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FAQs

Dog Training Elite in Indianapolis, IN

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Frequently Asked Questions

General
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 Indianapolis.
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.
Nope. Those are dangerous grounds to tread upon. We'd much rather train a vicious dog!
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.
Yes. Working with and controlling aggression is one of our specialties in Indianapolis.
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.
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!

About Dog Training Elite Indianapolis

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In the Community

Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • K Crosley
    Apr. 28, 2025
    I really appreciate Elijah from Dog Training Elite as he has helped me so much in training my puppy. I love the program DTE offered me and get so many compliments on how well mannered my puppy is. My neighbors have been very complimentary on my puppys progress too!!! Program well put together with concise directions from my trainer. If i have questions in between sessions I can reach out to my trainer which has been wonderful. They worked with me in personalizing sessions as needed to address any concerns or problems I had in training my puppy. Group classes review and reinforce what has been learned in individual sessions. A great help. Elijah is truly a dog whisperer!!!!
  • Thomas Korecki
    Apr. 25, 2025
    The team at Dog Training Elite did an amazing job training my sweet little girl, Olive! And providing me with the knowledge and tools to tame her rambunctious nature and calm her anxieties. A worthwhile investment in creating a happier and healthier dog!
  • Makaela Hudson
    Apr. 23, 2025
    Josh has been amazing. Have seen so much progress even with only a few sessions.
  • Chris Sargent
    Apr. 22, 2025
    My pup was very stubborn and had terrible recall. This dog training has made her one of the easiest pups to walk and call back. Worth every penny.
  • Candace Harlan
    Apr. 22, 2025
    We were very happy with our trainer. He was very helpful and gave us a lot of information to help us with our training.
  • Brenda C Gordon
    Apr. 21, 2025
    My dog is a Cane Corso so proper training was a priority. I researched the available options before deciding to train with Dog Training Elite. I asked them lots of questions and let them know my expectations. The preliminary interview with the company owner, Doug, and our family (including our dog) satisfied my expectations. The first training session was great. Our trainer was Josh. We had the best first session learning how consistent and clear commands make for quick understanding. Our dog responded to Josh better than I anticipated.
  • Sarah Randall
    Apr. 18, 2025
    We had a great experience with Dog Training Elite and highly recommend them. Elijah was easy to work with, professional, knowledgeable and made training fun.
  • Devon Sundberg
    Apr. 16, 2025
    I adopted a large dog for the first time. I knew I needed training from the get go to ensure she would follow instructions and not jump on people. Dog Training Elite was responsive. The owner was at my house in a couple of days, a few days later we had our first puppy training session in home with Elijah. He was knowledgable and never judgmental about what we accomplished or didn’t. Our dog, Olive, started training on site. She loved it and couldn’t wait to get back everyday. Now she weighs about 50lbs. She heels, sits, stays in place and comes reliably. I am still able to reach out to the staff at DTE for guidance on issues and attend their Saturday sessions. It continues to be a very good investment.
  • Elizabeth Todd
    Apr. 14, 2025
    Our Bernedoodle was much more to handle than the yellow labs we had in the past. Dog Training Elite was a godsend. Very professional. They gave us all the tools to work with our dog. Elijah, our trainer, did a great job demonstrating and explaining. Very knowledgeable. Our in-home puppy and then obedience classes followed a strong logical progression that was easy to follow and practice. It was well worth the cost. I’m looking forward to attending some group classes.
  • Melissa Hicks
    Apr. 12, 2025
    We have had the best experience with Elijah and dog training elite! They are kind, respectful, flexible and absolute experts! Scheduling is always hard for us with 2 active kiddos! They were awesome in making sure we could get everything done timely! I would absolutely use them again
  • Anne Weinblatt
    Apr. 11, 2025
