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Classical Conditioning

Dog Training Elite

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A dog walking on a leash after finishing a classical conditioning dog training.

Dog Training Techniques

Classical Conditioning Dog Training

Classical conditioning is a learning process also known as the Pavlovian method or respondent conditioning. Discovered by Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov, classical conditioning involves developing automatic reflexes to specific conditions. This leads to creating behaviors.

Pavlov is considered to be the father of “classical conditioning.” As a matter of fact, he originally tested his theory using dogs. In an experiment, Pavlov observed dogs began to salivate not just when they received food, but when the people associated with feeding them arrived. Pavlov began to ring a bell when the dogs were presented with food. Over time, the dogs learned to associate the sound of the bell ringing with food. Their mouths would salivate whenever the bell rang.

Dog Training Elite dog training techniques are based on classical conditioning dog training to help your dog achieve deep-rooted obedience. Working with a Dog Training Elite trainer , your dog will become conditioned and develop those “automatic reflexes” to commands such as sit, down, heel, break, and more.

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Dog Training Elite

Training With An E-Collar

Dog Training Elite NEVER uses punishments like shock collars to train dogs out of bad behavior. Dog Training Elite does make use of an electronic collar. The use of an electronic collar is vastly different in two main ways.

The electric collar does not shock your dog. Instead, it generates a gentle electronic pulse, similar to the tug of a leash.
The electronic collar is never used to punish a dog. It is used to simply gain the attention of a dog and help them focus on the task at hand.
Other dog trainers use harsh static collars or spray collars which have been shown to be less effective.
A dog owner playing with his german shepard, learn more about our classical conditioning dog trainers.

Classical Conditioning Dog Trainers

Positive Reinforcement Vs. Punishment

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Traditional dog training methods rely on punishment for errors and “low value” rewards, such as praise or petting, when a dog performs a desired behavior. Dog Training Elite never resorts to punishing a dog to make them unlearn bad behavior.

Using punishment as a tool can actually backfire. For example: punishing a dog for going to the bathroom inside a house won’t teach them to go outside instead. Often, the dog only understands that the mess makes their owner mad. Instead of going outside, the dog is likely to continue to make messes indoors - but where the owner can’t find them.

Research shows that focusing on positive reinforcement when a desired behavior occurs and not worrying about correcting bad behavior in dogs is more effective and has longer-lasting results. The difference between a dog who has been exposed to dog training techniques used to obey out of fear vs. a dog who learns to obey through a positive, loving bond with their owner is huge.

Positive reinforcement works with dogs because they are inherently eager to please. Rewarding your dog for good behavior as you work with a Dog Training Elite trainer to help your dog be more obedient will help you create a deep, loving relationship with your dog built on trust.

Additional Obedience Training Info

Dog Training Elite - Positive Reinforcement Dog Training. DTE

Positive Reinforcement Training

Dog Training Elite - Puppy Obedience Training. DTE

Puppy Obedience Training

Dog Training Elite - Off Leash Dog Training. Dog Training Elite

Off Leash Training

Dog Training Elite - Dog Agility Training Through Basic Obedience. Dog Training Elite

Agility Through Basic Obedience Training

A women playing with her service dog.

The Dog Training Elite Difference


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Dog Training Elite uses modern dog training techniques and methods focused on positive reinforcement and bonding you and your dog. Dog Training Elite trainers never resort to punishment to help dogs unlearn behaviors.

Through a combination of commands and an electronic collar, dogs learn to follow commands at once. Dog Training Elite’s method of focusing on positive behavior reinforcement nurtures a dog's loving and naturally obedient nature.

After proper conditioning and working with Dog Training Elite, when you say “sit,” your dog will automatically sit without thinking about it. The unique techniques of Dog Training Elite ensure training is a success no matter what your dog’s behavior.

Get started training your dog today. Find a trainer near you and schedule a free in-home consultation!

