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Getting a new puppy can be an exciting adventure, especially for new puppy owners. The love and joy a dog can bring are genuinely impressive. Dogs become such an integral part of the family. However, 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.
The Importance of Puppy Training
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 Dog Training Elite 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.
Training can also help with puppy socialization. Socialization should be prioritized in the early stages of a puppy's life. Group puppy training classes are a great place to safely introduce them to new friends while teaching behavioral skills to help them appropriately respond. Owners who take their puppies to professional training acquire the tools to use positive reinforcement and redirection to help their young dogs know what to do in new circumstances.
Too often, owners and dogs become frustrated when they cannot communicate, leading to poor behaviors and habits that are harder to fix later in a dog's life. The trainers of Dog Training Elite will work with you and your puppy to help strengthen the bond between you and ensure you have a happy home with your four-legged best friend. Request a free in-home assessment today!
Start Puppy Training Early
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 "sit," "come," and "stay." If you are searching for puppy trainers near you , Dog Training Elite offers puppy obedience classes.
Obedience Training for Puppies
Obedience puppy training is an excellent option for first-time dog owners or busy individuals who don't have the time necessary to devote to training. Obedience classes are a great way to expose your young puppy to other dogs, people, new sounds and sights. Combining obedience classes with training at home ensures a well-behaved puppy that learns quickly. For puppy training near you, Dog Training Elite offers classes, personal in-home training and other training packages.
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.
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.
clas·si·cal con·di·tion·ing PSYCHOLOGY noun A learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired; a response that is at first elicited by the second stimulus and is eventually elicited by the first stimulus alone.
The Dog Training Elite Approach
Dog Training Elite has 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. Dog Training Elite 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. Dog Training Elite puppy 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. 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.
FAQs of Our Puppy Training Program
If you are interested in our puppy training program, but still have some questions, read the answers to our most commonly asked questions below!
We accept puppies as young as 8 weeks old. Puppies this young are still able to learn, but their training must occur in short bursts to ensure optimal results. Phase 1 is for younger puppies and is defined by treat-training. Our trainers will teach your puppy basic commands, prompted by treats. Once your puppy has reached 12 weeks, more involved training can take place and treats will be removed from the program.
- Sit
- Stay
- Come
- Down / Lay
- Place / Bed
- Heel (no leash pulling)
- Off (the couch, bed, etc.)
Your trainer will also give you tips for housebreaking and crate training. If your puppy shows signs of aggression or anxiety, the training program will be adjusted to address these issues.
Yes! At Dog Training Elite, we use in-home training programs. This encourages a healthy bond between owner and pet and helps you participate more fully in your pet's life. In-home training provides better results than obedience classes as your puppy feels more comfortable in his own environment.
We use modern technology that utilizes TENS unit technology. In essence we are using the surface level stimulation to communicate with your dogs (equivalent to tapping them on the shoulder for attention) and create a conditioned response. "Shock Collars" were traditionally used for correction only and we never train in this way believing that dogs need a balanced approach.
If you still have questions about our puppy training program or would like to enquire about our pricing, contact us today.
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!
