • adrian Quintino
    Oct. 30, 2024
    We are 3 weeks into training with DTE and Osito (Mini Goldendoodle)is a whole new dog! We saw improvement after just one day of training which I didn't think it was possible! Carrie helped us make so much progress with Osito. He is so much well behaved and his Obedience has improved so much! We tried other training programs which were based on rewards like treats/food/toys. That type of training failed miserably with Osito. It was so hard to keep him engaged. We highly recommend Carrie and her DTE training program! Carrie is teaching us a system that works fantastic for us and Osito! So much progress in such a short amount of time. Can't wait to see the end result once the program has been completed! Thank you so much Carrie and DTE!
  • Alison Bowser
    Oct. 23, 2024
    Our dog, George, came to us completely untrained and just a mess. Carrie helped us make SO much progress with him. He’s a different dog! He’s so well behaved and he’s become such a great dog for our family.
  • Brady Owen
    Sep. 20, 2024
    We are very thankful we chose Carrie and Dog Training Elite West Michigan. I saw the impact good training could have on our dog after the first class. We’re very appreciative of the hard work that goes into training and look forward to each class so not only does our dog learn, but we do as well to become better dog parents!
  • Kyle Smith
    Aug. 5, 2024
    Dog Training Elite -West Michigan was a great option for Wesson, our 4 yr old Labradoodle! Carrie taught us a system that works for our dog and our family. We got our dog during Covid and never enrolled in obedience classes due to the shutdowns. While our dog was never aggressive, we needed help with commands to avoid “over joyful welcomes” with visitors and a way to turn off excessive barking at UPS, Fed Ex and other “invaders.” We actually got way more than we expected. I have a happy dog, happy wife and a happy life! I highly recommend Carrie and her Dog Training Elite program!
  • Jonci Warner
    Jul. 11, 2024
    This was my first dog so I knew I needed an expert to help me train. The convenience of at-home lessons and Carrie’s vast understanding of dog behavior was near priceless. What I noticed over all was how much she cared about our dog and its well-being. She is very passionate about her craft. Now people I meet everyday tell me what a well behaved dog I have. A great experience for sure.
  • Max Sloss
    Jul. 11, 2024
    Our trainer from Dog Training Elite West Michigan helped us train our dog ever since he was a puppy. She has helped us and our dog by training our dog to listen to our commands, and having him learn self control. Our trainer was very experienced and intelligent on what to do with dogs. She taught us as owners what to do in almost any situation that could happen to our dog. Overall this is a great service that I am grateful for and would highly recommend to everyone and I could not be happier with what they have done for us and our dog.
  • Heidi Maroney
    Jun. 23, 2024
    Carrie was wonderful with our dogs. We have 2 dogs. She was on time every lesson. Using E collars is very new to us. So we are still getting used to them. We are practicing with the e-collars daily through out daily activities. They do listen better with them and it has helped a great deal to shut down unwanted behavior. Such as excessive barking, pulling, lunging, and rough housing. It has also helped with walking the dogs with distractions. They have learned to sit and stay while people are passing by on walks. We have not started any group classes yet but are looking forward to checking them out.
  • Kristin Howarth
    Jun. 8, 2024
    We hired Carrie to train our 3 year old chocolate lab Brody. She has done an amazing job! She took the time to get to know our family and worked with us on creating a customized plan that fit our needs. Our dog has responded really well to the training. He is listening better, not jumping as much and is learning to heel. We appreciate Carrie’s hard work and dedication, you can tell she truly loves what she does. We still have a few more training sessions to go and are excited to continue to see the great progress.
  • Mitch Mileski
    Mar. 23, 2024
    Dog Training Elite, specifically our trainer Carrie, has provided amazing customer service, dependability, solutions, and empowerment 100% of the time. Carrie has been working with us and our dog Panchito for the last month or so and all I can say is, “wow!” Her experience, wisdom, and patience shows every session. Our anxious and nervous rescue pup has come so far so fast. Although this is a costly service, the mental sanity that is provided with her direction and guidance is priceless. Every day still has its challenges, but we see improvements day after day with Panchito. His confidence has risen and anxiety is melting away. I would 100% recommend DTE to others and would happily call upon their services again if needed.
  • Meghan Arnson
    Mar. 19, 2024
    Our dog Echo and our family had an amazing experience with Dog Training Elite. Carrie's expertise and dedication to helping Echo learn and grow were truly impressive. She took the time to understand Echo's unique needs and tailored the training sessions to suit her and us perfectly. Under Carrie's guidance, Echo made significant progress in her puppy training. I highly recommend Dog Training Elite and Carrie to anyone looking for exceptional dog training services."
  • Josie Van Dam
    Feb. 14, 2024
    Wallace, my nine month old English Cream Golden Retriever, and I just completed all of our individual obedience classes with Carrie. Her reassurance and patience is exactly what I need and has helped me learn how best to communicate and guide Wallace. We are excited to continue working with Carrie as Wallace moves into training to become my service dog. It has been worth every penny and I know will change my life forever.
  • Josie Van Dam
    Feb. 14, 2024
    Wallace, my nine month old English Cream Golden Retriever, and I just completed all of our individual obedience classes with Carrie. Her reassurance and patience is exactly what I need and has helped me learn how best to communicate and guide Wallace. We are excited to continue working with Carrie as Wallace moves into training to become my service dog. Worth every penny!
