Professional

Service Dog Training in Savannah


Dog Training Elite Savannah Near You

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912-461-3647


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Or Call to Schedule FREE In-Home Assessment

912-461-3647


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Service Dog Training Near You

What makes a dog a service dog? Who can have a service dog, and why? We answer all these questions and more, as well as explain what sets Dog Training Elite Savannah apart from any other dog training service.

Dog Training Elite Savannah offers top rated service dog training near you in Savannah.


Not all training packages may be available at our Dog Training Elite Savannah location, please reference our pricing page for complete information on services offered.


Dog Training Elite Savannah is proud to have professional service dog trainers near you in Savannah.

Service Dog Training FAQs


Service dogs are dogs that have been specially trained to assist their handler or owner with specific tasks. Dog Training Elite Savannah trains dogs to assist people with epilepsy, diabetes, PTSD, autism, and various mental illnesses.

Service dogs are for any individual dealing with a disability that lowers their quality of life. For example, someone who suffers from epilepsy may avoid going out in public due to a fear of falling or other consequences related to seizures. This may inhibit their independence and sense of well-being.

In addition to improving the lives of individuals, service dogs can bring a sense of security to families, such as families with autistic children. Children with autism can often feel isolated and a service dog becomes a 24/7 companion to share experiences with, connect with and love. They can also help children reintegrate into society and connect with others.

Families who have children with autism experience a decrease in stress as they are more able to engage socially in public settings and experience less anxiety at home. A service dog increases safety and has a calming presence that can minimize emotional outbursts, allowing the family to feel more secure and a child with autism to better participate in family activities.

Service dogs are for all individuals or families that are experiencing a decrease in quality of life due to disability.

Service dog training begins with puppies. Dog Training Elite Savannah’s service puppy training program works with breeders to adopt puppies that are fully obedience trained by six months and are ready to undergo extensive socialization and additional training to ensure they are well-suited for service and therapy needs.

Then, Dog Training Elite Savannah places puppies with families or individuals. Further specialized service training takes place alongside the new handler. It generally takes 1-2 years for a service dog to become fully trained.

Service dog training focuses on two main areas: public access behaviors, and how to “do work or perform tasks” that assist with a disability.

Public access behaviors refer to how a service dog acts in public - well-trained service dogs remain calm in public situations and in turn help their handlers to stay calm, and are attuned to any other handler needs.

As for “do work or perform tasks,” the ADA requires that service dogs be trained to take a specific action when needed to assist the person with a disability.

For example, to assist handlers with PTSD, Dog Training Elite Savannah trains dogs to de-escalate anxiety, wake handlers experiencing night terrors, and so on.

The ADA does not require special certification for service animals. State and local government agencies, businesses and non-profit organizations may not require documentation, such as proof that the animal has been certified, trained or licensed as a service animal, as a condition for entry. Mandatory registration of service animals in the city of residence is also not permissible under the ADA.

However, service animals are not exempt from local animal control or public health requirements, such as vaccinations, or local dog licensing and registration requirements.

Dog Training Elite Savannah sets itself apart from other dog training methods by focusing on positive reinforcement with a personalized, in-home approach. This method empowers owners and handlers to be an integral part of the process for sustained dog obedience and service training. For service dogs especially, it is important that handlers be present and involved every step of the way.

The positive reinforcement approach, also referred to as “Classical Conditioning” or the “Pavlovian” model has shown to be more effective with longer lasting results than any other training method.

Dog Training Elite Savannah does not use punishments or shock collars to break bad habits. Instead, Dog Training Elite Savannah pairs positive reinforcement training with a vibration electronic collar. An electronic collar is not a shock collar and does not harm the dog. It is used to gain the dog’s attention, similar to a tug on a leash. It is never used as a punishment for bad behavior.

Another unique aspect of training with Dog Training Elite Savannah is that while most dog training programs train dogs at their own facilities, Dog Training Elite Savannah specializes in in-home training, customizing training to the dog, its owners and its environment for long-lasting success.

