An image of a german shepard with their owner - contact Dog Training Elite for your german shephard training in Philadelphia, PA.

Professional Training For

German Shepherds

Dog Training Elite in Philadelphia

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Dog Training Elite in Philadelphia online booking

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Booking Request


Dog Training Elite in Philadelphia online booking

Request Free Assessment

Our German Shepherd Training Could Help:

Excessive barking
Aggression
Separation anxiety
Destructive chewing
Leash pulling
Over-protectiveness
Resource guarding

German Shepherd Training in Philadelphia, PA

German Shepherds consistently rank in the top five most popular dog breeds in America—and for good reason. German Shepherds are highly intelligent and loyal. With proper training and socialization, they are also obedient and great with other dogs and children. Not to mention, they’re beautiful!

Dog Training Elite has years of experience with German Shepherd training in Philadelphia, PA and has developed obedience programs suitable for this breed. Because of their intelligence and natural herding instincts, German Shepherds can also be trained as service dogs.

Like any intelligent dog, however, a German Shepherd without proper training can become a handful. Their intelligence can lead to stubbornness. Extensive training and socialization are key to harnessing the unique abilities of this breed and diminishing any potential destructive behaviors. Thankfully, the high intelligence of German Shepherds enables them to learn commands quickly.

With our targeted and specialized breed training programs, Dog Training Elite in Philadelphia can help any German Shepherd become an incredible companion to individuals and families.

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An image of multiple german shepherd puppies - our Philadelphia german shepherd trainers ensure you pup is ready to be the best companion possible.

German Shepherd Puppies vs. Adults


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Dog Training Elite recommends starting dog training as early as possible, soon after a puppy is ready to leave its mother. Puppies are capable of learning basic commands, and smart German Shepherd puppies do great with early training.

If you adopt an older German Shepherd, or never got around to puppy training, don’t worry! Dog Training Elite in Philadelphia offers adult dog training programs as well. A complete puppy training typically takes a few months. Adult dog training can take longer or shorter, depending on whether a dog needs to unlearn bad habits in addition to being trained.

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!

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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 Philadelphia.
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

