A service dog and their owner outside - find elite service dog training in Nashville, TN with Dog Training Elite.
Dog Training Elite

Service Dog Training in Nashville, TN

Request Free Assessment

Request Free Assessment

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 Central Nashville

Service Dog Training in Nashville, TN

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 Nashville, TN, 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.

See Training Packages
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


Read More
Read Less

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.

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

  • Tessa Tuttle
    Sep. 24, 2025
    I would 100% recommend these guys to help with your pup needs. They are so awesome, so very grateful for there help. Steve my dog, and I are so happy.
  • Taya Fillmore
    Sep. 24, 2025
    I am so grateful that I decided to do Dog Training with Dog Training Elite. My standard poodle used to pull on the leash all the time and jump on guests. Now he is the most distinguished gentleman, I am so happy with his progress and training!
  • Brooklyn Borgquist
    Sep. 1, 2025
    thank you so much to Parker at Dog Training Elite for helping me with my rambunctious Labradoodle. He used to bark at every thing outside our door. It felt like we couldn’t even have dinner and talk to each other without hearing Myers bark. Now he can lay down on his place and relax while we eat dinner. I’m so grateful that we decided to invest in dog training!
  • Sadie Eyre
    Aug. 27, 2025
    Thank you so much to Parker at dog training, elite for saving our sanity when it came to our dog. I was at my wits end with my dog, jumping all over everybody and pulling on the leash. Now she is so polite and walks like an angel. I loved my private in-home sessions with the trainers. Everybody was so amazing! Thank you, Dog Training Elite!
  • McKay Peery
    Aug. 27, 2025
    I am so grateful that I called Dog Training Elite! My dog was jumping on every guest that walked in the door and counter surfing. She would get sick and I would take her to the vet from what she would eat. Now she respects the boundaries of our guests that come over and no longer counter surfs. Thank you so much to Parker at dog training late for your expertise and help. I would recommend dog turning elite to everyone!!
  • Mark Hodge
    Aug. 26, 2025
    Thank you Montana and Parker for your patient endurance while training our very stubborn French Bulldog. Our dog Gideon has aggressive tendencies and Elite trainers has given us the tools needed to work toward a more obedient/well behaved pup. Still work to do, but making progress!
  • julie warren
    Aug. 18, 2025
    My insecure golden retriever lacked confidence and social skills! Elite did a great job of not only building his confidence, but helping me understand him.
  • Simon Tv
    Aug. 14, 2025
    I am so pleased with DTE!!! We currently have a 1 year old golden retriever at 78 pounds. Callahan! Named after “Dirty Harry Inspector Callahan” Clint Eastwood… We had senior pups a Beagle and Bassett Hound before they recently passed. With Callahan we have gone from seniors at 20 mph to Callahan at 100 mph (!) Callahan’s breeder recommended dog training. I have never done dog training. Googling, I saw DTE had great reviews. We started with 1 on 1’s at our house. Then group training! Some shout outs to the fabulous trainers at group : Montana, Liam and Andi. All professional and know what they are doing with dogs. I’m probably forgetting someone? But all excellent. But I’m not forgetting PARKER! I swear this man must have been raised with wolves and dogs. He’s part of the pack and instinctively knows how to handle dogs. I had issues with Callahan heeling and running after everything on our walks. Squirrels, runners, cyclists, etc. Parker has helped me control Callahan. We have the proper collar. Parker taught me collar adjustment, collar location on dog’s neck and leash snap. I learned change direction when I see distraction. Like a bunny. Parker also had me practice on him as if he were the dog, feeling the dog pull and learning when I needed to snap. At first I was late lots with my snap but eventually I got the hang of it. Highly recommend DTE. Worth the investment in training a dog. They are responsive and flexible to meet you and your dog’s needs. And request Parker if you really need lots of help! Catherine and Callahan
  • Alexis Pantorilla
    Aug. 11, 2025
    Dog training elite has been a GAME CHANGER!!! Cannot recommend them enough. My dog got attacked and has never been the same. Within the first two sessions she was already a completely different dog. I’ve been recommending them to everyone I see- every time I leave my house people comment saying that my dog is so well behaved. Sooo so so well worth it over and over again. If you’re thinking about doing it- DO IT!
  • Mark Esposito
    Aug. 9, 2025
    I am so glad that I put my dog Winnie in training with Dog Training Elite. We had found her as a stray on the side of the road in Nashville and she needed training to be able to adjust to living in our house. She now is amazing with respecting all of our house guests that come over and grown so much in confidence. Thank you to Parker at Dog Training Elite in Nashville for all of your help!
  • audrey esposito
    Aug. 9, 2025
