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Positive Reinforcement vs. Punishment

Positive Reinforcement Dog Training in Atlanta, GA

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Positive Dog Training Techniques

Atlanta Positive Reinforcement Dog Trainers

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 than training that incorporates punishment for bad behavior.

Positive reinforcement dog training in Atlanta, GA works because dogs are inherently eager to please. Rewarding your dog for good behavior helps create a deep, loving relationship with your dog built on trust, as opposed to one built on fear of punishment. The difference between a dog who has been trained to obey out of fear of being punished vs. a dog who learns to obey through a positive, loving bond with their owner is huge.

Dog Training Elite in Atlanta trainers use treats as an initial reward for puppies and dogs learning commands. When the trainer is absent, or you’re in between obedience classes, you can continue to use treats as a reward for your dog when they exhibit a desired behavior. Dogs tend to be highly food-motivated, so this is an extremely useful tool. You can also reward your dog with a play session, take them to the dog park or anything else you know your dog enjoys. After all, you know your dog best!

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Dog Training Elite in Atlanta

Your Questions Answered

Positive reinforcement training is a widely used and highly effective method for teaching dogs new behaviors while strengthening the bond between you and your pet. Below, we've answered some common questions about how this training approach works and why it's beneficial for all dog breeds.

Positive reinforcement training rewards dogs for good behavior with treats, praise, or play, encouraging them to repeat those behaviors. It focuses on creating a positive association with desired actions, making training enjoyable and effective for your dog.
Positive reinforcement builds trust and strengthens the bond between you and your dog. By rewarding desired behavior, your dog is more motivated to learn and respond willingly, whereas punishment can create fear and anxiety, hindering learning and damaging the relationship.
Yes, positive reinforcement training is effective for all dog breeds. Since it relies on rewarding good behavior, dogs of all breeds, sizes, and temperaments can respond well, making it a flexible and universally beneficial training method.
A white poodle smiling at one of our Atlanta positive reinforcement dog trainers.

Positive Dog Training in Atlanta, GA

Dog Training Elite

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As for not worrying about bad behavior – it may feel strange to act like everything is fine when your dog chews on your shoes, or goes to the bathroom inside your home. But focusing on rewarding good behavior and forgoing punishment for bad behavior is more successful in the long run.

Relying on punishment for errors and “low value” rewards, such as praise or petting are long held “traditional” methods for dog training. Punishments like flicking a dog’s nose, shocking them with a shock collar, or anything else that may cause a dog pain are unfortunately still in use today by many dog trainers.

Not only is it inhumane, but 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 — where the owner can’t find them.

Punishment training also damages the relationship between dog and owner. Dogs do not understand right and wrong. Instead of associating punishment with a specific behavior they learn to avoid, as with the bathroom example, they instead learn to live in constant fear of punishment. This prevents owners from bonding with their dogs in a meaningful way.

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The Dog Training Elite in Atlanta Difference


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Dog Training Elite in Atlanta uses modern training methods focused on positive dog training using reinforcement and bonding you and your dog. Our trainers in Atlanta, GA 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. The electronic collar is not a shock collar and never used to punish bad behavior. Instead, it produces a sensation like the gentle tug of a leash, and is used to help recapture the attention of a dog who gets distracted.

Dog Training Elite in Atlanta’s method of focusing on positive behavior reinforcement nurtures a dog's loving and naturally obedient nature. The method is the same regardless of the situation, whether training a puppy, an older dog or a service dog. The positive reinforcement dog training in Atlanta, GA ensures training is a success no matter what your dog’s behavior. If you have a brand new puppy who is stubborn and smart, or an older dog who has slipped into bad habits – or perhaps never learned – after proper conditioning and working with Dog Training Elite in Atlanta, when you say “sit,” your dog will automatically sit without thinking about it.

Dog Training Elite in Atlanta offers specialized in-home training services so your dog gets the attention and training he or she needs, and you learn alongside them so training continues when the trainer leaves. Dog Training Elite in Atlanta, GA also offers group classes for dogs who are ready to take obedience training to the next level, and service training programs for a variety of needs.

If you’re looking to train a service dog, or just looking for a loyal four-legged companion, Dog Training Elite in Atlanta, GA will help you get there with our positive dog training. You can get started today. Find a trainer near you and schedule a free in-home consultation!

