An obedient puppy receiving expert puppy training in Nashville, TN from DTE.
Dog Training Elite

Puppy Training in Nashville, TN

Request Free Assessment

Request Free Assessment

Our Puppy Training Could Help:
Leash and potty training
Food guarding and begging
Destructive chewing and digging
Stealing food, clothing, or other objects
Barking, howling and whining
Aggression and anxiety
Jumping and hyperactivity

Dog Training Elite

Professional Nashville Puppy Trainers

Bringing home a new puppy is exciting, but it also comes with challenges like chewing and accidents. The most common mistake new owners make is underestimating the knowledge, commitment, and effort needed to train a new puppy.

Once a puppy begins to grow, its energy can quickly feel unmanageable. It’s all too common that a well-meaning and loving family takes on a puppy lacking the knowledge and skills to train correctly. This often results in overwhelmed owners rehoming or taking these puppies to local shelters, feeling the puppy’s disposition is bad or simply that they are not cut out to be dog owners.

At Dog Training Elite, we focus on building that bond through effective training to foster trust and communication. Our experienced Nashville puppy trainers use proven methods to help you and your puppy succeed together.

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A little puppy sitting in grass, contact Dog Training Elite Central Nashville today.

Puppy Essentials Webinar

Free 70-Minute video

$45 Value

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Our trusted puppy class is now available "on-demand" from the comfort of your home! This webinar video is designed for owners of puppies age 8-16 weeks old, and will be accessible to you for free after completing the form below or with the purchase of one of our puppy packages!

Access Webinar

Our webinar includes education on the following topics:
  • Introducing a new puppy to your home
  • Health & well-being
  • Veterinary care & vaccines
  • Nurturing a good temperament
  • Scruffing & calming signals (e.g. dog yoga)
  • Basic Treat Obedience Including: Come, sit, loose-leash walking, and down
  • Puppy Corrections (Stop biting, digging, jumping, etc.)
  • Crate Training / Housebreaking
  • Socialization Tips
  • Environmental Hazards
  • Puppy Enrichment
  • Caring for Your Puppy
Three puppies receiving expert training from Dog Training Elite Central Nashville.

The Importance of Puppy Training


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Almost everyone and everything a puppy will encounter will be brand new, which can be exciting. However, puppies may not know how to respond positively and safely to new experiences without proper training. That's why Dog Training Elite believes in starting puppy training as soon as possible, so you and your pup can bond and start your adventures on the right foot!

Training the DTE way provides puppies and owners with a nurturing environment where they can learn to communicate and trust each other. Puppies have an innate desire to please, so training can be fun and even easy! Of course, it can be daunting to try and figure out how to make puppies understand concepts like potty training or commands like sit and stay on your own. That's where puppy training comes in.

Keeping a puppy safe should be the number one priority of new dog owners. By working with puppy trainers in, new puppy owners can learn how to teach their pup both basic and complex obedience skills effectively. Training a pup to be home alone, walk on a leash, wait on the threshold, and avoid consuming non-edible objects will help keep them safe when out of sight.

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!

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!
A Nashville puppy trainers giving a puppy positive affirmation during an in-home training session.

Dog Training Elite Central Nashville, TN

In-Home Puppy Training

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Dog Training Elite Central Nashville offers comprehensive in-home training. For the first 4-6 weeks, trainers use “treat training” before moving onto more advanced puppy training. Puppies will learn the following behaviors:

  • Come, down, loose-leash walking, and down
  • Puppy corrections (Stop biting, digging, jumping, etc.)
  • Crate training/ housebreaking
  • Focus around distractions

Trainers will also help owners learn about the following:

  • Socialization tips
  • Environmental hazards
  • Positive reinforcement techniques
  • Puppy enrichment
  • Caring for your puppy
  • And more!

Training a puppy can feel overwhelming. By pairing you with a professional trainer, not only will your puppy learn quickly, but you will feel confident and empowered to continue training your puppy after the sessions are completed. Training in your own home will help you bond with your pup so even after the professional trainer leaves, you and Fido can continue to progress together.

A puppy ready to start training with Dog Training Elite Central Nashville.

