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Positive Reinforcement vs. Punishment

Positive Reinforcement Dog Training in Los Angeles, CA

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Positive Dog Training Techniques

Los Angeles Positive Reinforcement Dog Trainers

Research shows that focusing on positive reinforcement when a desired behavior occurs and not worrying about correcting bad behavior in dogs is more effective and has longer-lasting results than training that incorporates punishment for bad behavior.

Positive reinforcement dog training in Los Angeles, CA works because dogs are inherently eager to please. Rewarding your dog for good behavior helps create a deep, loving relationship with your dog built on trust, as opposed to one built on fear of punishment. The difference between a dog who has been trained to obey out of fear of being punished vs. a dog who learns to obey through a positive, loving bond with their owner is huge.

Dog Training Elite Los Angeles trainers use treats as an initial reward for puppies and dogs learning commands. When the trainer is absent, or you’re in between obedience classes, you can continue to use treats as a reward for your dog when they exhibit a desired behavior. Dogs tend to be highly food-motivated, so this is an extremely useful tool. You can also reward your dog with a play session, take them to the dog park or anything else you know your dog enjoys. After all, you know your dog best!

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Your Questions Answered

Positive reinforcement training is a widely used and highly effective method for teaching dogs new behaviors while strengthening the bond between you and your pet. Below, we've answered some common questions about how this training approach works and why it's beneficial for all dog breeds.

Positive reinforcement training rewards dogs for good behavior with treats, praise, or play, encouraging them to repeat those behaviors. It focuses on creating a positive association with desired actions, making training enjoyable and effective for your dog.
Positive reinforcement builds trust and strengthens the bond between you and your dog. By rewarding desired behavior, your dog is more motivated to learn and respond willingly, whereas punishment can create fear and anxiety, hindering learning and damaging the relationship.
Yes, positive reinforcement training is effective for all dog breeds. Since it relies on rewarding good behavior, dogs of all breeds, sizes, and temperaments can respond well, making it a flexible and universally beneficial training method.
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Positive Dog Training in Los Angeles, CA

Dog Training Elite

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As for not worrying about bad behavior – it may feel strange to act like everything is fine when your dog chews on your shoes, or goes to the bathroom inside your home. But focusing on rewarding good behavior and forgoing punishment for bad behavior is more successful in the long run.

Relying on punishment for errors and “low value” rewards, such as praise or petting are long held “traditional” methods for dog training. Punishments like flicking a dog’s nose, shocking them with a shock collar, or anything else that may cause a dog pain are unfortunately still in use today by many dog trainers.

Not only is it inhumane, but using punishment as a tool can actually backfire. For example: punishing a dog for going to the bathroom inside a house won’t teach them to go outside instead. Often, the dog only understands that the mess makes their owner mad. Instead of going outside, the dog is likely to continue to make messes indoors — where the owner can’t find them.

Punishment training also damages the relationship between dog and owner. Dogs do not understand right and wrong. Instead of associating punishment with a specific behavior they learn to avoid, as with the bathroom example, they instead learn to live in constant fear of punishment. This prevents owners from bonding with their dogs in a meaningful way.

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The Dog Training Elite Los Angeles Difference


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Dog Training Elite Los Angeles uses modern training methods focused on positive dog training using reinforcement and bonding you and your dog. Our trainers in Los Angeles, CA never resort to punishment to help dogs unlearn behaviors. Through a combination of commands and an electronic collar, dogs learn to follow commands at once. The electronic collar is not a shock collar and never used to punish bad behavior. Instead, it produces a sensation like the gentle tug of a leash, and is used to help recapture the attention of a dog who gets distracted.

Dog Training Elite Los Angeles’s method of focusing on positive behavior reinforcement nurtures a dog's loving and naturally obedient nature. The method is the same regardless of the situation, whether training a puppy, an older dog or a service dog. The positive reinforcement dog training in Los Angeles, CA ensures training is a success no matter what your dog’s behavior. If you have a brand new puppy who is stubborn and smart, or an older dog who has slipped into bad habits – or perhaps never learned – after proper conditioning and working with Dog Training Elite Los Angeles, when you say “sit,” your dog will automatically sit without thinking about it.

