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Classical Conditioning

Albuquerque / Santa Fe Classical Conditioning Dog Trainers

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A dog walking on a leash after finishing a classical conditioning dog training in Albuquerque / Santa Fe, NM.

Dog Training Techniques

Classical Conditioning Dog Training in Albuquerque / Santa Fe, NM

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 New Mexico dog training techniques are based on classical conditioning dog training in Albuquerque / Santa Fe, NM to help your dog achieve deep-rooted obedience. Working with a Dog Training Elite New Mexico 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 New Mexico

Training With An E-Collar

Dog Training Elite New Mexico NEVER uses punishments like shock collars to train dogs out of bad behavior. Dog Training Elite in Albuquerque / Santa Fe, NM 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 Albuquerque / Santa Fe classical conditioning dog trainers.

Albuquerque / Santa Fe 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 New Mexico 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 in Albuquerque / Santa Fe, NM 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 New Mexico - Positive Reinforcement Dog Training in Albuquerque / Santa Fe, NM

Positive Reinforcement Training

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A women playing with her service dog in Albuquerque / Santa Fe, NM.

The Dog Training Elite New Mexico Difference


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Dog Training Elite in Albuquerque / Santa Fe, NM uses modern dog training techniques and methods focused on positive reinforcement and bonding you and your dog. Dog Training Elite New Mexico 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 New Mexico’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 in Albuquerque / Santa Fe, NM, when you say “sit,” your dog will automatically sit without thinking about it. The unique techniques of Dog Training Elite New Mexico 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