  • Angela Toms
    Feb. 2, 2024
    I cannot say enough good things about Dog Training Elite. They have taken our puppy who we recently rescued who was ‘skidish’, food deprived, neglected and locked in a cage for the first 7 months of her life and given her confidence, hope, and inspiration to want to please her humans. It is so sweet to see how happy it makes her to know what is expected of her and the pride she has for her learned obedience. This company is so special. You can see the love and compassion they have for their dogs and their humans! I have and will continue to recommend them to anyone who wants to form a special connection with their dog through this training that only this company could have provided for us!!
  • Drew John
    Feb. 2, 2024
    I am beyond happy with Dog Training Elite West Michigan! My expectations have been met and by far exceeded with this training style. We have 3 dogs, 2 that we “trained” with “traditional” treat based systems and when there’s not treats, there’s no obedience. This style of training is fantastic! Not only does your fur baby learn, you do as well. The bond that you get to have with this style of training is amazing. For anyone that is skeptical or thinks that this isn’t worth the time or money, YOU’RE WRONG! Best money I have ever spent! Not only do you get the expertise with the package you pick, you get care, compassion and understanding to help you through with what you’re trying to accomplish with your dog. After only 4 in home trainings, my family took our fur baby to a crowded, loud, and rambunctious atmosphere, and our pup did amazing. So much so that a ton of people came up to us and complimented how well our pup was doing! The best feeling ever is to be able to take your fur baby with you and not have to worry about anything! There is not enough space or time to say how amazing this company is. Carrie, the owner, takes her time, helps you understand the training, but also tailors each lesson to suit you and your dogs style. Our fur baby has so much confidence, pride and self affirmation, which she has gained through this training process! 10 out of 10 would recommend to anyone who has a dog that wants help with training!!!!!!!
  • Andrew Tompkins
    Feb. 2, 2024
    I am beyond happy with Dog Training Elite West Michigan! My expectations have been met and by far exceeded with this training. We have 3 dogs, 2 that we “trained” with “traditional” treat based systems and when there’s not treats, there’s no obedience. This training is fantastic! Not only does your fur baby learn, you do as well. The bond that you get to have with this training is amazing. For anyone that is skeptical or thinks that this isn’t worth the time or money, YOU’RE WRONG! Best money I have ever spent! Not only do you get the expertise with the package you pick, you get care, compassion and understanding to help you through with what you’re trying to accomplish with your dog. After only 4 in home trainings, my family took our fur baby to a crowded, loud, and rambunctious atmosphere, and our pup did amazing. So much so that a ton of people came up to us and complimented how well our pup was doing! The best feeling ever is to be able to take your fur baby with you and not have to worry about anything! There is not enough space or time to say how amazing this company is. Carrie, the owner, takes her time, helps you understand the training, but also tailors each lesson to suit you and your dogs style. Our fur baby has so much confidence, pride and self affirmation, which she has gained through this training process! 10 out of 10 would recommend to anyone who has a dog that wants help with training!!!!!!!
  • Angela Tompkins
    Feb. 2, 2024
    I cannot say enough good things about Dog Training Elite. They have taken our puppy who we recently rescued who was ‘skidish’, food deprived, neglected and locked in a cage for the first 7 months of her life and given her confidence, hope, and inspiration to want to please her humans. It is so sweet to see how happy it makes her to know what is expected of her and the pride she has for her learned obedience. This company is so special. You can see the love and compassion they have for their dogs and their humans! I have and will continue to recommend them to anyone who wants to form a special connection with their dog through this training that only this company could have provided for us!!
  • Thomas Eusebio
    Oct. 28, 2023
    DTE has been a godsend for our family. Carrie helped transform our stubborn rambunctious Samoyed into an obedient wonderful dog. No more pulling on the leash during walks and less reactivity. She has continued to improve over the course of our training. We would highly recommend DTE!
  • Kelly Gagnon
    Sep. 8, 2023
    Carrie and Jessica are AMAZING to work with and know what they are doing. You can tell they love what they do and it came out in the success of our dog Scout. He is a much happier dog which shows when he’s called and comes running to us, the smile on his face says it all. If you are questioning if this is worth it…trust me when I say IT IS!!!. Thank you to Dog Training Elite West Michigan for everything you have helped us with. We will be forever grateful. We have a new dog and new friends 💙 Bob and Kelly
  • Heather Ryan
    Aug. 13, 2023
    We have a rather rambunctious chocolate lab puppy. We’ve done other puppy training classes but he would only behave when food was being given as rewards. And he was harder and harder to walk the bigger he got. He was jumping on people and just overwhelming. We’ve had five private classes and already a new lab puppy lives with us. Things are so much better and will just keep getting better. We took him to the beach for the first time yesterday. He was very excited but recall was solid and he didn’t jump on anyone! He loves swimming. What a great investment! Highly recommend to anyone who wants a well behaved dog.
  • Heather Ryan
    Aug. 9, 2023
    The. Change in our dogs behavior is night and day. I once again love having a puppy in the house!
A Dog Training Elite West Michigan owner smiling with his dog in Grand Rapids, MI.