Dog Training Elite Los Angeles offers specialized in-home training services so your dog gets the attention and training he or she needs, and you learn alongside them so training continues when the trainer leaves. Dog Training Elite in Los Angeles, CA also offers group classes for dogs who are ready to take obedience training to the next level, and service training programs for a variety of needs.

If you’re looking to train a service dog, or just looking for a loyal four-legged companion, Dog Training Elite in Los Angeles, CA will help you get there with our positive dog training. You can get started today. Find a trainer near you and schedule a free in-home consultation!

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Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Janet Duncan
    Aug. 22, 2025
    Great training experience with Clayton! Taught me skills to manage my golden retriever puppy. She is now a pleasure to take in public and has learned to respect me. The scheduling process was quite easy too. Would highly recommend for dog training!
  • Eugenie Bostrom
    Aug. 17, 2025
    Kyla was so so good with both of our very different dogs! They loved her, and she taught us compassionately but sternly how to bring the right energy to our time with our pups so that we can all thrive together. Truly Enzo and Archie will miss their time with her! So much gratitude 🙏
  • Lisa Swanson
    Aug. 17, 2025
    Kyla has been an amazing trainer to work with! She helped me establish all the ground rules with my puppy and most importantly, helped me gain confidence in enforcing them and in taking the leadership role with my puppy! I know feel like I have a closer bond with my new puppy. I feel confident and in control. And I can tell my dog appreciates and needs that from me. She heels on the leash so well, has good recall and then all the basic commands like sit, stay, down, come, off, no, leave it, drop it… and most importantly- YES! Kyla taught me the importance of a meaningful NO and a praiseful YES. Kyla can read dogs ( and owners!) so well and is a wonderful trainer! Thank you Kyla and Dog Training Elite!
  • Carol Bloch
    Aug. 16, 2025
    Kyla did an amazing job training my rescue Chihuahua mix. I am very satisfied with results. We did not use an e-collar. I would recommend her and Dog Training Elite.
  • Emily Hernandez
    Aug. 16, 2025
    Kyla is a miracle worker!!! I adopted my GSD, Delta, two years ago from my local animal shelter. She went from being a sweet overly friendly dog to being an extremely reactive dog to people and dogs. She pulled, lunged, barked, growled, and walking her was an absolute nightmare! I’ve had both people and trainers tell me to rehome her or surrender her because it was impossible to train her due to the amount of dogs around my neighborhood. While I was tempted to rehome her, I decided to give Dog Training Elite a chance and to be honest, I wasn’t expecting for them to be able to help me with Delta. Booking an appointment was quick and easy, no waitlist. On the first class, Kyla was able to take Delta out and get her to actually focus on training rather than her looking around, anxiously panting, and barking at thin air. By the second class, Kyla addressed the reactivity towards other dogs and Delta has not been the same dog of one year ago ever since. Kyla has helped me grow my confidence, understand my dogs (not just Delta), she’s great at explaining, patient, supportive, and very encouraging. Not once in the classes did I feel discouraged or shamed by Kyla because I couldn’t control Delta, she is an amazing dog trainer and I highly recommend Kyla and Dog training Elite. Worth every penny!! Money well spent!
  • Emily Froehlich
    Aug. 7, 2025
    Our trainer, Clayton, has been both amazing and professional in our time working together. He has a wealth of knowledge and as the training has progressed, is tailoring our sessions more and more to our dog’s specific areas of weakness. We hardly recognize the dog that Clayton has helped our pup become because he has learned so much! We are learning, too, and Clayton takes the time to fully explain the reasons behind the actions while maintaining impeccable patience. The staff at Dog Training Elite has also been great. Our experience overall has been stellar. Highly, highly recommend Dog Training Elite, and especially Clayton!
  • Say Concepcion
    Aug. 5, 2025
    I cannot recommend "Clayton" highly enough. From the very beginning, it was clear that he is not only extremely knowledgeable about dog behavior but also genuinely passionate about what he does. He consistently arrives on time for every session, which speaks volumes about his professionalism and respect for our time. What really stands out is how patient and attentive he is—not just with the dogs, but with the owners as well. He takes the time to explain each step of the training process and makes sure both the dog and the handler are comfortable and confident before moving forward. His calm and confident demeanor puts dogs at ease, and you can immediately see the positive response they have to him. It's clear he understands the unique needs of service dog training and approaches it with both expertise and care. The progress we've made under his guidance has been incredible, and I feel truly supported every step of the way. If you're looking for someone who is reliable, skilled, and genuinely dedicated to helping you and your dog succeed, this is the trainer you want.
