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A service dog and their owner outside - find elite service dog training in Charleston / Summerville, SC with Dog Training Elite.

Professional

Service Dog Training

Dog Training Elite Lowcountry

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Request Free Assessment


Our Service Dog Training Could Help:

Veterans or civilians with PTSD, anxiety, or depression
Children or adults with autism
Individuals with epilepsy
Advanced medical training (participating locations)

Dog Training Elite Lowcountry

Service Dog Training in Charleston / Summerville, SC

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service dog as “a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.” Disabilities include mental or physical impairments that affect an individual’s ability to perform one or more major life activities (walking, seeing, etc.).

Because service dogs play such a key role in the life of disabled individuals, they are protected by the law. Places of residence, employment, and commercial facilities cannot discriminate against disabled individuals with service animals. If you are wondering how to get a service dog, you can either purchase a fully trained dog or purchase a service puppy and train it.

With our service dog training in Charleston / Summerville, SC, we ensure that your dog is trained to meet the specific needs of your disability, providing personalized support and empowering both dog and handler for long-term success.

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A man and his support service dog - learn more about our positive training methods at Dog Training Elite.

Our Pawsitive Approach to Service Dog Training


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At Dog Training Elite, we believe that successful dog training requires dedication, patience, and balance. That’s why we are committed to using positive reinforcement techniques in all of our training programs.

Through balanced training, our team helps owners build trust with their dogs. This approach is especially important for service dog training because strong relationships and communication are essential for dogs to reliably assist their handler.

By focusing on encouragement rather than punishment, we created confident, well-behaved dogs that are eager to perform their best and impress their owners.