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Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Aaron Cox
    Oct. 30, 2025
    Natalie with Dog Training Elite did a great job helping me train my puppy, Lulu. She did the initial basic training with Lulu at my house. Natalie modeled how to train Lulu, gave me plenty of practice, and patiently answered all my questions. Lulu is training to be a therapy dog. Charmone has done all our public access training. She constantly challenges Lulu to make sure she is able to meet therapy dog expectations. Lulu had to walk around different dog bones without trying to eat them. Charmaine’s dog Shadow helped prepare Lulu for her AKC Canine Good Citizen test, which she just passed. Group classes with Sophie and her puppy, Evie, has been very helpful. Having other dogs model appropriate behavior makes a big difference. Group training sessions are often tailored to your specific dog needs and the people in the group support each other. I am thankful for all Dog Training Elite has done for us. I appreciate their continued support.
  • Randy Thomas
    Oct. 9, 2025
    Dog Training Elite is really THE elite training available for you dog! I have two German Shepard dogs….one 11 and one 1 1/2. The one on one training provided by Mike and Gosia provided exactly what both pups needed to “nudge” them into learning commands designed to enhance their safety as well as make our afternoon walks, outings, and social trips enjoyable and worry-free for them and me. I can’t recommend them enough!
  • Mike Redden
    Sep. 22, 2025
    Our dog Pixie just graduated on 10-1-25! This training is worth every penny. We had a dog out of control, now we are in control. The key is consistency. Work with your dog daily. Michael and his wife Gosia are the consummate professionals. We wholeheartedly recommend their training services!
  • Heather Redden
    Sep. 22, 2025
    Our “owner surrendered shelter. dog” was extremely reactive.( That’s why she was turned in.) I’m sure she had a lot of childhood trauma. She was reactive to people as well as other dogs, and I actually pried her jaws open to release a small dog from her mouth. She was great with us, but we lived in a constant state of trepidation with her behavior around other living things. I hesitated more than once spending money on the Platinum Program but after just nine private training sessions, we have a new dog. It was worth every penny and we’re not done, but the change has been jaw- dropping. We never could’ve done this on our own, even with many YouTube videos🤣Mike and Gosia were always on time , consistent , patient and always willing to help immediately. We are grateful for their Professionalism and kindness
  • Hannah Johnson
    Aug. 25, 2025
    We started our rescue German shepherd, Kira, with Dog Training Elite just a few months ago after her first birthday. She is such a sweet pup but would never listen when she was excited (so 90% of the time). It was stressful to take her anywhere because we never knew how she would behave. We tried training her ourselves but progress was slow and not always in the right direction. Through this training we discovered the importance of consistency. My husband and I had the same goals for Kira, but unintentionally approached it in different ways. These lessons are more for you than the dog because they make sure everyone is aligned with commands, timing, inflection, and more. This program is great because it teaches YOU how to train your dog. We worked with Kira daily for about 15-20 minutes between the weekly lessons and that’s why we saw so much progress so quickly. We purchased the platinum package and have been so grateful we did ever since. The convenience of a trainer coming to our house every week was wonderful since my husband and I work different schedules. The lessons were practical and enjoyable for both us and the dog. Kira has since graduated and we are able to take her places we never could have before. She behaves like an entirely different dog. In fact, we get compliments from strangers on how well behaved she is! Recently we were able to have dinner at a nice restaurant outside with lots of foot traffic within a few feet of us. Kira stayed under my chair the entire meal until we let her greet the waiter at the end. With our package we get unlimited group classes. These classes are wonderful because it exposes Kira to other dogs and distractions while working on her training. They are fun for all of us and we intend to keep going even though she has since “graduated”. The reason this program is so successful, though, is because of Mike and Gosia. They are so good at what they do and make every lesson/class engaging for the dogs and for us. I will never stop recommending Mike and Gosia to everyone. Before this program my husband had deemed our dog “untrainable” and I can happily say that this program has successfully proven him wrong.
  • Chemeka Watson
    Aug. 19, 2025
    We have an 8 year old Akita. When I tell you I thought an old dog couldn't be taught new tricks, Whit Gray proved me wrong! His techniques are stellar and makes the training process easy and enjoyable. He's always on time, communicates effectively and has great patience! The process of elite training is effective and well worth it!
  • Maria elena Rebollo
    Jul. 28, 2025
    After several years of wanting to train our Pancho, whom we rescued four years ago, when trying to put our expectations on the table versus reality, we realized how important it was for our well-being as a whole, for that reason we began the search, the Dog Elite page was one of the first to appear, after carefully reading the excellent opinions, we decided to contact them, our first interview was with gosia and from the first moment we felt that we were going down the best path, excellent sounds like an understatement when it comes to describing their services, from knowledge, warmth and responsibility to feeling part of this great family, infinite thanks to both of you!
