A service dog and their owner outside - find elite service dog training in Providence / New Bedford, RI with Dog Training Elite.
Dog Training Elite

Service Dog Training in Providence / New Bedford, RI

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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 Rhode Island

Service Dog Training in Providence / New Bedford, RI

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 Providence / New Bedford, RI, 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.

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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


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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.

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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

  • Jennie Maines
    Nov. 9, 2025
    After searching for a dog trainer I came upon Dog Training Elite. Danielle returned my call promptly, answered all my questions, was incredibly patient and easy to talk to. I have a toy poodle named Blu that tends to react to people and other dogs. We attended our first group class and Blu did amazing. I was very impressed with how organized the class was and supportive everyone there was. Don’t hesitate, call Danielle! You will not be disappointed!
  • Carl Schulz
    Oct. 29, 2025
    Great program! The instructions provided excellent one-on-one training that really helped me learn how to work with my dog. And the group classes are a great way to reinforce what was learned.
  • Alonso Perez
    Oct. 20, 2025
    Our dog Daisy went through training with Danielle and I can’t begin to describe how much I would recommend E Collar training to others. She is now ready for anything that could come her way and the peace of mind that we have when taking her on different adventures is all we could have hoped for from training and more. Her recall, obedience, patience and more are all beyond her years and it’s very much thanks to Danielle and her skills as a trainer. Daisy gets so excited when we take her E Collar out to put on because she knows it’s time for an adventure, car ride, walk, or even just some errands she can join in on! Thank you Danielle + Dog Training Elite!
  • Madison Sowersby
    Oct. 8, 2025
    Highly recommend Dog Training Elite RI! Danielle has been fantastic to work with, and our dogs absolutely love her. Our puppy has transformed with this structured training and benefits so much from the group classes. Before starting training he was so reactive to other dogs and would pull to try and go meet them, and now he’s much more balanced and understands how to behave neutrally around other dogs. I never imagined he could sit quietly just a few feet from a whole group of other dogs in class while we all practiced training exercises. If you listen to Danielle’s instructions, and stay consistent with training and coming to class, then you will see results in no time.
  • Tara Rondeau
    Sep. 19, 2025
    Highly recommend!!! It’s been a great experience for our team!!! She’s not as reactive and my husband and I feel much more confident when we see another dog approaching! Danielle has been wonderful!!! Thank you so much!!! Looking forward to group classes!!!!
  • Nicholas Cabral
    Sep. 13, 2025
    I can’t say enough great things about Dog Training Elite of Rhode Island! Danielle has been an incredible trainer and gave me all the tools, guidance, and resources I needed to work with my dog, Austin. Thanks to her training, Austin has gained so much confidence, improved obedience, and developed a stronger bond with me. He’s now well-behaved both at home and in public, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. Highly recommend Danielle and Dog Training Elite to anyone looking to transform their dog’s behavior and relationship!
  • Katie Binette
    Sep. 10, 2025
    We are just so thankful to the expert guidance that Danielle has given to us! Our dog Ginger has learned so much and has come so far! We recommend elite dog training of Rhode Island to everyone!!
  • Ann Barry
    Sep. 1, 2025
    Danielle has been a joy to work with! Kind, understanding to my dog and me. My dog, Frannie, wants to impress because when she does well, Danielle awards with praise and love. Instructional, clear concise direction. I was very nervous to attend my first group session; Danielle managed a group of anxious owners and some reactive dogs (mine can be!) beautifully. I look forward to remaining group sessions! Worth every penny!
  • Paola Lois
    Sep. 1, 2025
    Working with Danielle at Dog Training Elite Rhode Island has been life-changing for me and Callie. Callie had some training before, but with Danielle things finally started to make sense and move forward consistently. The biggest difference has been the confidence Danielle gave me to guide Callie and really be part of her success. I’m so grateful we found her—if you’re committed and want real results, she’s the one to call!
  • Teresa Delmonico
    Sep. 1, 2025
    My family and I Love Danielle and Shelby they changed our lives! Our dogs are better behaved and I can finally walk them with no problems!! I recommend Danielle for everyone! Terri DelMonico
  • Jocelyn Bluto
    Aug. 16, 2025
    Harper( my one year old Lab) and I are having the best experience! She has a tendency to be over excited about people and dogs. Danielle has helped us be better citizens. We had our first group lesson and I couldn’t be more pleased with our work. Harper thinks Danielle is marvelous and so do I. I think my relationship with Harper is so much better. When I was looking at training for Harper and me, I did a ton of research and Dog Training Elite kept coming up and I’m so happy to have found them and Danielle.
  • William Rivelli
    Aug. 16, 2025
    Elite Dog Training is the best! The owner Danielle is great with dogs.We saw immediate improvements with our dog’s behavior. She is so calm and listens to commands immediately.
  • Danielle Hatzis
    Aug. 16, 2025
    We hired Danielle to help us train our 1 y/o GSD, specifically with her fear reactivity towards other dogs. Danielle was very nice and professional right off the bat and quickly called me to set up an appointment once I had inquired. She came to our house and evaluated Olive and we started training a week later. Since Olive was already pretty familiar with obedience, we mainly focused on her staying calm in situations where other dogs may be present. Today we had our first group class with 16 other dogs and their owners. I was nervous to say the least but Olive did great and her reactivity was kept at a minimum! This is only the beginning, as Olive still has a long way to go but we are impressed with her progress thus far and we are excited for the classes to come. We would definitely recommend Danielle to others!
  • Sharon Bruner
    Aug. 10, 2025
    Like so many others we have had an incredible life changing experience with Danielle. We moved from TN where we lived in a rural area into the city of Providence where there are a ton of dogs and Bean would lunge and bark at everyone and everything that moved. I was so anxious every time I had to take her out. Within two lessons I started feeling more confident in her and she started feeling more confident in herself. Danielle was so reassuring that she would get where she needed to be and even though an ecollar was a part of training she really emphasized praise which Bean really responds to. I love seeing her so proud of herself on our walk down Blackstone (a place we could have never gone before training). We graduated from private classes last week and had our first group class today (and I do mean we because I think I needed to learn more than Bean). Danielle prepped us well that she might struggle in the group at first but to stay the course and by the end of class she was in a down position with dogs 5 feet away from her on a loose leash. I could not have dreamed she would be where she is when we started. Truly so thankful for Danielle and would highly recommend her as a trainer!!
  • Jessica Newton Smith
    Aug. 8, 2025
    Danielle is a great trainer. She worked with my dog one-on-one for several sessions at my home and even brought her dogs to work with my dog on a couple of days, which was very helpful. My pup graduated to group classes today, which is exciting. So far, the program has been beneficial, and I would recommend using Dog Training Elite.
  • Marisa Verte
    Jul. 5, 2025
    Danielle has been a life changer! Our Stellina a rescue came with many behavior issues. We experienced two other trainers prior Danielle and we were loosing hope. With our one on one training with Danielle and attending the group sessions Stellina has changed significantly. Danielle's expertise can make a difference for you and your furry friend as well!!!
  • Razz Designz
    Jul. 5, 2025
    It’s awesome seeing your dog change right in front of you. I now have a super obedient Aussie whose confidence improves with every session! Highly recommend
  • todd arlia
    Jun. 20, 2025
    My experience with dog training elite has been amazing. It's in just 5 at home sessions. I noticed a huge change in how my dogs attitude, attention and personality changed. I recently started the group training, and he's taken to it Amazingly, I would definitely recommend dog training elite, to anybody that ever asks me, about dog training
  • Jennifer Hushion
    Jun. 19, 2025
    We have used other trainers at great expense with our dogs in the past and never had the results we’ve gotten from Danielle. She is outstanding. We adopted a rescue dog 3 years ago with severe anxiety issues. It had gotten to the point where we simply didn’t have people over anymore because of the excessive barking and aggressive behavior. Walks were anything but relaxing, the constant tugging, aggression towards other dogs and humans made it very stressful. We are now four weeks into our private lessons and he is a different dog and a pleasure to have in our family. Danielle comes to your house to train your dog, but more importantly she trains the humans in the house, because let’s face it, we are the issue, not the dog. Like any good training program, you must do the daily 20 minute homework with your pet, but she gives easy to follow instructions and is available for advice between sessions if you have questions. For consistency, I would recommend that all adults who live with the dog attend training sessions, she has always been able to make this work with our schedules. We will be moving into the next phase of group lessons shortly and we are very excited. A month ago the thought of entering a group lesson with unfamiliar dogs and humans would have been anxiety provoking. This is no longer the case. Danielle also has an excellent temperament for training, she is non-judgmental when teaching humans and has extensive personal experience with reactive dogs. I’d give her a 6 out of 5 if I could - she’s that good - and worth every penny. She has been such a positive influence on our household.
  • Glenn Hogan
    Jun. 12, 2025
    Great training, danielle is awesome to work with, Tucker is doing great and coming along with things. Differently great company
A Dog Training Elite Rhode Island owner smiling with his dog in Providence / New Bedford, RI.

