A happy, well trained dog from Dog Training Elite, your trusted source for dog training in Santa Monica, CA
Elite, Award-winning

Dog Training in Santa Monica, CA

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Request Free Assessment


Empowering Owners:

Leash Walking & Heel Training
Barking Issues
Aggression & Reactivity
Separation Anxiety
Jumping & Hyperactivity
Sitting & Stay Commands
Recall Training
Boundary Training
And More

Professional Dog Trainers near Santa Monica, CA

We have developed a highly successful in-home dog training program in Santa Monica, CA that empowers dog owners and their canines to work together - creating strong bonds and sustained obedience. Our in-home dog training method is highly personalized and designed to instruct owners, coaching them to train their dog alongside a professional dog trainer in their home environment as well as in small group settings.

We strongly believe that the key to sustained obedience and training is to empower owners to be an integral part of the training experience. Contact us today to get only the best dog training in Santa Monica, CA!

See Training Packages

Our Training Programs

Dog Training Elite Los Angeles - Dog Obedience Training in Los Angeles, CA. Dog Training Elite
Obedience Training

One of our most popular training services in Santa Monica, CA is to teach basic obedience in dogs. This includes both in-home dog training sessions at your Santa Monica, CA home and group classes near Santa Monica for a more advanced approach.

Dog Training Elite Los Angeles - Anxiety & Aggression Dog Trainer in Los Angeles, CA
Anxiety & Aggression

One of the most difficult, necessary and rewarding behaviors to correct in a dog is anxiety and aggression. Our Santa Monica dog trainers specialize in proper dog training techniques that help correct a dog's anxiety and aggressive behaviors.

Dog Training Elite Los Angeles - Service Dog Training in Los Angeles, CA. Dog Training Elite
Service Dog Training

We have a variety of service dog training packages in Santa Monica, CA, all of which are highly personalized to the individual seeking assistance.

Dog Training Elite Los Angeles - Puppy Training in Los Angeles, CA. Dog Training Elite
Puppy Training

We have developed a highly successful and unique positive dog training program that empowers owners and their canines to work together, creating strong bonds and sustained obedience. We offer an online puppy webinar to help you get started from the day you bring home your new fur baby. Contact us today to learn more about our puppy training in Santa Monica, CA!

Dog Training Elite Los Angeles - Veteran Service Dog Training in Los Angeles, CA
Military / Retired Vet Programs

We believe strongly in the healing power of service dogs for retired military veterans, and we donate our time and passion to training service dogs for the foundation. We also offer incentives to active service members. Contact us today to learn more about our dog training for military / retired veterans in Santa Monica, CA!

Dog Training Elite Los Angeles - Therapy Dog Training Program in Los Angeles
Therapy Dog Training

A therapy dog is highly trained to have a positive impact on the health and well being of both individuals and community health. Contact us today for more information on our therapy animal dog training programs in Santa Monica, CA!

A dog owner and her service puppy - choose our {surroudning_name} dog trainers.

Why Choose Santa Monica Dog Trainers?


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Why choose Dog Training Elite in Santa Monica, CA? Our training is a lifetime investment—we are committed to your long-term success, offering continued support and follow-up to ensure lasting results. Not only do we provide professional, high-quality training, but we are also value priced, making our services accessible and budget-friendly without compromising on excellence.

Our team of Santa Monica trainers are passionate, trustworthy, and dedicated to helping you and your dog succeed. With our simplified and customized approach, we work around your schedule, requiring only 15 minutes of practice each day to reinforce training, making it convenient and effective for busy 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

