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Dog Training Elite in Little Rock / Chenal Valley, AR

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About Dog Training Elite Little Rock

Dog Training Elite Little Rock - Meet Our Elite Team. Dog Training Elite in Little Rock / Chenal Valley

Meet the Team

Dog Training Elite Little Rock - Our Reviews. DTE in Little Rock / Chenal Valley, AR

Reviews

Dog Training Elite Little Rock - Careers. DTE in Little Rock / Chenal Valley, AR

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Dog Training Elite Little Rock - Local Dog Trainers in Little Rock / Chenal Valley, AR. DTE

In the Community

Our Team

Debbie Zimmerman - Owner/Trainer
Debbie Zimmerman
Owner/Trainer

Welcome to Dog Training Elite, Little Rock. I’m proud to be part of the Dog Training Elite Brand and honored to be part of the Arkansas community. I come from a corporate background but have had animals in my life long before that, including three generations of Akitas. As part of a previous chapter in So Cal, I was an animal masseuse and worked on canines and equines, with a few felines dabbled in there. I never expected to be a trainer, but each and every animal that crossed my path has brought me here, to DTE Little Rock. I understand the feeling of everyone looking at you, with a dog they’re afraid of because they don’t understand it. The frustrated point you come to realize that somewhere along the line you lost being the leader and your dog has taken over. My passion is to restore that relationship between you and your dog, to help bridge the gap so you can communicate and make you a team that you have always dreamed of.

A little about me – I’m the crazy lady who felt that Akitas should be part of the agility family, and yes, I’ve competed with my Akitas. I’ve also competed in Nosework and Treiball – a game for dogs that combined the thought of sheep and soccer. I’ve trained one-on-one obedience when a family friend singled me out to help. I also started training Treiball as a new sport in So Cal in hopes to get trials started there. I have family in Central Arkansas and as busy as we all are, finding time to spend with them is easier now that I’m closer. Today I have my main partner and service dog, Diego, a Belgian Tervuren. His hobbies, between his job as a service dog and demo dog include agility, disc dog, scent work, and treiball. Katakana, an Akita, is still growing up and trying to decide how she wants to spend her time. And the ‘middle child’ is Scout who keeps the other two in check because he needs exercise too.

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Kandice Byrum - Admin/Trainer
Kandice Byrum
Admin/Trainer

My life’s work is driven by a simple, powerful truth: the bond between a person and their dog can change a life. My journey began in my youth, growing up immersed in the world of horses and hunting dogs. This lifelong passion for animal behavior and structure lead me on a search for what I wanted to do with my life. Eventually, it led me to serve in the U.S. Navy where I gained a deep appreciation for the discipline, focus, and incredible capabilities of working dogs, and where I also had the opportunity to see how the trainers worked with them. And a chance to be a part of something much bigger - as an Operational Specialist I experienced many firsts, and this was one of my favorites.

My path to DTE began with a personal mission to find a service dog of my own. That dog is Ivy, a Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd mix. Ivy did more than just provide support; she brought me out of my shell and showed me the transformative power of a true partnership. This experience didn't just change my life; it defined my purpose.

Today, as part of the DTE team, I am honored to help owners cultivate that same life-changing connection. Whether I am working with my own pack - Ivy, Bear, Harley, and Delta - or helping you train your companion, my goal is the same: to show you that there is a path to a better, more connected life for both you and your dog. I look forward to helping you experience that magic firsthand.

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Karsen King - Trainer
Karsen King
Trainer

I love spending time with my family, friends and my fur babies. I have a golden doodle named Gypsy! I've worked with dogs for a little over two years now and love everything about it. Dogs have always held a special place in my heart and always will! I'm so thankful God put these amazing animals on this earth so I get the opportunity to learn from them and work with them!

