A service dog and their owner outside - find elite service dog training in Jacksonville / St. Johns, FL with Dog Training Elite.

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Service Dog Training

Dog Training Elite First Coast

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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 First Coast

Service Dog Training in Jacksonville / St. Johns, FL

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 Jacksonville / St. Johns, FL, 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.

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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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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 Jacksonville / St. Johns.
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

  • 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 Rohrbaugh
    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!
  • Steven Puskas
    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!
A Dog Training Elite First Coast owner smiling with his dog in Jacksonville / St. Johns, FL.

Dog Training Elite First Coast

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 First Coast

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 First Coast - PTSD Service Dog in Jacksonville / St. Johns, FL. DTE
PTSD Service Dog

If you're looking to train a PTSD service dog in Jacksonville / St. Johns, FL, 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 First Coast - Psychiatric Service Dog in Jacksonville / St. Johns, FL. DTE
Psychiatric Service Dog Training

Our psychiatric service dog training in Jacksonville / St. Johns, FL 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 First Coast - Mobility Service Dog in Jacksonville / St. Johns, FL. Dog Training Elite
Mobility Support Service Dog

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

Dog Training Elite First Coast - Seizure Response Dog in Jacksonville / St. Johns, FL. DTE
Medical Response Dog Training

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

Dog Training Elite First Coast - Autism Support Dog Training in Jacksonville / St. Johns, FL. DTE
Autism Support Service Dog

Bring life-changing support to your family with Dog Training Elite's autism support dog training in Jacksonville / St. Johns, FL. 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 Jacksonville / St. Johns service dog training with Dog Training Elite.

Dog Training Elite First Coast

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 First Coast.

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 First Coast.
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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 Jacksonville / St. Johns, FL with Dog Training Elite.

We Are Committed to Making a Difference

Choose DTE for Jacksonville / St. Johns Service Dog Training

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At Dog Training Elite, we are passionate about transforming lives through Jacksonville / St. Johns 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 First Coast and experience the difference that elite training and compassionate care can make.