  • Charlie Fink
    Apr. 24, 2025
    Our dog is a very willful herding dog, but thanks to our trainer Kayla, we are learning how to control him. As a result of firm direction he is steadily becoming a calmer and more obedient dog. Four stars. 100% recommend. I don’t often say that about expensive services, but it was worth every penny. We were at the end of our rope with this dog and they saved us!
  • Nicole Beck
    Apr. 23, 2025
    Kyla was terrific! My Bernedoodle would immediately calm down the minute Kyla walked into the house. I loved working with her. I also learned a lot! Highly recommend her.
  • Gloria Mattioni
    Apr. 16, 2025
    I highly recommend Dog Training Elite. My experience convinced me it's worth every penny. All trainers are professional, available to answer any question and guide you through each step of your dog's training. I was blessed to find the perfect match for my still unruly 2-year young rescue Lab mix in Clayton. He’s been very patient and inspiring for both of us, conquering Paco’s trust since the first meeting, encouraging him to experiment new things and overcome his fears. Clayton seemed to truly understand my dog’s personality and tailored his training on specific tasks and obedience goals.Paco blossomed under his guidance, leaving behind any reactive behavior and becoming responsive to commands even in stressful situations. I also learned to overcome my fear of hurting Paco using the e-collar after Clayton showed me how to use it safely. I’ll keep taking Paco to the group lessons now that he completed his training. He’ll enjoy seeing Clayton again and practice together with Whopple and his other dog-buddies.
  • Anne Graas
    Apr. 15, 2025
    After five sessions with Clayton, my dog doesn’t lunge on the leash anymore. He is learning to calm down around other dogs, and ignore distractions. The best part is that I am learning how to communicate to him the behavior that I want. This has been the most effective dog training I’ve experienced, and I’ve had dogs all my life.
  • Annemarie Perez
    Apr. 7, 2025
    This review is too long coming! My pup Sutti (an 18 month old whoodle (wheaten terrier poodle crossbreed) and I have been working with Clayton from Dog Training Elite for the past five months. In that time she's learned so much. In addition to walking without pulling, sit, lie down, place and other basic commands, she's well on her way to being a psychiatric service dog for my PTSD. She's currently learning how to alert and ground via (DPT - deep pressure therapy) for panic attacks and received her preliminary service dog certification. They've also been flexible about scheduling, something I've appreciated a great deal as my job requires travel and odd hours. My husband and I recommend Dog Training Elite and, especially, Clayton highly.
  • linda rosen
    Apr. 4, 2025
    Clayton is very intuitive and patient with our high energy golden retriever puppy. I have learned a lot about setting boundaries and using commands effectively.
  • Rachel M
    Mar. 20, 2025
    Clayton educated us throughout the whole sessions, was amazing with our dog, overall amazing trainer! He
  • Nutri Steph
    Feb. 21, 2025
    We couldn’t be happier with Dog Elite Training Los Angeles! Our Yorkie Terrier is currently in training to become a service dog, and the experience has been amazing from day one. The trainer Clayton is incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and truly care about the dogs he work with. I was a little unsure at first since Yorkies are small with a big attitude, but Clayton never doubted her potential. They created a training plan tailored to her needs, and we’ve already seen such a huge improvement in her focus, obedience, and ability to perform tasks. It’s been incredible to watch her grow and gain confidence. What I love most is how supportive and hands-on Clayton is. He make sure we understand each step of the process so we can continue the training at home. It’s clear he is passionate about what he do, and it really shows in the results. If you’re looking for expert service dog training in LA, I highly recommend Dog Elite Training. They’ve made such a difference for us, and I’m so excited to see how far our little Yorkie goes!
  • Jorge Sanchez
    Feb. 26, 2025
    Mr. Clayton, from Dog Training Elite, is a class act trainer and person. Im very thankful that my dog TANK, and I are paired up with Mr. Clayton. He is very informative and patient. He gives u step by step instructions(verbal and visual) that are very helpful. 1 to 10 Mr. Clayton = 10 Dog Training Elite Los Angeles =10
  • Christine Krohn
    Feb. 21, 2025
    Clayton is professional, polite and is every knowledgeable. His training techniques are easy to follow.
  • Francisco Ramos
    Feb. 19, 2025