    Thanks to our work with Josh, Apollo has become a great companion puppy to me. I tried two other training programs and did not have success with them. Dog Training Elite has made a big difference for both of us. I highly recommend them.
  • Jean Fox
    Apr. 9, 2025
    We can’t thank Doug, Josh and all the trainers at DTE enough for the incredible work they do with our new family member, Remy. She struggles with reactive and aggressive behaviors, but their calm, patient approach and deep understanding of dog behavior has made all the difference. They gave us practical, easy to follow training techniques that have helped her make incredible progress. Especially grateful for the coaching and encouragement we receive as her handlers. We couldn’t be happier with the team’s expertise, kindness and dedication - it was made all the difference. Highly recommended the DTE Team!
  • Sarah Clark
    Mar. 12, 2025
    I could not have asked for a better training experience. Tater was more than excited to attend the two week training every day and the trainers did an excellent job of working with him. He left the two weeks well behaved and trained to the commands the team worked on with him and is continuing to do extremely well at home. Couldn't recommend more!
  • Regan Esch
    Feb. 16, 2025
    Very happy with the progress my two pups have made. In the two week day camp training DTE taught my 7 and 5 year old doodles to heal and walk nicely on a regular leash! Much better manners and impulse control. All of the trainers have been very friendly and knowledgeable. Love the ongoing support with In home sessions and group classes. Wish we trained with you years ago! Highly recommend.
  • Courtney Colby
    Feb. 16, 2025
    I'm so grateful for Dog Training Elite! I completed the Platinum Obedience training program with my Golden Retriever George and have only great things to say about DTE and the team. George is a high energy, playful, loving, and very smart 2 year old. We had been through a training program when he was a few months old that was less involved with the owner. One of my favorite parts about training with DTE is how rewarding it has been for me to be apart of the training with George. It has strengthened the trust in our relationship so much, I've learned so much more about him through the process, and I feel so well equipped to continue to work with him and be a leader for him as he continues to grow. This team is so dedicated to the continued growth and education for you and your dog and it shows. George and I always look forward to our Saturday Group Class and our Therapy Dog in Training courses where we sharpen his focus, fine tune his skills, strengthen his confidence, and learn new activities we can practice at home. Thank you so much DTE! George & Courtney
  • Brittany Pierson
    Feb. 15, 2025
    We highly recommend DTE to anyone interested in training! They came to us and worked with our schedule. Our husky, Odin, is stubborn and very energetic. DTE not only taught him commands but also gave us a better way of challenging him mentally (which really helps with his energy levels). Odin always loved seeing his trainer Elijah Turner. Elijah was great with Odin but also explained every aspect of the training techniques to us which made a world of difference. The package we purchased also had unlimited group classes and those are great for keeping everything fresh.
  • Denise Rider
    Feb. 15, 2025
    We are working with Dog Training Elite to train our daughter's diabetes alert dog. They are amazing to work with and so extremely helpful and full of great information. At 8 months old our puppy already knows how to alert for low blood sugar and sit, place, heel etc. Never knew a dog could learn so much so quickly! They make the process fun and easy for both handler and dog. Would highly recommend them to anyone wanting to train a pet to those looking to train a service dog!
  • Ben England
    Dec. 3, 2024
    We did the in-home platinum obedience training and are so happy with everything. Working with the whole crew was a fantastic experience and felt full support from everyone at DTE of Indianapolis. They have great attention to detail, expertise, customer service and genuine care to train our dog and adapt to specific needs of our dog. DTE really goes above and beyond!
  • Carly Ringlespaugh
    Oct. 4, 2024
    Dog Training Elite is the best! Our pup had the best time, loved all of the trainers, and learned so much. We did the two week day camp, and I definitely recommend it. Thanks again to everyone at DTE!
  • Marlene Upchurch
    May. 10, 2024
