An obedient puppy receiving expert puppy training from DTE.

Professional

Puppy Training

Dog Training Elite

Request Free Assessment

Request Free Assessment

Our Puppy Training Could Help:
Leash and potty training
Food guarding and begging
Destructive chewing and digging
Stealing food, clothing, or other objects
Barking, howling and whining
Aggression and anxiety
Jumping and hyperactivity

Dog Training Elite

Expert Puppy Trainers

Bringing home a new puppy is exciting, but it also comes with challenges like chewing and accidents. 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.

At Dog Training Elite, we focus on building that bond through effective training to foster trust and communication. Our experienced puppy trainers use proven methods to help you and your puppy succeed together.

See Training Packages
A little puppy sitting in grass, contact Dog Training Elite today.

Puppy Essentials Webinar

Free 70-Minute video

$45 Value

See Packages

Our trusted puppy class is now available "on-demand" from the comfort of your home! This webinar video is designed for owners of puppies age 8-16 weeks old, and will be accessible to you for free after completing the form below or with the purchase of one of our puppy packages!

Access Webinar

Our webinar includes education on the following topics:
  • Introducing a new puppy to your home
  • Health & well-being
  • Veterinary care & vaccines
  • Nurturing a good temperament
  • Scruffing & calming signals (e.g. dog yoga)
  • Basic Treat Obedience Including: Come, sit, loose-leash walking, and down
  • Puppy Corrections (Stop biting, digging, jumping, etc.)
  • Crate Training / Housebreaking
  • Socialization Tips
  • Environmental Hazards
  • Puppy Enrichment
  • Caring for Your Puppy
Three puppies receiving expert training from Dog Training Elite.

The Importance of Puppy Training


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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 DTE 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.

Get Your Free Assessment

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!

Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Ryan Strodtbeck
    Oct. 25, 2026
    They really know what they are doing no matter what age your dog may be! Big shoutout to Kevin who help me train my 6-year old Golden Retriever who helped me realize it wasn't too late for my Golden to be trained and treated her so well! Kevin was super knowledgeable, encouraging, and engaging and gave great tips as well has a great structure! I am so glad I made the right choice with them and will recommend them anytime someone ask if they know a good trainer in the area!
  • Elizabeth Souba
    Oct. 24, 2026
    Great staff and easy to work with to coordinate trainings and testing for my Monty to get his pet therapy certification.
  • Charlotte Webb
    Oct. 24, 2026
    We’ve had such a great experience with Dog Training Elite and our trainer, Beth! About a year ago, we tried working with another trainer, chose strictly because of the cheaper price, but we felt like we didn’t get anything out of the experience. This time, we knew we wanted to invest in our dog’s training and find the right support for her needs, and we’re so glad we did! We’ve completed our first five in-home training sessions with our 2-year-old blue heeler, and the progress she’s made has been amazing. We originally started training to help with her anxiety, and Beth has been helping us build her confidence by going back to the foundations and strengthening her obedience skills. Beth is incredibly communicative, always checks in to see if we have questions, and provides written instructions so we know exactly what to practice at home between sessions. We really appreciate how much guidance and support she gives us throughout the process. We’re excited to continue with our public training sessions and group classes and see how much more progress our girl makes. Highly recommend Beth and Dog Training Elite!
  • Chris Rutter
    Oct. 24, 2026
    Great experience. They did a great job training my dog. Good communication and help to continue training once the original training is done. Provided videos on each lesson
  • Kim Moreno
    Oct. 23, 2026
    Our puppy, Skye, is in their service dog training program and loves it there! The trainers are very knowledgeable and always willing to explain things further if need be. They have been a joy to work together as a team to set Skye up for success to be a great service dog for my son! I highly recommend them!
  • Mark Peugh
    Sep. 9, 2026
    Very knowledgeable and friendly always a pleasure
  • Sarah G
    Oct. 23, 2026
    What a fantastic experience for our dog. This training truly changed out dog and because of that, really improved so much about our life. Walks were so difficult - so much pulling, jumping on people and other dogs; we started getting a bad name in the neighborhood. Dog Training Elite helped us so that now walks are so much more enjoyable and fun. We are so grateful!
  • Reginald Huff
    Aug. 22, 2026
    Very professional and was able to answer all of our questions
  • Tia Moore (Velinda)
    Oct. 23, 2026
    DTE has worked with me on training my PTSD Service Dog. Kyle is a fantastic trainer and understands my boy Jake, helping Jake understand the expectations and how to meet them. An important part of training is teaching me those same skills so Jake understands my needs and expectations.
  • K Crosley
    Apr. 28, 2025
    Good night at therapy dog class at the airport! Having been there before I knew what to do with Elijah playing support role. He did help me work with Oakley on exiting elevators which was greatly appreciated!!!
  • pilar herrera
    Oct. 22, 2026
    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We cannot say enough amazing things about Dog Training Elite Hill Country! They did an absolutely incredible job with our Bernedoodle, Nala Gene! 🐶❤️ We are beyond happy with the results and so grateful for the time, patience, and dedication Gray and Garrison put into training her. It’s clear that they truly care about the dogs they work with and want to see them succeed. We have seen such a positive difference in Nala Gene, and we couldn’t be happier with our experience. If you’re looking for a team that genuinely cares, provides excellent training, and delivers amazing results, we HIGHLY recommend Dog Training Elite Hill Country! Thank you for everything you’ve done for our sweet Nala Gene🐾💕
  • gkck657
    Aug. 27, 2026
    The company is outstanding and takes the time to ensure that you and your dog are in sync with each other. Rhett is a great trainer. Highly recommended this company here in Knoxville.
  • Daniel Decker
    Oct. 22, 2026
    Michael was great!! My fiancé and I are very satisfied with the progress that are dog showed. Worth every penny
  • klshepp ard
    Oct. 22, 2026
    Parker has a true tale t for working with dogs. He came for a consultation and showed me a demonstration with his dog Nash who was amazing and so cute. Then he worked with my dog Mabel for just a few minutes and she was following his commands. Great!
  • Lauren Ujobai
    Oct. 22, 2026
    I am so grateful that I found Taylor 6 months before I adopted my 6 month old Belgian Shepard, Arlo. After I completed some positive reinforcement training, I realized I would need an alternative training method due to his high prey drive. Taylor is beyond knowledgeable about dog body language and behavior, and he will give you all the “tools” necessary to train your dog alongside him. If you are frustrated with your dog’s behavior and have altered your home/daily routine due to it, reaching out to Taylor will be the best choice you ever make. As a first time dog owner of a notoriously difficult breed, I worried that I would have a dog that matured beyond my control. The minute I entered the elite dog training program and completed our first in home training session, all of that worry dissipated. Although we are still completing the group training sessions, at 11 months Arlo is able to walk off leash on trails, is able to control himself around animals like deer and squirrels, and is able to walk past people and dogs without reacting. Training with Taylor has given Arlo and I the gift of freedom, and a much more fulfilling life together.
  • MONICA Hudson MCCARTHY
    Oct. 22, 2026
    So far so great. Our dog seemed to like her first lesson with Justin. He gained her confidence slowly which I liked. We are looking forward to a calmer lifestyle now. Thank you Justin!
  • Maria Guarnieri
    Oct. 21, 2026
    We participated in both the in home and group training, and found the team to be exceptionally skilled at working with our dogs. Over the course of their training (and ours) we have seen tremendous growth and discipline. The trainers are amazing and our dogs love them, and so do we. Highly recommend.
  • G Lam
    Jul. 21, 2025
    We did the training camp and are now starting the group lessons. The arrangements are not cheap, but the instructors are very helpful and always willing to listen. McCall helped us with additional requests for other commands, especially drop it. We're comfortable with the investment because for the price, we're buying a lifetime of support. ADDENDUM: Meggie came to our house today and did our first in house visit today. She was fantastic - very calm, unrestrained, and our dog took to her quickly. We really alleviated the home visit and will need to work on the homework to ensure things stick.
  • Beth Collier
    Oct. 21, 2026
    Highly recommend Matt, Alaina, Becky and Alex. What a great team. We completed puppy training and then Therapy Dog training. I also have to give credit to Alicia for keeping everything and everyone organized. What a great and truly caring dog loving team.
  • Jennifer Price
    Oct. 21, 2026
    Alex Price impressed me very much, breaking thru to my German Shepherd “puppy,” when other trainers were not successful. I have a very very big, very smart, very stubborn 6 mo old German Shepherd, acquired as rescue of sorts. He will outweigh me before full grown - so i totally need him well trained. Alex dedicated the time and patience and his dog whisperer nature to gain the trust and respect of my fur baby. He also trained me very well and left me detailed instructions for homework. Very happy customer and would recommend Alex Price to anyone.
A puppy trainers giving a puppy positive affirmation during an in-home training session.

