A well-trained dog with training from an expert Dog Training Elite dog behaviorist in Nashville, TN.
Dog Training Elite

Dog Behaviorist in Nashville, TN

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Request Free Assessment

A happy leash trained dog walking with their owner - if you are in need of Nashville dog behavior training, contact Dog Training Elite today!

Nashville Dog Behavior Training

Does your dog chew on things, pee indoors, or bark excessively? If so, your dog may benefit from a dog behaviorist in Nashville, TN, and DTE is here to help. Our experienced trainers specialize in correcting unwanted behaviors and can address various issues your dog may face at home.

Behavior-focused training differs from basic obedience training and requires knowledgeable, experienced trainers. DTE trainers can identify and address the root causes of problematic behaviors, such as separation anxiety or excessive barking, and teach your dog to respond more appropriately to those triggers.

Through consistent training and balance, your dog can learn new, desirable behaviors that last.

See Training Packages

Our Behavioral Solution Programs

Dog Training Elite Central Nashville - Dog Socialization Classes in Nashville, TN

Socialization

Our Nashville dog socialization classes teach dogs to maintain control and obedience around other dogs, people, and various distractions, reducing fear and aggression while promoting calm, confident behavior.

Dog Training Elite Central Nashville - Dog Training Elite. How to Stop Puppy Biting Nashville

Biting

Through targeted puppy biting training in Nashville, TN, we address aggressive tendencies and teach dogs to inhibit biting, helping them develop better self-control.

Dog Training Elite Central Nashville - Reactive Dog Training in Nashville, TN. DTE

Fear & Reactiveness

Our reactive dog training in Nashville, TN, focuses on managing and reducing fear-based reactions to common triggers, helping dogs be more relaxed and well-adjusted.

Dog Training Elite Central Nashville - Destructive Chewing & Digging Training in Nashville, TN

Destructive Chewing & Digging

Our destructive chewing and digging training in Nashville, TN addresses your dog’s destructive chewing and digging by redirecting these behaviors toward more appropriate and constructive outlets.

Dog Training Elite Central Nashville - Separation Anxiety Training for Dogs in Nashville, TN

Separation Anxiety

Our separation anxiety training in Nashville, TN helps dogs overcome the stress of being alone, which curbs destructive behaviors and makes departures easier for everyone.

Dog Training Elite Central Nashville - Excessive Barking Training in Nashville, TN. DTE

Excessive Barking

We address the root causes of barking with our excessive barking training in Nashville, TN, teaching your dog to communicate appropriately and reduce unnecessary noise.

Dog Training Elite Central Nashville - Staying and Coming Training in Nashville, TN. DTE

Staying & Coming

Our staying and coming training in Nashville, TN focuses on improving your dog’s reliability in following essential commands like down and come, ensuring they respond promptly in any situation.

Dog Training Elite Central Nashville -

Stealing Food, Clothing, or Other Objects

Our trainers work with your dog to curb the habit of stealing items, teaching them to respect boundaries and avoid problematic behaviors.

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Resource Guarding

We tackle resource guarding behaviors by addressing the underlying causes of your dog's insecurity. Our training helps your dog feel more secure, which reduces aggression over food, toys, or personal spaces.

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Food Guarding & Begging

Through consistent and focused training, we teach dogs to eat politely and reduce persistent begging behaviors. This approach creates a more peaceful and enjoyable mealtime experience for everyone involved.

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Mouthing, Nipping & Rough Play

Our program teaches dogs to play gently, reducing the risk of injury and making playtime safe and enjoyable.

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Anxiety & Submissive Urination

We work with anxious dogs to build their confidence. This program will help to reduce incidents of submissive urination and make your dog feel more secure.

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Jumping Up & Hyperactivity

This program helps dogs learn to greet people calmly and manage their energy levels, reducing hyperactivity and inappropriate jumping.

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Excessive Licking

We address compulsive licking behaviors, helping dogs find more appropriate ways to express themselves and reducing skin issues.

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Leashing

Our leashing program teaches dogs to walk politely on a leash, making walks more enjoyable and less stressful for you and your dog.