Lily is 4 years old & needed some help listeninng to me. After only two training sessions, she's paying attention to me & her barking problem has been reduced 90%. I'm happy & she's happy too!— Diana Grant
Posted September 8th 2024
Trainers are sensitive to Dog’s personality and the specific concerns of owners. Excellent feedback on the commands taught during training. They detail your dog’s “report card”. They are pleasant & patient in teaching & having owners demonstrate understanding & use of learned commands with their pet. We love that we bring our Pet home for the evening & a reassuring night’s sleep!— Sharonanne Brunet
Posted September 3rd 2024
We have three girls that we absolutely adore, but we have had some challenges with our oldest and youngest. While we have a good amount of knowledge, we need extra help/training on how to help reactivity that has recently become a bigger issue. So my husband found Dog Training Elite, and we have been super impressed. Diedre came to our house for the consultation and because of her, I decided that this was the company we would go with to help us. She also is the person that comes to our house for training sessions. Her knowledge and expertise on dogs who are reactive/aggressive/stubborn is amazing and she answers our questions and concerns with such knowledge. She doesn’t make me feel like a crappy dog owner. She makes me feel at ease and also feel empowered that I can changed my dogs behaviors with what she is teaching us. We still have more training to do, but I believe with what I have experienced so far, we will be able to have a house that is not full of tension! I also want to share my experience with Kaycee. Kaycee is who I have texted/called with questions and to set up the appointment times. She is so easy to talk to, she always texts back to see how things are going, and I don’t feel judge for what I’m experiencing with my ladies. The care she has for how my dogs are and how training is going is amazing. She is quick to respond, even when I tell her that she doesn’t have to respond quickly. The whole team clearly cares about the household and wants to help, which I’m forever grateful for. I am so impressed with this company so far, I had to share a review now even though training is not done yet. While the training is an investment, this training is worth it!!!— Jesika T
Posted August 30th 2024
I have loved DTE and will happily recommend them to my friends and neighbors. They are professional, but also friendly and down to earth. We have loved the trainers we’ve worked with equally. Jeff is awesome! Our pup has loved him, and so do we. He is very knowledgeable and has helped us tremendously. Dallin is the best too! He is so gentle and friendly with our sweet dog, and we love his style. Our lives are so much better thanks to DTE and we are so happy with their service.— Caroline Morris
Posted August 29th 2024
Words cannot express the deepest sense of gratitude I have for Dog Training Elite Northern Utah. Our puppy Sage was completely unmanageable. We had basically lost hope and were at our wits end, unsure of what our next step was with her. Thankfully, we found DTENU. They trained us in the art of handling our puppy. They listened to our concerns and we re always available for feedback or any questions we had. We could not have done this without Trevor, who took us under his wing and shared his passion for training and handling dogs. Thank you to Colleen, Matt, Lexie, Fona and Griffin. I absolutely recommend this company for any of your dog training needs.— PAOLA ECHEVERRI
Posted August 28th 2024
I love how they give straight forward communication and give all tools and supplies needed to set you up for success ❤️— Karla Valencia
Posted August 22nd 2024
Cannot express how happy and appreciative I am for DTE. Truly heartfelt and personal trainers who were all patient, informative, caring, and interested in the needs for our particular situation. We have a special needs child and they went above and beyond helping us get our dog service dog trained and task trained for her needs. Cannot say enough! 10 stars for sure!!— Hollow Tree Ranch
Posted August 21st 2024
I will have more to say as time goes by. This was our first day and had a lot to digest!!— Bob Berg
Posted August 19th 2024
I adopted a five month old Doberman from the shelter in April He is sweet but seemed aggressive sometimes as being discarded by others had no confidence We are about half way through training and he is much more confident but still a puppy. I have seen a great change in him. Deidre has been the main trainer and loves her job and wants success which is apparent. Meagan and Casey have been great too. Funny how it’s training me even though I’ve had many dogs the last 40+years. They are all good dogs but I’m going for a REALLY good dog and I feel like we are on the right track I would recommend dog training elite to all but be committed as the key is making sure the dog knows you are aware what is expected and that is being a responsible pet owner😁 Sorry if I misspelled trainer names— Karen S McCoy
Posted August 17th 2024
Terrence has been sole trainer, his knowledge and experience has surpassed our expectations. He and Lexxa bonded quickly and the training has progressed much quicker than we expected. We highly recommend and couldn’t be happier with the results.— donald
Posted August 8th 2024
