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Military / Retired Vet Programs

Dog Training Elite of Central Maryland

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A military veteran and service dog - Dog Training Elite offers elite veteran service dog training in Howard County, MD.

Dog Training Elite

Military Veteran Service Dog Training in Howard County, MD

At Dog Training Elite of Central Maryland, we strongly believe in the healing power of service dogs for military veterans. That’s why we dedicate our time and passion to providing veteran service dog training in Howard County, MD.

Service dogs can greatly assist with both the mental and physical challenges veterans may face after serving our country. Many veterans experience PTSD, physical disabilities, or other impairments, and our service dogs have been proven to help reduce symptoms and support veterans in returning to their daily routines.

Learn more about our programs designed for veterans and discover why Dog Training Elite is committed to making a difference in the community.

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A service puppy in training - Dog Training Elite offers veteran service dog training in Howard County, MD for those who have served our country.

Dog Training Elite of Central Maryland

Why We Offer Service Dog Training for Military Veterans

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At Dog Training Elite of Central Maryland, we are passionate about helping military veterans through the support of service dogs. We offer specialized service dog training options in Howard County, backed by scientific research and proven by our own success stories.

In a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans paired with service dogs experienced a significant reduction in PTSD symptoms and fewer self-harm ideations. The mental health and medical communities increasingly recognize service dogs’ positive impact on emotional well-being and independence, making them one of the most effective tools for veteran recovery.

At Dog Training Elite, we are dedicated to providing exceptional dog training services that provide the tools and support needed for our veterans and their dogs to thrive, offering a path toward healing and better quality of life.

A beautiful golden retriever service dog - Dog Training Elite of Central Maryland.

Popular Service Dog Breeds


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Finding a service dog that fits your individual needs is important, especially for military veteran support. While most dogs can be trained to become service dogs, a few breeds stand out due to their personalities and inherent traits.

Here are a few of the most popular service dog breeds:

  1. Labrador Retrievers: Labradors are intelligent, versatile, and eager to please, making them ideal for PTSD service dogs. Their trainability allows them to excel in roles like guide dogs, mobility support, and emotional support, making them highly adaptable for veterans.
  2. Golden Retrievers: Golden Retrievers are known for their calm, gentle nature and strong work ethic. They are excellent at providing mobility assistance and emotional support, especially for veterans with PTSD, due to their patient and loving temperament.
  3. German Shepherds: German Shepherds are strong, loyal, and highly intelligent, making them excellent service dogs. Their protective instincts and trainability allow them to assist with mobility, search and rescue, and provide emotional support for veterans.
  4. Poodles: Poodles are highly intelligent and easily trained, making them great service dogs, particularly for those with allergies due to their hypoallergenic coats. They excel in roles such as mobility assistance and medical alert dogs, offering a versatile solution for individuals with diverse needs.

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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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A service dog and his veteran owner - Dog Training Elite of Central Maryland.

Our Veteran Service Dog Training in Howard County, MD

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Service dogs undergo extensive specialized training to perform their tasks and assist their owners. Our training process involves a combination of obedience training, task training, and public access training.

  • Obedience Training: This training focuses on teaching a dog basic commands, such as sit, down, heel, come, as well as proper leash manners and socialization skills.
  • Task Training: Task training is tailored to fit the needs of each individual. It involves teaching the dog to perform tasks that mitigate the person’s disability, such as retrieving items, opening doors, or providing deep pressure therapy.
  • Public Access Training: This type of training is crucial to ensure the dog remains calm, well-behaved, and non-disruptive in various public settings. This training includes exposure to different environments, distractions, and social interactions to provide a dog that can confidently navigate public spaces.
A beautiful service dog standing outside - Dog Training Elite of Central Maryland.

Service Dogs for Veterans & PTSD

Get Specialized Training with DTE Today

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Training with Dog Training Elite is tailored specifically for military veterans dealing with PTSD and other service-related challenges. Our programs focus on helping veterans regain independence, emotional stability, and confidence through the support of a well-trained service dog.

At Dog Training Elite, we are dedicated to providing service dog training that strengthens the bond between veterans and their dogs, guiding them toward a brighter future and supporting their healing journey.

Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Veronica D
    Sep. 4, 2024
    Richard and Christy helped get our puppy super well trained..Thank you Dog Training Elite of Maryland
  • David Schilling
    Sep. 3, 2024
    Christy was awesome with our 2 yr old lab, Tucker. She was very patient with him and we saw great results from her work. They regularly followed up to see how he was doing with his homework and to see if we had any questions or problems. If he was slow to grasp a lesson , they were more than willing to go over the lesson again at the next session. Would highly recommend!!!
  • Maria Lee
    Sep. 2, 2024
    I highly recommend Dog Training Elite. My trainer, Christy, was fantastic! I had rescued a pitbull mix (Blue). A few days later, I reached out to Christy about in-home training. Christy came to my home to do an evaluation. I really liked how comfortable and confident she was when handling Blue. I signed up for their in-home training program so that we would be in our normal environment (with distractions) during the training. The best part of the training was that Christy would work with Blue first until he understood the command. Once he knew the command, Christy would than train me on how to use the command with Blue. It allowed me to watch and ask questions before trying the command myself. In addition, I felt that Christy went above and beyond what other trainers would do. I had a lot of dog related questions beyond our immediate training session. Christy patiently answered my questions and provided her insights. Even when I texted her asking for additional help with Blue, Christy made time to help me with my request. Blue is a better dog because of the training. Blue doesn't jump on people anymore, I know how to handle him when he sees rabbits & squirrels, and he knows his commands very well. Blue and I have a better relationship because of the training. Very grateful for Christy and her Team.
  • KarenSue Dean
    Jul. 18, 2024
    What a great experience we had with Dog Training Elite of CM! They took the time to understand our pooch and worked with us to help her overcome her impulsiveness and reactivity. We never dreamed in a million years that we would be able to take a walk around buses, trucks, bikes, scooter and runners let alone other dogs. We can't recommend them enough and would definitely use them again if the need ever arises.
  • kasey thomas
    Apr. 27, 2024
    We have had nothing but great experiences with Dog Training Elite for the last few months. The trainers are honest, set realistic expectations, and are dedicated to helping their clients reach their training goals. The one-on-one sessions really helped set my puppy up for success for our first group session. We have seen significant improvement with every session and I highly recommend Dog Training Elite for anyone who is looking for obedience, consistency, and overall a more well-behaved dog.
  • Ishita Rahman
    May. 10, 2024
    Christy and Richard have both been amazing. Helped train my not so well behaved older dog.
  • Kellina Nolan
    May. 6, 2024
    We absolutely love, love, love Dog Training Elite. They were so patient training our very nervous puppy. The in home training is phenomenal & we really enjoy the group sessions. The group sessions have been so helpful in socializing our puppy. It’s worth every penny & we have been so happy with the training.
  • Kevin Dunn
    Apr. 24, 2024
    A great experience and worth every penny! We are first time dog owners and this was exactly what we needed.Stanly follows all commands off, sit, down wait and finally free when he can end the commands. Walking actually became dangerous as Stanley went from 2 to 6 months we were the ones being walked or pulled down the street. We now love walks our arms are relaxed and the walks are a pleasure. Dinners are normal again as Stan will PLACE and stay down until he is told to “free” Stanley loves to please so he enjoys it also. Christie the owner is great following up and her trainer Sean is great too. Kevin
  • Carrie M
    Mar. 22, 2024
    Dog Training Elite has by far exceeded my expectations when providing guidance for both my daughter's service dog and my personal dog. They worked with us 1:1 to develop a plan tailored to our family's needs and were always available for questions or concerns. Having at home training was perfect for our scheduling and then pairing with group sessions gave us a well rounded experience for our dogs. Highly recommend!
  • LaToya Cross
    Mar. 22, 2024
    We had the pleasure of working with Christy to train my dog to be a service dog for me. She is so amazing, patient and understanding. My dog has fallen in love with her and lights up while wagging his tail so much when he sees her. I would HIGHLY recommend them for training.
  • Rachael Logan
    Mar. 21, 2024
    Highly recommend. Christy and her team truly know dogs, understand dog behaviour, and are able to help us understand and work with our highly active dog! I have seen so much improvement. The instructions are clear and very doable.
  • Dave Bond
    Feb. 5, 2024
    My Wife & I could not be more pleased with the overall experience we've had working with Christy & Richard from Dog Training Elite! We've seen a tremendous improvement in Baxter's (our 2 year old, German Shepherd Mix) responsiveness to commands, and his general behavior, and we're confident that we now have the tools we need to successfully continue his Training on our own. They came to our home for multiple sessions, addressed all of our concerns, and were very easy to work with! Their passion, communication & flexibility made Training much easier than we ever expected...Highly Recommend!
  • Cheri Chalk
    Feb. 5, 2024
    Excellent business! I can’t say enough about our trainer Christy, she was amazing with our dog Beau and us. He’s a different dog after he completed his training. I highly recommend Christy and her team at Dog Training Elite Central Maryland!
  • Nicole Mazzella
    Dec. 11, 2023
    This training is a game-changer! I was amazed at how quickly we saw results and how easy it is to follow. I would recommend to anyone!
  • Annie
    Oct. 12, 2023
    Excellent trainers and an excellent investment. I made more progress in 6 months with my goldendoodle than I did the previous year of training. Their expertise in service animal training, especially with tasks has been a wonderful help!
  • Emery Nelson
    Oct. 2, 2023
    Dog Training Elite of Central Maryland is amazing!!! Our Goldendoodle was and is an extremely high-energy dog. We were having such a hard time teaching him not to jump on people and run them over as they came into our home. After just a couple of sessions with Christy, our Oliver is like a new man. Don't get me wrong, he is still super high-energy. The difference is, he now listens to our commands. Going on walks is fun again. Thank you, Christy and Dog Training Elite!!
  • Kenneth Sarkady
    Sep. 27, 2023
    Training was excellent!! Experience with trainers were great. Highly recommend this trainer to everyone.
  • Stephen May
    Sep. 6, 2023
    Dog Training Elite Central Maryland did such a wonderful job helping me to train my puppy. Christy and her staff are top notch, very professional and go above and beyond to help their clients! I definitely recommend them to help anyone training their dog to be the best they can be.
  • Rachel Hall
    Aug. 6, 2023
    Christy did an excellent job training our miniature schnauzer Marty. We saw immediate improvement after the first training lesson, and this was saying a lot since Marty can be extremely stubborn. He listens so much better now, and barely barks or looks at other dogs on his walks like he used to. She taught us how to train our dog, and what tools/ things we can do to continue reinforcing his training. We are very thrilled with the training and happy we invested in DTE.
  • Joel Kramer
    Aug. 5, 2023
    We finished our in-house sessions this past week and I’m delighted with the progress we’ve made under Christy’s guidance. The lessons all made good sense and, when I had questions between sessions, Christy gave prompt and detailed responses. I feel I now have the tools to handle just about any training issues that arise. I would certainly recommend Dog Training Elite of Central Maryland to others.