    I cannot recommend Clayton highly enough as a service dog trainer! From day one, his expertise, patience, and dedication were evident. He took the time to understand my specific needs and tailored the training to ensure my dog developed the skills necessary to support me in daily life. At first, I wasn’t sure if my dog could successfully complete the training but I gain confidence after finding that Clayton was the best trainer in my area. Now, my dog has become an incredible partner, providing me with support I never thought possible. If you’re looking for a trainer who is skilled, kind, and truly invested in your success, Clayton is the one to go to. I’m beyond grateful for his guidance and would recommend him to anyone in need of service dog training!
  • Rachael Chan
    Feb. 18, 2025
    Dog Training Elite has been awesome! I had been thinking about getting my 3 year old mini goldendoodle some training for a while now and wish I had started sooner. We have been working with Clayton who has been very knowledgeable and the progress my pup has made after just 4 sessions with him has been incredible! My pup used to always pull on his leash and get overly excited and out of control when interacting with other dogs on walks and that has now completely changed. I look forward to even more progress as we work with Clayton to get my pup trained as a service animal. Definitely recommend Dog Training Elite and Clayton.
  • Franklin Montiel
    Feb. 17, 2025
    Thank you coach Clayton, Sage is still a fun pup but listens, plays, and follows commands like a Champ! Your calm and expert advise has really helped us be better parents to our beautiful 😍 Sage!!💝💝
  • Kimberly Lambert Gibson
    Feb. 12, 2025
    Dog Training Elite has been an incredible experience. Greg met with us to decide which dog would be trainable out of the liter which was very helpful. We were looking for a trainer who could help us train our puppy all the way thru to a service animal. Clayton, our trainer has been amazing working my son and our puppy. He is very respectful and knowledgeable. The puppy is responding beyond our expectations to the training. We are very grateful and highly recommend this company and especially Clayton as a trainer. Thank you!!!
  • georgialawrence1
    Feb. 6, 2025
    I cannot recommend Clayton, Elite Dog Training, highly enough for anyone struggling with a reactive GSD, When I first reached out, I was feeling overwhelmed and frustrated with my dog's reactivity towards other dogs. Clayton not only understood my concerns but also provided a clear, structured plan to help us both. From our very first meeting, Clayton took the time to assess my dog's behavior thoroughly. He listened to my experiences and helped identify specific triggers for my dog's reactivity. This initial assessment set the stage for a tailored training program that felt achievable Clayton gradually introduced my dog to controlled environments, allowing him to encounter triggers at a comfortable distance and the tools/instructions to counter these triggers The progress we made was remarkable! Within a few weeks, Luger showed significant improvement. Clayton provided practical strategies that I could use which empowered me as an owner. If you're facing similar challenges, I wholeheartedly recommend Clayton and Elite Dog Training. Their expertise and patience can truly transform your relationship with your dog. Thank you, Clayton, for your incredible work!
  • Kat McGinty
    Feb. 6, 2025
    I cannot recommend Dog Training Elite enough! Clayton has been incredible in helping me to train my terrier/pit bull mix. He's patient and clearly loves dogs. My dog was instantly comfortable with him. I'm already planning on adding more sessions because Clayton has helped me see just how much my dog is capable of!
  • Shelby Dash (Shelby & Kristina)
    Feb. 5, 2025
    We had such a wonderful experience with our trainer. He was knowledgeable, patient, and professional. I would highly recommend!
  • Julia Steinweg
    Feb. 4, 2025
    My experience with Clayton was fantastic. He understands the nature of dogs really well and is therefore able to adapt his training style to the specific personality of your dog to achieve immediate improvements of critical dog behavior with great results. I can only recommend Clayton as an experienced dog trainer who delivers great results in a short period of time.
  • Christina Hutchinson
    Jan. 18, 2025