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

  • Jody Smith
    Dec. 20, 2024
    We have a great pyrenees who we thought would be a good therapy dog. During our first training session, we realized how helpful the training would be for us. He was a good dog but had some bothersome behaviors. A few lessons in and our home life has changed. Baeleigh has literally walked with us through his journey in becoming a therapy dog. He is extremely well-behaved. We highly recommend Baeleigh. She is creative, positive and committed to helping us achieve our goals.
  • Michael- Lauren Berry
    Nov. 19, 2024
    Baleigh at Dog Training Elite is an amazing trainer. She has helped us train our sweet golden girl Maggie as a therapy dog. We have been working with her since Maggie was around nine weeks old and she’s now nine months old and she has transformed so much in such a short time. We are so thrilled with the progress she has made and all the support from dog training elite. She still has some work to go, but she is on her way to being a wonderful therapy dog. I know she’ll be able to help so many people with her sweet and kind demeanor and using all her skills she has learned in training. I cannot thank the team enough for what this process has done for our family already. It’s amazing just to see how my kids interact with her and people in our neighborhood. And how she brings so many smiles to peoples faces.
  • Ron Meserve
    Nov. 6, 2024
    Excelled beyond expectations. The scheduling was handled efficiently. The coach, Baeleigh Denham, was a joy to work with. Very professional. Attentive. Patient but firm. I highly recommend Elite for anyone wanting a highly effective dog training (actually, owner training) resource.
  • Ciara Wood
    Oct. 29, 2024
    Baeleigh is the best! She is so knowledgeable about animal behavior and explains everything so it makes sense. She helped me be more confident when I’m training my dog.I noticed major progress within the first month of working with her. Ranger used to pull me down the side walk and try to wiggle out of his collar if he didn’t want to comply, but now he will walk by my side, I can take him in Public without him being crazy, and so much more. The group classes are also great for exposure around other dogs. I would recommend Baeleigh and dog training elite over and over again!
  • Nicole
    Oct. 26, 2024
    COLBY is the GOAT. We choose Dog Training Elite because of Colby. From our first sign up meeting through our sessions, Colby has been professional and so incredibly supportive and instructive. Her patience with us and ability to not only train our dog, Diesel, but our family so we are all on the same page has been outstanding. I highly recommend DTE and Colby.
  • Shanel Pierce
    Oct. 23, 2024
    Our bernedoodle learned very quickly in the service dog program. The trainers are very knowledgeable and professional. We are very pleased with his progress and behavior.
  • Emily Gibbons
    Oct. 11, 2024
    Colby and Baeleigh have done an excellent job Training both my dog and me! I’m very pleased!!
  • tyler sciarrino
    Oct. 11, 2024
    I got a puppy earlier this year and immediately searched for a trainer. I made an appointment and a week later met Colby for a consultation. She was knowledgeable, kind, and professional. Almost 6 months later my puppy is exceptionally well trained and on her way to being a service dog. I’m so thankful for this company and their support. Highly recommend!
  • Delirious Davies
    Oct. 5, 2024
    This company has helped us turn our Airdale around from a terrified, aggressive canine to a well-behaved pooch. Colby and Bayleigh have been fantastic to us! Bayleigh often leads the group sessions and our individual sessions are mostly with Colby. They spend most of their time teaching us how to build our dog's confidence and obedience so she can live a happier life.
  • P HAHN
    Sep. 11, 2024
    We appreciate the instructors from Dog Training Elite Lowcountry.. Both trainers Baeliegh and Colby were very knowledgeable and helpful to us. Each lesson built on previous ones & helped our puppy improve. Even more than thst they provided helpful information on care & ideas to improve our pet’s daily life. Thanks! 🐶
  • Megan Sanders
    Sep. 9, 2024
    We’ve had the best experience with training for our puppy. Bayleigh is amazing & we love working with her & this company!
  • Erika Richardson
    Sep. 4, 2024
    We have had an amazing experience from the trainers to the staff, our goldendoodle has taken to the training and their methodology so well. We love they come to our home and meet out in the community to gove that variety. I cant recommend them enough if you are looking for dog training!!!
  • Cecilia Houge
    Aug. 30, 2024
    We joined the program several months ago with Baliegh and Colby. They have done wonders with our 4 young and wild Staffy/Pitt mixes. We were at our wits end and debating splitting up our 4 litter mates when we made the choice to seek help. Now we have 4 girls that are happy, confident, and on the way to being well behaved pups that I knew they could be. The girls have helped shape and mold our babies lives for the better and we are so grateful.
  • Tony Houge
    Aug. 30, 2024
    There are so many things that need to be said. First off, our family has 4 littermayes who are all being trained together by Bayleigh and Colby. These trainer have hands down made this process significantly less stressful than expected. Top notch communication, and simple to follow instructions make this journey unbelievable. If you need assistance with your pets, and are at a point where you need a helping hand, I recommend you give this company a call. You won't be disappointed, we weren't. They also offer working dog training, for both emotional and service dogs. If you have the need, they'll step right in an create a successful path for you and your animals.
  • Kato Junior
    Aug. 22, 2024
    Give Colby a raise…the way she handles each lesson and how detailed she is with teaching a new command is amazing. I 100% RECOMMEND her.
  • Teja
    Aug. 22, 2024
    Colby is literally the best Highly would recommend her as your trainer.
  • Melissa Moyer
    Aug. 3, 2024
    I’ve been working with Colby and have seen amazing results with my dog. She’s gained so much confidence and over come hurdles of anxiety. She’s taught me how to properly control the dog and manage reactivity. Overall just an awesome experience and a great investment for our fur baby!
  • Bailey Davidson
    Jul. 26, 2024
    The DTE team worked with my reactive german shepherd and I. They were extremely patient, helpful, and willing to adapt to our needs. They helped both my dog and myself gain the confidence we needed to continue our training, and they gave us the tools and knowledge I needed to redefine my dog and I's relationship. They also were very accommodating with scheduling. Would definitely recommend!
  • Carolyn Viall
    Jul. 17, 2024
    We have worked with Dog Training Elite for six lessons so far and one group lesson with our new rescue dog who is now about 11 months old. Their training and recommendations have made a huge difference in his behavior. He is far less reactive ( in fact, little to no reaction now to most triggers) with other dogs, deer, geese, squirrels, etc. Bayleigh has been our primary trainer but we also have worked with Colby for our initial lesson. Both of them are knowledgeable and patient, not only with our dog but also with us. We highly recommend Dog Training Elite!
  • Scott Weinmann
    Jul. 16, 2024
    Colby is an absolute amazing trainer to work with. I learn so much about what I’m doing wrong and how to improve handling Taco! Great person and company.
A Dog Training Elite Lowcountry owner smiling with his dog in Charleston / Summerville, SC.

