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Service Dog Training Near You
What makes a dog a service dog? Who can have a service dog, and why? We answer all these questions and more, as well as explain what sets Dog Training Elite Oklahoma apart from any other dog training service.
Not all training packages may be available at our Dog Training Elite Oklahoma location, please reference our pricing page for complete information on services offered.
(Service Dog reevaluation mandatory 6 months after certification to verify maintenance of training - small additional fee)
Service Dog Training FAQs
What makes a dog a service dog?
Service dogs are dogs that have been specially trained to assist their handler or owner with specific tasks. Dog Training Elite Oklahoma trains dogs to assist people with epilepsy, diabetes, PTSD, autism, and various mental illnesses.
Who are service dogs for?
Service dogs are for any individual dealing with a disability that lowers their quality of life. For example, someone who suffers from epilepsy may avoid going out in public due to a fear of falling or other consequences related to seizures. This may inhibit their independence and sense of well-being.
In addition to improving the lives of individuals, service dogs can bring a sense of security to families, such as families with autistic children. Children with autism can often feel isolated and a service dog becomes a 24/7 companion to share experiences with, connect with and love. They can also help children reintegrate into society and connect with others.
Families who have children with autism experience a decrease in stress as they are more able to engage socially in public settings and experience less anxiety at home. A service dog increases safety and has a calming presence that can minimize emotional outbursts, allowing the family to feel more secure and a child with autism to better participate in family activities.
Service dogs are for all individuals or families that are experiencing a decrease in quality of life due to disability.
What kind of training does a service dog need?
Service dog training begins with puppies. Dog Training Elite Oklahoma’s service puppy training program works with breeders to adopt puppies that are fully obedience trained by six months and are ready to undergo extensive socialization and additional training to ensure they are well-suited for service and therapy needs.
Then, Dog Training Elite Oklahoma places puppies with families or individuals. Further specialized service training takes place alongside the new handler. It generally takes 1-2 years for a service dog to become fully trained.
Service dog training focuses on two main areas: public access behaviors, and how to “do work or perform tasks” that assist with a disability.
Public access behaviors refer to how a service dog acts in public - well-trained service dogs remain calm in public situations and in turn help their handlers to stay calm, and are attuned to any other handler needs.
As for “do work or perform tasks,” the ADA requires that service dogs be trained to take a specific action when needed to assist the person with a disability.
For example, to assist handlers with PTSD, Dog Training Elite Oklahoma trains dogs to de-escalate anxiety, wake handlers experiencing night terrors, and so on.
Do service dogs require special certification?
The ADA does not require special certification for service animals. State and local government agencies, businesses and non-profit organizations may not require documentation, such as proof that the animal has been certified, trained or licensed as a service animal, as a condition for entry. Mandatory registration of service animals in the city of residence is also not permissible under the ADA.
However, service animals are not exempt from local animal control or public health requirements, such as vaccinations, or local dog licensing and registration requirements.
Why should I train my service dog with Dog Training Elite Oklahoma?
Dog Training Elite Oklahoma sets itself apart from other dog training methods by focusing on positive reinforcement with a personalized, in-home approach. This method empowers owners and handlers to be an integral part of the process for sustained dog obedience and service training. For service dogs especially, it is important that handlers be present and involved every step of the way.
The positive reinforcement approach, also referred to as “Classical Conditioning” or the “Pavlovian” model has shown to be more effective with longer lasting results than any other training method.
Dog Training Elite Oklahoma does not use punishments or shock collars to break bad habits. Instead, Dog Training Elite Oklahoma pairs positive reinforcement training with a vibration electronic collar. An electronic collar is not a shock collar and does not harm the dog. It is used to gain the dog’s attention, similar to a tug on a leash. It is never used as a punishment for bad behavior.
Another unique aspect of training with Dog Training Elite Oklahoma is that while most dog training programs train dogs at their own facilities, Dog Training Elite Oklahoma specializes in in-home training, customizing training to the dog, its owners and its environment for long-lasting success.
Positive Reinforcement Training
Training takes time, commitment and balance and Dog Training Elite Oklahoma is there every step of the way. With Dog Training Elite Oklahoma, dogs will learn the highest level of obedience, even in the face of the toughest level of distractions. The positive-reinforcement method focuses on encouraging good behavior through ongoing praise, creating a dog that wants to please from the inside out and creating deep-rooted, sustained obedience as well as a strong bond between dog and owner.
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.
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!