    I thought there was no hope for my 8 year old pup. I am so excited to say that after two weeks of camp with the trainers at Dog Training Elite he has learned proper manners and is also a pleasure to take for a walk. You can teach an old dog new tricks. The trainers did a wonderful job training my Jimmy. They are caring and loved my boy like their own. And, they kept me informed every step of the way. Doug spent two days in-home training giving me the tools I need to maintain the progress he made. I am so happy with how well behaved he is. I highly recommend Dog Training Elite.
  • K Crosley
    Apr. 28, 2025
    I really appreciate Elijah from Dog Training Elite as he has helped me so much in training my puppy. I love the program DTE offered me and get so many compliments on how well mannered my puppy is. My neighbors have been very complimentary on my puppys progress too!!! Program well put together with concise directions from my trainer. If i have questions in between sessions I can reach out to my trainer which has been wonderful. They worked with me in personalizing sessions as needed to address any concerns or problems I had in training my puppy. Group classes review and reinforce what has been learned in individual sessions. A great help. Elijah is truly a dog whisperer!!!!
  • Thomas Korecki
    Apr. 25, 2025
    The team at Dog Training Elite did an amazing job training my sweet little girl, Olive! And providing me with the knowledge and tools to tame her rambunctious nature and calm her anxieties. A worthwhile investment in creating a happier and healthier dog!
  • Makaela Hudson
    Apr. 23, 2025
    Josh has been amazing. Have seen so much progress even with only a few sessions.
  • Chris Sargent
    Apr. 22, 2025
    My pup was very stubborn and had terrible recall. This dog training has made her one of the easiest pups to walk and call back. Worth every penny.
  • Candace Harlan
    Apr. 22, 2025
    We were very happy with our trainer. He was very helpful and gave us a lot of information to help us with our training.
  • Brenda C Gordon
    Apr. 21, 2025
    My dog is a Cane Corso so proper training was a priority. I researched the available options before deciding to train with Dog Training Elite. I asked them lots of questions and let them know my expectations. The preliminary interview with the company owner, Doug, and our family (including our dog) satisfied my expectations. The first training session was great. Our trainer was Josh. We had the best first session learning how consistent and clear commands make for quick understanding. Our dog responded to Josh better than I anticipated.
  • Sarah Randall
    Apr. 18, 2025
    We had a great experience with Dog Training Elite and highly recommend them. Elijah was easy to work with, professional, knowledgeable and made training fun.
  • Devon Sundberg
    Apr. 16, 2025
    I adopted a large dog for the first time. I knew I needed training from the get go to ensure she would follow instructions and not jump on people. Dog Training Elite was responsive. The owner was at my house in a couple of days, a few days later we had our first puppy training session in home with Elijah. He was knowledgable and never judgmental about what we accomplished or didn’t. Our dog, Olive, started training on site. She loved it and couldn’t wait to get back everyday. Now she weighs about 50lbs. She heels, sits, stays in place and comes reliably. I am still able to reach out to the staff at DTE for guidance on issues and attend their Saturday sessions. It continues to be a very good investment.
  • Elizabeth Todd
    Apr. 14, 2025
    Our Bernedoodle was much more to handle than the yellow labs we had in the past. Dog Training Elite was a godsend. Very professional. They gave us all the tools to work with our dog. Elijah, our trainer, did a great job demonstrating and explaining. Very knowledgeable. Our in-home puppy and then obedience classes followed a strong logical progression that was easy to follow and practice. It was well worth the cost. I’m looking forward to attending some group classes.
  • Melissa Hicks
    Apr. 12, 2025
    We have had the best experience with Elijah and dog training elite! They are kind, respectful, flexible and absolute experts! Scheduling is always hard for us with 2 active kiddos! They were awesome in making sure we could get everything done timely! I would absolutely use them again
  • Anne Weinblatt
    Apr. 11, 2025
    Thanks to our work with Josh, Apollo has become a great companion puppy to me. I tried two other training programs and did not have success with them. Dog Training Elite has made a big difference for both of us. I highly recommend them.
  • Jean Fox
    Apr. 9, 2025
