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About Dog Training Elite in Tampa
Meet the Team
Get to know the dedicated professionals behind Dog Training Elite in Tampa. Our team of experienced trainers is passionate about helping dogs and their owners build strong, lasting bonds. Learn about their backgrounds, expertise, and what drives them to deliver the highest level of training in the industry.
FAQs
Our FAQs cover the most common inquiries about our training methods, programs, and what you can expect when working with Dog Training Elite in Tampa. If you’re curious about anything related to our services, this is where you will find the information you need.
Careers
Join the Dog Training Elite in Tampa family! If you’re passionate about dogs and interested in making a difference, explore career opportunities with us. We are always looking for dedicated individuals who share our commitment to excellence in dog training and customer service. Discover how you can grow with us and become a part of a team that truly cares about dogs and their owners.
Gallery
Our gallery features photos and videos of dogs in training, successful graduates, and highlights from community events. See what Dog Training Elite in Tampa can offer your dog and get a glimpse of the work we’re passionate about.
In the Community
At Dog Training Elite in Tampa, we’re proud to be an active part of the community we serve. Check out recent events in our area where we’ve had the privilege to participate in local events, support fellow small businesses, and promote responsible dog ownership.
Video Gallery
Videos
E Collar. Dog Training Elite
Dog Training Elite is a professional, family-owned dog training company with over 40 years of experience that specializes in strengthening the bond between your dog and your family, with a strong emphasis on teaching your dog the highest level of obedience, despite even the toughest level of distractions.
Group Focus Exercise. Dog Training Elite
In a safe, controlled environment, we guide your dog through essential socialization skills, teaching them to remain calm, focused, and well-mannered, even in the midst of distractions.
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 Tampa.
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.
Tonya Stafford
Owner & Trainer
Tonya has always had a passion for animals and people. Dog Training Elite provided her with an opportunity to serve both and fulfill a dream in the process.
Tonya has a bachelor’s in psychology from Moravian University and a master’s in Training and Development from the University of St. Francis. She spent her early professional career as a children’s mental health social worker and spent several years in the pharmaceutical industry prior to her career in dog training.
Tonya has had several breeds of dogs through the years and loves all breeds large and small, but has a particular fondness for Rhodesian Ridgebacks and bully breeds, of which she has had the pleasure of being a dog mom to both. As an owner of the Dog Training Elite Tampa franchise, Tonya’s goal is to help dogs of all sizes, ages, and temperaments and their owners to improve their relationships and quality of life together. She believes that you really can teach an old dog (and its owner!) new tricks, and is excited to meet you and your fur babies to discuss your training goals.
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Luis Rodriguez
Owner & Trainer
Luis developed his love for dogs through his first dog, Ranger, a Rottweiler trained for protection, but loving and loyal to his entire family, and playfully gentle with his daughters who were toddlers at the time. Luis has had other dogs through the years, but never forgot Ranger, who set in motion his passion for dogs and made him see the potential in each one.
A Puerto Rico native, Luis received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus. He worked in mechanical and validation engineering within the pharmaceutical industry in both Puerto Rico and different states within the U.S. for over 30 years. Now as an owner/trainer of the Dog Training Elite Greater Tampa franchise, Luis wants to help you achieve the goals you have for your pups, whether training them to provide a service or to just create a more harmonious home. A problem-solver by nature, Luis’s patience, persistence, and ability to think outside the box when faced with obstacles and challenges are evident in everything he does. He looks forward to meeting you and your dog to see how he can customize a plan for you.
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Ginger
Training Dog
Born 12/21/2021, Ginger, an American Staffordshire Terrier is a lover who only fights stereotypes. Her favorite things include long walks, cuddles, meeting new people, and wrestling with her younger brother, Bruno. She loves being in the sun and will do just about anything for food.
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Bruno
Training Dog
Born 5/24/2022, Bruno, a goldador (labrador/golden retriever mix) is a sweetheart and an overall chill dude. He enjoys playing fetch, running agility courses, and anything water related. He is always eager to please and would love to meet you!
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Marissa Hale
Trainer
Born and raised in the dog-friendly city of Tampa, Florida, Marissa has always been a student of animal behavior. Her deepest passion is helping to strengthen the bond between dogs and their people by fostering a positive environment for training and guiding owners and handlers to better understand what their dogs are trying to communicate. Marissa focuses her sessions on each dog's individual needs and works with owners and handlers to create a training plan in which the dog is given the best chance for success. Marissa is a dog mom to a one-year-old American Bully named Asmodeus (Modie), her self-trained service dog.
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