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Abnormal Repetitive Behaviors

We help your dog break free from compulsive actions like spinning or tail chasing, focusing their energy on healthier habits.

Dog Training Elite Central Nashville -

Escaping

We train your dog to respect boundaries, significantly reducing the risk of escape and keeping them safe at home.

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Heeling

Our training improves your dog’s ability to heel, keeping them close by your side during walks and improving their overall leash manners.

Dog Training Elite Central Nashville - Dog & Puppy Potty Training in Nashville, TN. DTE

Potty Training

We help dogs learn to relieve themselves outdoors with our Nashville dog potty training, reducing accidents in your home and fostering good habits that last a lifetime.

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!

A dog with expert behaviorial training from Dog Training Elite Central Nashville.

What is Behavioral Training?


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Behavioral and regular obedience training serve different but equally important roles in shaping a well-behaved dog.

Obedience training teaches your dog basic commands like sit, heel, and come. This training helps your dog follow instructions in different situations and builds clear communication between you and your pet.

Behavioral training, however, goes deeper by addressing the root causes of problematic behaviors like aggression, anxiety, or excessive barking. While obedience training tells a dog what to do, behavioral training focuses on changing undesirable habits and reactions.

Combining obedience training with targeted behavioral solutions helps dogs overcome specific issues, resulting in a more balanced and adjusted pet.

Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Mark Peugh
    Sep. 9, 2026
    Very knowledgeable and friendly always a pleasure
  • gkck657
    Aug. 27, 2026
    The company is outstanding and takes the time to ensure that you and your dog are in sync with each other. Rhett is a great trainer. Highly recommended this company here in Knoxville.
  • klshepp ard
    Oct. 22, 2026
    Parker has a true tale t for working with dogs. He came for a consultation and showed me a demonstration with his dog Nash who was amazing and so cute. Then he worked with my dog Mabel for just a few minutes and she was following his commands. Great!
  • Jeremy Breland
    Jul. 28, 2026
    We had another great session with Trey helping us train Charlie!! Outstanding job, look forward to working together again!!
  • Dorine Zak Farmer
    Oct. 19, 2026
    Austin did an amazing job at walking me through the process and the way he handled my hyper dog was awesome
  • Sheri Bartlett Browne
    Sep. 27, 2026
    Trey was awesome!!! We learned so much this afternoon and so did our puppy. 😀
  • Lisa Lane
    Jul. 31, 2026
    Great session! Better each week! Great job Absolutely great session!
  • Robyn Stewart
    Oct. 16, 2026
    SHE WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! She helped us understand what we needed to do to start the process of training and what the cost would be. She was professional, polite, and sweet. Would recommend to any and all!
  • Debbie Richardson
    Sep. 23, 2026
    Trey did an wonderful job with Roxi today. He cleared up some things for me. Everything going great 👍
  • Jorge Cisneros
    Oct. 14, 2026
    Excellent!!
  • Daphne Smith
    Oct. 14, 2026
    Aiden was punctual, knowledgeable and very nice to work with. He answered all of my questions. A very delightful young man.
  • Michael Amerine
    Oct. 14, 2026
    Katlyn, was professional and knowledgeable.
  • John Foreman
    Sep. 28, 2026
    Aidan is amazing! Just finished our first session and our dog already responds to “off” and “come”! So very pleased!!
  • Paul Plotzer
    Oct. 10, 2026
    Professional, knowledgeable, shared valuable insight.
  • Michael Childs
    Oct. 8, 2026
    We had an excellent initial evaluation with Rhett. His experience and his success with difficult dogs give us a lot of confidence. He evaluated our dog and saw what his issues are and how to correct them. We can’t wait to get started.
  • Nina Byrd_Powell
    Oct. 8, 2026
    Austin was very knowledgeable friendly and new his stuff.
  • Maya Sage
    Oct. 8, 2026
    I was very impressed by Aidan from the moment he arrived at the home we are staying. He was calm, in spite of my dog being super excited and jumping. I was impressed that he took copious notes and was very attentive to what I was sharing. We had one other evaluation done and this was not the case. By the end of the evaluation, my mind was already made up to hire Elite to train me and our dog to be a service animal for my daughter! Looking forward to this experience and feel we are in good and capable hands.
  • Julia Martin
    Oct. 8, 2026
    Rhett did an amazing job at explaining clearly the training plan and all of the benefits. My family and I are looking forward to working with this company!
  • Tamela Giroux
    Aug. 30, 2026
    Reina is kind and my dog did very well with her! She is so very knowledgeable!
  • Rick Jensen
    Oct. 7, 2026
    I highly recommend Dog Training Elite! We had a great experience, and I especially want to recognize Aiden for the outstanding job he did working with our dog, Belle. Aiden was professional, knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely cared about Belle's progress. He took the time to explain the training process and made everything easy to understand and follow. His approach was positive, encouraging, and effective. It's clear that Aiden has a real passion for what he does. We couldn't be happier with our experience and would absolutely recommend Aiden and Dog Training Elite to anyone looking for quality dog training!

