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Reviews & Testimonials

Dog Training Elite Michiana

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Hear From Our Customers

Randy Schmidt
Apr. 26, 2025 - google
Awesome, handle a highly anxious dog with skill and patience.
Caiya Raes
Apr. 22, 2025 - google
If anyone has considered working with this company, I highly recommend! They came out quickly to do a free consultation and got our first session scheduled quickly. Sarah, who has worked with my dog over his whole course of training was very informative, sweet and someone I really enjoyed spending my sessions with. They are very flexible with scheduling and come to your home for training which is a huge plus! I enjoyed their training so much, I decided to extend my package to further work on training. Overall, I am beyond happy with my experience with this company and Sarah. I look forward to the group sessions where my doggo will continue to learn and grow. Bentley and I thank you so much!
Anna Kosloski
Nov. 27, 2024 - google
Princess past her service dog test. And I owe all the guidance to the Dog Training Elite Michiana for everything!!!!
Darlene Ralph
Apr. 21, 2025 - google
Great experience, Rich is very knowledgeable and we enjoyed getting first hand information on puppy training,
Angie Davis
Apr. 18, 2025 - google
The free consultation was great and very informative. I have faith that they'll be able to fix my needs. I will add more later as the training begins and prospers.
Virginia Warsco
Dec. 20, 2024 - google
Demon adores Sarah and responds well to her energy. We love her and how much better our relationship is with our boy since starting training with Dog Training Elite. I adore her and enjoy our training sessions. When I met with Rich I was like many people who didn’t understand the way that each training tool works when used properly and under their guidance I became the owner demon needs to be his best self. I highly recommend them for your training needs.
James Jesse
Apr. 7, 2025 - google
Both our first and second meetings were great. We are already seeing positive results
Joan Bartus
Apr. 6, 2025 - google
I was so happy to find DTE Michiana to help with my yellow lab Cash. I reached out to them after my dog had an altercation with an unfriendly neighbor dog resulting in a potential dangerous dog designation. I purchased the Platinum training program which consisted of 8 in home training sessions and lifetime group training with other dogs. Cash's reactive behavior was corrected quickly, and I particularly liked that the training sessions were in our home where we could practice the commands and boundaries in a familiar setting. The group sessions allowed us to practice what Cash learned at home with the distractions of an outdoor environment along with other dogs. Rich, Sarah and Lyra run a first class business. Rich and Sarah are very knowledgeable dog trainers and are flexible to work around your schedule. Lyra is quick to respond to emails and communication with DTE is great. I am very happy with the services I have received and would highly recommend DTE Michiana.
Kandy Grzegorek
Mar. 27, 2025 - google
He was very friendly< Showed me what am getting into. Atlas responded to some of his techniques right away. Looking forward to the whole experience.
Erin
Mar. 23, 2025 - google
We are so grateful to find Elite Dog Training! They have been so wonderful to work with, both for us and for our dog! It is very obvious how much they care about dogs and how knowledgeable they are. We couldn’t recommend them more!
Jessica Fuller
Mar. 22, 2025 - google
Training with Dog Training Elite Michiana has been the best decision for our Golden Retriever. Rich and Sarah are extremely knowledgeable. Our Golden has been learning by leaps and bounds and we are excited for her to become a therapy dog. Training with DTEM is personalized to your dog every single session. Trainers do an excellent job of training the dog AND educating the owners.
Savannah Shepherd
Mar. 21, 2025 - google
Dog Training Elite has been a wonderful experience and they have helped me get my dog under control, and have taught me how to train my dog, they are sweet and they care deeply about there clients! Wonderful company
Mark Ellis
Nov. 20, 2024 - google
My dog, Madigan, has completed her Basic Obedience, and I am very pleased with the results. Today we finished up proofing her skills with Sarah. Can't wait to start attending group classes. Also, Madigan is being trained as my Service Dog and that training starts next month. Looking forward to continuing with Dog Training Eliote Michaiana.
Kimberly Ridenour
Nov. 13, 2024 - google
Rich is great with home training. I would highly recommend their services. Sarah is awesome as well. Just had our last training session and so pleased the progress that our Sadie made! ❤️
Kenneth Jongsma
Dec. 20, 2024 - google
Always patient, works to solve behavioral problems from multiple angles. You can tell he likes what he does. Excellent trainer.
Jamie Wiles-Smith
Dec. 4, 2024 - google
We have been working with Rich and now Sarah for several months with our 10 mo old puppy. I highly recommend them. Both trainers are very kind, encouraging and patient with our family as we work on improving our skills. They introduce games to keep the sessions fun. Our daughter feels more confident and comfortable as a result of their time.
Joan Getz
Dec. 2, 2024 - google
Rich has been awesome training Ruby and Me. He is positive, professional and very good at his job. We are so glad to have picked him to help Ruby become a great therapy dog!!
carl
Nov. 25, 2024 - google
We are very pleased with the help we have received from Rich of Dog Training Elite. We needed professional help training our unruley Jack Russels to make them more compliant and to help them get along better with another addition to our family, a little Yorkie. Thank you Rich for your knowledge and professionalism. You are helping to make our home happier!
Janet Harcek
Nov. 11, 2024 - google
Rich is great! Thanks to him, Maisie is the best behaved dog we have ever owned!
shane spangler
Oct. 24, 2024 - google
I got the puppy platinum package and I had a great experience. My dog Maus is very well behaved and has come a long way. He is much less reactive than he was, and Rich and his team has taught me how to teach my dog how to behave properly. It does require work on my part, but that work really pays off. I couldn't be happier.
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About Dog Training Elite Michiana

