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Military / Retired Vet Programs

Dog Training Elite Southeast Michigan

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A military veteran and service dog - Dog Training Elite offers elite veteran service dog training in Metro Detroit, MI.

Dog Training Elite

Military Veteran Service Dog Training in Metro Detroit, MI

At Dog Training Elite Southeast Michigan, we strongly believe in the healing power of service dogs for military veterans. That’s why we dedicate our time and passion to providing veteran service dog training in Metro Detroit, MI.

Service dogs can greatly assist with both the mental and physical challenges veterans may face after serving our country. Many veterans experience PTSD, physical disabilities, or other impairments, and our service dogs have been proven to help reduce symptoms and support veterans in returning to their daily routines.

Learn more about our programs designed for veterans and discover why Dog Training Elite is committed to making a difference in the community.

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A service puppy in training - Dog Training Elite offers veteran service dog training in Metro Detroit, MI for those who have served our country.

Dog Training Elite Southeast Michigan

Why We Offer Service Dog Training for Military Veterans

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At Dog Training Elite Southeast Michigan, we are passionate about helping military veterans through the support of service dogs. We offer specialized service dog training options in Metro Detroit, backed by scientific research and proven by our own success stories.

In a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans paired with service dogs experienced a significant reduction in PTSD symptoms and fewer self-harm ideations. The mental health and medical communities increasingly recognize service dogs’ positive impact on emotional well-being and independence, making them one of the most effective tools for veteran recovery.

At Dog Training Elite, we are dedicated to providing exceptional dog training services that provide the tools and support needed for our veterans and their dogs to thrive, offering a path toward healing and better quality of life.

A beautiful golden retriever service dog - Dog Training Elite Southeast Michigan.

Popular Service Dog Breeds


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Finding a service dog that fits your individual needs is important, especially for military veteran support. While most dogs can be trained to become service dogs, a few breeds stand out due to their personalities and inherent traits.

Here are a few of the most popular service dog breeds:

  1. Labrador Retrievers: Labradors are intelligent, versatile, and eager to please, making them ideal for PTSD service dogs. Their trainability allows them to excel in roles like guide dogs, mobility support, and emotional support, making them highly adaptable for veterans.
  2. Golden Retrievers: Golden Retrievers are known for their calm, gentle nature and strong work ethic. They are excellent at providing mobility assistance and emotional support, especially for veterans with PTSD, due to their patient and loving temperament.
  3. German Shepherds: German Shepherds are strong, loyal, and highly intelligent, making them excellent service dogs. Their protective instincts and trainability allow them to assist with mobility, search and rescue, and provide emotional support for veterans.
  4. Malinois: Belgian Malinois are known for their deep loyalty and intelligence. Malinois are not for everyone due to their energy and drive, but for retired veterans who appreciate discipline, structure, and a deep connection, they can be life-changing companions.

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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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See An Elite Dog in Action

A service dog and his veteran owner - Dog Training Elite Southeast Michigan.

Our Veteran Service Dog Training in Metro Detroit, MI

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Service dogs undergo extensive specialized training to perform their tasks and assist their owners. Our training process involves a combination of obedience training, task training, and public access training.

  • Obedience Training: This training focuses on teaching a dog basic commands, such as sit, down, heel, come, as well as proper leash manners and socialization skills.
  • Task Training: Task training is tailored to fit the needs of each individual. It involves teaching the dog to perform tasks that mitigate the person’s disability, such as retrieving items, opening doors, or providing deep pressure therapy.
  • Public Access Training: This type of training is crucial to ensure the dog remains calm, well-behaved, and non-disruptive in various public settings. This training includes exposure to different environments, distractions, and social interactions to provide a dog that can confidently navigate public spaces.
A beautiful service dog standing outside - Dog Training Elite Southeast Michigan.

Service Dogs for Veterans & PTSD

Get Specialized Training with DTE Today

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Training with Dog Training Elite is tailored specifically for military veterans dealing with PTSD and other service-related challenges. Our programs focus on helping veterans regain independence, emotional stability, and confidence through the support of a well-trained service dog.

At Dog Training Elite, we are dedicated to providing service dog training that strengthens the bond between veterans and their dogs, guiding them toward a brighter future and supporting their healing journey.

Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Paulette Adams
    Oct. 2, 2025
    We have had our puppy in the Service Dog Program since he was 10 weeks old. He is now 6 months and is exceeding all our expectations. Hailey has been an awesome partner for us to work with. She knows just what our puppy needs and we feel so fortunate to have her as part of our team. Being able to train your dog in their home environment is a game changer. I cannot recommend this program enough!
  • Garnet Potter
    Sep. 21, 2025
    Hailey, and our dog (Miss Ann) became friends and was night and day better. We can’t thank Hailey enough for her dedication to helping our project rescue.
  • Jenna !!!!!:)
    Sep. 9, 2025
    Hailey is absolutely amazing with our rescue bulldog! She is determined to never give up on our sweet girl who has some serious reactivity problems. She loves Hailey and we are so lucky to have found Dog training elite and Hailey!
  • Donna Rinnas
    Sep. 3, 2025
    Steven is fabulous! He explains everything as many times as we need to hear it and so clearly and patiently. Here are some pics of Leo at 5 months old and first visit to Home Depot.
  • CarolAnn McConnell
    Aug. 21, 2025
    Every aspect of our experience with DTE Southeast Michigan has been awesome. Hailey was great with our Goldendoodle pup, Maizy. Not only did she help Maizy quickly learn obedience and self-control, she taught us how to continue working with her and tailored her training specifically to our needs with two little ones. We're looking forward to continuing Maizy's progress with the included group classes!
  • Amy Johnson
    Aug. 18, 2025
    Our trainer, Steve, was so knowledgeable and patient with me and my dog! Ha ha My dog caught on quickly so we were able to work on some additional things so they really do work at your dog’s pace. It was worth the effort and money to have a well behaved dog.
  • Tristan Kesselring
    Aug. 18, 2025
    My wife and I have never done dog training before and our trainer Steven was extremely patient and informative to help us better understand our dog. Quick story. After just 2 months of training our 7 month old pitbull mastiff pup did an absolute outstanding job listening to commands and being polite in very intense situations during a local festival. I seriously cannot give enough praises to our trainer. Thank you to Dog Training Elite and an even bigger thank you to Steven.
  • Donna Robinson
    Aug. 14, 2025
    Definitely 5 stars for Dog Training Elite! Steven Dennison was fantastic! He listened to my goals and concerns for training my two young Great Dane boys. He worked with us to transform our chaotic walking experiences to walks we all enjoy! Steven was able to train them and me to create expectations and be consistent in delivering them. We have erased pulling behavior, aggression towards other dogs, and are able to move freely in together in environments I never thought possible. So excited to continue our learning journey in a group environment with this amazing training team!
  • Lana
    Aug. 6, 2025
    I am glad I found Dog Training Elite and went with them to help train our puppy. We have been working with them for a couple months now and it has been working very well for a number of reasons. The trainer comes to the home which is, first of all, very helpful. Beyond that, they have an organized system that really gets at the heart of dog behavior, which is not intuitive, at least for people who are new to the dog world. A shout out to Ryann, who is our dog's trainer. She is patient, kind, and we dub her the dog-whisperer. She is entirely knowledgable, effective, encouraging, positive, and truly talented at what she does. Dog training is a process and she has really helped us get used to this new world! Yay!
  • Grace Foster
    Jul. 31, 2025
    I can’t say enough great things about Dog Training Elite—and especially our trainer Ryann! She worked with me and my service dog and was absolutely incredible throughout the entire process. Ryann not only helped train my dog with patience and expertise, but also took the time to train me so I could feel confident handling my dog in all kinds of real-world situations. Her approach was clear and consistent, and I could see real progress after every session. Ryann genuinely cares about our success, and it shows in every detail of her work.
  • Ashlee Clifton (Tarkowski)
    Jul. 28, 2025
    We had a wonderful experience with Dog Training Elite. From the start, they came out and met with us and our pup in person and free of charge. They offered different training programs based on our needs. We did six weeks of private training and it was worth every penny. Steven was our primary trainer and I wouldn’t hesitate to work with him again. He was great with our dog and patient with my husband and I. He helped us navigate various challenges with our dog but also interactions between our five year old and dog. Highly recommend Dog Training Elite!
  • Ken Coker
    Jul. 23, 2025