  • Daisy Bee
    Aug. 5, 2025
    I had the best experience with this company, and I honestly didn’t think my fur kid would learn so much. I am so grateful to The trainers here, especially Clayton. He is a true dog whisperer. I’m going through a very difficult time with my child who has relapsed from cancer and just getting our fur kid trained to be able to notify us when it’s time for my child to take his chemotherapy medicine is amazing and very helpful.
  • Julianne Bock
    Aug. 4, 2025
    I've been working with Clayton at Dog Training Elite for 5 sessions now with my rescue dog Daisy. Clayton is very Conscientious and is knows what he's doing. Daisy has come very far in just five sessions, she has learned to sit ,stay ,down, place, and we are working on heel also. She has been learning to stop her reactive behavior toward other dogs near her or walking by her. I feel very confident when I take her on walks now that I can control her and it's much more enjoyable. I look forward to each week with Clayton, we have learned so much from him as how to handle and teach Daisy good social skills and teach me how to work with her when he's not here to help. I highly recommend Clayton at LA Dog Training Elite .
  • Amanda Taylor
    Jul. 3, 2025
    I got Ozzie from North Central shelter 2 years ago. He was a volunteer favorite and after 2 years there was scheduled for euthanization. I brought him home and while he came to trust my older pit mix over time, walking him was awful as he lunged and growled at people and dogs, pulling me onto the ground. I did ecollar training with another trainer, and made some improvements but after a few months our progress stalled out. And i knew i needed more help. A friend recommeded Elite and i just completed 5 private sessions, and will be attending their group classes next. The biggest lesson i have learned is that its not so much about what Ozzie is or isnt doing. Its about what am I doing - how do i respond? From corrections to praise, being patient and not loosing my temper. And through this we are both improving. Now i have the tools to respond appropriately when he gets triggered. I still need practice but my confidence is increasing. The training offered was kind, patient and supportive - just what i needed whwn i was feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. Highly recommend.
  • Celeste Gil
    Jun. 28, 2025
    I did the 5-session training with my French Bulldog and rescue Beagle, and it was the best hands-on experience. Clayton, our trainer, was incredible—very specific and attentive to each dog's unique needs. My Frenchie needed structure, while my Beagle required a gentler approach, and Clayton handled both perfectly. The training was effective, affordable, and personalized. Couldn’t be happier with the results!
  • Eliza Nguyen
    Jun. 19, 2025
    Kyla is a very practical, firm and at the same time warm trainer with an understanding of a dog’s drive type and proper training pacing for effective results in obedience and service training. Really love training with her and my dog has made incredible strides.
  • Elizabeth Lascheid
    Jun. 19, 2025
    I have been a foster of dogs, mostly pit bulls for years and have trained more pit bulls than I can count (it is not hard with pitties), but I never had a St. Bernard before and thought I was over my head. Heidi is my personal dog. We tried one trainer for a few days and she was so bad I fired her. I then bit the bullet and hired Dog Training Elite in Los Angeles. They were a little more expensive than other trainers, but Heidi was impossible for me to train, despite all my efforts. Jon, the owner came to the house for a free consult. At that time he was the only trainer at Elite as they had just opened in LA. He later got another trainer, Clayton. Both worked with Heidi and pretty much failed, but they helped her with a few things. Now, you would think I would write a bad review, but no. No one, I don't think will ever be able to get the most stubborn, spoiled 120 pound monster to do a thing, but I love her. Jon and Clayton were never late, not once and that is important to me. Both could see my frustration, but they kept trying and trying and they did mange to get her to do a couple of things. They kept their appointments as they should. I could see all the effort they were putting into getting Heidi to cooperate. They would teach stay and the next day she would refuse. They taught heel