Dog Training Elite Lowcountry

Is a Service Dog The Same As a Therapy Dog?

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Many types of working dogs increase the quality of life for their handlers. The three main categories of working dogs are service animal, therapy animal, and emotional support animal. Each category covers different areas of support and different levels of protection under the law.

  1. Service Animal
  2. As mentioned above, service animals assist individuals with disabilities. Depending on the person’s needs, the service animal learns how to perform certain tasks. Guide dogs, for example, help blind individuals safely navigate their environment. Seizure response dogs respond to their handlers when the individual is having a seizure. Service animals are highly trained and specialized, and they are also offered the most protection under the law compared to therapy or emotional support animals.

    Dogs are not the only kinds of service animals - miniature horses, pigs, and monkeys are often trained to support individuals with disabilities!

  3. Therapy Animal
  4. Therapy dogs provide comfort and improve the mental well-being of individuals in hospitals, hospice care, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, and more. These dogs must have a friendly, calm demeanor and be comfortable when handled by strangers.

    Therapy dogs are not trained to perform specific tasks, but they must be obedient and well-mannered. Therapy animals are permitted in some areas where pets are not, but they have fewer protections than service animals. All therapy dogs must be certified before they can offer their services to the community.

  5. Emotional Support Animal
  6. Emotional support dogs relieve loneliness, anxiety, depression, and other symptoms of mental health disorders. They provide comfort to their handlers, but they are not trained to perform specific tasks. Most emotional support animals are sensitive to the emotional changes of their handler and will remain close by at all times. Emotional support animals are not protected by the ADA, but residential buildings must permit emotional support animals.

Dog Training Elite Lowcountry

What Can Service Dogs Do?

Service dogs are crucial in assisting individuals with various disabilities and conditions, providing them with support, independence, and companionship. These highly trained dogs can perform specific tasks tailored to the needs of their handlers. Learn about breeds that make great service dogs, who can benefit from a service dog and the training that will help these pups meet their handler's needs.

Service dogs are a great help to disabled individuals thanks to their incredible ability to perform highly specialized tasks, like opening doors, switching lights on and off, assisting with balance and stability, guiding, pulling wheelchairs, answering phones and making calls, finding objects or places, unloading and loading items, clearing rooms, finding help, and many more. Service dogs improve the lives of disabled individuals by increasing their autonomy.
Individuals with certain diseases and disorders can benefit from a highly trained service dog. Dogs have an incredible sense of smell and they can detect the chemical changes associated with oncoming seizures and increases in blood pressure. Alert service dogs alert their handler to these situations to prevent a life-threatening emergency. Alert dogs also help those with extreme allergies detect potential allergens in food.
Disabled or epileptic individuals are more prone to emergencies than the average person. Service dogs are trained to alert their handler to a potential emergency, and alert surrounding individuals to an active emergency. Service dogs can also call for help on pre-programmed phones.

Additional Service Training Info

Dog Training Elite Lowcountry - PTSD Service Dog in Charleston / Summerville, SC. DTE
PTSD Service Dog

If you're looking to train a PTSD service dog in Charleston / Summerville, SC, Dog Training Elite is here to help. Our service dogs are trained to assist with symptoms such as anxiety, hyper-vigilance, and panic attacks, providing grounding emotional support.

Dog Training Elite Lowcountry - Psychiatric Service Dog in Charleston / Summerville, SC. DTE
Psychiatric Service Dog Training

Our psychiatric service dog training in Charleston / Summerville, SC helps individuals with PTSD, anxiety, and depression. We'll help train your dog to mitigate symptoms by offering emotional grounding and support during stressful situations.

Dog Training Elite Lowcountry - Mobility Service Dog in Charleston / Summerville, SC. Dog Training Elite
Mobility Support Service Dog

Enhance your independence or help a loved one with specialized mobility service dog training in Charleston / Summerville, SC from Dog Training Elite. Our expert trainers teach dogs the skills they need to support their owners with mobility challenges.

