A well-trained dog with training from an expert Dog Training Elite dog behaviorist.

Behavioral Solutions

Dog Training Elite

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Request Free Assessment

A happy leash trained dog walking with their owner - if you are in need of dog behavior training, contact Dog Training Elite today!

Dog Behavior Training

Does your dog chew on things, pee indoors, or bark excessively? If so, your dog may benefit from a dog behaviorist, and DTE is here to help. Our experienced trainers specialize in correcting unwanted behaviors and can address various issues your dog may face at home.

Behavior-focused training differs from basic obedience training and requires knowledgeable, experienced trainers. DTE trainers can identify and address the root causes of problematic behaviors, such as separation anxiety or excessive barking, and teach your dog to respond more appropriately to those triggers.

Through consistent training and balance, your dog can learn new, desirable behaviors that last.

See Training Packages

Our Behavioral Solution Programs

Dog Training Elite - Dog & Puppy Potty Training. Dog Training Elite

Potty Training

We help dogs learn to relieve themselves outdoors with our dog potty training, reducing accidents in your home and fostering good habits that last a lifetime.

Dog Training Elite - Dog Socialization Classes. Dog Training Elite

Socialization

Our dog socialization classes teach dogs to maintain control and obedience around other dogs, people, and various distractions, reducing fear and aggression while promoting calm, confident behavior.

Dog Training Elite - Stop Puppy Biting with Dog Training Elite

Biting

Through targeted puppy biting training, we address aggressive tendencies and teach dogs to inhibit biting, helping them develop better self-control.

Dog Training Elite - Reactive Dog Training. Dog Training Elite

Fear & Reactiveness

Our reactive dog training focuses on managing and reducing fear-based reactions to common triggers, helping dogs be more relaxed and well-adjusted.

Dog Training Elite - Destructive Chewing and Digging Training. DTE

Destructive Chewing & Digging

Our destructive chewing and digging training addresses your dog’s destructive chewing and digging by redirecting these behaviors toward more appropriate and constructive outlets.

Dog Training Elite - Separation Anxiety Training for Dogs. DTE

Separation Anxiety

Our separation anxiety training helps dogs overcome the stress of being alone, which curbs destructive behaviors and makes departures easier for everyone.

Dog Training Elite - Excessive Barking Training. DTE

Excessive Barking

We address the root causes of barking with our excessive barking training, teaching your dog to communicate appropriately and reduce unnecessary noise.

Dog Training Elite - Staying and Coming Training. DTE

Staying & Coming

Our staying and coming training focuses on improving your dog’s reliability in following essential commands like down and come, ensuring they respond promptly in any situation.

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Stealing Food, Clothing, or Other Objects

Our trainers work with your dog to curb the habit of stealing items, teaching them to respect boundaries and avoid problematic behaviors.

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Resource Guarding

We tackle resource guarding behaviors by addressing the underlying causes of your dog's insecurity. Our training helps your dog feel more secure, which reduces aggression over food, toys, or personal spaces.

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Food Guarding & Begging

Through consistent and focused training, we teach dogs to eat politely and reduce persistent begging behaviors. This approach creates a more peaceful and enjoyable mealtime experience for everyone involved.

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Mouthing, Nipping & Rough Play

Our program teaches dogs to play gently, reducing the risk of injury and making playtime safe and enjoyable.

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Anxiety & Submissive Urination

We work with anxious dogs to build their confidence. This program will help to reduce incidents of submissive urination and make your dog feel more secure.

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Jumping Up & Hyperactivity

This program helps dogs learn to greet people calmly and manage their energy levels, reducing hyperactivity and inappropriate jumping.

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Excessive Licking

We address compulsive licking behaviors, helping dogs find more appropriate ways to express themselves and reducing skin issues.

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Leashing

Our leashing program teaches dogs to walk politely on a leash, making walks more enjoyable and less stressful for you and your dog.

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Abnormal Repetitive Behaviors

We help your dog break free from compulsive actions like spinning or tail chasing, focusing their energy on healthier habits.

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Escaping

We train your dog to respect boundaries, significantly reducing the risk of escape and keeping them safe at home.

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!

