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Military / Retired Vet Programs

Dog Training Elite of Southwest Florida

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A military veteran and service dog - Dog Training Elite offers elite veteran service dog training in Sarasota / Venice, FL.

Dog Training Elite

Military Veteran Service Dog Training in Sarasota / Venice, FL

At Dog Training Elite of Southwest Florida, we strongly believe in the healing power of service dogs for military veterans. That’s why we dedicate our time and passion to providing veteran service dog training in Sarasota / Venice, FL.

Service dogs can greatly assist with both the mental and physical challenges veterans may face after serving our country. Many veterans experience PTSD, physical disabilities, or other impairments, and our service dogs have been proven to help reduce symptoms and support veterans in returning to their daily routines.

Learn more about our programs designed for veterans and discover why Dog Training Elite is committed to making a difference in the community.

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A service puppy in training - Dog Training Elite offers veteran service dog training in Sarasota / Venice, FL for those who have served our country.

Dog Training Elite of Southwest Florida

Why We Offer Service Dog Training for Military Veterans

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At Dog Training Elite of Southwest Florida, we are passionate about helping military veterans through the support of service dogs. We offer specialized service dog training options in Sarasota / Venice, backed by scientific research and proven by our own success stories.

In a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans paired with service dogs experienced a significant reduction in PTSD symptoms and fewer self-harm ideations. The mental health and medical communities increasingly recognize service dogs’ positive impact on emotional well-being and independence, making them one of the most effective tools for veteran recovery.

At Dog Training Elite, we are dedicated to providing exceptional dog training services that provide the tools and support needed for our veterans and their dogs to thrive, offering a path toward healing and better quality of life.

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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 Sarasota / Venice.
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.
A beautiful golden retriever service dog - Dog Training Elite of Southwest Florida.

Popular Service Dog Breeds


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Finding a service dog that fits your individual needs is important, especially for military veteran support. While most dogs can be trained to become service dogs, a few breeds stand out due to their personalities and inherent traits.

Here are a few of the most popular service dog breeds:

  1. Labrador Retrievers: Labradors are intelligent, versatile, and eager to please, making them ideal for PTSD service dogs. Their trainability allows them to excel in roles like guide dogs, mobility support, and emotional support, making them highly adaptable for veterans.
  2. Golden Retrievers: Golden Retrievers are known for their calm, gentle nature and strong work ethic. They are excellent at providing mobility assistance and emotional support, especially for veterans with PTSD, due to their patient and loving temperament.
  3. German Shepherds: German Shepherds are strong, loyal, and highly intelligent, making them excellent service dogs. Their protective instincts and trainability allow them to assist with mobility, search and rescue, and provide emotional support for veterans.
  4. Poodles: Poodles are highly intelligent and easily trained, making them great service dogs, particularly for those with allergies due to their hypoallergenic coats. They excel in roles such as mobility assistance and medical alert dogs, offering a versatile solution for individuals with diverse needs.

Get Your Free Consultation

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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See An Elite Dog in Action

A service dog and his veteran owner - Dog Training Elite of Southwest Florida.

Our Veteran Service Dog Training in Sarasota / Venice, FL

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Service dogs undergo extensive specialized training to perform their tasks and assist their owners. Our training process involves a combination of obedience training, task training, and public access training.

  • Obedience Training: This training focuses on teaching a dog basic commands, such as sit, down, heel, come, as well as proper leash manners and socialization skills.
  • Task Training: Task training is tailored to fit the needs of each individual. It involves teaching the dog to perform tasks that mitigate the person’s disability, such as retrieving items, opening doors, or providing deep pressure therapy.
  • Public Access Training: This type of training is crucial to ensure the dog remains calm, well-behaved, and non-disruptive in various public settings. This training includes exposure to different environments, distractions, and social interactions to provide a dog that can confidently navigate public spaces.
A beautiful service dog standing outside - Dog Training Elite of Southwest Florida.

Service Dogs for Veterans & PTSD

Get Specialized Training with DTE Today

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Training with Dog Training Elite is tailored specifically for military veterans dealing with PTSD and other service-related challenges. Our programs focus on helping veterans regain independence, emotional stability, and confidence through the support of a well-trained service dog.

At Dog Training Elite, we are dedicated to providing service dog training that strengthens the bond between veterans and their dogs, guiding them toward a brighter future and supporting their healing journey.

Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Michelle Balancio
    Oct. 28, 2024
    The program set my dog Teddy up for Success. Our trainer, Renee, went above and beyond. She gave me all the tools and tricks to get Teddy on the path of being obedient and mindful. Renee was confidant and well skilled when assisting me in working w Teddy. He is now doing things that I never thought were possible. Renee was so easy to work with and always answered all my questions and concerns. She is the best.
  • Susanne Adams
    Oct. 22, 2024
    The trainers at Dog Training Elite are very talented, delightful to work with and were so great with our dog. They were always able to troubleshoot any bumps in the road. Renee was his primary trainer and she was spectacular! Videos everyday that she worked with him and detailed notes on things for us to work on. Alissa was also a big help and very knowledgeable and helpful with teamwork. After 4 weeks our dog was able to be a certified service dog and handled flights and airports with ease and comfort. We can’t recommend this training program enough! A+++
  • AJ Schlake
    Oct. 16, 2024
    Whiskey was sweet but unsure of himself. He could be testy with new people. Whiskey’s demeanor and posture has shifted beautifully. Renee has been amazing in helping both of us. We look forward to continuing our journey as companions. Whiskey says, ‘obedience is hard work’ he takes himself to bed by 830p.
  • Jerome Schwich
    Oct. 15, 2024
    It all started when Denise came for our in-home assessment, and she heard all of our concerns about our dog and was very honest about what the path(s) were for helping her. We appreciated how she made it all seem relatable and achievable. Anthony was an excellent individual dog trainer for our dog. He is patient and very instructive, and very accommodating for our dog as well as our other dog that wanted to be involved in training! Our dog has seen immense progress in just five sessions, and we are so grateful for how communicative, accommodating, and helpful Denise and her team have been. We are really looking forward to group classes!
  • Kelly Spires
    Sep. 17, 2024
    Very, very happy with our experience with Dog training, we thought there was no hope for our rat looking dog. We highly recommend!!
  • Frank
    Sep. 4, 2024
    I couldn’t be happier with the team from Elite dog training. From my very first meeting to having now been thru my 11 home sessions, puppies then advanced obedience, Anthony has been a true delight to work with. Their methodology and hands on training of dogs and me has been excellent. After 30 years of showing English Setters I really wanted an intelligent highly trainable dog, which has turned out to be a Moyen poodle and she has been great. Planning on taking her into therapy and service work and can’t wait to continue now with group classes. Look no further, Elite is exactly that, highest quality. We’ll worth the money!!!
  • Anne Gornto
    Aug. 24, 2024
    We highly recommend Dog Training Elite and have had a very positive experience with our trainer Chris, who has given us such valuable puppy and obedience training lessons with our border collie Theo. Denise, the owner is also fabulous! We just came back from a group training session and noticed how much our 1 year old dog’s behavior has improved over the past few months, especially around other dogs. Thanks, Chris, Denise and group trainers for the top notch training which has been so helpful to us and Theo! 🐾
  • Marcella Di Santo
    Jul. 17, 2024
    I can't thank Chris from Dog Training Elite enough for the Service Dog Training of Leroy he provided. Quite thorough and rigorous, my (now) little service man learned quickly and the skills he gained have been so valuable for my well being I almost can't put into words what it means to me. I travel quite frequently and being able to confidently navigate busy spaces with Leroy in public not only helps keep me calm but also provides a life line if needed. This has improved my experiences not just in airplanes and at the airport but out and about as well, allowing me to feel safe and enjoy myself again, wherever we are. Most important is the specific task Leroy learned, which is now an invaluable part of my life. I recommend setting up a consultation to go over your unique dog training needs and determine the right path for your pack, whether basic obedience or service dog training. Our plan consisted of intensive in-home training to start, then once a regiment of commands were mastered we started attending group sessions, which were both fun and challenging. Surprisingly, training isn't just about our dogs, and Chris tailored some very unique public sessions for us (so grateful). This included going to the airport as well as other public spaces (mall, pet food store, dog park etc) in order to make sure I knew how to take the lead and maintain it in a variety of environments. BTW, the whole team is great ~ Anthony, Alisa and Denise were on hand during the group training, putting all the dogs through their paces and helping them master their newfound skills. Extra special thanks to Chris though, who was very patient, accommodating and put up with me getting stressed out, which was more than once! DTE SW Florida overall is a very caring group and I wouldn't hesitate to contact them and find out for yourselves how they can help you help your dogs put their best paws forward!