Fantastic experience training our service dog! He is learning so quickly and we love their gentle methods of teaching!!— Heather Pfeifer
Posted September 11th 2024
This is a such a wonderful company!!! My 5.5 month old cane corso mix is training to be my service dog and because they are so skilled she will well on her way to being certified. The trainers are super caring and knowledgeable. Tootsie is even happy to see them every time! Highly recommend!— Cheryl Rettig
Posted August 22nd 2024
We love all the trainers at Dog Training Elite! They are patient, kind and explain everything thoroughly. We have felt very supported on our journey to getting our Luna girl ready for her important job as a school therapy dog.— Hannah Bunn
Posted August 19th 2024
We are currently doing service dog training and the growth I have seen in 6 -7 weeks has been unreal. I feel confident that my dog will be passing the public access test and confident in my ability as a handler. I would give them 10 stars if I could.— Lindsey Simmons
Posted August 18th 2024
Excellent experience training our autism service dog! Very professional and knowledgeable. Highly recommend!— Ashley Kirven
Posted May 16th 2024
My puppy is a rescue. She had been through another company's training and came back after 10 days and learned only how to sit, which I'd already taught her. I called Elite. They are the best ever! They came to my house for 5 sessions and trained me how to train my puppy. What a difference it is when the dog mom/ dad is involved! I can't say enough wonderful things about this place. Any questions I ever had, I was able to text them and get my answers promptly. My dog is almost perfect at this point. Thank you Elite. We will next be doing service dog training to make my Anna more perfect. The first photo is her cap and gown graduation photo.— Michele Watson
Posted May 16th 2024
We have done puppy, obedience and service with this company and I would highly recommend them they are very knowledgeable, engaging and make you feel like family!!— Jennifer Champlain
Posted May 15th 2024
Dog Training Elite Ok has been a treat to work with. Our Hazel has become the most obedient and happy girl. We are thrilled with her training program and will now attend Group! This training has totally changed her and she's not the wild animal she was in the beginning. Thanks!— Jane Van Pelt
Posted May 7th 2024
I was needing help in training my Great Pyrenees puppy and a friend referred me to DTE. Jamie, Kristen, and Paul were a fantastic team. They would always explain in great detail why you should, or not, do certain things. Their love for dogs was evident in their training. Their training was easy commands and have been very beneficial. Instead of having a large dog who’s out of control, I now have a large dog who minds and is a joy to have around. Thank you guy’s for all the time you took to train “me” so I could train, Minnie.— Susan Cochrane
Posted May 1st 2024
They were honestly the best in helping me train my service dog. Along side that because you are involved in the training I got to learn how to train my other dogs as well. They are patient and kind and truly love dogs. You can tell that they truly have a passion for dogs and helping them and the owners succeed. The group classes are fun and great practice as well. 10/10 recommend.— Alyse Grzymala
Posted April 17th 2024
Dog Training Elite is amazing! My one yr old male labradoodle is 95 lbs of non-stop energy. He loves his training sessions and comes away from every session better behaved than the last time. DTE really takes the time to not only train the dog, but the owner as well which has made all the difference. Beyond their obedience training package, I use their day-long training sessions at their new facility when I have to be at a job site all day. It’s been great! My dog gets in a day of work on training and I don’t have to worry about trying to exercise him enough or work on his training after a long day. I can’t recommend the DTE team enough - they are awesome!— Jennifer Marie
Posted March 27th 2024
David, Kristin, Paul & Jamie are exceptional trainers. Ginger and I went to a group class for some refresher training and it was like spending time with family. The approach to dog training is consistent, well managed, and easy to follow. I am forever grateful for the obedience and service dog training Ginger received. I highly recommend Dog Training Elite!— Marilyn Fooshee
Posted August 3rd 2023
💙 Blue and I have loved working with Dog Training Elite Oklahoma. Blue is becoming a Therapy and Service dog so he can help on multiple platforms. You can really see the passion D.T.E.Ok has for what they do, and the dogs feel it too! They do an excellent job of training us so we know how to speak K-9 🐶 What I love the most is how well behaved my boy Blue is 🥰 I take him everywhere with me and people are always incredibly impressed. Then they want to love on him, and because he's a therapy dog as well, he adores allowing them to do so 💙 It's been a true blessing to both 💙 Blue and myself to work with Dog Training Elite Oklahoma!— Kitzie
Posted February 22nd 2024
They did amazing at helping me train my 10 month old GSP puppy! He is a different dog now. 10/10 would recommend!— Megan Parris
Posted February 19th 2024
We've had a great experience with Dog Training Elite. Jamie has been wonderful with obedience training our Great Dane/Great Pyrenees, Chance. He was a very nervous and reactive dog that made walking and being around strangers a struggle. Over the past few weeks we've seen noticeable changes and can see his confidence growing. We're able to walk comfortably now and the trust between us and Chance is getting better everyday.— Sarah Hintz
Posted February 9th 2024
Grateful to DTE for truly taking the time and caring about our dog’s success. It is helpful to not have a one size fits all approach….they have taken the time to get to know us, our dog, and have helped all of us make progress. They have listened and been patient as we learn we are seeing improvements with each session. Thank you!!!!! Would highly recommend to any family who wants a happy, thriving dog.— Matthew Parker
Posted February 6th 2024
My dog and I have had the best experience with Dog Training Elite. They have shown me how to building a trusting relationship with my dog that has in turn allowed him to trust me and it took our training to a whole new level. I am so excited to be working on a Therapy certification with my petite Golden Doodle and they have made it possible. I highly recommend Dog Training Elite for all of your training needs.— Michelle Talbot
Posted January 23rd 2024
I love them they are all great they have helped Bella come so far and taught me a lot about a service dog requires. I’d take all my dogs to them if I had the money they are great.— Hailey
Posted January 19th 2024
We have had an excellent experience with Dog Training Elite Oklahoma. Kristen and her team are excellent to work with. We would never second-guess our decision to work with them.— Mitch Myers
Posted January 13th 2024