Dog Training Elite Lowcountry - Seizure Response Dog in Charleston / Summerville, SC. DTE
Medical Response Dog Training

If you are in need of a seizure response dog in Charleston / Summerville, SC, Dog Training Elite can help. Our training program is designed to help individuals with epilepsy regain independence and confidence.

Dog Training Elite Lowcountry - Autism Support Dog Training in Charleston / Summerville, SC. DTE
Autism Support Service Dog

Bring life-changing support to your family with Dog Training Elite's autism support dog training in Charleston / Summerville, SC. Our compassionate trainers work closely with your family and dog throughout the entire process, ensuring your pup is fully prepared to provide comfort, safety, and companionship.

A service dog at a ball game with their owner - get professional Charleston / Summerville service dog training with Dog Training Elite.

Dog Training Elite Lowcountry

Service Dogs for Anxiety, PTSD, and Autism

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Service dogs trained to assist handlers with severe anxiety or depression perform specific tasks that reduce the potential for panic attacks or self-harm attempts. Such tasks include deep-pressure therapy, tactile stimulation, alerting, clearing rooms, blocking strangers from approaching, and more. Service dogs trained to assist those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have greatly improved the lives of many veterans.

Service dogs also make a big impact on the lives of children with autism. Children with autism are often prone to meltdowns, have trouble communicating, and are quick to run off or become easily lost. Service dogs prevent and mediate all of these behaviors to provide a higher quality of life for children with autism and their families.

As autism is a spectrum disorder, each child has varying needs of assistance. Autism service dogs perform the following tasks:

  • Tracking: Children with autism often wander away, and a parent’s worst fear is turning their back for just a moment and discovering their child is gone. Autism service dogs will track the child if this ever happens.
  • Tethering: This task minimizes wandering, which is common in public settings. The child is tethered to the service dog’s leash or harness, preventing him or her from wandering away.
  • Behavior Interruption: Repetitive and ritualistic behaviors are typical of autistic children, as are meltdowns when the child becomes overstimulated. Autism service dogs recognize these negative behaviors and redirect the child’s attention when they start. A simple paw or nudge is all it takes to prevent a meltdown.
A service puppy waiting for their owner - Dog Training Elite Lowcountry.

How Do I Get a Service Dog?

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If you are wondering how to get a service dog, there are a couple of different approaches. Some service dogs are purchased outright, fully trained. Or a compatible dog is selected and trained from an early age. Training a dog from the start is the best option, especially for those with specialized needs.

Training a dog to perform service responsibilities must start from day one. Only certain breeds are suited to service work, and breeders put a lot of time into raising puppies to be service animals. Once you have purchased a service puppy, additional training is necessary to prepare your puppy for life as a service dog. This is a complicated process that involves various steps. Dog Training Elite makes getting a service dog easier with our service dog training program.

Our talented trainers can help select puppies that are prepared for a life of service from well-respected breeders. When these puppies enter the service dog training program they are closely monitored for behavior and temperament and can be fully obedience trained by the age of six months. These puppies undergo extensive socialization and additional training to ensure they are well-suited for service and therapy needs including specialized service training alongside the new handler.

This program is ideal for handlers who want to take part in the developmental years and extensive training of their service puppy.

A group of dogs being trained by the expert team at Dog Training Elite Lowcountry.
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Educate, Empower, Elevate, Elite

Victory Begins With Elite Education

A trainer, a man and his service dog - find the best service dog training in Charleston / Summerville, SC with Dog Training Elite.

We Are Committed to Making a Difference

Choose DTE for Charleston / Summerville Service Dog Training

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At Dog Training Elite, we are passionate about transforming lives through Charleston / Summerville service dog training. Our proven methods and positive reinforcement techniques help create highly skilled, dependable service dogs that are both obedient and loyal to their handlers.

From mobility support and physical assistance to emotional well-being and more, Dog Training Elite is committed to providing personalized, high-quality training that makes a lasting impact.

Choose Dog Training Elite Lowcountry and experience the difference that elite training and compassionate care can make.