Awarded 1st Place for Dog Training – Omaha’s Choice 2025!
A therapy dog walking in a park with their owner - contact Dog Training Elite to talk to a professional therapy dog trainer in Omaha, NE!
Dog Training Elite

Therapy Dog Training in Omaha, NE

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Request Free Assessment

Our Therapy Dog Training Could Help:
Those managing chronic pain
People looking to increase social interaction
Anyone seeking enhanced motivation and purpose
Individuals in need of emotional comfort
Those experiencing stress, anxiety, or depression
People wanting to boost overall optimism
Anyone feeling lonely or isolated

Therapy Dog Training in Omaha, NE

What is a Therapy Dog?

A therapy dog is trained to provide emotional support and comfort to people in need, often visiting hospitals, nursing homes, and schools. These dogs must be friendly with strangers, able to handle high levels of distraction, and understand personal boundaries like not jumping, licking, or mouthing. With proper training, therapy dogs can bring joy and emotional relief to those they interact with, offering companionship in stressful environments.

At Dog Training Elite, we specialize in therapy dog training in Omaha, NE, helping dogs develop the temperament and skills needed to provide emotional support and comfort in a variety of settings. Our customized programs are designed to guide you and your dog through the certification process with compassion and professionalism. Whether your goal is to visit hospitals, schools, or community centers, we ensure your dog is well-prepared to offer calm, dependable companionship to those in need. With our expert training methods, your dog can become a confident and trusted therapy companion in the Omaha community.

See Training Packages
A therapy dog in training with Dog Training Elite Omaha's expert handlers.

How Does a Dog Become a Therapy Dog?


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While the companionship your dog brings you may inspire you to share that with others, not every dog is suited to be a therapy animal. Beyond a friendly, loving personality, several important qualifications must be met for a dog to be considered for therapy work:

  • Age: Puppies are typically too energetic and lack the focus to be therapy dogs.
  • Obedience: A therapy dog must follow commands reliably. Dogs that have completed obedience training with Dog Training Elite have the solid foundation needed to begin therapy dog training.
  • Social Skills: Therapy dogs need to naturally enjoy meeting new people and must handle being petted and approached by strangers without anxiety. Their ability to remain calm and friendly, even in unfamiliar situations, ensures they can provide emotional support to those they interact with.