A dog with expert behaviorial training from Dog Training Elite.

What is Behavioral Training?


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Behavioral and regular obedience training serve different but equally important roles in shaping a well-behaved dog.

Obedience training teaches your dog basic commands like sit, heel, and come. This training helps your dog follow instructions in different situations and builds clear communication between you and your pet.

Behavioral training, however, goes deeper by addressing the root causes of problematic behaviors like aggression, anxiety, or excessive barking. While obedience training tells a dog what to do, behavioral training focuses on changing undesirable habits and reactions.

Combining obedience training with targeted behavioral solutions helps dogs overcome specific issues, resulting in a more balanced and adjusted pet.

Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Beth Burk
    Feb. 15, 2026
    Matt has been great with George. He is patient and explains things clearly. Matt is flexible with scheduling. Matt answers questions in an understandable manner. George continues to improve and I am becoming a better dog mom.
  • marie larson
    Feb. 14, 2026
    Met with Jeff today at my home . He’s very personable . He met with my dog to see if he’s a good candidate for the program. I highly recommend them to anyone wanting to have your dog trained , either in pet therapy or just to have more training with your dog .
  • Daniel Breyer
    Feb. 14, 2026
    The best! Ally turned our dog stubborn puppy into a compliant angel! Thank you so much. 💙💙💙💙💙
  • Carley Yanuck
    Feb. 14, 2026
    We’ve had such a positive experience with Dog Training Elite! After adding a new rescue dog to our pack, we’ve struggled with reactivity and barking from both dogs. We’ve worked with other trainers in the past, but we’ve seen more success with our older dog with DTE than anywhere else. Both dogs have responded very well to the e-collar training. We appreciate how conscientiously the trainers use the e-collars, and we have been given clear guidance on what levels of the collar to utilize with certain behaviors. The staff has been amazing with both of our dogs and are clearly invested in their success. The group classes are incredibly fun and something we genuinely look forward to each week. I can’t recommend DTE enough for anyone who needs help and guidance with their dog.
  • Lisseth Salgado
    Feb. 14, 2026
    After visiting several schools to train my dog as a service animal, we chose Dog Training Elite—and it was absolutely the right decision. Matt, the director, did an amazing job tailoring the program to our needs, and Alex, my dog’s trainer, is incredibly empathetic. My dog adores him. The whole experience has been wonderful. We loved the classes, and my dog went from being extremely hyperactive to truly well‑behaved, in just 2 month. We’ve learned so much, and now we enjoy our dog more than ever
  • Cindy DiPrimio
    Feb. 5, 2026
    At first, I wasn’t sure if this was something I wanted to do. But after training with Nathan and clint, it was definitely worth it! We have much more control over our dog. He listens so much better to us. So everyone is happy! And they gave us the tools for this to happen. We highly recommend Dog training Elite!
  • Bruce Morgan
    Feb. 14, 2026
    Magie is slowly turning an over the top wild reprobate into a responsible citizen. One week and it's night and early morning, not quite day yet. Following him with a pooper scooper has finally stopped..it's a good thing he is so cute.
  • Deborah Tomoff
    Feb. 13, 2026
    I was very impressed with Dog Training Elite Greater Cleveland. All the trainers showed incredible patience for me and a deep knowledge of training. Most importantly, every single person there was so kind, so friendly and so helpful. Their clear instructions and personalized approach was above and beyond my expectations! I would recommend these amazing people to anyone!
  • Quenton Wellington
    Jan. 29, 2026
    Josh is awesome and does a great job. I would recommend him and this company to ANYONE looking for dog training.
  • Douglas Chan, MS, LPC S, CART
    Feb. 13, 2026
    If you are looking for professional service dog training, look no further than Jan, Alex P. , the other Alex and their team at Dog Training Elite West Houston. I wanted a company that would help me train our newly adopted dog, Groot, to be a service dog for my handicapped son. Their training philosophy is rooted in canine behavioral science, positive reinforcement , corrective actions, building confidences of both dog and the handler, consistency and clear communication, which helped Groot and I build an unbreakable bond. Here are some key highlights of our experience: Expert Instruction: They didn’t just trained Groot they also trained me (the handler) and soon my son to understand canine behavior. Customized Approach: Jan and Alex tailored every session to my specific needs and Groot’s personality. With this customization it allowed Groot to learn how to be less and less reactive. Professionalism: Jan, both Alex’s and the whole team are patient, knowledgeable, and always provide helpful follow-up notes after sessions. Thanks to their guidance, Groot is now growing into a stellar working dog. Five stars plus!!!!
  • Daniel Tropea
    Oct. 28, 2025