  • Nikki Hampton
    Jul. 14, 2024
    Chris was an amazing asset to our puppy’s training. With him we have a completely different pup. Not only is our puppy’s obedience under control he is much calmer, especially in walking him. Chris changed our lives forever and taught me the tools to continue with Chevys training once he’s a year old. We look forward to seeing Chris at our group sessions.
  • Katherine Mitchell
    Jul. 13, 2024
    Our experience with Dog Training Elite of SWF specifically CHRIS has been life changing for us. Chris has travelled far out of his usual travel zone to help us with our adopted 8yr old Lab Winter.Seriously, his patience and kind supportive instruction has made all the difference in helping Winter become a well behaved dog. Today was our first group lesson and I was very anxious as to how it would turn out. Winter did fabulous!!! I highly recommend Chris and the DTEOSWF group. They really have made a difference and it has been worth every penny. Thank you.
  • Harry schoenfeld
    Jul. 12, 2024
    Overall we were pleased with the 5 in-home sessions. Marshall is doing well with all of his commands. Loose leash training is still somewhat difficult, especially in the early morning when he is most excited. We could have benefitted from more calming techniques.
  • Mai Tran
    Jul. 8, 2024
    Such an amazing team! Anthony did a wonderful job at training both German Sheps and myself! Highly recommend 🙌
  • Dundie Crisp
    Jul. 3, 2024
    Anthony was great! Cooper loved him too and we all learned a lot !!
  • Brittany Ortiz
    Jun. 19, 2024
    We love DTE! Highly recommend to anyone. Everyone tells me my dog is so well behaved. He’s only 7 months and listens incredibly well. He sits at the front door (with it open) and doesn’t run out before our outings. Enough said??! Chris did our in-home visits and we always felt encouraged after seeing him. Honestly I thought all this training was going to be a lot harder than it has been. They break it up so it’s little by little, and more fun and focused rather than rigid. Also they are QUICK to respond. Always. Whenever I needed to talk to Chris, he would call me soon after I texted the team. They know what they’re doing. Totally worth it. I guess you should know that we were very committed also… I was consistent in training daily and our hard work paid off. This wasn’t a once every two week training session and then expecting the dog to act right. The in-homes help with answering questions and moving to the next phase of things to work on, but if that’s the only training you do with the dog, I can’t imagine how that would be effective. Thank you Chris and DTE!!! What an awesome experience - you guys make this FUN!
  • Corrie Bexley
    Jun. 5, 2024
    10/10 would recommend. Chris was very caring in communicating different ways to help me train my high energetic dog. My dog now looks for me for direction and commands. I cannot recommend DTE enough for training!
  • Michael Heaton
    Jun. 1, 2024
    The in-home classes and group classes are great. My trainer Chris has helped me with training my dog Benjamin and takes time to make sure that I'm doing ok with the training. He is wealth of knowledge that has made me a better dog handler. I would recommend Dog Training Elite to anyone.
  • Seraina Leubin
    May. 21, 2024
    Chris was great to work with and our Girl Chica did amazing with him. He‘s reliable, his knowledge with dogs and how he trains is great! Chica didn’t need a lot of training and got it down really well and understood it quickly. We can definitely recommend him and Dog Training Elite to anyone that is looking to get their dog trained on or off leash at home. We are super happy. Thank you so much
  • Joan Flynn
    May. 14, 2024
    Chris was amazing.
  • Marjorie Shoobe
    Apr. 3, 2024
    We have a reactive dog who has done really well with the training. I appreciate Anthony’s patience and knowledge. He made it fun. I’m looking forward to getting our dog to some of the group training as well
  • Andrea Couture
    May. 9, 2024
    I can't recommend Chris from Dog Training Elite highly enough! From the very first session, it was clear that Chris is not just a dog trainer but a true professional who genuinely cares about the success of every dog he works with. My experience with him while training my pup Gaia has been exceptional in every way. Chris's patience throughout the training process was remarkable. He took the time to understand Gaia's unique personality and tailored the training sessions accordingly. His punctuality was also impressive; he always arrived on time with a smile, ready to dive into the training sessions. What sets Dog Training Elite apart is their commitment to excellence. They have a well-organized approach with a clearly defined roadmap to success. Whether it's one-on-one sessions or group classes, every aspect of the training is well-planned and executed. One thing that stood out to me was the personal touch. The team at Dog Training Elite knows their customers by name and goes above and beyond to provide help and support. This level of dedication is rare to find and speaks volumes about the company's values. But what truly sets Dog Training Elite apart is the passion that Chris and the entire team bring to their profession. They make training fun and engaging, and my pup Gaia always looks forward to her classes—a sure sign that they're doing something right!