Positive Reinforcement Training


Training takes time, commitment and balance and Dog Training Elite Savannah is there every step of the way. With Dog Training Elite Savannah, dogs will learn the highest level of obedience, even in the face of the toughest level of distractions. The positive-reinforcement method focuses on encouraging good behavior through ongoing praise, creating a dog that wants to please from the inside out and creating deep-rooted, sustained obedience as well as a strong bond between dog and owner.

Our Balanced Theory

We base our training around the "Classical Conditioning" model (a.k.a. "Pavlovian" or "respondent conditioning"). This includes developing conditioned or automatic reflexes to commands. In its simplest form (after proper conditioning), when the owner says "sit," the dog automatically sits without thinking about it. Our unique techniques ensure our program is a success no matter what behavior we encounter.


Dog Training Elite Savannah is the top company near you that uses professional positive dog training methods.
Empowering Owners

We empower owners to train so their dog knows who to obey at all times.

Personalized

We deal with problem behaviors on a personal basis.

Environment Specific

We train wherever issues tend to arise (i.e. jogging, park, home).

Supportive

We support owners in the off-hours (when training is "not in session").

Involved

We work with all members of the household.

Simplified & Customized

We plan training around the owner's schedule and require only 20 min/day follow-up practice.

Continued Training

Additional programs / group sessions offered after in-home training.

Lifetime Investment

We follow up & are invested in the owner's success long-term.

Satisfaction Ratings

Our high client satisfaction rating sets us apart from competitors.

See Our Pricing

We help your dog become a valued companion and beloved member of the family. Read what our customers have to say and then give us a call!

Jackson is an awesome trainer. My dog is doing outstanding in training.
— Robert Benca
Posted September 21st 2024
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Abby and I are 8 lessons in plus one group session and I am amazed at how fast this 5 month old golden retriever puppy is learning. She is about to enter “dog adolescence” and our trainer, Jackson, is a genius in getting her to focus and in correcting my training technique errors. I recommend Dog Training Elite and Jackson without reservation. Not only is their method effective, Abby and I are having a great time learning together. RamonM.
— Ramon Meguiar
Posted September 17th 2024
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Excellent folks! Jackson is a fabulous trainer and really takes time to work with you and your dog. He *understands* dogs, and he's great at troubleshooting, as well as a consummate professional. He got our 7-8 year old GSP learn how to be a service dog - I wasn't sure it could be done! Great communication from everyone, highly recommend.
— Erin McCoy
Posted September 3rd 2024
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My boy Nick was a menace! Then I called Dog Training Elite because I needed help with training. Jackson came in figured out what the problem was (Nick thought he was the boss) and created a plan. Every time Jackson came around for training Nick would go into work mode. Jackson was so helpful in teaching me how to train Nick and keep up with it. He also gives helpful advice when it comes to certain behaviors. Separation anxiety, storms, and anything else that comes up. Nick is a completely different dog from when I adopted him in March. I have already recommended Dog Training Elite to my neighbors. They are 100% worth the cost.
— Trish Dillon
Posted September 1st 2024
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Jackson has done very well with helping me understand how to correct and doesn’t get irritated with me when I don’t understand something.
— Brooklyn Wilkins
Posted August 30th 2024
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Elite training has been very patient and helpful training my 2 dogs. Jackson has provided great instruction for training both me and the dogs!
— Patty Burke
Posted August 15th 2024
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Jackson is so great with Winnie! I would definitely recommend him to train your fur pup!
— Janice Whitsell
Posted June 8th 2024
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From my initial experience meeting Steve and Valerie at a home show, to interactions with them even before I adopted my dog (to be trained as a service dog), to the training sessions with Jackson, every experience has given me confidence to handle and train my puppy with consistency. It is so great having them in my corner, coaching and training me every step of the process. They respond quickly and are always so supportive of me as well as my dog. I highly recommend them to everyone I can.
— Shelley Hendrix
Posted June 8th 2024
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Our sweet puppy Chief is 4 months old and we’ve been having issues with getting him to listen to commands, one visit with DTE and I’ve already seen a huge impact on his behavior, their technique is very effective and Chief is such a happy boy!! I can’t wait to see the amazing dog he becomes working with Steve at DTE!! If you’re looking for training for your dog, no matter the age, no matter the attention span, this is the dog trainer for you!! You will see a big difference in your pup!
— savana thompson
Posted July 17th 2023
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