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

  • Paige Zehnacker
    Sep. 13, 2025
    Our experience with Bob at Dog Training Elite was wonderful. We have a 4 year old Golden Retriever who was very reactive to strangers walking by our yard, and while she would respond well to a number of commands, we knew we needed guidance in how to address her reactivity. I spent a lot of time researching dog trainers and interviewed a number of them. Bob not only came over to meet our dog personally, but he took his time thoroughly explaining the program and answered all of my questions in great detail. He never made me feel rushed, and he personalized the consultation by explaining how he would specifically address each of the areas I brought up. Each training session, he did a fantastic job of explaining the reasoning behind what we were doing and how to effectively enforce it. He would also go over various situations we might experience so that we were prepared and equipped in how to handle them if/when they would arise before our next training session. He was flexible with our schedule, and always prompt and thorough in our appointments. He made training enjoyable, and helped incorporate our kids into training as well. Our Golden Retriever, Maya, has responded so well to training! She has much better door manners, walks amazingly off leash, and is much less reactive to people walking by her invisible fence. Overall, we have been extremely satisfied with Dog Training Elite and highly recommend the program!
  • Rick Leonard
    Sep. 13, 2025
    Bob is one of the best trainers I’ve worked with. I would recommend him and his company hands down.
  • Gunorga Beck
    Sep. 13, 2025
    There is not high enough praise that I can give Bob, Samarria, and Dave as dog trainers. Cece is a 110# "teenage" Rottweiler that was stubborn, dog reactive, human reactive, and just generally a pain in the butt to try to take out for walks. After working with Bob and Samarria for a few lessons, she is SO much better. They train her in her own environment, where she has the problems, not a sterile facility where nothing just "pops up". Samarria taught me how to deal with her dog reactivity in under an hour and walks are just wonderful now. I love taking her to the group classes, too, because it ties everything together and keeps her exposed to people and other dogs. My recommendation is yes, let them train your dogs. You will not regret it.
  • Robin Breazier
    Sep. 8, 2025
    Bob and his team are great! Our beagle, Astrid, has grown so much since doing lessons. Thank you!
  • Brett
    Sep. 5, 2025
    Bob and the Elite dog training crew were great for my dog Herbie and me. People coming to the door used to be a disaster since he was loud and in their faces. Now after learning spot he stays in his spot until released and is much calming with greetings. This has been amazing along with many other things we learned.
  • Kristina Ly
    Aug. 29, 2025
    This photo will tell you all you need to know that the training works. Never in a million years would I think I could bring my dog Tofu into public places. Tofu had such bad fear aggression. She would bark constantly, lung, and drag. After, the training with Bob, there has been huge improvement with Tofu. I use to fear having guest over to my place or would be anxious going to public places with Tofu, but now it’s super simple and she’s obedient, confident, less fearful, and actually can enjoy herself in these places knowing that her owner can give her guidance and trust that the training had provided.
  • Kerri McCracken
    Aug. 23, 2025
    I want to thanks Bob and Dave for the help they did with Abbey Rose. My pitbull. The lady and I couldn't remember her name.she also helped me alot to. Thanks again Kerri
  • T N
    Aug. 23, 2025
    Bob and Samarria are very patient with both my wife and dog. Very friendly to entire pack
  • Dana Washington
    Jul. 8, 2025
    We couldn’t be more pleased with the support we got from Dog Training Elite. My husband didn’t believe that our six-year-old, totally out-of-control St Bernard could learn to behave, but Bob and his team were up to the task.The transformation has been amazing! Our “baby” Winston has gone from lounging on furniture and jumping on people, to following all the basic commands like come, sit, heel, down, place, off and quiet. It’s so much easier for us, and others, to enjoy a well behaved dog. But the real value from the sessions is that they helped us feel more confident as dog owners and closer to Winston. We truly enjoyed the process. Bob runs a fantastic operation. Highly recommend!
  • Harleigh
    Jun. 1, 2024
    I would recommend Bob at Dog Training Elite daily! I had a people and dog reactive, misbehaved, and undisciplined Great Dane. I became overwhelmed and had no idea what to do with her behavior. I called Bob and he was confident that he could help me. After session one, I immediately saw a difference in behavior. I can now take Ellie with me anywhere! We had our first group class a year ago and not only was Bob extremely encouraging, everyone was so patient and very welcoming! Hiring Dog Training Elite was the best decision I have ever made for Ellie. One year later… I have the best dog I could have ever asked for. Ellie is primarily worked off-leash now. I get complimented every time we are out on how well behaved she is. The confidence that the training gave her and myself cannot be matched.