Dog Training Elite West Michigan

Is a Service Dog The Same As a Therapy Dog?

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Many types of working dogs increase the quality of life for their handlers. The three main categories of working dogs are service animal, therapy animal, and emotional support animal. Each category covers different areas of support and different levels of protection under the law.

  1. Service Animal
  2. As mentioned above, service animals assist individuals with disabilities. Depending on the person’s needs, the service animal learns how to perform certain tasks. Guide dogs, for example, help blind individuals safely navigate their environment. Seizure response dogs respond to their handlers when the individual is having a seizure. Service animals are highly trained and specialized, and they are also offered the most protection under the law compared to therapy or emotional support animals.

    Dogs are not the only kinds of service animals - miniature horses, pigs, and monkeys are often trained to support individuals with disabilities!

  3. Therapy Animal
  4. Therapy dogs provide comfort and improve the mental well-being of individuals in hospitals, hospice care, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, and more. These dogs must have a friendly, calm demeanor and be comfortable when handled by strangers.

    Therapy dogs are not trained to perform specific tasks, but they must be obedient and well-mannered. Therapy animals are permitted in some areas where pets are not, but they have fewer protections than service animals. All therapy dogs must be certified before they can offer their services to the community.

  5. Emotional Support Animal
  6. Emotional support dogs relieve loneliness, anxiety, depression, and other symptoms of mental health disorders. They provide comfort to their handlers, but they are not trained to perform specific tasks. Most emotional support animals are sensitive to the emotional changes of their handler and will remain close by at all times. Emotional support animals are not protected by the ADA, but residential buildings must permit emotional support animals.

Dog Training Elite West Michigan

What Can Service Dogs Do?

Service dogs are crucial in assisting individuals with various disabilities and conditions, providing them with support, independence, and companionship. These highly trained dogs can perform specific tasks tailored to the needs of their handlers. Learn about breeds that make great service dogs, who can benefit from a service dog and the training that will help these pups meet their handler's needs.

Service dogs are a great help to disabled individuals thanks to their incredible ability to perform highly specialized tasks, like opening doors, switching lights on and off, assisting with balance and stability, guiding, pulling wheelchairs, answering phones and making calls, finding objects or places, unloading and loading items, clearing rooms, finding help, and many more. Service dogs improve the lives of disabled individuals by increasing their autonomy.
Individuals with certain diseases and disorders can benefit from a highly trained service dog. Dogs have an incredible sense of smell and they can detect the chemical changes associated with oncoming seizures and increases in blood pressure. Alert service dogs alert their handler to these situations to prevent a life-threatening emergency. Alert dogs also help those with extreme allergies detect potential allergens in food.
Disabled or epileptic individuals are more prone to emergencies than the average person. Service dogs are trained to alert their handler to a potential emergency, and alert surrounding individuals to an active emergency. Service dogs can also call for help on pre-programmed phones.

Additional Service Training Info

Dog Training Elite West Michigan - PTSD Service Dog in Grand Rapids, MI. DTE
PTSD Service Dog

If you're looking to train a PTSD service dog in Grand Rapids, MI, Dog Training Elite is here to help. Our service dogs are trained to assist with symptoms such as anxiety, hyper-vigilance, and panic attacks, providing grounding emotional support.