    Marshall did very well by us. He talks a little fast. But he’s very knowledgeable. In addition he’s very thorough when asking questions.
  • Destiny Harrison
    Feb. 13, 2026
    I would definitely recommend for pup training. They were always able to accommodate my schedule for training. Always on time! Day one was Information and my trainer had everything prepared and explained each week with clarity and a follow along pamphlet. Each week I met a different training getting advice and hands on training with my pup and different trainers. We even had puppy training with their own dogs adding an extra element for my pup. I am so happy with how obedient my pup has become. I wouldn’t have been able to get him to this point without them.
  • Jenny Carr
    Feb. 13, 2026
    I am so grateful I found josh at dog training elite. I had been to 4 other trainers with my german shepherd and was told there was nothing I could do that I should buy a kennel and crate for when people came to my home and to use a muzzle when out in public which to me was not a solution but after training with Josh, River is a completely different dog josh showed me how to train River to be cordial in public and around friends and family I feel so blessed to have found Josh. River and I are now considering joing a search and rescue team. If you are trying to decide if dog training elite is right for you or worth the money it definitely is.
  • Ann Justice
    Feb. 13, 2026
    I have a puppy and Anna has been super working with him and me. She’s very patient and great explaining and demonstrating what we should be doing. I was nervous when I first contacted Elite about training but Anna relieved all my nervousness with our first session. I’m very happy that I chose Elite and Anna and I’m excited about the future training that Anna has for us
  • Ashlee Levitch
    Feb. 12, 2026
    Payton, Jennie and the team at Dog Training Elite Austin are AMAZING! My puppy has learned so much, alongside my senior dogs who wanted to get in on the lessons. SO grateful for their help. Most certainly recommending them to all my puppy parent friends.
  • Kaela Thompson
    Feb. 12, 2026
    Del has been amazing to work with! Our dog has excelled each and every lesson! We went from counter surfing, jumping and mouthing to a perfectly respectable K9. The training plans a clear, organized and achievable. Dog Training Elite is worth every single penny! Do yourself a favor by investing in your furry family member! You won’t regret it!
  • Bonnie
    Feb. 12, 2026
    The entire staff is delightful. They treated our pup so well and were super patient with him (stubborn breed) and were so informative come pick-up time. They spent however long they needed to explaining the day and we never felt rushed to leave. Answered all of our questions and never made us feel stupid for asking them. We will continue working with them through home visits (the 1st one was fantastic) and group classes. If you're looking for a place to train your dog, this is it.
  • Kim Archambault
    Jan. 29, 2026
    What a fun week. This week was "down" which seems highly acheivable and can be added with other commands. Kurtis answered every question and was knowledgeable with canine behavior; mentioned situations we didnt even think of.
  • Melissa LaLonde
    Feb. 11, 2026
    Our 5-month-old puppy, Piper, just completed her in-facility training at Dog Training Elite Greater Cleveland, and we truly could not be more grateful for this experience. From day one, the staff has been absolutely amazing — knowledgeable, patient, supportive, and genuinely invested in Piper’s success. Piper learned so much during her time there — and honestly, so did we. The team not only worked with her, but made sure we understood the training process and felt confident moving forward. The communication, consistency, and care they provided exceeded our expectations. We’re excited to now begin in-home sessions and group lessons as we continue preparing for her certification test. We know we still have a ways to go, but it’s incredibly reassuring to have Dog Training Elite Greater Cleveland by our side every step of the way. We are so thankful to be partnering with such an outstanding organization. If you’re considering training for your dog, we wholeheartedly recommend them! — Melissa, Lori, and Piper 🐾🐶
  • Bryann-Rose Arnold
    Feb. 11, 2026
    This place is great! I have, or rather, had, a very reactive heeler. She would bark at everything and everyone. Snapping, nipping and if it weren’t for her muzzle maybe even biting. I did a consultation and the woman they sent out was great. Very friendly, understanding and overall very welcoming. My dog even stopped growling in her presence which I was amazed by. A few weeks later we had our first session with Kayla C. and she is now one of my favorite people! She has a great, warm personality. She did great with my dog and even now my heeler lets Kayla touch her. 8 weeks of one on one training with Kayla and I now feel SO comfortable taking my dog out in public. She had a dog get in her face the other day and she was unbothered by it. She’s had random people come up and have conversations with me, and now people are able to get closer than 20 ft. I’m so amazingly proud of the progress my dog has made and I’m grateful to Kayla for her help in guiding us through this. There was no judgment, just understanding. I definitely recommend this group of trainers.

