DTE offers flexible, in-house payment plans tailored to fit your budget, ensuring a worry-free experience.
An obedient puppy receiving expert puppy training in Sarasota, FL from DTE.
Dog Training Elite

Puppy Training in Sarasota, FL

Request Free Assessment

Request Free Assessment

Our Puppy Training Could Help:
Leash and potty training
Food guarding and begging
Destructive chewing and digging
Stealing food, clothing, or other objects
Barking, howling and whining
Aggression and anxiety
Jumping and hyperactivity

Dog Training Elite

Professional Sarasota Puppy Trainers

Bringing home a new puppy is exciting, but it also comes with challenges like chewing and accidents. The most common mistake new owners make is underestimating the knowledge, commitment, and effort needed to train a new puppy.

Once a puppy begins to grow, its energy can quickly feel unmanageable. It’s all too common that a well-meaning and loving family takes on a puppy lacking the knowledge and skills to train correctly. This often results in overwhelmed owners rehoming or taking these puppies to local shelters, feeling the puppy’s disposition is bad or simply that they are not cut out to be dog owners.

At Dog Training Elite, we focus on building that bond through effective training to foster trust and communication. Our experienced Sarasota puppy trainers use proven methods to help you and your puppy succeed together.

See Training Packages
A little puppy sitting in grass, contact Dog Training Elite Southwest Florida today.

Puppy Essentials Webinar

Free 70-Minute video

$45 Value

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Our trusted puppy class is now available "on-demand" from the comfort of your home! This webinar video is designed for owners of puppies age 8-16 weeks old, and will be accessible to you for free after completing the form below or with the purchase of one of our puppy packages!

Access Webinar

Our webinar includes education on the following topics:
  • Introducing a new puppy to your home
  • Health & well-being
  • Veterinary care & vaccines
  • Nurturing a good temperament
  • Scruffing & calming signals (e.g. dog yoga)
  • Basic Treat Obedience Including: Come, sit, loose-leash walking, and down
  • Puppy Corrections (Stop biting, digging, jumping, etc.)
  • Crate Training / Housebreaking
  • Socialization Tips
  • Environmental Hazards
  • Puppy Enrichment
  • Caring for Your Puppy
Three puppies receiving expert training from Dog Training Elite Southwest Florida.

The Importance of Puppy Training


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Almost everyone and everything a puppy will encounter will be brand new, which can be exciting. However, puppies may not know how to respond positively and safely to new experiences without proper training. That's why Dog Training Elite believes in starting puppy training as soon as possible, so you and your pup can bond and start your adventures on the right foot!

Training the DTE way provides puppies and owners with a nurturing environment where they can learn to communicate and trust each other. Puppies have an innate desire to please, so training can be fun and even easy! Of course, it can be daunting to try and figure out how to make puppies understand concepts like potty training or commands like sit and stay on your own. That's where puppy training comes in.

Keeping a puppy safe should be the number one priority of new dog owners. By working with puppy trainers in, new puppy owners can learn how to teach their pup both basic and complex obedience skills effectively. Training a pup to be home alone, walk on a leash, wait on the threshold, and avoid consuming non-edible objects will help keep them safe when out of sight.