Deidre and megan are great trainers, I love doing group class with them. They're really fun to be around and make the training easier to understand. Living in a full house of dogs they've helped so much! I absolutely love this company.— Kincee Pullman
Posted July 26th 2024
Totally thrilled with the training our first pup has received. She is learning rapidly and we feel more confident daily about her ability to respond appropriately in a wide variety of scenarios. Including the endless quick feedback and tips we get via texts.— Kaiden Kelly
Posted July 22nd 2024
Excellent staff who is very knowledgeable and caring of you and your dog. You do have to pra tice though i it won't stick— John Heister
Posted July 21st 2024
If I could give this operation 100 stars, I would. We have been taking our new 10 month old beagle, which we purchased from a Craigslist ad to Dog Training Elite St. Louis for 1 week. Before Dog Training Elite, our new pup was an out of control dog with no purpose. She barked/howled incessantly and tried to chew everything in our house. We’ve had a beagle before, so we know their temperaments, and this one was off the charts. After one week at Dog Training Elite, our new pup obeys commands, has stopped pulling on leash, and no longer screams and cries in her kennel. We still have 1 more week of daily in person training and 6 more months of group training with this crew. We are so excited to see even more progress with our pup:) This operation has been worth their weight in gold. The entire staff (if I could name them all, I would) from Matt to Alecia to Tyler, the crew at Dog Training Elite St. Louis has been professional, flexible and positive. We never thought we would have anyone other than us train our pups, but this new pup of ours really pushed our limits. Without Dog Training Elite, we would not have been able to tolerate our new beagle. Thanks to Dog Training Elite St. Louis, we now have an amazing new addition to our family, who we will be able to enjoy for years to come:)— Gina Weeks
Posted July 21st 2024
Truly couldn’t recommend Dog Training Elite enough. I had a very reactive “aggressive” puppy that I was very close to dropping off at the pound and running as far as I could. I did the puppy den program and I have a completely different dog. He is sweet, loves other dogs and people, is confident and so well behaved. Jeff, Dalin, and Jake are Amazing and so so knowledgeable. They gave me all the tools that I could practice at home to be successful in training Billy. The in home training was so helpful. They were always right on time and attentive to what we needed help with. They continue to give me support with any questions or anything I’ve needed. Scheduling and communication has been awesome as well. Definitely worth the investment! There’s nothing better than a well behaved puppy/dog! So grateful for every single one of them!— Lara Draper
Posted July 16th 2024
Banjo and I have been part of the DTE family for over a year. We love everyone there! Every single person there is so knowledgeable and truly knows what is best for Banjo and myself. I can’t say enough nice things about DTE and will always reccomend them for any of your training needs. I’m truly grateful for everything they’ve done for me and Banjo!— Amanda Downes
Posted July 15th 2024
Banjo and I have been part of the DTE family for over a year. We love everyone there! Every single person there is so knowledgeable and truly knows what is best for Banjo and myself. I can’t say enough nice things about DTE and will always reccomend them for any of your training needs. I’m truly grateful for everything they’ve done for me and Banjo!— Amanda Downes
Posted July 15th 2024
A few months ago I brought our puppy a Frenchie and Boston mixed Arlo to be accessed. I wanted to know if he would make a good service/therapy dog for my PTSD as a combat veteran. Colleen the owner met with me and Arlo that day. She did the assessment and showed us what kind of discipline we could expect from the training with another of her dogs. I was pleased to find out Arlo had the right temperament for the training. He was still a bit young so we had to wait some months before he would be mature enough for the training to be effective. Colleen and her team worked with me on the costs and a payment plan. They stayed in touch and reached out when Arlo was old enough. We started to schedule his training for 3 weeks there at the center. Our situation changed and so we are moving to Florida in about a month. Colleen felt that although we could get his training at the center done in 3 weeks. The ongoing support and additional group training would not be enough time. She reached out to another franchisee in Florida where we are moving and made sure we could start the training there with them and be able to have the close community and ongoing support. I really appreciate her taking the time to make sure mine and Arlo's best interest were put first over closing a sale. I appreciate the respect and courtesy given to me in my situation. I hope these remarks help someone with their decision to place their trust in this company and Colleen. Thanks So Much For Everything! Jeremy W.— Jeremy Willes
Posted July 11th 2024
How Puppy Training Works
Dog Training Elite uses 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. The Dog Training Elite puppy trainers in your local area 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.
Dog Training Elite bases 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.