Start Puppy Training Early

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First-time dog owners are often unsure of when to begin training their dogs. For the best results, it’s essential to start training your puppy as soon as possible. You can start socialization and basic commands as soon as you bring your new puppy home. Puppies are open to new experiences and people and learn quickly while they are young. It is beneficial to take advantage of this stage. Start with basic commands like "down," "come," and "stay." If you are searching for classes, Dog Training Elite offers puppy obedience classes.

Additional Puppy Training Info

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

Crate Training

A well-manered puppy receiving positive reinforcement from their owner.

Our Puppy Trainers

The DTE Approach

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We have developed a highly successful and unique positive puppy training program empowering dog owners to train. Hence, their dog knows who to obey at all times, in all situations or environments. We offer personalized training to deal with specific issues and behaviors. We even offers customized training schedules to offer you the support you need as a dog owner.

Involvement is Key!

Most dog training programs don’t allow for the involvement of owners and families. Our trainers greatly encourage owners and their families to be involved in the training process. Why? This ensures you and your family know what’s expected, allows for continued education and means all the progress isn’t lost. Your puppy won’t come home and forget everything he’s learned.

Our puppy training program consists of two phases, early training and advanced training. Puppies as young as eight weeks can begin learning with Dog Training Elite Central Nashville. Our process allows us to efficiently complete in-home puppy training services at your home or within the environment where behaviors manifest - such as in the park or around other dogs in the neighborhood.

A Dog Training Elite Central Nashville puppy training outside.

Dog Training Elite Central Nashville

How Puppy Training Works

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We use a positive puppy training method paired with an electronic collar - not a shock collar. Unlike shock collars, electronic collars do not hurt or harm the pup. They are used only to obtain their attention, not to punish bad behavior. We believe in using constant praise to encourage good behavior. The difference becomes apparent when comparing a puppy trained out of fear to a puppy who truly desires to please.

Positive Reinforcement for Positive Pups

Positive reinforcement is the best option in puppy training. Punishments will only scare your dog, and fear can lead to aggression problems later in life. Our trainers use a classical conditioning program focusing on positive reinforcement of basic commands.

Dogs are eager to please. When they learn following basic commands results in affection or a treat, they will be happy to do as you ask. With patience - and the assistance of a professional puppy trainer - you'll be rewarded with a lifelong loyal pal.

We base our training around the "Classical Conditioning" model, also known as the "Pavlovian" response or "respondent conditioning." This means developing conditioned or automatic reflexes to commands, so when the owner says "sit," the dog automatically sits without thinking. Our unique technique ensures our program is a success no matter what behavior we encounter.

Contact us today to learn more about our training programs !

A group of dogs being trained by the expert team at Dog Training Elite Central Nashville.
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Educate, Empower, Elevate, Elite

Victory Begins With Elite Education

Dog Training Elite Central Nashville

Tips on How to Bond

Training is a great way to establish a deep, loyal bond with your puppy. Outside of your training sessions, there is more you can do to strengthen your bond. Here are some more tips for how to bond with your puppy:

Your puppy may not understand the words you’re saying, but he or she will understand your tone of voice. Speaking in an excited tone of voice will get your pup excited and motivate them to do what you want them to. Speaking in a low, calm voice can help soothe and relax your puppy.
Puppies thrive on routine. A consistent schedule will help your puppy adjust to their new home, and to you and your family. A puppy’s schedule needs to include eating, playtime, puppy training, potty breaks, and nap times.
As mentioned above, playtime is an important part of your puppy’s schedule. Playing with your puppy will help strengthen your bond and stimulate their brains. Walks are an easy and great way to give your puppy much-needed exercise. Start small, walking around in your yard or driveway and gradually extending the distance around your neighborhood.
Creating boundaries in your home for your puppy helps strengthen your bond because your puppy will look to you for direction and guidance. It will also help your puppy avoid bad habits. Baby gates and playpens are a useful way to create physical boundaries.
Puppies can become overwhelmed about all the new things they’re exploring. Crate training is a perfect way to allow your puppy to have their own space where they feel safe and comfortable and help them develop some independence so they grow into a well-adjusted dog.
The most adorable way to bond with your puppy is by cuddling them! Snuggling with your pup can help him or her feel comforted and safe. The best time to get a cuddle session with your puppy is when they are sleepy. Cuddling also helps puppies get used to having their paws, belly, face, etc. handled, and can be a good time to introduce light grooming practices like brushing their fur.