Dog Training Elite Rhode Island

Is a Service Dog The Same As a Therapy Dog?

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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 Rhode Island

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 Rhode Island - PTSD Service Dog Training in Providence / New Bedford, RI. DTE

PTSD Service Dog

If you're looking to train a PTSD service dog in Providence / New Bedford, RI, 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 Rhode Island - Psychiatric Service Dog Training in Providence / New Bedford, RI

Psychiatric Service Dog Training

Our psychiatric service dog training in Providence / New Bedford, RI 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 Rhode Island - Seizure Response Dog Training in Providence / New Bedford, RI

Medical Response Dog Training

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

Dog Training Elite Rhode Island - Autism Support Dog Training in Providence / New Bedford, RI

Autism Support Service Dog

Bring life-changing support to your family with Dog Training Elite's autism support dog training in Providence / New Bedford, RI. 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 Providence / New Bedford service dog training with Dog Training Elite.

Dog Training Elite Rhode Island

Service Dogs for Anxiety, PTSD, and Autism

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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 Rhode Island.

How Do I Get a Service Dog?

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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 Rhode Island.
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Educate, Empower, Elevate, Elite

Victory Begins With Elite Education

A trainer, a man and his service dog - find the best service dog training in Providence / New Bedford, RI with Dog Training Elite.

We Are Committed to Making a Difference

Choose DTE for Providence / New Bedford Service Dog Training

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At Dog Training Elite, we are passionate about transforming lives through Providence / New Bedford 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 Rhode Island and experience the difference that elite training and compassionate care can make.