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

  • Debbie B
    Jun. 10, 2026
    Just finished week three with Kelsie and she is absolutely fantastic to work with. My Goldendoodle Yankee responds to everything she’s teaching (and so does his mom most of the time.) Kelsie is very knowledgeable in dog training, it’s undeniable. Thank you DTE for helping me tame my baby. You have shown me just how smart he really is. I highly recommend DTE to anyone considering training for and with your pup!
  • Carole Rooney
    Jun. 9, 2026
    I generally don’t do online reviews. However, Kelsie goes above and beyond. She is personable, professional, articulate and obviously loves dogs. She has been hugely helpful to us and we feel fortunate to work with her.
  • Dana Monachello
    Jun. 6, 2026
    We hired Dog Training Elite to help with our Maltese, who had severe barking issues triggered by almost everything—the doorbell, delivery drivers, other dogs on walks, and separation anxiety. Kelsie Johnson has been absolutely incredible. She customized a plan specifically for our small dog's big personality, teaching us how to handle each separate trigger without feeling overwhelmed. We are only partway through our 5-session package, but the transformation is already noticeable. Kelsie is patient, highly knowledgeable, and fantastic at explaining dog behavior. If you are struggling with a vocal Maltese or barking in general, I highly recommend asking for Kelsie specifically!
  • Noel Falbo
    Apr. 28, 2026
    Kelsie is the best! Enzo is learning and loves her! Outstanding!
  • Ruben Gonzalez
    Jan. 31, 2025
    Thank you, Renee, for another informative great training lesson for Sailor and myself today. Going to DTE South Florida training center was very easy and cool for these hot summer Day's.
  • Angel Snyder
    Jun. 1, 2026
    Kelsie from Dog Training Elite was outstanding! She came to our home for the first training session with our long-haired Mini Dachshund, London, and we couldn’t be happier with the experience. Kelsie was knowledgeable, patient, and did a great job understanding London’s abilities and attention span at his young age. She tailored the training to where he is developmentally, making the session both productive and enjoyable. We were amazed by how much London learned during just the first visit. She clearly explained the exercises and homework for us to work on throughout the week, and we feel confident continuing the training between sessions. We’re excited to see London’s progress over the next four weeks and are already encouraged by the foundation Kelsie helped establish. If the first session is any indication of what’s to come, we’re well on our way to having a well-trained dog who listens to commands and enjoys learning. Highly recommend Kelsie and Dog Training Elite!
  • MICHAEL DE ARMAS
    May. 19, 2026
    Just perfect! Thank you
  • Tracy Springman
    May. 27, 2026
    Jessica is an amazing trainer! We are just two sessions in, but she’s getting great results out of both me and my dog😜 She clearly communicates the reason behind each command and methodically builds on the previous session, creating the foundation for long-term success.
  • Cassandra Craig
    May. 27, 2026
    Although Denise was not able to help with my specific situation, she was prompt, friendly and informative. Thank you, Denise!
  • Doug S.
    May. 27, 2026
    So far so good
  • Rae Alba
    May. 26, 2026
    We truly appreciated Kelsie’s thoughtful and professional approach during Buddy’s first lesson. She arrived prepared, explained the program clearly, and set realistic goals for our energetic beagle, Buddy. What I especially value is that the training takes place in real-world settings with me as the handler, making the lessons practical and confidence-building for both Buddy and me. Kelsie was patient, encouraging, and easy to work with. We are excited to continue this journey with her!
  • Kimi G
    May. 26, 2026
    Jessica is such a pleasure to work with. She understands our needs and tailors the training at each session to meet the needs we initially discussed with her. Jessica thoroughly explains what she wants achieved at each visit and does a great job showing us how to successfully execute each command. We have a 7-year-old Corgi (Scuba Steve) and he just needed a little brush up on his manners and general behavior. Jessica helped us with leash walking (no more pulling), behavior management (jumping on people and barking at other dogs), and place to name a few. We had puppy training previously, but as SS grew up, our needs changed and new issues arose. This was the perfect refresher and I am so glad we invested in this training. I can't thank her enough for making our dog such a perfect little Corgi!
  • Steve Morse
    May. 18, 2026
    Kelsie was very patient and made sure I understood everything . Look forward to to working with her!
  • Paul Schur
    Sep. 6, 2025
    Jessica was a very good owner trainer!
  • Jory B
    May. 19, 2026
    While talking with Denise today; I felt her dedication, knowledge & passion she has working with dogs. She listened & gave me great suggestions/options for my current GSD & possibly getting a new GS puppy. When I get to training in June, I'll post an update.
  • Suzanne Martin
    Feb. 20, 2025
    We absolutely love and appreciate this fantastic business. Kind caring and understanding. Nova has learned so much. She is now attending group sessions on Saturdays
  • Maria Bankuty
    May. 12, 2026
    I always have a great experience. Renee is awesome, carrying, answering any questions I might have or explaining everything very well.
  • Pamela Simms
    May. 4, 2026
    Kelsie is so helpful and clear with her communication and demonstration of each skill. I highly recommend her!
  • Joseph Kles
    Jul. 15, 2025
    Very informative!! Follow up is outstanding!! Thank you all for helping Owen!!!
  • Robert Cantrell
    Apr. 13, 2026
    Renee was wonderful! We have a much better understanding of our dog and our training goals going forward.
A Sarasota puppy trainers giving a puppy positive affirmation during an in-home training session.

Dog Training Elite Southwest Florida, FL

In-Home Puppy Training

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Dog Training Elite Southwest Florida offers comprehensive in-home training. For the first 4-6 weeks, trainers use “treat training” before moving onto more advanced puppy training. Puppies will learn the following behaviors:

  • Come, down, loose-leash walking, and down
  • Puppy corrections (Stop biting, digging, jumping, etc.)
  • Crate training/ housebreaking
  • Focus around distractions

Trainers will also help owners learn about the following:

  • Socialization tips
  • Environmental hazards
  • Positive reinforcement techniques
  • Puppy enrichment
  • Caring for your puppy
  • And more!

Training a puppy can feel overwhelming. By pairing you with a professional trainer, not only will your puppy learn quickly, but you will feel confident and empowered to continue training your puppy after the sessions are completed. Training in your own home will help you bond with your pup so even after the professional trainer leaves, you and Fido can continue to progress together.