    This experience blew away my greatest expectations. My dog is a rescue and was extremely aggressive and very difficult to be restrained. He was always friendly, but prior to the training, he was jumping on people, constantly pulling on walks to the point of hurting himself and he would jump over the backyard fence and take off whenever he got the chance. He was always stressed out and my biggest concern was that he was going to hurt himself or be run over in the street. From the first 1 hour session my dog had completely responded to the training and was actually manageable for the first time. Our trainer, Hailey, was friendly, knowledgeable and professional and helped me whenever and with whatever I needed. Each session was a new skill and we were able to practice while she was with us and then Buddy and I continued to practice throughout the week. I could not be more impressed with Hailey, the company and the program and I HIGHLY recommend this service! This was the best investment I will ever make for Buddy and for my own peace of mind. My dog went from being an adorable menace to a well mannered dog who can now attend family events with children without the fear of anyone being hurt. I have no fear of him running off anymore and if he does, I know I can get him to come back. The only regret I have is that I didn't do this sooner. Do yourself and your dog a favor and get them trained immediately. You will not be sorry!
  • Angeline Putnickovich
    Jun. 3, 2025
    We are SO happy that we went with Dog Training Elite. Hailey was our trainer and truly changed our dog Walter for the better. His confidence and obedience is immensely improved from when we started our training. Hailey was extremely knowledgeable, helpful and was available to answer all of our questions even outside of training sessions. She really worked with us to understand our goals for our puppy and modified our training sessions specific to those goals. Truly so happy we were able to work with her and that our little Walter is the best behaved little guy there is.
  • Janell Tadajewski
    May. 10, 2025
    Dog Training Elite has been an invaluable partner in training our Scout to become a pet therapy dog. The in-home sessions focused on core skills with well thought out strategies personalized to her temperament. The group training brought out her confidence as she mastered commands amidst variable distractions and pressure. Our experience was heightened exponentially by our trainer Steve. He thoroughly explained the why behind the techniques and offered the puppy psychology to bring the concept home. He patiently weaved the lessons and tools into workable blocks which made practice more manageable. Additionally, he made himself available for texts and calls to troubleshoot issues or refresh my memory and adjust our approach. When we passed our certification exam, he was there to celebrate the accomplishment. I highly recommend Steve, Austin and all the trainers of Dog Training Elite….a magnificent organization making a difference for dogs and their families.
  • LouAnn Knaus
    Apr. 21, 2025
    The training is great! They work with you one on one your dog. Help you through the issues you may have. Great experience. Hailey is sweet, energetic and so helpful. She is a must if you want a well behaved dog. Thank you Hailey!
  • Thyra
    Apr. 18, 2025
    We had an amazing experience with Dog Training Elite and our trainer, Steven! He worked with my German Shepherd, Wolfgang, on obedience training and did a phenomenal job. Steven is not only professional and knowledgeable, but also incredibly skilled at explaining techniques clearly and reading both the dog and handler. What really stood out was his ability to pivot and adjust methods if something wasn’t clicking for us—no ego, just a real dedication to helping us succeed. His confidence and calm demeanor made Wolfgang feel comfortable and engaged, and I felt supported every step of the way. We just wrapped up our Platinum package and are really looking forward to starting the group classes soon. I highly recommend Steven and Dog Training Elite to anyone looking for effective, personalized dog training!
  • Jim Ashley
    Apr. 18, 2025
    Working with Austin was a great experience. His knowledge and patience is exceptional. He clearly explains the why, what and how of his training methods. He listens to what your goals are and tailors the training around that. They don't simply run a generic training playbook. I highly, highly recommend.
  • Cindy Warren
    Jan. 28, 2025
    I owned 4 previous dogs (labs) and trained them myself. But then I rescued a husky mix last April. I walk nearby trails everyday and I was struggling with my dog pulling, launching, and passing people and other dogs. Steven Dennison and Elite have helped me learn tips, tools, and training to allow my dog and I to enjoy our hikes without fear of falling, getting angry at her, having to get way off the trail in the poison ivy and tics when people and dogs pass, etc.. And with this new peaceful structure, my dog is more affectionate and attached to me! Steven was kind, understanding, helpful and positive in working with my dog and I. I am SO grateful!
  • Stephanie Shinkle
    Apr. 10, 2025
    Steven was amazing! We were struggling with training our very large puppy. We needed guidance from an expert in this field. Steven was knowledgeable, intuitive, creative and kind. He helped build our confidence and the results are fantastic. Our dog now has manners, doesn't jump on people and loves the "jobs" we give him. I highly recommend this company, Steven!
  • Anna Moreno
    Apr. 9, 2025
    We have used Dog Training Elite 2x now and find them to be amazing. Both our dogs are mini Australian shepherd poodle mixes and can be a handful. We have had both Austin and Hailey as Trainers, and both are exceptional. For our most recent pup,Merlin, we had Hailey as our trainer. She truly understood how worried I have been about not only the safety of our puppy but the safety of my elder mother who is home with him the most. She has made sure that my mom is comfortable using the different training techniques and even has helped us figure out a way for my mom to take merlin on walks while using her walker. Hailey has been a delight to work with. These trainers are amazing, and you are in good hands with them.