    I honestly cannot say enough good things about Dogs Elite training! I rescued a ~5 year old male German Shepherd 5 months ago who was a lot to handle. He was a sweet enough boy and playful with my other GSD, but terrible to walk and dog reactive. I spent thousands with another trainer to be disappointed and only witness mild improvement; I felt like this poor dog was too much for me. So I interviewed a few other trainers and decided on Dogs Elite. What sold me on them is the final goal of walking him on a “J leash” (meaning a relaxed leash). Sure that sounds great and like I’m in control, but the real meaning behind it is transferring leadership from the dog to you. Rescues have had to be hyper-vigilant to survive, so that’s a lot of “on” energy. Once YOU are trained how to lead your dog, they can relax and be a dog who enjoys a comfy life going on walks and meeting other dogs at the dog park. Today was my 6th session with Clayton and I never thought my Jack would succeed in a dog park without incident, I couldn’t be more wrong. Look at this face after class: he’s happy, learning was a joy and not something negative, and he’s relaxed. He’s a different dog and I’m so happy to see these behavioral changes in him. It never would’ve happened with training that didn’t tap in to the psychology of his mind. I’m so grateful to what Clayton has done for us!!
  • Czarina Lim
    Dec. 29, 2024
    I highly recommend Dog Training Elite for all your dog training needs. My partner and I rescued a 3.5 yr old puggle who exhibited episodes of aggression and actually bit my partner after a stressful road trip. I found DTE during my Google search of aggression-specialty dog training, and I'm so glad I did! Clayton, our trainer, does a fantastic job teaching both our rescue and us how to behave with each other, and continues to give us the right tools in helping us train our beloved rescue so that everyone has a good time. His patience while we all learn together has been invaluable. Also, just as an added plus for this program, DTE gives a discount for rescues! While the initial price tag may feel daunting, know that this is an investment you're making for both you and your dog, and everyone involved will be better off for it!
  • Charlie Fink
    Apr. 24, 2025
    Our dog is a very willful herding dog, but thanks to our trainer Kayla, we are learning how to control him. As a result of firm direction he is steadily becoming a calmer and more obedient dog. Four stars. 100% recommend. I don’t often say that about expensive services, but it was worth every penny. We were at the end of our rope with this dog and they saved us!
  • Nicole Beck
    Apr. 23, 2025
    Kyla was terrific! My Bernedoodle would immediately calm down the minute Kyla walked into the house. I loved working with her. I also learned a lot! Highly recommend her.
  • Gloria Mattioni
    Apr. 16, 2025
    I highly recommend Dog Training Elite. My experience convinced me it's worth every penny. All trainers are professional, available to answer any question and guide you through each step of your dog's training. I was blessed to find the perfect match for my still unruly 2-year young rescue Lab mix in Clayton. He’s been very patient and inspiring for both of us, conquering Paco’s trust since the first meeting, encouraging him to experiment new things and overcome his fears. Clayton seemed to truly understand my dog’s personality and tailored his training on specific tasks and obedience goals.Paco blossomed under his guidance, leaving behind any reactive behavior and becoming responsive to commands even in stressful situations. I also learned to overcome my fear of hurting Paco using the e-collar after Clayton showed me how to use it safely. I’ll keep taking Paco to the group lessons now that he completed his training. He’ll enjoy seeing Clayton again and practice together with Whopple and his other dog-buddies.
  • Anne Graas
    Apr. 15, 2025
    After five sessions with Clayton, my dog doesn’t lunge on the leash anymore. He is learning to calm down around other dogs, and ignore distractions. The best part is that I am learning how to communicate to him the behavior that I want. This has been the most effective dog training I’ve experienced, and I’ve had dogs all my life.
  • Annemarie Perez
    Apr. 7, 2025
    This review is too long coming! My pup Sutti (an 18 month old whoodle (wheaten terrier poodle crossbreed) and I have been working with Clayton from Dog Training Elite for the past five months. In that time she's learned so much. In addition to walking without pulling, sit, lie down, place and other basic commands, she's well on her way to being a psychiatric service dog for my PTSD. She's currently learning how to alert and ground via (DPT - deep pressure therapy) for panic attacks and received her preliminary service dog certification. They've also been flexible about scheduling, something I've appreciated a great deal as my job requires travel and odd hours. My husband and I recommend Dog Training Elite and, especially, Clayton highly.
  • linda rosen
    Apr. 4, 2025
    Clayton is very intuitive and patient with our high energy golden retriever puppy. I have learned a lot about setting boundaries and using commands effectively.