  • Gale McKenna
    May. 30, 2025
    Bob is the greatest! We have two doodles with a lot of energy. Walking was impossible, they jumped on anyone that came through the door and the barking was out of control. Basically they ran the house. After six weeks of training they are now listening to our commands and we are able to walk them. Perfect? Not yet but pretty darn close! Thank you Bob for making them close. Highly recommend.
  • Jerry McKenna
    May. 30, 2025
    Bob, you are an absolute wizard! You taught Gunner (and frankly us) more in our first hour together than we hoped to accomplish in the complete course. Your mixture of caring instructions and lots of love throughout is perfect and hugely impressive. We greatly appreciate you restoring our hopes for our dogs that we thought were long lost dreams. I can’t recommend you and your methods highly enough. Thank you, thank you! Jerry M.
  • Kalyn Barker
    May. 11, 2025
    Dog training elite has been awesome to work with. Dexter and myself have made huge strides since starting with Dave & Bob. 12/10 recommend working with this great group of individuals.
  • Susan Ueckert
    May. 3, 2025
    I sought out help when my large black lab Blue was becoming difficult for me to handle. Bob came to my home and witnessed many of the bad habits as we spoke. After the first week with the command "come" there was a world of improvement and it has gotten increasingly better ever since. Blue and I completed 5 private training sessions and are now working at group training to continue to hone his training. I would highly recommend DTE.
  • Melody Albertsen
    Mar. 13, 2025
    Bob did a great job with Athena. She is the smartest, most stubborn dog we've ever known, and he was very patient with her. The training technique is straightforward and consistent; easy for pet parents to learn and implement. (In the photo, Athena is far right.)
  • M.Nicole Lewis
    Mar. 10, 2025
    DTE has helped so incredibly much with making our house less stressful and more joined. My boyfriend and I moved into our house in the summer and brought with us his English bulldog mix and my American pit bull terrier mix. And one cat. We kept them separate with baby gates for about four months until we were fed up with one of them always being left out. We found Bob and DTE online and after reading the reviews and meeting with him one-on-one, we decided to pull the trigger. It truly is an investment in your dogs future, and also yours. Our house is so much better off after the training and the use of the e-collars. We have loved seeing how smart out boys really are, what they’re capable of, and getting to know more of their personalities. It will always be an on-going process, but it’s so very worth it. Thank you Bob & the DTE team!
  • Kaitlyn Young
    Feb. 13, 2025
    We have an entirely different dog 🩷 By working with Bob, we now have an extremely happy dog (pics for proof). Prior to working with Bob at Dog Training Elite - Omaha, our pup would bark at strangers in our home for 30+ minutes, demand barked, whined excessively, pulled on leash, and could not be around other dogs without absolutely freaking out. Now, he appears so much more comfortable, confident, and consistently looks to us for guidance - really demonstrating a trusting relationship. We now feel comfortable introducing our pup to others without fear he will scare them! Our family and friends have noticed a major difference!! We are so grateful we reached out to Bob. He was kind and patient with us and our dog absolutely loved working with him. His tail never stops wagging now!
  • Brian Wall
    Jan. 15, 2025
    We have our golden doodle going through service dog training with Dog Training Elite. Bob, Mari and Dave have been so great with his training. They are so kind and professional and are so good at explaining what we need to do to get our pup to where he needs to be. I highly recommend using them for your dog training needs. They are also very good at teaching us how to keep up our dogs training at home and we have learned so much from them.
  • Barbara Hall
    Dec. 20, 2024
    5 Stars for the people at Dog Training Elite in Omaha. My dog and I moved from a large house to a one-bedroom apartment. Not being used to large numbers of strangers and activities, my dog became very stressed and barked constantly. I just finished the last of my 5 sessions and the change in his temperament is remarkable. I'll now start bringing him to the weekly group exercises, that are included in the training package, to get him accustomed to being around other dogs. Kudos to Bob and his dog training elite staff.
  • william gratton
    Dec. 12, 2024
    Wow what a great experience! With the care of the trainer you will receive the proper tools to teach your dog too Excell in training for your goals for your dog. Training went so fast for Captain to get her service dog status and it was a lot of fun. I am still going to training classes to keep up on the latest training. I will miss the one on one training classes with Bob.
  • Paige Zehnacker
