A well behaved puppy ready for DTE's Jacksonville / St. Johns dog potty training - contact us to schedule a free consultation!
Dog Training Elite

Dog & Puppy Potty Training in Jacksonville / St. Johns, FL

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Request Free Assessment

Our Potty Dog Training Could Help:
Reduce indoor accidents and messes
Establish a bathroom routine
Improve bladder control and timing
Address common potty training challenges
Strengthen communication between you and your dog
Prevent future potty training regressions

Because Life Really Is Better With a Trained Dog

Jacksonville / St. Johns Dog Potty Training

Let’s be honest—potty training can feel like a full-time job in those early days. Whether it’s a brand-new puppy or an older dog with some lingering habits, the struggle is real. But the good news? You don’t have to face it alone.

At Dog Training Elite, potty training is included in every one of our puppy training programs and can be incorporated into obedience programs for older dogs.

Our trainers meet you where you are and help your dog develop the awareness and habits that lead to fewer accidents. If you’re looking for puppy potty training in Jacksonville / St. Johns, FL, you’re in the right place.

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A golden retriever puppy laying on the floor - Dog Training Elite offers professional puppy potty training in Jacksonville / St. Johns, FL.

Potty Training Is Where Obedience Begins


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Potty training is the first step in developing a well-behaved dog. It’s not just about avoiding accidents; it’s about shaping a confident, well-mannered dog you can enjoy wherever you go.

When a mature, healthy dog understands when and where to go, they also begin to understand structure, boundaries, and how to follow through. Starting early is important, and the sooner puppies are potty broken, the easier it is for them to learn advanced obedience skills.

What If It’s an Older Dog?

Potty challenges don’t just affect puppies. Some older dogs never got the right start, and others may be adjusting to a new home or routine, or marking territory.

Before jumping into training, we always suggest ruling out health issues like:

  • Bladder stones
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Incontinence or age-related conditions

If your dog gets the all-clear from the vet, then it’s time to look at behavior. Our trainers will help you identify what’s going on and create a realistic plan to turn things around.

Many of our clients are amazed by how quickly their older dogs adapt once they understand the expectations. You’re not stuck—you just need the right tools and support.

Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • J Torres
    Nov. 4, 2024
    Eric has been a great trainer for my dog. He is very patient and guides both the dog and me to learn everything we need to know to ensure my dog is ready to obey any command and behave as needed. I am very glad we chose this company for our dog training needs
  • Hannah Puskas
    Oct. 30, 2024
    I can’t recommend Dog Training Elite enough! 6 training sessions with Eric helped tremendously. Eric is very knowledgeable and patient and helped us gain a new found confidence with our dog. We were on the fence about choosing to do professional training with our dog but we are so glad that we did and would choose Dog Training Elite every time!
  • Steve
    Oct. 30, 2024
    My German is cool and all but he's kind of a spaz. We called Eric and this guy had my dog finely tuned in no time. Eric is quick as a whip and his patience is unparalleled. You can tell he's extremely experienced in this business. He knew what he was doing and he didn't get caught on any speed bumps. This was money well spent. Lastly, if you believe your dog is beyond help, I assure you Eric will still be able to train them. Dude knows what he's doing. 10/10 recommend this service.
  • elizabeth trendowski
    Oct. 23, 2024
    We can’t thank Eric enough at Elite Dog Training helping us w our rescue Pittie, Oliver. Oliver was terrified of water and aggressive w other dogs he didn’t know. The change in Ollie is something to behold. We love Ollie and wanted him to be able to enjoy the beach, new dog friends and simply have a wonderful life within his own head. Eric is kind, intelligent, dependable and was completely attentive to the success of our dog and us continuing to train with our dog. Seriously- from the. Bottom of our hearts we thank you Eric and Elite Dog Training. Just magnificent.
  • Jason Foor
    Sep. 7, 2024
    Recently we began having trouble with our dog becoming reactive to dogs, even after working with a trainer. We realized the trainer we had wasn’t a good fit. After some research,we found Dog Training Elite First Coast. I was a bit hesitant because of the e-collar use, but we decided to have them come over for a consultation. After talking with Eric, our hesitation diminished. He explained that the e-collar is a way to communicate with my dog, not punish him, and showed us how to use it properly. Once we started using his method, we saw a big difference. Our dog was listening better, especially off-leash, and our training sessions got easier and more enjoyable. It made things clearer for both of us. If anyone is on the fence about e-collars, I highly recommend learning how to use them correctly with a trainer. When used the right way, they can be a great tool for building trust and strengthening your bond with your dog. We highly recommend Dog Training Elite First Coast! They have been great!
  • Julie Albachiaro
    Aug. 27, 2024
    Eric was wonderful. We throughly enjoyed working with him to train our mini labradoodle puppy. He is knowledable and very patient - with both my husband, myself and the puppy. We see much improvement in behavior and our dog listens to us now. We highly recommend this company !!
  • Madison Kirkpatrick
    Aug. 4, 2024
    Just finished private lessons with my dog, Annie, this week. Eric was a great trainer! Annie was shy and scared at first. Eric was patient with her, and she warmed up to him quickly! Even without her being treat motivated like most dogs, he was able to teach her a lot in 6 lessons! Annie has improved so much and I’m excited for her to continue to learn in the group lessons.
  • vince albachiaro
    Aug. 3, 2024
    Eric is a great trainer and provides incredible service.
  • Danielle Gooding
    Jul. 21, 2024
    So glad I chose Elite to help train my 1yr old chocolate Lab. The trainer ‘Eric’ was very professional and knowledgeable. He has a great understanding of a dog’s behavior and was very effective in training my pup and providing me with the information for continued training.
  • Andrew Connell
    Jul. 17, 2024
    I don't have enough praise for Dog Training Elite! We worked with Eric & Chris training our Yellow Lab puppy Luna, starting with basic obedience and working our way up to so much more we thought we were going to accomplish with her. They made the process enjoyable, simple, and had great suggestions for a few off-challenges we had in integrating her into our house with two other dogs (11y & 6y). Communication was clear, prompt and simple... you can't go wrong with Dog Training Elite with Eric & Chris! 👍👍
  • michael harkey
    Jul. 17, 2024
    Colby has been amazing in helping train my bernedoodle.
  • Madison Craig
    May. 4, 2024
    I have a 3.5 year old Australian shepherd that I rescued and all this time have tried multiple different trainers, tried training him myself and had pretty much thrown my hands up that he was just “untrainable” until I came across Eric and his business! We are two lessons in and my dog is already more behaved and well trained than when I rescued him! He is understanding commands, doing those commands when told etc. I highly recommend Eric and his team and I am excited for the upcoming future lessons we have scheduled!
  • Justin Ramos
    Mar. 7, 2024
    Eric and the team are great! Easy to work with and very knowledgeable. Highly recommend their training services.
  • Frank Samu
    Jan. 31, 2024
    We’ve been working with Eric for several one-on-one sessions for aggressive behavior from our rescue, and are seeing some signs of hope. I appreciate his willingness to listen and having us take an active role in the solution. We still have a long road ahead of us, but are encouraged by our progress so far! I am looking forward to the transition to outside the home to see Eric work with our girl. Definitely recommend!
  • Lauren Adams
    Jan. 15, 2024
    We are SO happy we chose Dog Training Elite for our golden doodle puppy. Eric is extremely knowledgeable, friendly, & our puppy loves him. I am so impressed, and surprised, at how much she has learned & is now able to do. It’s such a relief to trust her to listen to commands amid distractions, not run out the front door, etc. Highly recommend to everyone!
  • vinceo2b
    Dec. 13, 2023
    Eric and his team are excellent. Particularly at service and patience to meet your dog and family needs. Our Cavapoo took to Eric like a member of the family. I highly recommend their approach and methods, frankly, the hardest to train is us humans !!
  • Berri Umrani
    Dec. 8, 2023
    We have had an awesome experience with Dog Training Elite! We were ready to give up on our husky because not only was she naughty but didn’t listen either! We were so surprised at her behavior after the first appointment! With every appointment, she continued to grow more and more obedient and actually pays attention and listens and respond when given commands. We have had the pleasure of working with Eric! He has always been accommodating with our schedule and time. He is amazing and truly knows how to train and work with our pet! We have learned so much! Thank you Eric and Dog Traing Elite! Such a positive experience for our family and our husky Athena!
  • Linda Gattuso
    Dec. 7, 2023
    I’ve had several trainers with my dogs over the years, but Eric is by far the BEST! He’s so very skilled and knowledgeable! He’s patient and sweet with my dog and me! Pippin is learning so well under his guidance. This is the place to call if you want a positive learning experience.
  • Camren Kalinowski
    Dec. 6, 2023
    Eric has been great! We were so stressed & thought we would have to do something drastic & couldn’t see anyone fixing our issue. Our 1yo Rottie Odin was biting & not allowing us to pet him, barking at ppl & dogs and jumping on us. I really did a lot of research online & followed a lot of advice INCLUDING going thru 2 other trainers (one told us we should put him down)! Eric has been working with us for around 2mths now & he has changed everything! Odin hasn’t had one bad incident since day one of working with Eric. My relationship with Odin is so much better, I feel more confident & can finally love on him without worry. I have so many options on how to help Odin make the correct choices. I have gained so much knowledge & abilities. We truly felt we had tried so many ways to help Odin that I was really skeptical another trainer would really make a difference, I can tell Eric has really good knowledge and experience with ANY situation you may have, and lots of patience. This has made day to day living much better and I’m thankful Eric has learned what he has, so he can help others.
  • Jillian Sagat
    Dec. 5, 2023
    While being a new dog owner who wants to get her dog trained for being a psychiatric service animal, I had A LOT of questions. Eric, had SO much patience with me on the phone and answered everything in detail without making me feel rushed. He had an answer for them all and even provided me with examples of what they would provide for my specific needs. He also sent a follow up with the information we talked about immediately after our call. Super happy with the experience even before signing up to be a part of Dog Training Elite!