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See An Elite Dog in Action

Behavior Training Techniques

At DTE, we use proven techniques to encourage lasting behavior changes in dogs.

Here’s how we do it.

We use a clicker to mark the exact moment your dog performs the correct behavior. The click signals a coming reward and helps your dog learn which actions are worth repeating.
Similar to clicker training, this method uses a specific word or phrase like "yes" or "good" to mark the behavior. This verbal cue reinforces positive behavior and strengthens the communication between you and your dog.
By demonstrating correct behaviors with a "model" dog, other dogs in the group learn through observation. This method taps into dogs' natural tendency to imitate, making it easier for them to adopt behaviors.
Building a strong bond between dog and owner is key. We build trust and understand your dog's needs to create a cooperative training environment where your dog is more likely to respond positively.
A stick or specific spot is used to guide your dog to the desired behavior, encouraging them to touch or follow the target. Once they succeed, we reinforce the action with a reward. This technique is ideal for teaching complex behaviors and improving focus.
An owner and their happy, healthy dog with expert training from Dog Training Elite.

Classical Conditioning, or the Pavlovian Model

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Classical conditioning, pioneered by Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov's work, is a fundamental principle in dog training. Pavlov’s study showed dogs could learn to associate a neutral stimulus, like a bell, with food, prompting them to respond to the bell alone.

At Dog Training Elite, we apply this principle in our behavioral training programs. We pair a command with two stimuli: a clicker (or marker word) and a reward like a treat or praise. The clicker signals the correct behavior, and the reward reinforces it. This method helps dogs quickly understand what’s expected and encourages them to repeat desired behaviors.

Unlike punishment-based methods, classical conditioning shapes behavior effectively and creates a well-adjusted, happy dog.

A dog with classical conditioning training from Dog Training Elite.

Your Expert Dog Behaviorist

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Our certified, experienced trainers are experts in solving various behavior problems, from aggression and anxiety to excessive barking and destructive habits.

We focus on understanding your dog’s personality, environment, and behavior triggers to develop customized training plans. Our trainers will work to resolve these issues and their root causes to prevent them from returning.

What Makes Our Trainers Stand Out?
  • Certified and Experienced: Our trainers are certified professionals with years of experience handling behavioral challenges. With a proven track record of success, they’re equipped to deliver the best results for your pet.
  • Breed-Specific Knowledge: We understand the unique traits of different breeds and customize our training methods to match your dog’s natural behaviors, making the training more effective.
  • Friendly and Understanding: Our trainers are approachable and empathetic, working closely with you to build trust and create a supportive training environment for your dog.
A group of dogs being trained by the expert team at Dog Training Elite.
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Educate, Empower, Elevate, Elite

Victory Begins With Elite Education

Why Choose Dog Training Elite?

Proven Methods for Successful Dog Training


If you're looking for a top dog behaviorist, Dog Training Elite is the go-to choice.

Our experienced trainers handle various issues, including aggression, anxiety, excessive barking, and more. With a personalized approach, we help dogs overcome their challenges and build stronger, happier relationships with their owners.

No matter how challenging your dog’s behavior may seem, there is hope. Whether your dog’s behavioral issues are minor or more serious, we’re here to help.

Reach out today for a free consultation!