A service dog and their owner outside - find elite service dog training in Indianapolis, IN with Dog Training Elite.

Professional

Service Dog Training

Dog Training Elite Indianapolis

Request Free Assessment


Request Free Assessment


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 Indianapolis

Service Dog Training in Indianapolis, IN

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 Indianapolis, IN, 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.

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

Our Positive Approach to Service Dog Training


Read More
Read Less

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 balanced 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 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!

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.
A Dog Training Elite Indianapolis owner smiling with his dog in Indianapolis, IN.

Dog Training Elite Indianapolis

Is a Service Dog The Same As a Therapy Dog?

Read More
Read Less

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 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 Indianapolis

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 Indianapolis - PTSD Service Dog Training in Indianapolis. Dog Training Elite Indianapolis
PTSD Service Dog

If you're looking to train a PTSD service dog in Indianapolis, IN, 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 Indianapolis - Psychiatric Service Dog Trainers in Indianapolis
Psychiatric Service Dog Training

Our psychiatric service dog training in Indianapolis, IN 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 Indianapolis - Seizure Response Dog in Indianapolis, IN
Medical Response Dog Training

If you are in need of a seizure response dog in Indianapolis, IN, Dog Training Elite can help. Our training program is designed to help individuals with epilepsy regain independence and confidence.

Dog Training Elite Indianapolis - Autism Support Dog Training in Indianapolis, IN
Autism Support Service Dog

Bring life-changing support to your family with Dog Training Elite's autism support dog training in Indianapolis, IN. 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 Indianapolis service dog training with Dog Training Elite.

Dog Training Elite Indianapolis

Service Dogs for Anxiety, PTSD, and Autism

Read More
Read Less

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 Indianapolis.

How Do I Get a Service Dog?

Read More
Read Less

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 Indianapolis.
Dog Training Elite Indianapolis light star icon.

Educate, Empower, Elevate, Elite

Victory Begins With Elite Education

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

We Are Committed to Making a Difference

Choose DTE for Indianapolis Service Dog Training

Read More
Read Less

At Dog Training Elite, we are passionate about transforming lives through Indianapolis service dog training. Our proven, balanced training methods 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 Indianapolis and experience the difference that elite training and compassionate care can make.