Dog Training Elite

In-Home Puppy Training

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Dog Training Elite offers comprehensive in-home training. For the first 4-6 weeks, trainers use “treat training” before moving onto more advanced puppy training. Puppies will learn the following behaviors:

  • Come, down, loose-leash walking, and down
  • Puppy corrections (Stop biting, digging, jumping, etc.)
  • Crate training/ housebreaking
  • Focus around distractions

Trainers will also help owners learn about the following:

  • Socialization tips
  • Environmental hazards
  • Positive reinforcement techniques
  • Puppy enrichment
  • Caring for your puppy
  • And more!

Training a puppy can feel overwhelming. By pairing you with a professional trainer, not only will your puppy learn quickly, but you will feel confident and empowered to continue training your puppy after the sessions are completed. Training in your own home will help you bond with your pup so even after the professional trainer leaves, you and Fido can continue to progress together.

A puppy ready to start training with Dog Training Elite.

Start Puppy Training Early

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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 "down," "come," and "stay." If you are searching for classes, Dog Training Elite offers puppy obedience classes.

Additional Puppy Training Info

Dog Training Elite - Puppy Crate Training. DTE

Crate Training

A well-manered puppy receiving positive reinforcement from their owner.

Puppy Trainers

The DTE Approach

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We have 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. We 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. Our 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.

A Dog Training Elite puppy training outside.

Dog Training Elite

How Puppy Training Works

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We use 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. Our trainers 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.

We base our 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.

Contact us today to learn more about our training programs!

A group of dogs being trained by the expert team at Dog Training Elite.
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Victory Begins With Elite Education

Dog Training Elite

Tips on How to Bond

Training is a great way to establish a deep, loyal bond with your puppy. Outside of your training sessions, there is more you can do to strengthen your bond. Here are some more tips for how to bond with your puppy:

Your puppy may not understand the words you’re saying, but he or she will understand your tone of voice. Speaking in an excited tone of voice will get your pup excited and motivate them to do what you want them to. Speaking in a low, calm voice can help soothe and relax your puppy.
Puppies thrive on routine. A consistent schedule will help your puppy adjust to their new home, and to you and your family. A puppy’s schedule needs to include eating, playtime, puppy training, potty breaks, and nap times.
As mentioned above, playtime is an important part of your puppy’s schedule. Playing with your puppy will help strengthen your bond and stimulate their brains. Walks are an easy and great way to give your puppy much-needed exercise. Start small, walking around in your yard or driveway and gradually extending the distance around your neighborhood.
Creating boundaries in your home for your puppy helps strengthen your bond because your puppy will look to you for direction and guidance. It will also help your puppy avoid bad habits. Baby gates and playpens are a useful way to create physical boundaries.
Puppies can become overwhelmed about all the new things they’re exploring. Crate training is a perfect way to allow your puppy to have their own space where they feel safe and comfortable and help them develop some independence so they grow into a well-adjusted dog.
The most adorable way to bond with your puppy is by cuddling them! Snuggling with your pup can help him or her feel comforted and safe. The best time to get a cuddle session with your puppy is when they are sleepy. Cuddling also helps puppies get used to having their paws, belly, face, etc. handled, and can be a good time to introduce light grooming practices like brushing their fur.