Dog Training Elite West Michigan - Psychiatric Service Dog in Grand Rapids, MI. DTE
Psychiatric Service Dog Training

Our psychiatric service dog training in Grand Rapids, MI helps individuals with PTSD, anxiety, and depression. We'll help train your dog to mitigate symptoms by offering emotional grounding and support during stressful situations.

Dog Training Elite West Michigan - Mobility Service Dog in Grand Rapids, MI. Dog Training Elite
Mobility Support Service Dog

Enhance your independence or help a loved one with specialized mobility service dog training in Grand Rapids, MI from Dog Training Elite. Our expert trainers teach dogs the skills they need to support their owners with mobility challenges.

Dog Training Elite West Michigan - Autism Support Dog Training in Grand Rapids, MI. DTE
Autism Support Service Dog

Bring life-changing support to your family with Dog Training Elite's autism support dog training in Grand Rapids, MI. Our compassionate trainers work closely with your family and dog throughout the entire process, ensuring your pup is fully prepared to provide comfort, safety, and companionship.

A service dog at a ball game with their owner - get professional Grand Rapids service dog training with Dog Training Elite.

Dog Training Elite West Michigan

Service Dogs for Anxiety, PTSD, and Autism

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Service dogs trained to assist handlers with severe anxiety or depression perform specific tasks that reduce the potential for panic attacks or self-harm attempts. Such tasks include deep-pressure therapy, tactile stimulation, alerting, clearing rooms, blocking strangers from approaching, and more. Service dogs trained to assist those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have greatly improved the lives of many veterans.

Service dogs also make a big impact on the lives of children with autism. Children with autism are often prone to meltdowns, have trouble communicating, and are quick to run off or become easily lost. Service dogs prevent and mediate all of these behaviors to provide a higher quality of life for children with autism and their families.

As autism is a spectrum disorder, each child has varying needs of assistance. Autism service dogs perform the following tasks:

  • Tracking: Children with autism often wander away, and a parent’s worst fear is turning their back for just a moment and discovering their child is gone. Autism service dogs will track the child if this ever happens.
  • Tethering: This task minimizes wandering, which is common in public settings. The child is tethered to the service dog’s leash or harness, preventing him or her from wandering away.
  • Behavior Interruption: Repetitive and ritualistic behaviors are typical of autistic children, as are meltdowns when the child becomes overstimulated. Autism service dogs recognize these negative behaviors and redirect the child’s attention when they start. A simple paw or nudge is all it takes to prevent a meltdown.
A service puppy waiting for their owner - Dog Training Elite West Michigan.

How Do I Get a Service Dog?

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If you are wondering how to get a service dog, there are a couple of different approaches. Some service dogs are purchased outright, fully trained. Or a compatible dog is selected and trained from an early age. Training a dog from the start is the best option, especially for those with specialized needs.

Training a dog to perform service responsibilities must start from day one. Only certain breeds are suited to service work, and breeders put a lot of time into raising puppies to be service animals. Once you have purchased a service puppy, additional training is necessary to prepare your puppy for life as a service dog. This is a complicated process that involves various steps. Dog Training Elite makes getting a service dog easier with our service dog training program.

Our talented trainers can help select puppies that are prepared for a life of service from well-respected breeders. When these puppies enter the service dog training program they are closely monitored for behavior and temperament and can be fully obedience trained by the age of six months. These puppies undergo extensive socialization and additional training to ensure they are well-suited for service and therapy needs including specialized service training alongside the new handler.

This program is ideal for handlers who want to take part in the developmental years and extensive training of their service puppy.

A group of dogs being trained by the expert team at Dog Training Elite West Michigan.
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Educate, Empower, Elevate, Elite

Victory Begins With Elite Education

A trainer, a man and his service dog - find the best service dog training in Grand Rapids, MI with Dog Training Elite.

We Are Committed to Making a Difference

Choose DTE for Grand Rapids Service Dog Training

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At Dog Training Elite, we are passionate about transforming lives through Grand Rapids service dog training. Our proven methods and positive reinforcement techniques help create highly skilled, dependable service dogs that are both obedient and loyal to their handlers.

From mobility support and physical assistance to emotional well-being and more, Dog Training Elite is committed to providing personalized, high-quality training that makes a lasting impact.

Choose Dog Training Elite West Michigan and experience the difference that elite training and compassionate care can make.