    Sep. 13, 2025
    Our experience with Bob at Dog Training Elite was wonderful. We have a 4 year old Golden Retriever who was very reactive to strangers walking by our yard, and while she would respond well to a number of commands, we knew we needed guidance in how to address her reactivity. I spent a lot of time researching dog trainers and interviewed a number of them. Bob not only came over to meet our dog personally, but he took his time thoroughly explaining the program and answered all of my questions in great detail. He never made me feel rushed, and he personalized the consultation by explaining how he would specifically address each of the areas I brought up. Each training session, he did a fantastic job of explaining the reasoning behind what we were doing and how to effectively enforce it. He would also go over various situations we might experience so that we were prepared and equipped in how to handle them if/when they would arise before our next training session. He was flexible with our schedule, and always prompt and thorough in our appointments. He made training enjoyable, and helped incorporate our kids into training as well. Our Golden Retriever, Maya, has responded so well to training! She has much better door manners, walks amazingly off leash, and is much less reactive to people walking by her invisible fence. Overall, we have been extremely satisfied with Dog Training Elite and highly recommend the program!
  • Rick Leonard
    Sep. 13, 2025
    Bob is one of the best trainers I’ve worked with. I would recommend him and his company hands down.
  • Gunorga Beck
    Sep. 13, 2025
    There is not high enough praise that I can give Bob, Samarria, and Dave as dog trainers. Cece is a 110# "teenage" Rottweiler that was stubborn, dog reactive, human reactive, and just generally a pain in the butt to try to take out for walks. After working with Bob and Samarria for a few lessons, she is SO much better. They train her in her own environment, where she has the problems, not a sterile facility where nothing just "pops up". Samarria taught me how to deal with her dog reactivity in under an hour and walks are just wonderful now. I love taking her to the group classes, too, because it ties everything together and keeps her exposed to people and other dogs. My recommendation is yes, let them train your dogs. You will not regret it.
  • Robin Breazier
    Sep. 8, 2025
    Bob and his team are great! Our beagle, Astrid, has grown so much since doing lessons. Thank you!
  • Brett
    Sep. 5, 2025
    Bob and the Elite dog training crew were great for my dog Herbie and me. People coming to the door used to be a disaster since he was loud and in their faces. Now after learning spot he stays in his spot until released and is much calming with greetings. This has been amazing along with many other things we learned.
  • Kristina Ly
    Aug. 29, 2025
    This photo will tell you all you need to know that the training works. Never in a million years would I think I could bring my dog Tofu into public places. Tofu had such bad fear aggression. She would bark constantly, lung, and drag. After, the training with Bob, there has been huge improvement with Tofu. I use to fear having guest over to my place or would be anxious going to public places with Tofu, but now it’s super simple and she’s obedient, confident, less fearful, and actually can enjoy herself in these places knowing that her owner can give her guidance and trust that the training had provided.
  • Kerri McCracken
    Aug. 23, 2025
    I want to thanks Bob and Dave for the help they did with Abbey Rose. My pitbull. The lady and I couldn't remember her name.she also helped me alot to. Thanks again Kerri
  • T N
    Aug. 23, 2025
    Bob and Samarria are very patient with both my wife and dog. Very friendly to entire pack
  • Dana Washington
    Jul. 8, 2025
    We couldn’t be more pleased with the support we got from Dog Training Elite. My husband didn’t believe that our six-year-old, totally out-of-control St Bernard could learn to behave, but Bob and his team were up to the task.The transformation has been amazing! Our “baby” Winston has gone from lounging on furniture and jumping on people, to following all the basic commands like come, sit, heel, down, place, off and quiet. It’s so much easier for us, and others, to enjoy a well behaved dog. But the real value from the sessions is that they helped us feel more confident as dog owners and closer to Winston. We truly enjoyed the process. Bob runs a fantastic operation. Highly recommend!
  • Harleigh
    Jun. 1, 2024
    I would recommend Bob at Dog Training Elite daily! I had a people and dog reactive, misbehaved, and undisciplined Great Dane. I became overwhelmed and had no idea what to do with her behavior. I called Bob and he was confident that he could help me. After session one, I immediately saw a difference in behavior. I can now take Ellie with me anywhere! We had our first group class a year ago and not only was Bob extremely encouraging, everyone was so patient and very welcoming! Hiring Dog Training Elite was the best decision I have ever made for Ellie. One year later… I have the best dog I could have ever asked for. Ellie is primarily worked off-leash now. I get complimented every time we are out on how well behaved she is. The confidence that the training gave her and myself cannot be matched.