    We can’t thank Doug, Josh and all the trainers at DTE enough for the incredible work they do with our new family member, Remy. She struggles with reactive and aggressive behaviors, but their calm, patient approach and deep understanding of dog behavior has made all the difference. They gave us practical, easy to follow training techniques that have helped her make incredible progress. Especially grateful for the coaching and encouragement we receive as her handlers. We couldn’t be happier with the team’s expertise, kindness and dedication - it was made all the difference. Highly recommended the DTE Team!
  • Sarah Clark
    Mar. 12, 2025
    I could not have asked for a better training experience. Tater was more than excited to attend the two week training every day and the trainers did an excellent job of working with him. He left the two weeks well behaved and trained to the commands the team worked on with him and is continuing to do extremely well at home. Couldn't recommend more!
  • Regan Esch
    Feb. 16, 2025
    Very happy with the progress my two pups have made. In the two week day camp training DTE taught my 7 and 5 year old doodles to heal and walk nicely on a regular leash! Much better manners and impulse control. All of the trainers have been very friendly and knowledgeable. Love the ongoing support with In home sessions and group classes. Wish we trained with you years ago! Highly recommend.
  • Courtney Colby
    Feb. 16, 2025
    I'm so grateful for Dog Training Elite! I completed the Platinum Obedience training program with my Golden Retriever George and have only great things to say about DTE and the team. George is a high energy, playful, loving, and very smart 2 year old. We had been through a training program when he was a few months old that was less involved with the owner. One of my favorite parts about training with DTE is how rewarding it has been for me to be apart of the training with George. It has strengthened the trust in our relationship so much, I've learned so much more about him through the process, and I feel so well equipped to continue to work with him and be a leader for him as he continues to grow. This team is so dedicated to the continued growth and education for you and your dog and it shows. George and I always look forward to our Saturday Group Class and our Therapy Dog in Training courses where we sharpen his focus, fine tune his skills, strengthen his confidence, and learn new activities we can practice at home. Thank you so much DTE! George & Courtney
  • Brittany Pierson
    Feb. 15, 2025
    We highly recommend DTE to anyone interested in training! They came to us and worked with our schedule. Our husky, Odin, is stubborn and very energetic. DTE not only taught him commands but also gave us a better way of challenging him mentally (which really helps with his energy levels). Odin always loved seeing his trainer Elijah Turner. Elijah was great with Odin but also explained every aspect of the training techniques to us which made a world of difference. The package we purchased also had unlimited group classes and those are great for keeping everything fresh.
  • Denise Rider
    Feb. 15, 2025
    We are working with Dog Training Elite to train our daughter's diabetes alert dog. They are amazing to work with and so extremely helpful and full of great information. At 8 months old our puppy already knows how to alert for low blood sugar and sit, place, heel etc. Never knew a dog could learn so much so quickly! They make the process fun and easy for both handler and dog. Would highly recommend them to anyone wanting to train a pet to those looking to train a service dog!
  • Ben England
    Dec. 3, 2024
    We did the in-home platinum obedience training and are so happy with everything. Working with the whole crew was a fantastic experience and felt full support from everyone at DTE of Indianapolis. They have great attention to detail, expertise, customer service and genuine care to train our dog and adapt to specific needs of our dog. DTE really goes above and beyond!
  • Carly Ringlespaugh
    Oct. 4, 2024
    Dog Training Elite is the best! Our pup had the best time, loved all of the trainers, and learned so much. We did the two week day camp, and I definitely recommend it. Thanks again to everyone at DTE!
  • Marlene Upchurch
    May. 10, 2024
    I thought there was no hope for my 8 year old pup. I am so excited to say that after two weeks of camp with the trainers at Dog Training Elite he has learned proper manners and is also a pleasure to take for a walk. You can teach an old dog new tricks. The trainers did a wonderful job training my Jimmy. They are caring and loved my boy like their own. And, they kept me informed every step of the way. Doug spent two days in-home training giving me the tools I need to maintain the progress he made. I am so happy with how well behaved he is. I highly recommend Dog Training Elite.

