A service dog and their owner outside - find elite service dog training in Los Angeles, CA with Dog Training Elite.
Dog Training Elite

Service Dog Training in Los Angeles, CA

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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
(participating locations)
Advanced medical training (participating locations)

Dog Training Elite Los Angeles

Service Dog Training in Los Angeles, CA

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 Los Angeles, CA, 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 Positive 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 balanced 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!

Hear From Our Customers

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.
A Dog Training Elite Los Angeles owner smiling with his dog in Los Angeles, CA.

Dog Training Elite Los Angeles

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 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 Los Angeles

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 Los Angeles - PTSD Service Dog Training in Los Angeles, CA. DTE

PTSD Service Dog

If you're looking to train a PTSD service dog in Los Angeles, CA, 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 Los Angeles - Psychiatric Service Dog Training in Los Angeles, CA

Psychiatric Service Dog Training

Our psychiatric service dog training in Los Angeles, CA 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 Los Angeles - Autism Support Dog Training in Los Angeles, CA

Autism Support Service Dog

Bring life-changing support to your family with Dog Training Elite's autism support dog training in Los Angeles, CA. 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 Los Angeles service dog training with Dog Training Elite.

Dog Training Elite Los Angeles

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 Los Angeles.

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 Los Angeles.
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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 Los Angeles, CA with Dog Training Elite.

We Are Committed to Making a Difference

Choose DTE for Los Angeles Service Dog Training

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At Dog Training Elite, we are passionate about transforming lives through Los Angeles service dog training. Our proven, balanced training methods 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 Los Angeles and experience the difference that elite training and compassionate care can make.