    Rizzo is my sweet rescue dog that constantly barked at everything! On walks he was very reactive towards other dogs. He wasn’t a bad dog but just really annoying! He now stops barking when I tell him to, and I can walk past other dogs with no barking or reactivity. If you are looking for dog training in Nashville give them a call! They changed my life! And Rizzo loves the trainers!:)
  • Helen K
    Aug. 9, 2025
    Trainers were great! My dog has become calmer, walks better on a leash and recalls commands quicker.
  • Mac Mullen
    Aug. 2, 2025
    I’m astonished at how much my dog has retained in the duration of this course. Parker, Kenna and Montana were FANTASTIC trainers for my boy. He is disciplined and loves to train- I can only thank the team for making it so fun. He is great with other dogs, very patient and obedient, which is hard to train into his breed. I’m very happy we went with Dog Training Elite Central Nashville, 5 stars.
  • Jessica Riley
    Jul. 22, 2025
    Montana is a true dog lover and was amazing with our (very stubborn) dog. She was patient, supportive, and really helped us understand how to work with Koa instead of against him. Training felt less stressful and way more doable with her guidance. We only wish we had found Montana and her team earlier.
  • Kade Carter
    Jul. 11, 2025
    I was out in Nashville for the summer and got an emotional support dog to help me out with my stressful job. Before I found Parker and Dog Training Elite, Russel was a bit to rambunctious he was always barking and some neighbors were upset. I am super happy with their training program and Russel is now a huge blessing to me. THANKS GUYS
  • Jessica Lucyshyn
    Jun. 30, 2025
    We are very pleased with the training! Our dog has learned so much in a short time!
  • Jess and Marty Dulworth
    Jun. 25, 2025
    Parker was amazing at helping out our big guy Earl here in Nashville! Earl was too rough around kids sometimes and he wasn’t able to play with our family. He totally changed and is very gentle and loving!
  • Frank Stone
    Jun. 18, 2025
    Zoe was pretty barky and seemed scary coming out to neighbors. She is now really friendly and very loving around new people. Super happy with Parker and all the work they did at Dog Training Elite. Highly recommend, definitely worth the cost.
  • Connor Harman
    Jun. 17, 2025
    Training has been great! The staff is awesome, making the process easy. Excited to finish the training and start the service dog portion. Highly recommend dog training elite
  • Nolan Rhem
    Jun. 16, 2025
    Our dog, Teddy, is 9 years old. Although not really aggressive, he would get highly anxious when strangers came over (even if they were friends) and bark nonstop. It was hard to have guests in our home. We were concerned that he was too old to be trained not to behave this way. Montana was able to teach Teddy a handful of basic commands within a few weeks. When ordered to behave with these commands, we noticed Teddy quickly become much less anxious with practically no barking at all around guests. Montana did a great job with Teddy and I highly recommend Dog Training Elite.
  • Tessa Tuttle
    Sep. 24, 2025
    I would 100% recommend these guys to help with your pup needs. They are so awesome, so very grateful for there help. Steve my dog, and I are so happy.
  • Taya Fillmore
    Sep. 24, 2025
    I am so grateful that I decided to do Dog Training with Dog Training Elite. My standard poodle used to pull on the leash all the time and jump on guests. Now he is the most distinguished gentleman, I am so happy with his progress and training!
  • Brooklyn Borgquist
    Sep. 1, 2025
    thank you so much to Parker at Dog Training Elite for helping me with my rambunctious Labradoodle. He used to bark at every thing outside our door. It felt like we couldn’t even have dinner and talk to each other without hearing Myers bark. Now he can lay down on his place and relax while we eat dinner. I’m so grateful that we decided to invest in dog training!
  • Sadie Eyre
    Aug. 27, 2025
    Thank you so much to Parker at dog training, elite for saving our sanity when it came to our dog. I was at my wits end with my dog, jumping all over everybody and pulling on the leash. Now she is so polite and walks like an angel. I loved my private in-home sessions with the trainers. Everybody was so amazing! Thank you, Dog Training Elite!
  • McKay Peery
    Aug. 27, 2025
    I am so grateful that I called Dog Training Elite! My dog was jumping on every guest that walked in the door and counter surfing. She would get sick and I would take her to the vet from what she would eat. Now she respects the boundaries of our guests that come over and no longer counter surfs. Thank you so much to Parker at dog training late for your expertise and help. I would recommend dog turning elite to everyone!!
  • Mark Hodge
    Aug. 26, 2025
    Thank you Montana and Parker for your patient endurance while training our very stubborn French Bulldog. Our dog Gideon has aggressive tendencies and Elite trainers has given us the tools needed to work toward a more obedient/well behaved pup. Still work to do, but making progress!
  • julie warren
    Aug. 18, 2025
    My insecure golden retriever lacked confidence and social skills! Elite did a great job of not only building his confidence, but helping me understand him.
  • Simon Tv
    Aug. 14, 2025