  • Tom Spitko Jr.
    Nov. 7, 2024
    Excellent experience with Taylor and Dog Training Elite. After 5 in-home sessions we've noticed a significant difference in our dogs listening and response times. Looking forward to group training. Taylor was very patient and explained how to deliver the commands in great detail and would also go over the dogs psyche and what they may be thinking. Very helpful and highly recommend.
  • Pete Mignogna
    Oct. 11, 2024
    We had a great experience with Taylor and Dog Training Elite. Hermione is a 6 month GSD who was showing some guarding/reactive behaviors. Taylor was able to show us tips on this right away, and we saw improvements within the first week. After 5 sessions, she has become very obedient and has responded quickly to all training techniques. Very glad we went forward with the training and I highly recommend!
  • Calli Popolo
    Sep. 21, 2024
    We have just completed our one-on-one training sessions with Taylor and we have nothing but great things to say. We noticed Cooper had a fear of children and large dogs that did not always come across in the nicest of ways. Taylor assured us that this training would help Cooper gain confidence to face situations he was once fearful of. Taylor has been so patient with Cooper as he can be a little stubborn at times! Coop was always happy to see him and in a short amount of time, he has already grown so much. We highly recommend Taylor and Dog Training Elite!
  • Donna Barlow
    Sep. 5, 2024
    Taylor was very professional and Cinnamon learned quickly as long as you keep up with the training your pup will be a well mannered dog I highly recommend dog training elite
  • Michael Henley
    Sep. 5, 2024
    Taylor is a true professional, best-in-class at getting my crazy puppies Dixie & Dolly well behaved and consistently responding to commands. He also gives broader advice on raising the pups and is always cordial, polite, understanding and I would recommend him to anyone looking for a dog trainer in Chester County!
  • Daniel Flowers
    Sep. 2, 2024
    It has been a joy watching our dog transform after traning from Dog Training Elite. Trainer Vincent was professional, on time, and personable.
  • Ashley Gray
    Aug. 20, 2024
    We had a fantastic experience with Taylor and Dog Training Elite! Our dog, Tony Soprano, is a beautiful 1.5 year old Boxer. Beauty aside, Tony was stubborn, didn’t listen to anyone, and even had anxiety like the true Tony Soprano himself. We tried traditional training, and even another company with only some improvements. Tony seemed to always decide himself when he wanted to behave. After the in-home sessions with Taylor, Tony developed into a confident and obedient dog. Taylor was very patient with Tony (and us) throughout the whole process. We highly recommend Taylor and his services!
  • Whitney Hughes
    Aug. 19, 2024
    Working with Vincent and Dog Training Elite has been the greatest investment we've made for our 11 month old bernedoodle, Percy. In a matter of weeks, Percy has transformed from wild, unruly, and stubborn to well mannered and eager to learn. Training is just as much for the dog as it is for the human, and Vincent has been excellent at training us both! He is calm and confident in his instruction, and we have all greatly enjoyed working with him. I would highly recommend DTE and Vincent for all your training needs.
  • G C
    Aug. 19, 2024
    Vincent is the best! We rescued our dog and quickly discovered she had a "jumpy/bitey" behavior - quite undesirable for a pitbull. Within one lesson with Vincent, the behavior is gone! We continue on to work on other commands - sit, down, place, break, heel - and Tiya is learning them all. She is becoming the disciplined and loving dog we dreamed of having! We could not have done this without Vincent! He is not only extremely capable and knowledgeable, but he is also calm and pleasant. In our mind, there is only one dog training firm to use - Go to Vincent at DTE! Highly, highly recommend them!!
  • Allison Machnicki
    Aug. 17, 2024
    I was recommended to Dog Training Elite by a friend and would recommend them to anyone. I've worked with three incredible trainers and they all have brought different strengths. Vinny, who I had for obedience, helped me get my high energy dog (who thought he was king of the house) ready for the service program with Betsy. Vinny took a lot of time helping me with Twig and was very thorough with his training and explanations, which helped us feel very prepared for our public access test (which we passed!). Vinny is also great with communication for scheduling and appointments.
  • Paul Diorio
    Aug. 14, 2024
    Working with Betsy and Vincent has been great! My dog Ranger has come a long way over the summer with their help in our goal of training him to become a Therapy Dog. Vincent has been a great help with obedience training and Betsy has been awesome with workplace training. Looking forward to our continued trainings with them.
  • Katelyn Craft
    Aug. 6, 2024
    Tiya is a totally new dog since we started working with Vincent!! I rescued her when she was about a year old, and I was very worried about her behavioral issues - I have 0 reason to be concerned now. And Tiya LOVES Vincent, she gets sooo excited every time she sees him step out of his car. Given her past, she tends to be hesitant around men but has loved him since day 1. He is such a natural with training dogs! I cannot recommend DTE (esp Vincent) enough :)
  • June Dirany
    Aug. 6, 2024
    Vincent is an excellent canine trainer I was so fortunate to encounter after signing up with Dog Training Elite. I have a 1 year old male Bernadoodle, Poppy, who was disruptive, impulsive and often physically uncontrollable. Although Poppy had worked with other trainers during his first year, his issues were not resolved. From our first session with Vincent, Poppy’s behavior started to rapidly improve. Vincent worked with Poppy, and me, on his obedience and social skills. Poppy continues to improve and I now feel confident walking him in parks. Friends have commented on how his behavior has improved. Vincent definitely has a gift for training dogs and for imparting that ability to his clients. Vincent’s knowledge and experience as a trainer are evident in every session. Vincent attentively watches the dog and human interactions during the training sessions and professionally guides both to have successful outcomes in every session. I have only worked with Vincent from Dog Training Elite, and I would highly recommend him to anyone.
  • Dawn Francis
    Aug. 4, 2024
    Our super energetic Corgi wore us all down with his constant barking, biting and failure to respond to basic commands. After a year-and-a-half of his uncontrollable behavior, we were beginning to lose hope. I saw an ad on Instagram for Dog Training Elite and reached out to Taylor. After just a few weeks in the program, my Corgi's behavior is so much more manageable, and we are enjoying our time with him. It's really pretty astounding! Instead of feeling constantly overwhelmed, we're now confident in our interactions with our pup and he's responding well to our commands. I like that Taylor worked to understand our pain points with our Corgi's behavior and taught us all how to respond more effectively to it. Taylor is patient, compassionate, and infinitely encouraging. We appreciate the training he provided that has now enabled us to really bond with our dog.
  • Gabrielle Dannehl
    Aug. 4, 2024
    I have a really sweet but highly reactive dog. Living in a city was making her leash reactivity much worse. I worked with Betsy and Vinny in private sessions and continued working with Vinny in group sessions. It’s honestly night and day! She’s much more confident and I have the skills to help her be successful. Friends and family have noticed that she’s much calmer, listens more, and easier to walk. I highly recommend Dog Training Elite for any “difficult” training.
  • erasmo morales
    Aug. 3, 2024
    Working with Vince has been great. He is knowledgeable and answers questions quickly. He made a connection with our pup and was able to help us strengthen our connection too. Glad my wife found elite & that we got paired with Vince.
  • Brittani Morales
    Aug. 3, 2024
    We train with Vince and let me tell you, he is hands down the best trainer we have ever delt with. He is very knowledgeable and has the patience of a saint with us. We definitely hit it off from the moment we met and was so easy to open up with him (I'm a bit of an introvert around new people). He is always understanding of our questions and gives tips to help us make a better connection between us and our pup. We are so happy that we made the choice to go with Elite and that they sent us Vince. Highly recommended him for all of your training needs.
  • Jordan Fisher
    Aug. 3, 2024
    Working with Tori and Vincent was amazing! It’s amazing to be able to trust your trainers and have them give you the skills and confidence to continue after training is completed. I never thought my dog would be able to be off leash, let alone get his reactivity under control. A few weeks with Tori and Vincent changed him and I continue the training on my own now! Vincent was very kind and thorough, my dog was very reactive to males due to caretaker issues in the past and he helped us work through them. I would recommend this company to anyone! :)
  • Eleanor Boyd
    Aug. 3, 2024
    Training our Doberman, Pepper, with Vinny for the last several months has been great. He is especially skilled with “difficult” and high energy breeds, and he has an obvious natural inclination for working with dogs. Pepper is totally enamored with him and gets so excited to get out of the car and see Vinny as soon as he spots him. I’m almost surprised Pepper hasn’t tried to head home with him after any of our training sessions. Vinny is a great asset to Dog Training Elite, and I look forward to continuing to work with him.
  • Kyle Himmelreich
    Aug. 3, 2024
    Great experience. Vinny was our trainer. He was amazing and helped us reach all the goals we had for our dog Beanie. I would recommend this program to anyone looking to do training with their dog. Ours needed a lot of work and now she's great on and off the leash around people and other 4 legged friends.
A dog owner with his German Shepherd - get your professional german shepherd training in Philadelphia, PA with Dog Training Elite today.