which she has never done for me. Nothing lasted more than a day or two and I did all my assigned home work--yes, they give homework to help your dog succeed. They even went so far as to give me a couple extra sessions at no cost because she was such a pain. They did everything they could. But Heidi was just not having it. But, she loved Jon and Clayton so much. She would get so excited when they came to the door. She especially loved Clayton, sorry Jon, but a girl gets a crush and what can you do. She loved them both though and they were so good to her. They kept their promises (the inability to get Heidi to do much is not their fault). There are only a few dogs that just won't or can't be trained and I have one under my feet as I write. They never broke her spirit-so important. She is loving, never would bite and is so very sweet. She is great with other dogs. That said, I have had to hire a dog walker because I am older and Heidi will just knock me over and no one should ever walk a dog they can't control at all times. I know she misses her time with Jon and her crush Clayton and if for a second I thought they could train my big beast I would hire them again. But she is fully grown now and I don't see what anyone else could have done. They tried it all. I work with her everyday and she just looks at with a "No, not doing that" face. She is wonderful, just the most stubborn dog I have ever seen in my many years. They did show her such love, that I do think they helped her be the happiest dog. What I love about Jon and his company is how professional they are. They keep up with the latest training tactics. They are kind. They clearly love dogs. So, I do recommend them. They know what they are doing, but they are not going to hurt a dog and make her depressed just to get the result they want, I won't either. They just love dogs and I bet never fail. Heidi is just, well, a rare exception. And I also think she has a tad bit of brain damage for what reason we don't know. Had nothing to with Jon or Clayton. So hire them. Unless your dog's name is Heidi, then just give up. Jon and Clayton, Heidi says hi.
  • Sharon Harris
    Jun. 18, 2025
    I signed up with Elite Dog Training to help with my dog. Kayla has been working with myself and my dog and she has been amazing. Kayla has given me lots of great advice and training skills for my dog from me walking my dog correctly on a leash, (not my dog walking me or pulling) to come, sit, place and down commands. Kayla has lots of patience and very skilled as a trainer. I highly recommend her.
  • Savannah King
    Jun. 6, 2025
    Kyla at Dog Training Elite helped my Pomsky and I through obedience and service animal training! I highly recommend her. We had a long way to go, with little previous training but we really transformed over these weeks.
  • Prue K
    Jun. 3, 2025
    Our 11 month old pit bull rescue OTIS had some basic training but we needed to address a few outstanding issues as he came to his new forever home. Kyla has a very firm command and our boy fell into line pretty quickly. Sad that our sessions are up as we will all miss her: her lovely nature and her excellent training skills. * By chance we realized Otis had never seen an escalator and he was very unsure, but in no time Kyla had given him the confidence to ride away with no issues!!!
  • Chris McPheeters
    May. 23, 2025
    Since beginning the training with Dog Training Elite Los Angeles, our lives have become so much easier and better. From our first session to now, our dog has shown major signs of improvement and has been exposed to a lot of new things/environments where he had trouble with at first but now he has improved significantly. The training by Clayton is awesome, he is great with our dog and has so much knowledge about dog behavior/tendencies. Clayton is very respectful and has a true passion for dogs. Clayton is a true professional and we would not be where we are today without his expertise.
  • monica lipkin nachshin
    May. 15, 2025
    I have found the trainers especially Clayton to be very calm, knowledgeable and reassuring. In addition they understand how dogs think and help me to better understand my dog
  • Nicole A
    May. 14, 2025
    Clayton is such a patient trainer & Dog Training Elite overall has been a very comprehensive program and everyone is always accessible to help us out with our pet. I would absolutely recommend this training program to friends. It’s been a night & day difference with our dog, thanks Clayton!
  • Drew Dominick
    May. 5, 2025
    Kyla is outstanding, it was a pleasure to work with her. She taught me and my dog so much in such a short period of time. She literally was able to, after two minutes, train my dog to walk by a group of squirrels 12 inches away without any distraction. That is one of many valuable lessons Kyla taught us. She is extremely professional, prompt, and a natural at what she does. I highly recommend Kyla and Elite Dog Training.