  • Gale McKenna
    May. 30, 2025
    Bob is the greatest! We have two doodles with a lot of energy. Walking was impossible, they jumped on anyone that came through the door and the barking was out of control. Basically they ran the house. After six weeks of training they are now listening to our commands and we are able to walk them. Perfect? Not yet but pretty darn close! Thank you Bob for making them close. Highly recommend.
  • Jerry McKenna
    May. 30, 2025
    Bob, you are an absolute wizard! You taught Gunner (and frankly us) more in our first hour together than we hoped to accomplish in the complete course. Your mixture of caring instructions and lots of love throughout is perfect and hugely impressive. We greatly appreciate you restoring our hopes for our dogs that we thought were long lost dreams. I can’t recommend you and your methods highly enough. Thank you, thank you! Jerry M.
  • Kalyn Barker
    May. 11, 2025
    Dog training elite has been awesome to work with. Dexter and myself have made huge strides since starting with Dave & Bob. 12/10 recommend working with this great group of individuals.
  • Susan Ueckert
    May. 3, 2025
    I sought out help when my large black lab Blue was becoming difficult for me to handle. Bob came to my home and witnessed many of the bad habits as we spoke. After the first week with the command "come" there was a world of improvement and it has gotten increasingly better ever since. Blue and I completed 5 private training sessions and are now working at group training to continue to hone his training. I would highly recommend DTE.
  • Melody Albertsen
    Mar. 13, 2025
    Bob did a great job with Athena. She is the smartest, most stubborn dog we've ever known, and he was very patient with her. The training technique is straightforward and consistent; easy for pet parents to learn and implement. (In the photo, Athena is far right.)
  • M.Nicole Lewis
    Mar. 10, 2025
    DTE has helped so incredibly much with making our house less stressful and more joined. My boyfriend and I moved into our house in the summer and brought with us his English bulldog mix and my American pit bull terrier mix. And one cat. We kept them separate with baby gates for about four months until we were fed up with one of them always being left out. We found Bob and DTE online and after reading the reviews and meeting with him one-on-one, we decided to pull the trigger. It truly is an investment in your dogs future, and also yours. Our house is so much better off after the training and the use of the e-collars. We have loved seeing how smart out boys really are, what they’re capable of, and getting to know more of their personalities. It will always be an on-going process, but it’s so very worth it. Thank you Bob & the DTE team!
  • Kaitlyn Young
    Feb. 13, 2025
    We have an entirely different dog 🩷 By working with Bob, we now have an extremely happy dog (pics for proof). Prior to working with Bob at Dog Training Elite - Omaha, our pup would bark at strangers in our home for 30+ minutes, demand barked, whined excessively, pulled on leash, and could not be around other dogs without absolutely freaking out. Now, he appears so much more comfortable, confident, and consistently looks to us for guidance - really demonstrating a trusting relationship. We now feel comfortable introducing our pup to others without fear he will scare them! Our family and friends have noticed a major difference!! We are so grateful we reached out to Bob. He was kind and patient with us and our dog absolutely loved working with him. His tail never stops wagging now!
  • Brian Wall
    Jan. 15, 2025
    We have our golden doodle going through service dog training with Dog Training Elite. Bob, Mari and Dave have been so great with his training. They are so kind and professional and are so good at explaining what we need to do to get our pup to where he needs to be. I highly recommend using them for your dog training needs. They are also very good at teaching us how to keep up our dogs training at home and we have learned so much from them.
  • Barbara Hall
    Dec. 20, 2024
    5 Stars for the people at Dog Training Elite in Omaha. My dog and I moved from a large house to a one-bedroom apartment. Not being used to large numbers of strangers and activities, my dog became very stressed and barked constantly. I just finished the last of my 5 sessions and the change in his temperament is remarkable. I'll now start bringing him to the weekly group exercises, that are included in the training package, to get him accustomed to being around other dogs. Kudos to Bob and his dog training elite staff.
  • william gratton
    Dec. 12, 2024
    Wow what a great experience! With the care of the trainer you will receive the proper tools to teach your dog too Excell in training for your goals for your dog. Training went so fast for Captain to get her service dog status and it was a lot of fun. I am still going to training classes to keep up on the latest training. I will miss the one on one training classes with Bob.
An obedient dog in a fran_territory_name} emotional support dog training program.

