A service dog and their owner outside - find elite service dog training in Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN with Dog Training Elite.

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Service Dog Training

Dog Training Elite Twin Cities

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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
Advanced medical training (participating locations)

Dog Training Elite Twin Cities

Service Dog Training in Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN

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 Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN, 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 Pawsitive 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 positive reinforcement 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!

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FAQs

One of our trainers will visit your home to meet you and your dog and discuss any issues you're facing. We will then demonstrate one of our model dogs so you can see what you can expect after hiring our trainers. From there, we will discuss the various packages we offer and which we feel best suit your (and your dog's) needs.
We provide full obedience training that covers all basic commands, both on and off-leash. Our in-home visits target specific issues like counter-surfing, digging, and more. Unlike some trainers, we work with all breeds, including those often considered challenging.
Yes. You (and anyone in your family who wants to be involved) are integral to your dog getting trained. We need you to practice 5-6 days a week, about 15-20 minutes a day for optimal results.
Once a week. We come to you (with the silver, gold and platinum packages) once a week to start your dog off, then you come to park sessions which are held once a week in Minneapolis / St. Paul.
We train dogs of all breeds, sizes, and temperaments. Whether your dog is a tiny Chihuahua or a large Mastiff, we have the experience and expertise to work with them.

Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Jessica Ann
    Sep. 16, 2024
    Dog Training Elite Twin Cities has provided an outstanding experience for both Luna and me. Luna has developed essential skills like patience, self-control, and responsiveness, while also mastering her service task, thanks to the guidance of George and Courtney. The trainers’ flexibility, clear directions, and compassionate handling made the program invaluable, and I highly recommend their services to anyone seeking quality service dog training.
  • Jessica Epple
    Sep. 16, 2024
    Dog Training Elite Twin Cities has provided an outstanding experience for both Luna and me. Luna has developed essential skills like patience, self-control, and responsiveness, while also mastering her service task, thanks to the guidance of George and Courtney. The trainers’ flexibility, clear directions, and compassionate handling made the program invaluable, and I highly recommend their services to anyone seeking quality service dog training.
  • Robin Guerrero
    Aug. 20, 2024
    George is truly a dog whisperer. We were overwhelmed with a golden retriever puppy and failed out of a puppy obedience class before contacting George and Dog Training Elite. George gave me the confidence and knowledge to train our Daisy to became the dog we enjoy today. Life happens at home and George helped Daisy to stop counter surfing and invading our kitchen cooking area. Each meeting built upon prior skills and addresses issues you and your dog are experiencing. George was incredibly supportive as my dog had several health issues that we were dealing with and seeking medical attention. I just don’t think that I would be as close to my dog without my trainer George. Even when we fall behind on training the ground work is within my dog to get back at it.
  • Matt Corcorcan
    Aug. 19, 2024
    We had a great experience with George in training our new German Shepherd puppy. He did a great job teaching her basic commands but more importantly educating my wife and I on how to continue the training and handle her reactivity.
  • Melanie Hefner
    Aug. 16, 2024
    We enlisted the help of Dog Training Elite Twin Cities for training our Rottweiler pup, Wally. I couldn't be more pleased with our experience. During the in-home sessions, George involved my whole family (myself, my husband, and my 2 young sons) in the training activities, resulting in Wally following commands from all of us. George also took the time to work with Wally on our specific concerns beyond obedience (e.g. crate soiling, aggression). We take Wally everywhere (kids soccer games, baseball games, parks, etc.) and regularly receive compliments re: his behavior. George is 100% to credit for this. I very highly recommend Dog Training Elite.
  • kristina d'elia
    Jun. 25, 2024
    So incredibly thankful we found Dog Training Elite. It had been years since we had to go through the new dog phase and when we got our 3 year old rescue home this spring we were unprepared for the training she needed. George has transformed our dog. She is still a wonderful and energetic dog but with boundaries. She knows what is expected of her and the house doesn’t feel like chaos anymore. So grateful and I would not hesitate to use them again for any future dogs or recommend DTE to everyone with a dog.
  • Taylor Doeden
    May. 26, 2024
    We had a fantastic experience with George from Dog Training Elite! Our Scottish Terrier, Paul, showed remarkable improvement in his behavior across the board. George's training not only helped Paul build confidence in new environments but also significantly reduced his anxiety around new people. We couldn't be happier with the results and highly recommend George to anyone looking for a skilled and compassionate dog trainer. Thank you, George, for transforming Paul's behavior and making our lives so much better!
  • Mary Munson
    Mar. 10, 2024
    When we first brought our dog home, he was 1 1/2 year old, 60 lb dog with no training. He wanted to be loved and play all the time but his form of play was a little much to handle, jumping and mouthing us and our guests. After we trained with George, he was a completely different dog. He knows when to play and listens to commands even though he is busting with love and still wants everyone's attention. We would highly recommend working with George at Dog Training Elite, Twin Cities. He is patient and loving and quickly became our dog's best friend!
  • Jennifer Loupe
    Feb. 15, 2024
    I highly recommend Dog Training Elite. Previously I had enrolled in a different training program where my dog had to drop out due to her anxiety and reactivity. I also put her through a dog training month long boot camp. Neither of these had the success which I am experiencing now with Dog Training Elite. For the first time I am able to walk her without being afraid that her reactivity and pulling will be unmanageable. George is great and also answered promptly with suggestions when I texted with training questions. I am so glad I finally found something that is working.
  • Kate Lundsten
    Jan. 17, 2024
    My dog is a different dog since George came to my house. Louie loves to be trained and he is now a wonderful puppy. I would highly recommend George!
  • Katrina Cannady
    Dec. 13, 2023
    George is an amazing trainer! He is always on time, very kind & understanding, dogs worship him, & will have you seeing results with your dog almost instantly. I got my dog for my PTSD & George helped turn my 3-month-old puppy into one of the most amazing companions in the matter of 6 months. His training programs are very much worth your time, effort, & money.
  • Sue Schinke
    Oct. 27, 2023
    We worked with George and were very satisfied with this training experience. We have a 3 year old Rough Collie and were experiencing issues with leash reactivity and "Stranger Danger" in our home. Our Finley thought it was his job to control people he didn't know in our house. (These herding breeds can have a tendency to nip and herd). We can now manage this situation and have a more safe atmosphere for others. The e-collar training is fabulous if you have a dog that has impulses or a situation where "positive only training" isn't getting the results you want. Great for off-leash commands. You will not regret the decision to go forward with this training.
  • Lisa Nelson
    Jul. 30, 2023
    Take advantage of the free in-home assessment to see for yourself, but I highly recommend George for anyone looking for a dog trainer. I have an anxious American Bully that other trainers were not willing or able to work with, but George was able to build a great relationship with her and train both of us. He's very responsive, engaged, and specific with training feedback and epxectations, which I found was very helpful - also supportive for any/all questions that I've had. Going through training with George has significantly improved our quality of life - went from having a reactive dog that would bark anytime others entered the home to now having the skills in place to allow others to visit without it being a big event. Thanks George!
  • Leah Tillman
    May. 23, 2023
    My dog Nigel was very anxious, guarded, and reactive before we did training with George. Each session, George coached Nigel, but he also coached me on how to be a more assertive owner! I feel like I was given the tools I need to make sure Nigel is safe out in public. I was shocked at how quickly the reactive behavior subsided once Nigel felt more confident, and now he is a much happier dog. I’m more confident with him too. George is very knowledgeable and was able to answer any question I had, and he really listened to and abided by my training goals. I’m excited to continue with the Saturday park sessions!
  • Jay Zachau
    Apr. 26, 2023
    I thought I was hiring someone to come to my house and train my dog but really I was trained how to effectively train my dog. George was an excellent teacher and was super great with Oreo. Very flexible when I needed a reschedule and also with the lesson plan by helping with things outside of the list of commands in the contract. Would recommend to family and friends for sure. Looking forward to the group classes this summer.
  • Tamara Uhde
    Feb. 14, 2023
    Rosie was a reactive dog, we lived our life afraid of her becoming aggressive to those entering our home. George taught us week by week on basic commands that built upon each other. He was reliable and professional. Rosie is a different dog. The cost of individual in home training was worth every cent. Our Rosie is more confident of herself and comes by command, something we never thought could happen. We are so thankful!
  • Zac M
    Feb. 3, 2023
    George has done a fantastic job with our pit bull Cleo, not only is he skilled but he is also personable. Highly recommend him to anyone seeking elite dog training.
  • Madlyn McMullen
    Feb. 3, 2023
    George deserves this 5 star review! Such an all-around dog trainer and person! Helped not only train our four legged best friend but also us as owners. cleo is a pitbull who was extremely stubborn and jumped on anyone who came through the door. Cleo used to take ten minutes before calming down. Now Cleo sits and waits until she is given the okay to welcome guests. She is also reactive towards other dogs but if the help of conditioning Cleo with the collar and commands, she is a lot less reactive. He even volunteered his own dog to help equipped us with the tools to introduce our dog to others. He answered any and all questions that he had plus more. Would highly recommend!
  • Sara Veit Kaufman
    Dec. 21, 2022
    George was a wonderful trainer! We were out of options for our anxious, aggressive golden doodle. After working with George, we were able to take our dog to family holiday gatherings with no incident. George patiently answered all of our questions and equipped us to be better dog owners. We would highly recommend!
  • Lucas Duppler
    Dec. 5, 2022
    George was great and easy to work with. We have a rather aggressive shepherd mix with other dogs and we worked through some techniques that help us approaching dogs on our nightly walks. He was patient & offered a lot of tools to help us better handle those situations with confidence.
A Dog Training Elite Twin Cities owner smiling with his dog in Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN.