    I am so pleased with DTE!!! We currently have a 1 year old golden retriever at 78 pounds. Callahan! Named after “Dirty Harry Inspector Callahan” Clint Eastwood… We had senior pups a Beagle and Bassett Hound before they recently passed. With Callahan we have gone from seniors at 20 mph to Callahan at 100 mph (!) Callahan’s breeder recommended dog training. I have never done dog training. Googling, I saw DTE had great reviews. We started with 1 on 1’s at our house. Then group training! Some shout outs to the fabulous trainers at group : Montana, Liam and Andi. All professional and know what they are doing with dogs. I’m probably forgetting someone? But all excellent. But I’m not forgetting PARKER! I swear this man must have been raised with wolves and dogs. He’s part of the pack and instinctively knows how to handle dogs. I had issues with Callahan heeling and running after everything on our walks. Squirrels, runners, cyclists, etc. Parker has helped me control Callahan. We have the proper collar. Parker taught me collar adjustment, collar location on dog’s neck and leash snap. I learned change direction when I see distraction. Like a bunny. Parker also had me practice on him as if he were the dog, feeling the dog pull and learning when I needed to snap. At first I was late lots with my snap but eventually I got the hang of it. Highly recommend DTE. Worth the investment in training a dog. They are responsive and flexible to meet you and your dog’s needs. And request Parker if you really need lots of help! Catherine and Callahan
  • Alexis Pantorilla
    Aug. 11, 2025
    Dog training elite has been a GAME CHANGER!!! Cannot recommend them enough. My dog got attacked and has never been the same. Within the first two sessions she was already a completely different dog. I’ve been recommending them to everyone I see- every time I leave my house people comment saying that my dog is so well behaved. Sooo so so well worth it over and over again. If you’re thinking about doing it- DO IT!
  • Mark Esposito
    Aug. 9, 2025
    I am so glad that I put my dog Winnie in training with Dog Training Elite. We had found her as a stray on the side of the road in Nashville and she needed training to be able to adjust to living in our house. She now is amazing with respecting all of our house guests that come over and grown so much in confidence. Thank you to Parker at Dog Training Elite in Nashville for all of your help!
  • audrey esposito
    Aug. 9, 2025
    Rizzo is my sweet rescue dog that constantly barked at everything! On walks he was very reactive towards other dogs. He wasn’t a bad dog but just really annoying! He now stops barking when I tell him to, and I can walk past other dogs with no barking or reactivity. If you are looking for dog training in Nashville give them a call! They changed my life! And Rizzo loves the trainers!:)
  • Helen K
    Aug. 9, 2025
    Trainers were great! My dog has become calmer, walks better on a leash and recalls commands quicker.
  • Mac Mullen
    Aug. 2, 2025
    I’m astonished at how much my dog has retained in the duration of this course. Parker, Kenna and Montana were FANTASTIC trainers for my boy. He is disciplined and loves to train- I can only thank the team for making it so fun. He is great with other dogs, very patient and obedient, which is hard to train into his breed. I’m very happy we went with Dog Training Elite Central Nashville, 5 stars.
  • Jessica Riley
    Jul. 22, 2025
    Montana is a true dog lover and was amazing with our (very stubborn) dog. She was patient, supportive, and really helped us understand how to work with Koa instead of against him. Training felt less stressful and way more doable with her guidance. We only wish we had found Montana and her team earlier.
  • Kade Carter
    Jul. 11, 2025
    I was out in Nashville for the summer and got an emotional support dog to help me out with my stressful job. Before I found Parker and Dog Training Elite, Russel was a bit to rambunctious he was always barking and some neighbors were upset. I am super happy with their training program and Russel is now a huge blessing to me. THANKS GUYS
  • Jessica Lucyshyn
    Jun. 30, 2025
    We are very pleased with the training! Our dog has learned so much in a short time!
  • Jess and Marty Dulworth
    Jun. 25, 2025
    Parker was amazing at helping out our big guy Earl here in Nashville! Earl was too rough around kids sometimes and he wasn’t able to play with our family. He totally changed and is very gentle and loving!
  • Frank Stone
    Jun. 18, 2025
    Zoe was pretty barky and seemed scary coming out to neighbors. She is now really friendly and very loving around new people. Super happy with Parker and all the work they did at Dog Training Elite. Highly recommend, definitely worth the cost.
  • Connor Harman
    Jun. 17, 2025
    Training has been great! The staff is awesome, making the process easy. Excited to finish the training and start the service dog portion. Highly recommend dog training elite
  • Nolan Rhem
    Jun. 16, 2025
    Our dog, Teddy, is 9 years old. Although not really aggressive, he would get highly anxious when strangers came over (even if they were friends) and bark nonstop. It was hard to have guests in our home. We were concerned that he was too old to be trained not to behave this way. Montana was able to teach Teddy a handful of basic commands within a few weeks. When ordered to behave with these commands, we noticed Teddy quickly become much less anxious with practically no barking at all around guests. Montana did a great job with Teddy and I highly recommend Dog Training Elite.
A Dog Training Elite Central Nashville owner smiling with his dog in Nashville, TN.