  • Pamela Schaefer
    Jan. 18, 2026
    We have been training our 18 month old German shepherd mix rescue and our 8 month old Golden Mountain Doodle during the past year. I cannot find the words to recommend Kayla highly enough. She is professional, kind, punctual, loving to our dogs and has done wonders training our dogs. She truly is the best!
  • Sarah
    Jan. 16, 2026
    Working with these teams has been a mind blowing experience! The knowledge Kayla D and Kayla C have when it comes to training is phenomenal. Both of them have brought Rico into a place I’d never have thought we could go. I’m incredibly thankful I found them and can’t wait to work some more with them
  • Megan Black
    Jan. 7, 2026
    I loved working with Dog Training Elite! Kayla was phenomenal with our boy Roan! I enjoyed every one-on-one session. Every single question I had, she answered and explained very well, in a way that helped make sense of different behaviors and cues dogs give. I also appreciated that they were very workable with our busy schedule, as we have four kids and another dog, so we are constantly on the go. I'm thankful that we got the package that we did so that way going forward we are able to forever go to group sessions, and continue our training with our boy. I feel like that will continually be so beneficial! If you're debating if you should work with Dog Training Elite, just go for it-you won't be disappointed!
  • Lacey A
    Jan. 3, 2026
    Kayla has been the best trainer I've ever worked with. She is incredibly knowledgeable and understood exactly how to approach every issue I ran into when training my pup Vader. At 8 months old Vader is the best dog I've ever had. All of that is thanks to Kayla and all the other trainers who have been there to teach me the best way to teach my dog. Since I dont have any other dogs to play with my VERY social puppy she would occasionally bring her dog so they could play after training if we had time. Which was also a great way for him to learn respectful playing. I will forever be thankful of her generosity. I look forward to working more with Kayla and the other trainers since Vader and I still have a long way to go for him to become an official service dog!
  • Tam Cobb
    Jan. 3, 2026
    Abby was a great trainer who helped me with my dog's reactivity and ensuring the basics were solid. She was easy to follow and results driven. DTE has a good stable of trainers including Kayla x 2 for group sessions and service dog training.
  • mckenize russell
    Dec. 18, 2025
    It was a pleasure working with Kayla. She helped me a great deal with my girl Tootsie and gave her and I the confidence and tools to continue to make a very scared pup into a great dog. Tootsie has already come so far from where we started and I couldn't be more excited about our future.
  • Roseanne Cheng
    Dec. 8, 2025
    Excellent results for our 2-year old Labrador Retriever! The training sessions were very accessible for us and we learned so much about our dog! We now appreciate how smart she is and how much she enjoys having a job to do! Our family is grateful for all of the support in training our dog!
  • Maria Felski
    Dec. 5, 2025
    Elite helped us gain control of our lives again! We came to Elite with our dog-reactive pitt, Athena. John helped us capitalize on Athena’s deep desire to please and, under his guidance, we made significant progress with her in our 5 weeks of classes. As an added plus - Athena loved John and had loads of fun. We still have a lot of work to do, but for the first time we feel hopeful and energized about our training journey. Money well spent!
  • Valerie Pacini
    Nov. 18, 2025
    Dog Training Elite Albuquerque was wonderful training me and my now service dog. The trainers helped me learn to be a good handler and teammate with my dog. All the trainers were patient, knowledgeable and compassionate with me and my dog. I especially value the fact that they understand that service dogs are still dogs who need love and kindness. Kayla brought fun and enthusiasm to our training sessions. The one on one sessions gave us time to focus on what my dog needed, and the group sessions helped Cooper practice being 'just a dog', hanging out in the park with other babies and their people. I highly recommend DTE for all canine training needs. Another important reason I love DTE: I had approached other service dog programs to train my Cooper, but they said that he was "too old" for that. (He was 7 and 8 when I asked). Dog Training Elite didn't automatically turn him down. They considered his breed (Sheltie) and its longer life span and they assessed his demeanor and temperament (he's calm, patient and attached to me the way a service dog needs to be) for suitability as a service dog. DTE said he was "halfway there on his own" and seemed to be a good candidate to train and refine skills as a service dog. Guess you can teach an "old" dog new tricks after all--if you have the right trainers.
  • T Braunschweiger
    Nov. 19, 2025
    What a fantastic company. Kayla D is absolutely phenomenal. She began helping me train Ranger, (a mind of his own, Golden Doodle) about nine or 10 months ago. Ranger has passed his access test, can now go with me into restaurants and act civilized, fly on planes with me, (he has 4 round-trips logged), and he has just learned to be a quality pet. His job is Deep Pressure Therapy used for my anger, ptsd. He is continuously working on that. Kayla D has been instrumental in shaping my new friend. She herself has become a friend. If your looking to train your pet for service or if you just want a well behaved pet, I could not recommend DTE and Kayla more! Tony. Retired Paramedic/ FF and Veteran.
  • Judy Tremba
    Nov. 11, 2025
    Kayla was fantastic. She worked with our family's schedule to make sure everyone was there to hear what needs to be done with our big dog. She's super friendly to both pets and people. She was willing to help train where we needed it, even going with us to the in-laws house for some training there. She's super patient and kind. Highly recommended.
  • Laura Kennedy
    Nov. 11, 2025
    This has truly been one of the most rewarding and inspiring experiences I have ever had training my puppy to be a service dog! Our trainer Kayla D. Is absolutely fantastic. Her customer service, her insight and knowledge to animal behavior is amazing and my puppy has flourished. She is patient, kind and loving and I couldn’t have asked for a better trainer. The Dog Training Elite New Mexico program is beyond amazing and your dog will learn so much more than I ever thought possible. Highly recommend and thoroughly appreciate all they do for dog training.
  • Mariah
    Nov. 1, 2025