Dog Training Elite Twin Cities

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, pigs, and monkeys 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 Twin Cities

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 Twin Cities - PTSD Service Dog in Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN. DTE
PTSD Service Dog

If you're looking to train a PTSD service dog in Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN, 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 Twin Cities - Psychiatric Service Dog in Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN. DTE
Psychiatric Service Dog Training

Our psychiatric service dog training in Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN 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 Twin Cities - Mobility Service Dog in Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN. Dog Training Elite
Mobility Support Service Dog

Enhance your independence or help a loved one with specialized mobility service dog training in Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN from Dog Training Elite. Our expert trainers teach dogs the skills they need to support their owners with mobility challenges.

Dog Training Elite Twin Cities - Autism Support Dog Training in Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN. DTE
Autism Support Service Dog

Bring life-changing support to your family with Dog Training Elite's autism support dog training in Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN. 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 Minneapolis / St. Paul service dog training with Dog Training Elite.

Dog Training Elite Twin Cities

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 Twin Cities.

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 Twin Cities.
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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 Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN with Dog Training Elite.

We Are Committed to Making a Difference

Choose DTE for Minneapolis / St. Paul Service Dog Training

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At Dog Training Elite, we are passionate about transforming lives through Minneapolis / St. Paul service dog training. Our proven methods and positive reinforcement techniques 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 Twin Cities and experience the difference that elite training and compassionate care can make.