Dog Training Elite Central Nashville

Is a Service Dog The Same As a Therapy Dog?

Read More
Read Less

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 Central Nashville

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 Central Nashville - PTSD Service Dog Training in Nashville, TN. DTE

PTSD Service Dog

If you're looking to train a PTSD service dog in Nashville, TN, 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 Central Nashville - Psychiatric Service Dog Training in Nashville, TN

Psychiatric Service Dog Training

Our psychiatric service dog training in Nashville, TN 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 Central Nashville - Mobility Service Dog Training in Nashville, TN

Mobility Support Service Dog

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

Dog Training Elite Central Nashville - Seizure Response Dog Training in Nashville, TN

Medical Response Dog Training

If you are in need of a seizure response dog in Nashville, TN, Dog Training Elite can help. Our training program is designed to help individuals with epilepsy regain independence and confidence.

Dog Training Elite Central Nashville - Autism Support Dog Training in Nashville, TN

Autism Support Service Dog

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

Dog Training Elite Central Nashville

Service Dogs for Anxiety, PTSD, and Autism

Read More
Read Less

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 Central Nashville.

How Do I Get a Service Dog?

Read More
Read Less

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 Central Nashville.
Dog Training Elite Central Nashville light star icon.

Educate, Empower, Elevate, Elite

Victory Begins With Elite Education

A trainer, a man and his service dog - find the best service dog training in Nashville, TN with Dog Training Elite.

We Are Committed to Making a Difference

Choose DTE for Nashville Service Dog Training

Read More
Read Less

At Dog Training Elite, we are passionate about transforming lives through Nashville 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 Central Nashville and experience the difference that elite training and compassionate care can make.