  • Mike Morel
    Jul. 27, 2025
    We have had such a great experience working with Gosia and Mike. The training has been exactly what we were looking for to raise our GSP to be a well mannered companion. Highly recommend their professional teaching and guidance.
  • Dave Amster
    Jul. 22, 2025
    We are so happy with the training that we received from Dog Training Elite. Gosia and Michael were fantastic every step of the way, from personal one-on-one training to the group training. Our pup Rocky has been doing so much better since we started training. I highly recommend!
  • Kerry Richardson
    Jul. 21, 2025
    We highly recommend Dog Training Elite if you are in the Woodstock Georgia area. Working with Michael & Gosia improved our pup’s manners, listening & response, and ability to follow directions. It makes taking my 75 lb dog on walks and out in public so much more enjoyable and less stressful. Most importantly, I got training on how to be an excellent dog owner and how to communicate with my dog. Micheal & Gosia provide practical, efficient training strategies and customize the instruction and practice to your dog. They are great with communication and scheduling. They are kind, trustworthy people whom you can be comfortable inviting into your home and whom you will enjoy getting to know. I also highly recommend the group classes to practice what you and your dog are learning in the real world. It’s a lot fun, too!
  • Joshua Palacios
    Jul. 21, 2025
    We just completed the Platinum Program with Michael and Gosia for our Shiba Inu, Daiyo, and we were very pleased with our experience. Mike was our main trainer, and he was fantastic at guiding us through Daiyo’s reactivity issues, giving us practical tools and strategies we can continue using every day. It’s important to understand that this isn’t a “quick fix” — it’s an ongoing training process. But thanks to Mike’s guidance, we now feel much more confident and capable of handling Daiyo, both at home and in challenging public situations. One of the best parts of the Platinum Program is the continued support: they’re just a call away if Daiyo ever needs extra help or if any new problems come up. Michael and Gosia are knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely care about both the dogs and their owners. We’re so grateful for their help and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for effective, long-term training with reliable, supportive trainers!
  • Cody Deal
    Jul. 19, 2025
    We are beyond grateful for the incredible work Gosia and Mike have done with our dogs, Cora and Lyra! Their expertise is truly unmatched. They’ve helped us with everything from general obedience and commands to leash walking and reactivity. Their dedication to both our dogs and us as owners has made all the difference. They’re flexible, communicative, and always go above and beyond. Simply amazing people and phenomenal trainers. We highly, highly recommend them.
  • Erin Rose
    Jul. 19, 2025
    Whit has been amazing working with our older girl. I used to always worry if she broke out of the fence and now we are able to trust her for walks around the neighborhood without a leash. She's learned commands she didn't know before, quickly at that. We've also come to understand her a lot better with his methods of giving her patience in her age. Her health isn't the best anymore, but her mind is staying sharp as a tack and she's enjoyed coming her group classes.
  • Callahan Grier
    Jun. 11, 2025
    They are super nice to my dog and super good at what they do! They are friendly and kind and are very skilled.
  • Megan Rozyskie
    Jun. 10, 2025
    I cannot recommend Mike and Gosia enough! They worked a miracle on our one year old golden retriever.
  • Megan Shulin
    May. 29, 2025
    We are so happy we used this training company for our 4-month old golden retriever. While cute, he was out of control and unpredictable. To be honest, I was a little afraid of him when he would snap at me while trying to pick him up. I called this company and Michael came to the rescue very quickly. After only 3 months of weekly in-home training with Michael and Gosia our puppy did a near-180. Our puppy LOVED their visits and I looked forward to them, too. It was amazing to see that our dog was actually capable being obedient when they trained him (and us!). You have to keep up the work but our now 1-year old golden is a pretty good dog and we are grateful we found Dog Training Elite Northeast Atlanta.
  • Ryann Imhulse
    May. 2, 2025
    100% would recommend Dog Training Elite Northwest Atlanta! We reached out to Michael and Gosia in desperation after our overprotective black lab tried to chew through the basement door when we had a babysitter. We had resigned ourselves to the fact that we just couldn't have anyone in our home when we weren't there. They came over to assess Charlie and explained his behavior in a way that gave us hope. Their expertise and patience with Charlie (and us) has decreased Charlie's anxiety and has brought out the best sides of him. We are so grateful for their expertise! Their one on one training sessions have been game changers, and we are excited to have the continued support through group sessions going forward.
  • Rocky Brown
    Apr. 23, 2025
    Great people who do an amazing job helping my puppy turn into a well trained dog!
  • Floyd Dickens III
    Apr. 22, 2025
    Highly recommended - sought out a trainer for our 6 month old pup, and after extensive research, we decided to go with Dog Training Elite. They did not disappoint! Michael (our lead trainer) was knowledgeable, detailed, informative, flexible and most of all PATIENT! If you are looking for in-home training, this is it!
  • Lenice Dower
    Apr. 11, 2025
    Dog Training Elite was amazing!!! They helped us so much with our French Bulldog Poppy. I would 10/10 recommend them for dog training and would use them in the future again.