Our Team

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See An Elite Dog in Action

Doug Pfaff - Owner / Trainer
Doug Pfaff
Owner / Trainer

Doug grew up in Greenfield Indiana in an animal-loving home where dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, fish, reptiles and even a free-roaming chicken named "Chicken Pox" could be encountered at various times. Most of his adult life was pent in Virginia where he worked in sales, sales training, coaching and management roles. A move back home to Indiana in recent years brought the opportunity to purchase the Dog Training Elite Franchise and the chance to work with pups and their owners. He takes pride in bringing a new standard of Elite Dog Training to the Indianapolis area and to improve the quality of life for dogs and the humans who love them.

When he's not training dogs and their humans, Doug hangs out with his own 2 pups. Olive, a 5 year old Vizsla and Bean, a 2 year old Yellow lab, who's also his running buddy. Doug and his partner Tom, live in the Meridian Hills area of Indianapolis. When he can find time, he loves to spend time with his 2 granddaughters in Virginia and 2 grandsons in Indiana.

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Tessa Smith - Director of Operations
Tessa Smith
Director of Operations

Tessa is a native Hoosier who grew up in Southern Indiana. Her love of animals began with the family pet, a pot-bellied pig named Max. After earning her degree in Business Administration and wanting to do something that helped satisfy her love of animals, Tessa joined Dog Training Elite of Indianapolis. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, watching documentaries and traveling with her daughter.

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Olive - Demo Dog, Semi-retired
Olive
Demo Dog, Semi-retired

Olive is a 5 year old Vizsla who lives to chase the furry critters that find their way into her yard. She's been known to go after squirrels, raccoons, foxes, deer and even an occasional coyote! When she's not working at Dog Training Elite with Doug, she loves to lounge by the pool and watch cooking shows with her other dad, Tom. She's often seen at the front window of the DTE shop intently watching the birds at the bird feeder or hanging out the window of the DTE Jeep enjoying the wind in her ears.

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Bean - Demo Dog Team Lead
Bean
Demo Dog Team Lead

Bean is a 2 year old Yellow Lab. He is the lead demo dog and attends many of the in-home assessments and also comes to many group classes and events with the DTE Trainers. He comes from a long line of medical alert dogs and may eventually be certified as a therapy dog. When he's not working with the DTE team, he loves to retrieve a frisbee, ball or anything else anyone will throw for him, and go for runs with Doug. He also likes to wrestle with his sister, Olive. But his favorite two things in the world are snacks and naps.

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Elijah Turner - Lead Trainer
Elijah Turner
Lead Trainer

Elijah is a born and raised Hoisier. He grew up on the far eastside of Indianapolis and his love of dogs started at a young age. Before his father passed he gifted the family with their first dog in his remembrance. Since then dogs have had a special place in his heart. When he’s not training dogs, Elijah is hanging out with his Bloodhound, King. He enjoys long walks and hiking trails with King. Trails are his favorite because he gets to see King do what he loves best, which is sniff everything! Elijah’s been training dogs for four years now, and can't get enough of how much we learn from the dogs. His goal is to bring a happy balanced home to our clients!

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Josh George - Assistant General Manager
Josh George
Assistant General Manager

Josh grew up in Ohio and then moved to Indiana after meeting his wife Sammie. He lives in Castleton with his wife and dog Lilo (yep as in Lilo and stitch). When he's not training dogs, he is at a park, taking pictures, watching Ohio State football, or playing guitar and every single one of those activities is with Lilo because she goes everywhere with him.

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Marlene Campbell - Customer Service
Marlene Campbell
Customer Service

Marlene has been in the Administrative/Customer Service role in the corporate world and after 25 years decided to take early retirement and has been enjoying life. Her puppy, Jimmy went to Dog Training Elite day camp for training and she couldn’t be happier with the results. Now she and Jimmy are enjoying life together. After becoming a client, the opportunity arose to work part time for Dog Training Elite. Quote from Marlene: “I’m loving getting back into the workforce with the nicest group of people”. Marlene likes to spend time with her family and most of all her grandchildren.

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Anika Hobbs - Trainer
Anika Hobbs
Trainer

Anika grew up in Noblesville, Indiana. She has always had a strong love for animals, and knew she wanted to work with dogs when she realized how in tune her golden retriever was with her emotions and could comfort her during anxiety attacks. She worked as a veterinary assistant for 3 years before becoming a dog trainer.

In her spare time, Anika enjoys riding roller coasters with her husband Jacob, spending time in the ocean, and taking her dogs Sampson, Rylee, and Moxie for adventures.

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Sonia Padjen - Trainer
Sonia Padjen
Trainer

Sonia grew up in Czech Republic and now lives with her husband and two boys in Carmel, IN. She had a long career in the medical field, but her love for dogs led her to pursue dog training. In her free time, she loves walks with her pups Bella, Piper and Levi, she enjoys hiking , skiing and most of all traveling.

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