Benefits of Therapy Dogs

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Therapy dogs have a profound impact on individuals’ emotional and physical well-being. Research demonstrates that therapy dogs can improve a patient's mood, reduce stress, and even lower pain levels during hospital stays or medical treatments. Their calming presence provides comfort and relief in challenging moments.

Children, in particular, often respond well to therapy dogs. The companionship and playful interaction of a therapy dog can motivate children to engage more fully in treatments, helping them overcome fear or reluctance. With a therapy dog by their side, children tend to feel more optimistic and less anxious.

Beyond medical settings, therapy dogs also foster social interaction, especially in autism and mental health communities. These dogs offer non-judgmental companionship and serve as a bridge for individuals who may struggle with social connections. By reducing feelings of loneliness and anxiety, therapy dogs offer their owners comfort and companionship that enhances the overall quality of life.

A therapy dog handler with their dog trained by Dog Training Elite Omaha.

Therapy Dog Handlers

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If you’ve ever wanted to make a meaningful impact in your community, becoming a therapy dog handler offers a unique opportunity to do so alongside your dog. You can choose where to volunteer based on your interests, such as schools, hospitals, or senior living centers.

Once you’ve decided, therapy dog training is the next step. Dog Training Elite Omaha’s expert trainers will help your dog master essential behaviors like loose-leash walking, “leave it,” and not jumping on people. After completing training, you can apply for therapy dog certification, but it’s essential to keep up with ongoing training to ensure your dog remains well-behaved and ready to assist.

Additional Training Programs

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Puppy Training

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Service Dog Training

Dog Training Elite Omaha - Anxiety & Aggressive Dog Training in Omaha, NE

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Dog Training Elite Omaha - Group Class Dog Training in Omaha, NE. DTE

Group Training

A fully trained service dog from Dog Training Elite Omaha.

Omaha Emotional Support Dog Training

Why Choose DTE for Therapy Dog Training?

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At Dog Training Elite Omaha, our training programs prepare your dog for real-world situations where their presence can provide emotional support and comfort. Beyond just obedience, our training teaches your dog how to handle stressful or highly stimulating environments like hospitals, schools, or nursing homes.

We also place a strong emphasis on socialization and adaptability, making sure your dog can confidently engage with people of all ages and backgrounds. Therapy dog work requires attentiveness and empathy, and our training helps your dog develop these traits. With a foundation of trust, consistency, and patience, your dog will be fully equipped to offer comfort and companionship wherever it’s needed.

A group of dogs being trained by the expert team at Dog Training Elite Omaha.
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Victory Begins With Elite Education

ESA vs. Therapy vs. Service Animals

What's the Difference?

Animals that provide assistance and companionship can be classified into three main groups: service animals, emotional support animals (ESAs), and therapy animals. Each has different responsibilities, training requirements, and legal protections. Knowing the differences can help you choose the right type of support for a disability, emotional needs, or therapy purposes.

Here are the defining features of each type:

Service animals are trained to help individuals by performing tasks that meet their specific needs, such as:

  • Redirecting attention when an individual is beginning to feel overstimulated
  • Reminding owners to take medication
  • Waking someone who is having a nightmare

Service dogs are highly valued in the mental health and disability community and are protected under ADA laws, allowing them to accompany their owners anywhere. At DTE, we provide specialized training for service dogs that assist individuals with autism, diabetes, and PTSD.

The key difference between ESAs, therapy dogs, and service dogs is that service animals are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act. This means they are allowed to go anywhere their owner goes. ESAs and therapy dogs do not have the same protections as service dogs, and public places can set their own rules about allowing them.

ESAs are prescribed by licensed mental health professionals to help individuals with mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression. These animals provide emotional support simply by being a comforting presence. Unlike service dogs, ESAs are not trained to perform specific tasks related to their owner's condition.

ESAs can be of any breed or age, and while they do not require the same level of training as service dogs, many owners choose to seek additional training. This can help strengthen the bond between the owner and the animal and improve the ESA's ability to provide consistent emotional support in different situations.

Therapy animals provide comfort and emotional support to individuals in need. They are not trained to assist a single person but are instead taught to be well-behaved and sociable around various groups of people. These animals help reduce stress, anxiety, and loneliness for those they visit.

Unlike service animals, therapy animals are not required to perform specific tasks. Their calming presence is what makes them valuable in therapeutic programs.

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  • Omaha Choice Awards- Dog Training Elite Omaha