A puppy ready to start training with Dog Training Elite Southwest Florida.

Start Puppy Training Early

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First-time dog owners are often unsure of when to begin training their dogs. For the best results, it’s essential to start training your puppy as soon as possible. You can start socialization and basic commands as soon as you bring your new puppy home. Puppies are open to new experiences and people and learn quickly while they are young. It is beneficial to take advantage of this stage. Start with basic commands like "down," "come," and "stay." If you are searching for classes, Dog Training Elite offers puppy obedience classes.

Additional Puppy Training Info

Dog Training Elite Southwest Florida - Puppy Crate Training in Sarasota, FL. DTE

Crate Training

A well-manered puppy receiving positive reinforcement from their owner.

Our Puppy Trainers

The DTE Approach

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We have developed a highly successful and unique positive puppy training program empowering dog owners to train. Hence, their dog knows who to obey at all times, in all situations or environments. We offer personalized training to deal with specific issues and behaviors. We even offers customized training schedules to offer you the support you need as a dog owner.

Involvement is Key!

Most dog training programs don’t allow for the involvement of owners and families. Our trainers greatly encourage owners and their families to be involved in the training process. Why? This ensures you and your family know what’s expected, allows for continued education and means all the progress isn’t lost. Your puppy won’t come home and forget everything he’s learned.

Our puppy training program consists of two phases, early training and advanced training. Puppies as young as eight weeks can begin learning with Dog Training Elite Southwest Florida. Our process allows us to efficiently complete in-home puppy training services at your home or within the environment where behaviors manifest - such as in the park or around other dogs in the neighborhood.

A Dog Training Elite Southwest Florida puppy training outside.

Dog Training Elite Southwest Florida

How Puppy Training Works

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We use a positive puppy training method paired with an electronic collar - not a shock collar. Unlike shock collars, electronic collars do not hurt or harm the pup. They are used only to obtain their attention, not to punish bad behavior. We believe in using constant praise to encourage good behavior. The difference becomes apparent when comparing a puppy trained out of fear to a puppy who truly desires to please.

Positive Reinforcement for Positive Pups

Positive reinforcement is the best option in puppy training. Punishments will only scare your dog, and fear can lead to aggression problems later in life. Our trainers use a classical conditioning program focusing on positive reinforcement of basic commands.

Dogs are eager to please. When they learn following basic commands results in affection or a treat, they will be happy to do as you ask. With patience - and the assistance of a professional puppy trainer - you'll be rewarded with a lifelong loyal pal.

We base our training around the "Classical Conditioning" model, also known as the "Pavlovian" response or "respondent conditioning." This means developing conditioned or automatic reflexes to commands, so when the owner says "sit," the dog automatically sits without thinking. Our unique technique ensures our program is a success no matter what behavior we encounter.

Contact us today to learn more about our training programs !

A group of dogs being trained by the expert team at Dog Training Elite Southwest Florida.
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Educate, Empower, Elevate, Elite

Victory Begins With Elite Education

Dog Training Elite Southwest Florida

Tips on How to Bond

Training is a great way to establish a deep, loyal bond with your puppy. Outside of your training sessions, there is more you can do to strengthen your bond. Here are some more tips for how to bond with your puppy:

Your puppy may not understand the words you’re saying, but he or she will understand your tone of voice. Speaking in an excited tone of voice will get your pup excited and motivate them to do what you want them to. Speaking in a low, calm voice can help soothe and relax your puppy.
Puppies thrive on routine. A consistent schedule will help your puppy adjust to their new home, and to you and your family. A puppy’s schedule needs to include eating, playtime, puppy training, potty breaks, and nap times.
As mentioned above, playtime is an important part of your puppy’s schedule. Playing with your puppy will help strengthen your bond and stimulate their brains. Walks are an easy and great way to give your puppy much-needed exercise. Start small, walking around in your yard or driveway and gradually extending the distance around your neighborhood.
Creating boundaries in your home for your puppy helps strengthen your bond because your puppy will look to you for direction and guidance. It will also help your puppy avoid bad habits. Baby gates and playpens are a useful way to create physical boundaries.
Puppies can become overwhelmed about all the new things they’re exploring. Crate training is a perfect way to allow your puppy to have their own space where they feel safe and comfortable and help them develop some independence so they grow into a well-adjusted dog.
The most adorable way to bond with your puppy is by cuddling them! Snuggling with your pup can help him or her feel comforted and safe. The best time to get a cuddle session with your puppy is when they are sleepy. Cuddling also helps puppies get used to having their paws, belly, face, etc. handled, and can be a good time to introduce light grooming practices like brushing their fur.