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!

What Works: Potty Training Tips from Real Trainers

Have you ever wondered how to potty train a puppy? Here are a few of the tried-and-true techniques our trainers use every day to set dogs up for success (and that you can start using right now):

Dogs thrive on routine. Take your puppy to the same quiet area each time they go out, and keep them on a leash to help them focus on the task at hand.

Trainer Tip: Use the same door and same path each time. It helps your pup learn the rhythm and makes success more predictable.

Puppies need frequent breaks. As a general guideline, take them out:

  • After naps
  • After play or excitement
  • Immediately after eating or drinking

The goal is to stay ahead of the accident—not scramble to clean it up after.

Many families tell us that crate training changed everything. And they’re not wrong.

Dogs instinctively avoid going to the bathroom where they sleep—but only if the crate is the right size. Too big, and they might go in one corner and sleep in another. Just right, and they’ll learn to hold it. Always take your dog outside immediately after letting them out of the crate to reinforce good habits.

Pick a simple phrase like “go potty” or “do your business,” and say it when your dog is going. Eventually, they’ll associate the phrase with the action.

This might feel like a small thing now, but it will be helpful in the long term, especially for service dogs. Many of our service dog families tell us that teaching this cue makes things much smoother on busy mornings, while traveling, or before entering public spaces.

We don’t mean “good dog” and a pat. We mean celebrate your puppy’s success like you just won the lottery. Clap, cheer, and praise enthusiastically, especially in the early days.

Positive feedback builds the confidence your pup needs to repeat the behavior again and again.

Watch for signs like sniffing, circling, whining, or suddenly going quiet. These are your cues to grab that leash and head out fast.

Interrupting the behavior early is one of the most effective ways to build new habits and reduce (and eventually eliminate) indoor accidents.

A picture with a Dog Training Elite trainer, dog, and owner working on potty training skills - contact us for your Jacksonville / St. Johns dog potty training today.

How We Help at Dog Training Elite

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We’ve worked with thousands of dogs, and no two are exactly alike. That’s why we build a training plan around your dog’s unique needs and your family’s routine.

Whether your dog is still in the puppy stage or just needs a little help breaking some old habits, we’ve got you covered with:

  • Behavior-Focused Solutions: Anxiety, confusion, and attention-seeking can cause potty issues. We help your dog feel secure and confident.
  • Routine & Structure: Dogs thrive with boundaries. Obedience training provides the daily framework that supports potty training success.
  • Custom Crate & Leash Integration: We’ll help you determine the proper crate size, potty schedule, and leash process just right for your dog.
  • Ongoing Owner Support: We don’t just train your dog—we teach you how to reinforce progress and avoid setbacks. You’ll know what signs to look for and how to support your dog long-term.

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An owner and her puppy - contact Dog Training Elite today to help build better habits through our dog and puppy potty training in Jacksonville / St. Johns, FL.

Your Puppy Potty Trainer in Jacksonville / St. Johns, FL

Let’s Build Better Habits, Together

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You don’t need to stress over potty training or wonder if your dog will ever “get it.” With a little structure and a lot of support, your dog will learn where and when they should go.

Whether you're working with a puppy or older dog, our Jacksonville / St. Johns dog potty training support is here to help. Reach out today to schedule a free in-home consultation with one of our amazing trainers at Dog Training Elite. Many families tell us it’s the best decision they've ever made.

A group of dogs being trained by the expert team at Dog Training Elite First Coast.
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