  • Rachel M
    Mar. 20, 2025
    Clayton educated us throughout the whole sessions, was amazing with our dog, overall amazing trainer! He
  • Nutri Steph
    Feb. 21, 2025
    We couldn’t be happier with Dog Elite Training Los Angeles! Our Yorkie Terrier is currently in training to become a service dog, and the experience has been amazing from day one. The trainer Clayton is incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and truly care about the dogs he work with. I was a little unsure at first since Yorkies are small with a big attitude, but Clayton never doubted her potential. They created a training plan tailored to her needs, and we’ve already seen such a huge improvement in her focus, obedience, and ability to perform tasks. It’s been incredible to watch her grow and gain confidence. What I love most is how supportive and hands-on Clayton is. He make sure we understand each step of the process so we can continue the training at home. It’s clear he is passionate about what he do, and it really shows in the results. If you’re looking for expert service dog training in LA, I highly recommend Dog Elite Training. They’ve made such a difference for us, and I’m so excited to see how far our little Yorkie goes!
  • Jorge Sanchez
    Feb. 26, 2025
    Mr. Clayton, from Dog Training Elite, is a class act trainer and person. Im very thankful that my dog TANK, and I are paired up with Mr. Clayton. He is very informative and patient. He gives u step by step instructions(verbal and visual) that are very helpful. 1 to 10 Mr. Clayton = 10 Dog Training Elite Los Angeles =10
  • Christine Krohn
    Feb. 21, 2025
    Clayton is professional, polite and is every knowledgeable. His training techniques are easy to follow.
  • Francisco Ramos
    Feb. 19, 2025
    I cannot recommend Clayton highly enough as a service dog trainer! From day one, his expertise, patience, and dedication were evident. He took the time to understand my specific needs and tailored the training to ensure my dog developed the skills necessary to support me in daily life. At first, I wasn’t sure if my dog could successfully complete the training but I gain confidence after finding that Clayton was the best trainer in my area. Now, my dog has become an incredible partner, providing me with support I never thought possible. If you’re looking for a trainer who is skilled, kind, and truly invested in your success, Clayton is the one to go to. I’m beyond grateful for his guidance and would recommend him to anyone in need of service dog training!
  • Rachael Chan
    Feb. 18, 2025
    Dog Training Elite has been awesome! I had been thinking about getting my 3 year old mini goldendoodle some training for a while now and wish I had started sooner. We have been working with Clayton who has been very knowledgeable and the progress my pup has made after just 4 sessions with him has been incredible! My pup used to always pull on his leash and get overly excited and out of control when interacting with other dogs on walks and that has now completely changed. I look forward to even more progress as we work with Clayton to get my pup trained as a service animal. Definitely recommend Dog Training Elite and Clayton.
  • Franklin Montiel
    Feb. 17, 2025
    Thank you coach Clayton, Sage is still a fun pup but listens, plays, and follows commands like a Champ! Your calm and expert advise has really helped us be better parents to our beautiful 😍 Sage!!💝💝
  • Kimberly Lambert Gibson
    Feb. 12, 2025
    Dog Training Elite has been an incredible experience. Greg met with us to decide which dog would be trainable out of the liter which was very helpful. We were looking for a trainer who could help us train our puppy all the way thru to a service animal. Clayton, our trainer has been amazing working my son and our puppy. He is very respectful and knowledgeable. The puppy is responding beyond our expectations to the training. We are very grateful and highly recommend this company and especially Clayton as a trainer. Thank you!!!
  • georgialawrence1
    Feb. 6, 2025
    I cannot recommend Clayton, Elite Dog Training, highly enough for anyone struggling with a reactive GSD, When I first reached out, I was feeling overwhelmed and frustrated with my dog's reactivity towards other dogs. Clayton not only understood my concerns but also provided a clear, structured plan to help us both. From our very first meeting, Clayton took the time to assess my dog's behavior thoroughly. He listened to my experiences and helped identify specific triggers for my dog's reactivity. This initial assessment set the stage for a tailored training program that felt achievable Clayton gradually introduced my dog to controlled environments, allowing him to encounter triggers at a comfortable distance and the tools/instructions to counter these triggers The progress we made was remarkable! Within a few weeks, Luger showed significant improvement. Clayton provided practical strategies that I could use which empowered me as an owner. If you're facing similar challenges, I wholeheartedly recommend Clayton and Elite Dog Training. Their expertise and patience can truly transform your relationship with your dog. Thank you, Clayton, for your incredible work!