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Rich Naponelli - Owner/Trainer
Rich Naponelli
Owner/Trainer

Hi, my name is Rich and I own Dog Training Elite Michiana. I have always had a love for animals as far back as I can remember, but being 1 of 6 kids, my mother was slow to believe my unconvincing arguments that I could handle a pet. Finally, at the age of 10, she broke down and let me get my first parakeet, Petey. Since Petey, I have had more birds, a few hamsters, a frog, fish, dogs, and even bunnies. Currently, we have our dog, Ajax, and our bunnies, Cooper and Lenny.

While I am an attorney by training, I got into the pet care business in 2022, when I opened Fetch! Pet Care of Michiana, a dog walking and pet sitting franchise. My day-to-day interaction through Fetch! with people and their dogs showed me the immense impact dog training can have on people, families, and their dogs and the incredible need for experienced dog trainers. That is why I decided to bring Dog Training Elite to Michiana.

Dog Training Elite brings a proven system to teach basic obedience to dogs, but couples that with a passion for training service and therapy dogs, all while basing its philosophy in community and helping people and pets. We look forward to meeting you and your pup and starting the Dog Training Elite journey with you.

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Ajax - Demo Dog
Ajax
Demo Dog

Hi, I’m Ajax and I am a Basenji. Basenjis are known as the barkless dog. That’s right, I don’t bark, but instead I like to yodel, especially when the piano is playing. Rich is my dad, but I also have 3 others in my family. My mom is Jenn and my two favorite smaller people are Ally and Trey. When I’m not training, I love lounging in the sun, chasing my toy duck, and chewing my bully sticks.

I’m just a pup right now, but I’m training to help my dad in Dog Training Elite. My favorite part is getting to meet all the people at different events. Come by sometime and see how much I’ve learned.

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Sarah Knopp - Trainer
Sarah Knopp
Trainer

Hello! My name is Sarah and I am a Trainer at Dog Training Elite Michiana. Growing up, my family has always had dogs. I spent a lot of time outside with them playing fetch with a ball or a Frisbee. I remember teaching them tricks like sit, shake(paw), down, bow, and heel. I always loved feeding them, bathing them, and brushing out the burrs from their fur after playing in the woods. It was a dream of mine to work in the pet industry from the start!

My love of animals has grown with each new opportunity I have grasped. I have worked in many different areas which have required the utmost care of client pets. I had my start at a daycare facility which gave me the opportunity to be trained in basic manners and dog body language. I have had experience in boarding, daycare, grooming, swimming, training, and post-surgery pet care.

These experiences have shown me the importance of teaching basic manners, bonding with, and socializing your dogs. Dog Training Elite provides that training to you and your dog to help you navigate through life with the best start and helping to fix problems that arise along the way.

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