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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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Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Jeremy Sanders
    Feb. 11, 2026
    Rhett is fantastic and you can tell that he really cares about the dogs and building the foundations so their quality of life is improved long term. Great session. Thank you!
  • Brenda C
    Apr. 10, 2026
    “Had a great experience with Dog Training Elite. Jess was excellent—very knowledgeable and took the time to explain everything clearly. I feel much more confident working with my dog now. Highly recommend!”
  • Tony Amorose
    Apr. 27, 2026
    Kelsie is an excellent puppy trainer . She explains thoroughly, She has the patience of Job. She is very personable. Eevie ( the pup) catches on immediately with her ( Eevie’s parents are still catching on 😀). Kelsie loves what she does, and it shows. We thank you for sending Kelsie to us in our home. Tony and Susan Amorose.
  • Tony Amorose
    Apr. 27, 2026
    Kelsie is an excellent puppy trainer . She explains thoroughly, She has the patience of Job. She is very personable. Eevie ( the pup) catches on immediately with her ( Eevie’s parents are still catching on 😀). Kelsie loves what she does, and it shows. We thank you for sending Kelsie to us in our home. Tony and Susan Amorose.
  • Randi Lemos
    Apr. 27, 2026
    I can’t say enough good things about Kais service animal trainer, Dominique! She is incredibly knowledgeable, supportive, and always takes the time to answer all of my questions. She’s also so patient—especially with me honestly, sometimes I feel like I need more training than Kai does! Dominique is always responsive, helpful, and truly cares about the process. Overall, it’s been such a great experience with zero complaints. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a service animal trainer! Kai has made so much progress thanks to her guidance, and it’s clear how much dedication and passion she brings to her work. You can tell she genuinely wants both you and your dog to succeed. I feel so much more confident moving forward, and I’m beyond grateful we found her.
  • Kathleen Pelletier
    Apr. 21, 2026
    Kurtis took the time to go over everything from a good daily schedule for my puppy as well as how to incorporate training into my day. Thank you for all of your help and support!! Dog Elite Training!!
  • Marion Owen
    Apr. 27, 2026
    Chester, the dog, and I, the person, are both learning a lot. Chester clearly wants to learn and seems to be happy to know what I want from him. We have only had 2 training sessions but he is already so much better. He will settle into his "place" and wait to be released which is WAY better than the old jumping on neighbors when we would stop to talk. and his "come" is MUCH more reliable. Michael, our trainer, tunes into Chester and makes me feel really comfortable with the e-collar. I am confident Chester will be the "very good boy" he wants to be through this training. and I will be the best dog-mom I can be.
  • Lynne Vendetti
    Mar. 2, 2026
    Kayla has helped my nervous dog so much! His behavior has improved greatly! He is becoming a well trained dog!
  • Noah Dorfman
    Apr. 27, 2026
    Hailey has been amazing helping us learn to work with our young dog. I could not recommend this training method enough. Having off leash control has been life changing for us and our family.
  • Michelle Landry
    Apr. 27, 2026
    Hailey is amazing. Our beagle went from wild and insane to actually trained and polite. The e-collar really makes all of the difference too. Training a beagle puppy (7 months old) is not easy, and Hailey truly made it all possible. We plan on continuing with more training. I highly recommend her, even with the most difficult dogs. She’s so smart and confident and I instantly trusted her knowledge.
  • Rosa Boland
    Apr. 17, 2026
    I’m applying so many great things I’m learning from Annabelle towards the training of my dog, Sercy. A couple of years ago Sercy had boarding/training with another company. It proved unsuccessful because I wasn’t able to attend the sessions due to the travel distance. Now, with Dog Training Elite, I am doing it the right way!
  • Julie Lauck
    Sep. 23, 2025
    The best! We love the Elite team! They are professional and take the time needed to help me help Blessing to learn!
  • The Lighthouse
    Apr. 27, 2026
    Trainer Rhett does an awesome job with explaining the program and tailoring to the specific needs of the pup and client. He is really good at breaking down the instructions with the e-collar, explaing command expectations, and boosting the confidence of the client and of the pup. My once fearful dog and my worried self now know how to handle the challenges ahead.
  • Ryan Wenig
    Apr. 26, 2026
    Ramiro and his team were extremely knowledgeable and educational throughout the entire training process. We were dealing with resource guarding with our golden. They went above and beyond, even scheduling extra sessions with us for help. We were more than happy with the training we received and Goose seems like a much happier dog being able to control his emotions correctly. We will be recommending any future dog owners to Dog Training Elite!
  • Erika Kaivani
    Jan. 12, 2025
    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Edited to add: After a year of continued group classes, I can confidently say this has been one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. Lyra’s obedience, focus, and reliability in real-life situations are night and day compared to where we started. Beyond that, having a well-trained dog has made a huge difference in my own mental well-being because taking an untrained dog out & about is stressful & DRAINING! But now, it’s goal-oriented & FUN! Michael and Gosia continue to be knowledgeable, supportive, personable, and truly invested, and the group classes have been invaluable for ongoing progress. This has been worth every single penny. If you are looking for a sign to pull the trigger, this is it!! Original post: We have had an amazing experience working with Michael and Gosia during our Platinum program for our puppy, Lyra. Their training methods are highly effective—we’ve seen noticeable improvement in Lyra’s reactivity, and she’s become much more obedient. Michael and Gosia are incredibly personable, always on time, and very communicative throughout the process. They genuinely care about the success of both the dog and the owners. While training can be an ongoing process & we know we still have work to do in the group classes ahead (which are included with platinum pkg), we are so grateful for the strong foundation they’ve helped us build and cannot wait to continue improvement. We highly recommend them to anyone looking for knowledgeable and reliable trainers!
  • Jonelle Cliff
    Apr. 26, 2026
    I have a very nervous 1.5 year old chihuahua, rat terrier mix that suffers from fear based reactivity. Over the last year, we have tried medications, CBD and other training courses with no change in behavioral habits. We just finished week 5 of our training with Dog Training Elite and the results have been significant and noticeable to both us and others within our circle. Shelby and Danielle were great to work with and I highly recommend their training programs!
  • Ellen Olson
    Jan. 29, 2026
    Very pleasant and helpful for both the owner and dog
  • Bobbie Richmer
    Apr. 26, 2026
    It is wonderful!!! Tom the training is excellent
  • Sherri Brown
    Apr. 26, 2026
    Dog Training Elite has been a Godsend for my rottie pup GiGi and me. A 100 pound 10 month old is a lot of puppy! The training collar and their training of me is what really works. You get so much more than what you pay for! I recommend!
  • Leslie
    Apr. 25, 2026
    Dan and the collar have been a huge help training my strong willed dog