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  • Marlene Prosise
    Oct. 16, 2026
    Started training Olivia for service dog work today. Debbie and Diego were the best! Lots of things to work on. Olivia did so good! Love Debbie, she is always calm, and gives great information to make me and Olivia the best team we can be!
  • Lorien “Mlem” M
    Oct. 12, 2026
    Debbie was wonderful. Answered all of our questions was very polite.And when we had a question regarding the concerns of the dog's personality after training she introduced us to her service dog to give us an understanding of how the dog would be after training , i'm happy to say she was amazing and I look forward to our continued work with this team!
  • Brianna Polner
    Oct. 12, 2026
    She was so sweet and knowledgeable!
  • Sarah Michelle King
    Oct. 7, 2026
    Debbie was great and spent a lot of time with us!
  • Sizzle the Fire Dog
    Oct. 3, 2026
    Kandace has been fantastic with our Sizzle. We have had nothing but a great experience since we have started with DTE.
  • Shenique Harris
    Sep. 30, 2026
    They were so sweet and kind and very thorough about the training. I can’t wait to join the program and get my sweet Ava trained. It’s nice to know that they provide a explanation Of the training that’s provided and show a demo dog progress after being trained in the program.
  • Belinda Bryant
    Oct. 6, 2025
    Excellent experience. The trainer was on time and professional. She was also friendly. Explained the program well and gave me some training tips.
  • CARMEN DURAN
    Jun. 9, 2026
    If I could give Dog Training Elite Little Rock more than 5 stars, I absolutely would! For the past 10 months, we have had the privilege of working with Debbie and her incredible team as they trained our son’s autism service dog, Koda. Our son has Level 3 Autism and is nonverbal, so finding the right dog—and the right trainers—was one of the most important decisions our family has made. From day one, their dedication and expertise were evident. They even helped screen puppies from our breeder to ensure we were matched with the best possible fit for our son’s unique needs. That level of care and commitment meant the world to our family. Throughout the entire process, Debbie and her staff have been knowledgeable, patient, encouraging, and always willing to answer questions. From personalized in-home training sessions to group classes, every step has been professional, thorough, and tailored to help both Koda and our family succeed. The transformation we’ve seen has been incredible. Koda has become so much more than a service dog—he has given our son greater independence, confidence, safety, and opportunities to experience the world in ways we once only dreamed of. If you’re looking for exceptional obedience training or considering a professionally trained service dog, I cannot recommend Dog Training Elite Little Rock highly enough. Their passion, expertise, and genuine care for both dogs and families truly set them apart. We are forever grateful to Debbie and the entire team for changing our lives.
  • Edith Murdoch
    Sep. 4, 2026
    Holly was great and explains well. I think my dog responded well to his first session. I will be harder to train! Looking forward to the next session.
  • Anne Mitchell
    Aug. 15, 2026
    Wonderful first time experience; professional, timely, considerate, and knowledgeable. There was clear communication throughout the entire process. Debbie and Kandace worked well together with me and my dog. During the evaluation , they explained goals and worked with my schedule. They were sure to explain the whys and other curiosities of training and my dog's behavior. I can see this being a remarkable journey with my pet. .
  • Jeffie Ashland
    Sep. 1, 2026
    Wonderful consultation with Ms. King I look forward to our service work together
  • Ralph Smith
    May. 13, 2026
    Excellent knowledge and good demeanor with my dog. In less than an hour saw significant positive change in my dog. Looking forward to getting busy with the training
  • Meredith Olmstead
    Jun. 2, 2026
    Holly is the best
  • Achilles Valores
    Aug. 17, 2026
    We worked with Holly for our girl Lexie. Holly was so patient and calm in her interactions with her. Holly also provided excellent written homework via emails that made it possible for us to confidently continue training before our next class. We enjoyed having the training in-home as it worked well with our schedule. I totally recommend Holly for training. She will do all she can to ensure success with pups!!!
  • Jason Boyce
    May. 26, 2026
    They are the real deal, and know what their doing. I recommend them.
  • Brenda Saunders
    Jul. 29, 2026
    Holly is an excellent trainer, she arrives on time, is always helpful with our questions, and our puppy loves her. She has made a vast improvement in our Millie’s behavior….
  • Jennifer Carroll
    Jul. 25, 2026
    Making a difference for me and my fur baby. I can’t wait to see how this journey progresses! Thank you for the help!
  • Tara Dunnick
    Jul. 17, 2026
    Amazing team of trainers. Always gentle with our fur baby, Mia. Holly is always on time and is great with communication.
  • Inga Witcher
    Jun. 3, 2026
    Holly is great! I love her approach and patience with both dog and human. I so much appreciate her support and recommend her for training needs
  • Carmen Duran-Smith
    Jul. 13, 2026
    If I could give Dog Training Elite Little Rock more than 5 stars, I absolutely would! For the past 10 months, we have had the privilege of working with Debbie and her incredible team as they trained our son’s autism service dog, Koda. Our son has Level 3 Autism and is nonverbal, so finding the right dog—and the right trainers—was one of the most important decisions our family has made. From day one, their dedication and expertise were evident. They even helped screen puppies from our breeder to ensure we were matched with the best possible fit for our son’s unique needs. That level of care and commitment meant the world to our family. Throughout the entire process, Debbie and her staff have been knowledgeable, patient, encouraging, and always willing to answer questions. From personalized in-home training sessions to group classes, every step has been professional, thorough, and tailored to help both Koda and our family succeed. The transformation we’ve seen has been incredible. Koda has become so much more than a service dog—he has given our son greater independence, confidence, safety, and opportunities to experience the world in ways we once only dreamed of. If you’re looking for exceptional obedience training or considering a professionally trained service dog, I cannot recommend Dog Training Elite Little Rock highly enough. Their passion, expertise, and genuine care for both dogs and families truly set them apart. We are forever grateful to Debbie and the entire team for changing our lives.