What Does My Puppy Learn?
During puppy training, your dog will learn a lot more than “sit,” heel,” and “down.” As their owner, you will learn a great deal about what it means to have a dog.
Our skilled puppy trainers will help you and your dog with the following:
- Leash and potty training
- Staying and coming
- Destructive chewing and digging
- Stealing food, clothing, or other objects
- Barking, howling and whining
- Food guarding and begging
- Mouthing, nipping, and playing rough
- Anxiety and submissive urination
- Jumping and hyperactivity
- Aggression and anxiety
Our trainers also encourage crate training, which helps with house-breaking and teaches your puppy he has a safe place to sleep at night.
Come to Dog Training Elite
Dog Training Elite has more than 40 years of experience specializing in teaching your puppy to be obedient to you and your family. Early training and socialization are fundamental in obedience training with puppies, and our skilled puppy trainers are equipped to meet your basic and advanced training needs. Unlike other dog training companies, we understand each client has unique needs, so we tailor our dog training programs to accommodate your situation.
We want you and your puppy to be prepared for all the excitement life has to offer. What better way to be ready than getting a jump start on puppy training.
Come to your local Dog Training Elite location and start your puppy training journey today!
Puppy Training
If you are interested in our puppy training program, but still have some questions, read more about our specific training categories!
While crate training is not necessary for house breaking, it certainly makes the process easier. Those who choose to housebreak without use of a crate will need more time and more patience when it comes to cleaning up accidents.
Crate training can also improve other aspects of your pet's life. A dog that is used to a crate will feel more comfortable when traveling and have a safe place to retreat during thunderstorms or noisy guests. At Dog Training Elite, we believe that crate training can enhance the life of both dog and owner when done properly.
Once a puppy is brought home after spending the first eight weeks of its life with its mother, obedience training can begin immediately. While Dog Training Elite works with dogs of all ages, beginning puppy training as soon as possible is the best way to go. Beginning puppy training early can help prevent unwanted behaviors such as chewing, whining, nipping and accidents in the house.
Bringing a new puppy home and making them part of your family can be exciting! Puppies are adorable, cuddly, playful and all-around lovable. However, it's not all fun and games if and when that puppy starts showing unwanted behaviors like chewing, begging, or getting onto furniture.
Start off on the right paw with Dog Training Elite puppy obedience training to quickly address behavior problems. Beginning obedience training early will help you create a lifelong bond with your new puppy and get rid of those unwanted behaviors. Find a trainer near you today!
Biting, or “mouthing,” is part of how a puppy learns about the world. It’s often meant to be a playful behavior, but those sharp little teeth can hurt! With some simple, consistent training, puppy biting can be over for good. Check out our tips on how to stop puppy biting, even in a playful way.
Are you tired of words like potty cue, potty place, or pee pads? Are your cabinets overflowing with carpet and upholstery cleaners and odor eliminators? If so, let Dog Training Elite and our professional dog trainers help. In a matter of weeks we will help to get your dog trained in the way best suited for you and your needs. Our comprehensive approach will be customized to you and your family to prevent loss of obedience. Sign up for your free in-home assessment and experience the difference for yourself.
There are a few things you'll want to get before beginning training. Some of these things might include rewards, a treat pouch, a clicker, and a leash to name a few. Our professionals at Dog Training Elite are excited to help you get all the puppy training essentials you'll need to be successful!
Bringing home a new puppy to the family is an exciting and memorable time with a lot of things to do! One of the most important things you can do with your puppy during the first few weeks they are home is socialization, and our guided puppy socialization classes are a perfect way to do so!
You may be wondering if training your puppy is something you can do on your own, or if it's something you should pay for. You can stop your research on puppy training classes prices right now, because Dog Training Elite has the answer.
Dog Training Elite offers a free in-home assessment to start your puppy on the right track and help you figure out what direction you want to take, training wise. From there, Dog Training Elite offers training packages that include the equipment you need like an electronic collar, in-home training sessions, group classes and everything from basic obedience training to more advanced training.