    I cannot say enough incredible things about these trainers!!! Kayla (both of them 🥰) are absolutely incredible. I brought my very skiddish and fearful catahoula to them not expecting much but just hoping he would be less nervous around new people and now he is a much more confident and incredibly obedient boy. They are kind, patient and gentle but firm when needed and I could not have had a better experience working with them!
  • Antoinette Stump-Lente
    Oct. 29, 2025
    When I say RUN, don’t walk to this dog training company, don’t take it lightly! I’ve had such a pleasant experience with them, and John has been absolutely amazing! I can’t believe how great my relationship with my dog is after a few short weeks. The transformation is incredible and I’m excited for the future and more freedom with dog. More so, my dog enjoys it as well! It’s a bonding experience and she is so much more engaged! If you are willing to put in the work, the rewards are endless.
  • Kelly Miller
    Aug. 20, 2025
    We took our puppy, Bear to elite training. We have loved every bit of it! We were so happy that the trainer, John, was able to come to our house and spend one on one time with us and our puppy. He was also very patient and knowledgeable about all things puppy and training. We are so pleased with the results and would highly recommend.
  • stacy nguyen
    Jul. 23, 2025
    Kayla was an amazing trainer! She was very patient with my puppy. She was also really good at noticing the little things that weren't exactly right and clearly explained to me how to do it better. She introduced her dog to mine, and he was able to learn so much from her pup; now he can read other dogs better and play with them properly. I won't deny that it is expensive, but it's worth it. I now have a lifetime of group training sessions and a friendly baby.
  • Amberley Luna
    Jul. 10, 2025
    I am writing to give my highest recommendation for Dog Training Elite in Albuquerque. My experience with this academy has been exceptional, and I am confident that anyone seeking professional, effective, and compassionate dog training will benefit greatly from their services. Why I Highly Recommend Dog Training Elite • Expertise and Professionalism:
The trainers at Dog Training Elite possess extensive knowledge and experience, using evidence-based methods tailored to each dog’s unique needs. • Remarkable Results:
I observed significant improvements in my dog’s obedience, socialization, and overall behavior after completing their program. • Comprehensive Programs:
They offer a wide range of training options, including basic and advanced obedience, behavioral modification, service and therapy dog training, and specialized puppy programs. • Personalized Approach:
Training plans are customized for each dog and owner, ensuring that goals are met and lasting results are achieved. • Positive Reinforcement:
The academy emphasizes positive reinforcement, patience, and respect, making the learning process enjoyable for both dogs and owners. • Outstanding Support:
Communication is clear and consistent, with ongoing guidance provided throughout the training journey. Additional Highlights • Flexible Training Options:
In-home, in-facility, group, and one-on-one sessions are available to fit any schedule and environment. • Free Assessment:
They offer a complimentary consultation to evaluate your dog and recommend the most suitable program. • Community Reputation:
Dog Training Elite is highly regarded in Albuquerque for its professionalism, results-driven approach, and positive client experiences. I wholeheartedly recommend Dog Training Elite to anyone looking to build a stronger bond with their dog and achieve real, lasting improvements in behavior. Their commitment, expertise, and genuine care set them apart as a leading dog training academy in the area. I highly recommend Trainer Karla at Dog Training Elite! Karla is not only knowledgeable and professional, but she is also incredibly patient and compassionate with both dogs and their owners. She takes the time to understand each dog’s unique personality and tailors her training methods accordingly. Thanks to her positive approach and clear communication, I saw amazing improvements in my dog’s behavior and confidence. Karla truly cares about the success of every dog she works with, and her passion for training shines through in every session. I am very grateful for her guidance and support! My dogs love your dog’s name Axel! Thank you so much!
  • sugar magnolia
    Jul. 7, 2025
    I was very pleased with the training program and my assigned trainer Kayla. She was on-time for all classes and always prepared and excited to be here and teach us something new. She has a wonderful aura along with a sweet demeanor making her a joy to work with. Doobie was very comfortable with her and that helped tremendously with his training. Another awesome perk was having the trainer come to you! Doobie was much more at ease because he felt safe being in familiar surroundings. I felt comfortable too and learning right along with my fur baby. Using the E-collar (which is part of the package) has been a bit of a challenge yet I think with more practice, both Doobie and I will adapt to its main purpose: educating both myself and him how to understand each other better. I’ve seen improvement each week and it is so encouraging to witness such progress over this brief period of time (5 weeks). Like any new-to-you thing, getting good at figuring out how to use it often requires commitment and practice. I am committed to carving out 10-20 minutes each day refreshing what we were both taught and keeping us both on top of our game. The program was worth the time and money and I would recommend anyone wanting to learn how to be a better parent and help you and your 4-legged companion relationship thrive, give them a call.
  • Jeremiah Jaramillo
    Jul. 1, 2025
    Me and my dog Goober had an amazing experience and I highly recommend getting your dog trained with Dog Training Elite New Mexico. One of their trainers John Yan, has been an amazing trainer not only to my dog Goober but he has showed me all of the ways I need to learn to be able to train my dog. John was always so friendly and really good at communicating. Definitely worth it!
  • Ben McCormack
    Jul. 1, 2025
    Complete transformed my relationship with my dog after the first week. His aggression and reactivity have gotten much better, and now I know how to handle it. We spend our time together now playing and laughing rather than being frustrated and angry. Cant recommend enough. And with the lifetime group training classes it is a steal. Easily one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.