In-Home German Shepherd Training

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Dog Training Elite offers specialized in-home German Shepherd training for both owners and dogs of any age. Working with a German Shepherd and the owner directly in the home allows dog trainers to create personalized training plans for individual dogs, as well as address any unique needs or issues.

Once a dog has completed in-home training, they can take group classes for more in-depth training - Dog Training Elite in Philadelphia offers both puppy and adult dog group classes.

Beginning training in the home also helps owners bond with their dogs so when the dog trainer leaves, no progress is lost.

Additional Breeds We Train

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German Shepherd Training Tips

German Shepherds are loyal and intelligent dogs that require a thoughtful approach to training. They are eager learners, but they also need structure and clear guidance to reach their full potential.

Here are some essential training tips for German Shepherds.

Dogs, and especially German Shepherds, do best with consistency. Always make sure to use the same verbal and/or physical cues during training to avoid any confusion. Also, be consistent about rules - establish at the beginning, for example, whether or not your dog is allowed on the couch. Then, don’t change the rule under any circumstances.
German Shepherds are an energetic breed - if you don’t have a yard for your dog to play in, that’s fine, but make sure your German Shepherd gets daily exercise through walking, hiking, etc. An energetic dog with little to no exercise can become a destructive, disobedient dog.

Since German Shepherds are historically trained as working dogs, they thrive on being busy. Training is a great way to give German Shepherds the mental and physical stimulation they need.

Dog Training Elite has developed training programs for puppies and adult dogs based on positive reinforcement. Our Philadelphia German Shepherd trainers are dedicated to protecting your pets mental and physical health while ensuring the best possible results.

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

An adorable German Shepherd with their owner - Dog Training Elite is your go-to choice for Philadelphia german shepherd trainers.

Your Expert German Shepherd Trainers in Philadelphia, PA

The Dog Training Elite Difference

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Dog Training Elite uses modern training methods focused on positive reinforcement and bonding between dog and dog owner. Dog Training Elite never resorts to the use of punishment to help dogs unlearn bad behavior. The difference becomes clear when comparing a dog that is trained out of anxiety and intimidation vs a dog who truly desires to please from the inside out.

The Dog Training Elite training theory is mostly based around classical conditioning, also known as the Pavlovian method or respondent conditioning. This includes developing conditioned or automatic reflexes to commands. In its simplest form (after proper conditioning), when an owner says "sit," their dog automatically sits without thinking about it.

Through a combination of commands and an electronic collar, dogs learn to follow commands at once. The electronic collar is not a shock collar; it is a gentle electronic pulse, similar to the tug of a leash, used to get the dog’s attention. Other dog trainers use harsh static collars or spray collars which have been shown to be less effective. Dog Training Elite’s method of focusing on positive behavior reinforcement nurtures a dog's loving and naturally obedient nature.

Ready to turn your dog into a loyal and loving companion? Contact Dog Training Elite today for professional German Shepherd training in Philadelphia, PA!