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See An Elite Dog in Action

Behavior Training Techniques

At DTE, we use proven techniques to encourage lasting behavior changes in dogs.

Here’s how we do it.

We use a clicker to mark the exact moment your dog performs the correct behavior. The click signals a coming reward and helps your dog learn which actions are worth repeating.
Similar to clicker training, this method uses a specific word or phrase like "yes" or "good" to mark the behavior. This verbal cue reinforces positive behavior and strengthens the communication between you and your dog.
By demonstrating correct behaviors with a "model" dog, other dogs in the group learn through observation. This method taps into dogs' natural tendency to imitate, making it easier for them to adopt behaviors.
Building a strong bond between dog and owner is key. We build trust and understand your dog's needs to create a cooperative training environment where your dog is more likely to respond positively.
A stick or specific spot is used to guide your dog to the desired behavior, encouraging them to touch or follow the target. Once they succeed, we reinforce the action with a reward. This technique is ideal for teaching complex behaviors and improving focus.
An owner and their happy, healthy dog with expert training from Dog Training Elite Central Nashville.

Classical Conditioning, or the Pavlovian Model

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Classical conditioning, pioneered by Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov's work, is a fundamental principle in dog training. Pavlov’s study showed dogs could learn to associate a neutral stimulus, like a bell, with food, prompting them to respond to the bell alone.

At Dog Training Elite, we apply this principle in our behavioral training programs. We pair a command with two stimuli: a clicker (or marker word) and a reward like a treat or praise. The clicker signals the correct behavior, and the reward reinforces it. This method helps dogs quickly understand what’s expected and encourages them to repeat desired behaviors.

Unlike punishment-based methods, classical conditioning shapes behavior effectively and creates a well-adjusted, happy dog.

A dog with classical conditioning training from Dog Training Elite Central Nashville.

Your Expert Dog Behaviorist in Nashville, TN

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Our certified, experienced trainers are experts in solving various behavior problems, from aggression and anxiety to excessive barking and destructive habits.

We focus on understanding your dog’s personality, environment, and behavior triggers to develop customized training plans. Our trainers will work to resolve these issues and their root causes to prevent them from returning.

What Makes Our Trainers Stand Out?
  • Certified and Experienced: Our trainers are certified professionals with years of experience handling behavioral challenges. With a proven track record of success, they’re equipped to deliver the best results for your pet.
  • Breed-Specific Knowledge: We understand the unique traits of different breeds and customize our training methods to match your dog’s natural behaviors, making the training more effective.
  • Friendly and Understanding: Our trainers are approachable and empathetic, working closely with you to build trust and create a supportive training environment for your dog.
A group of dogs being trained by the expert team at Dog Training Elite Central Nashville.
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Why Choose Dog Training Elite?

Proven Methods for Successful Dog Training


If you're looking for a top dog behaviorist in Nashville, TN, Dog Training Elite is the top choice.

Our experienced trainers handle various issues, including aggression, anxiety, excessive barking, and more. With a personalized approach, we help dogs overcome their challenges and build stronger, happier relationships with their owners.

No matter how challenging your dog’s behavior may seem, there is hope. Whether your dog’s behavioral issues are minor or more serious, we’re here to help.

Reach out today for a free consultation!