  • Kat McGinty
    Feb. 6, 2025
    I cannot recommend Dog Training Elite enough! Clayton has been incredible in helping me to train my terrier/pit bull mix. He's patient and clearly loves dogs. My dog was instantly comfortable with him. I'm already planning on adding more sessions because Clayton has helped me see just how much my dog is capable of!
  • Shelby Dash (Shelby & Kristina)
    Feb. 5, 2025
    We had such a wonderful experience with our trainer. He was knowledgeable, patient, and professional. I would highly recommend!
  • Julia Steinweg
    Feb. 4, 2025
    My experience with Clayton was fantastic. He understands the nature of dogs really well and is therefore able to adapt his training style to the specific personality of your dog to achieve immediate improvements of critical dog behavior with great results. I can only recommend Clayton as an experienced dog trainer who delivers great results in a short period of time.
  • Christina Hutchinson
    Jan. 18, 2025
    I honestly cannot say enough good things about Dogs Elite training! I rescued a ~5 year old male German Shepherd 5 months ago who was a lot to handle. He was a sweet enough boy and playful with my other GSD, but terrible to walk and dog reactive. I spent thousands with another trainer to be disappointed and only witness mild improvement; I felt like this poor dog was too much for me. So I interviewed a few other trainers and decided on Dogs Elite. What sold me on them is the final goal of walking him on a “J leash” (meaning a relaxed leash). Sure that sounds great and like I’m in control, but the real meaning behind it is transferring leadership from the dog to you. Rescues have had to be hyper-vigilant to survive, so that’s a lot of “on” energy. Once YOU are trained how to lead your dog, they can relax and be a dog who enjoys a comfy life going on walks and meeting other dogs at the dog park. Today was my 6th session with Clayton and I never thought my Jack would succeed in a dog park without incident, I couldn’t be more wrong. Look at this face after class: he’s happy, learning was a joy and not something negative, and he’s relaxed. He’s a different dog and I’m so happy to see these behavioral changes in him. It never would’ve happened with training that didn’t tap in to the psychology of his mind. I’m so grateful to what Clayton has done for us!!
  • Czarina Lim
    Dec. 29, 2024
    I highly recommend Dog Training Elite for all your dog training needs. My partner and I rescued a 3.5 yr old puggle who exhibited episodes of aggression and actually bit my partner after a stressful road trip. I found DTE during my Google search of aggression-specialty dog training, and I'm so glad I did! Clayton, our trainer, does a fantastic job teaching both our rescue and us how to behave with each other, and continues to give us the right tools in helping us train our beloved rescue so that everyone has a good time. His patience while we all learn together has been invaluable. Also, just as an added plus for this program, DTE gives a discount for rescues! While the initial price tag may feel daunting, know that this is an investment you're making for both you and your dog, and everyone involved will be better off for it!

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Our Dog Training Process in Santa Monica, CA

Dog Training Elite Los Angeles


One of our local dog trainers will come to your Santa Monica home to meet with you and your dog, assess any issues and strengths and help you select a personalized program that will best suit you both. We will then demonstrate one of our trained dogs to help you better understand our dog training techniques and the results they produce.

A Dog Training Elite graduate will behave both at home and in distracting environments due to our multi-environmental approach and the results will be lasting if the owner remains a key player in the training process. A dog signed up for one of our programs is a part of the Dog Training Elite family for life. Our Santa Monica, CA dog trainers are known for their ongoing and exceptional support given to owners. We believe in what we do and want to instill confidence in both owners and their dogs. Request your Santa Monica, CA dog training demo today!

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