Golden Retriever Training in Charlotte, NC

Dog Training Elite Charlotte is an absolutely fantastic organization! Kimberly , Angela and Sharon are 100% professional, accommodating, friendly, and all around wonderful people, I can't thank you enough because they are the one who trained my dog to be a service dog and I can take her everywhere I thank you

Angela is phenomenal! She knows exactly what she is doing. My fur baby and I love her . This program has given me and my fur baby the confidence to navigate through life . The results were instant for my fur baby . Of course it takes time and overtime my fur baby has the confidence to thrive. Im so grateful I decided to get training through this program. It’s been 4 months and there is a major difference.

My 2 pups have come SO FAR already! Trainer Kimberly is patient and kind, helping me learn better how to communicate with them. I am having more fun than ever with my pups and excited to continue building our skills. Thank you to the DTE team for making obedience training a reality for us! I did a ton of research and would choose them again, no doubt.

Sharon and Angela helped my girl go from an 8-week old baby to a certified service dog in under a year. The puppy training videos and 24/7 support were incredibly helpful in the beginning to establish house rules and teach basic skills, but more importantly to lay a foundation for a mutually beneficial relationship and connection between me and my dog. The program is set up perfectly to have 1x1 time with the trainer as well as multiple group classes to provide socialization with all kinds of dogs, many of whom are further along in the program and showcase good behavior that you are working towards. They provide you with all of the tools you need (tangible and intangible) and it is 100% worth it if you are willing to commit your own time and effort into practicing with your dog. Angela is patient but persistent; she gives the dog positive reinforcement and encouragement and creates an environment where they are eager to please and don’t want to give up- understanding that different dogs are motivated by different things. I recommend the program to anyone who wants to give their dog the best quality of life! Not only does the training make your life easier, but it strengthens your connection with your dog and builds their confidence and trust in you. DTE could not have been more supportive and influential throughout the process. Sharon was also very flexible with scheduling and was always available to answer any questions.

I’ve had such a great experience working with Dog Training Elite Charlotte! They’re patient, knowledgeable, and really take the time to understand my puppies’ personalities. I’ve seen such a positive change in Charlie & Ozzie — more focus, better leash manners, and less reactivity. Angela and Sharon have not only helped my puppies make huge progress, but also gave me the confidence and tools to manage situations calmly. Walks are so much more enjoyable now — I can’t recommend them enough!

My dog Huxley went through two other trainers before we found Shawn and his team and thankfully that’s the last trainer he’s ever needed. By the end of the first day, he was fully off leash trained and his obedience was better than the work with the past two trainers combined. Almost three years later, he maintains the level that he was trained at and I am always complimented on how well behaved he is. Since our training sessions, Huxley has gained confidence, has had no behavioral issues, and is my dream dog. He was also so loved by Shawn and his family that it made me feel so good to know I had a trainer that cared. I recommend Elite to everyone I meet and cannot stress enough how important proper training is for your pup!

Dog Training Elite is fantastic!!! If I could give 10 stars I would. I don't know how I could have done it without Sharon, Shawn, and Angela with training our first puppy- aged dog, Scout. They all are incredible in what they do and have been amazingly kind and patient with our adopted puppy (and with us as new puppy parents) lol. They really made things understandable, fun, and practical for how to navigate life with a new puppy and they were available to support us anytime along the way if any new questions popped up. I strongly encourage them if you are looking for training for therapy dogs, service dogs and in general. It is so special seeing how the dogs trained are helping families and their communities every day with the skills they learned through Elite. :)

We had an amazing experience from the beginning! And we are still actively in training. The team at Dog Training Elite is not only professional and knowledgeable, but also truly passionate about what they do. Their methods are effective, positive, and tailored specifically to your dog’s needs and personality. Our dogs have made remarkable progress in such a short time—something we honestly didn’t think was possible! The transformation has been pretty incredible: better behavior, improved obedience, and overall happier, more confident pups. Angela is an amazing trainer! Sharon is so supportive, communicative, and always available to answer questions or provide guidance. First class all the way! They didn't just train our dogs—they trained us to be better owners too. If you're on the fence, don’t be. Dog Training Elite is worth every penny. We can't recommend them highly enough!

We can’t say enough good things about our experience with Shawn and Dog Training Elite! Our dog had been struggling with bad reactivity for quite some time, and after trying different approaches on our own, we were feeling discouraged. From the very first session, it was clear that Shawn not only had a deep understanding of dog behavior but also a genuine passion for helping both dogs and their people. What really stood out was how much time he spent teaching us so we fully understood the why behind the behavior and the tools to manage and improve it. Our dog has made HUGE improvements and we feel so much more equipped to handle situations that used to be overwhelming which has made a huge difference in our day-to-day life. We are extremely grateful for Dog Training Elite and highly recommend!

The team at Dog Training Elite is fantastic and I couldn’t recommend them more highly. Our family are first time dog owners and we were on the struggle bus with our new puppy and starting to lose hope that we could get him to behave. After the first session, we saw improvement and by the third and fourth sessions, he was a different dog. Now our little Benji is so well behaved and is truly a joy. Thanks to the DTE family for all your help!!

The team at Dog Training Elite are wonderful. From the first interaction, they are focused on me and my pet. So friendly, made me feel comfortable and provided so so so much information. I would recommend them to anyone looking for training, at any level.

Dog Training Elite worked with Lily-Lea at my home and it’s unbelievable the difference it has made in her! Very professional, great communications, training methods and great results. So much easier to walk, have visitors to my home and I am truly thankful for their help.

I’m so grateful that we pursued training with Dog Training Elite, it was a great experience for us dog parents and for our 4 year old Pomeranian. Since completing the program we have so much more confidence and trust with our dog, who previously had issues with wanting to run out the door and bolting away (and not listening to come back), not listening in general to come inside from our yard, and overall anxiety/excitement. She is visibly more relaxed and understands that she doesn’t have to be on high alert all the time. It was the best investment we could have made for her and us, I would 100% recommend it to anyone that loves their dog and wants to see them thrive- it would be even better to start this process with a new puppy.

Training with Shawn and Angela has been a true life changer for us and our new family member Finnegan. We rescued Finn from North Mecklenburg Animal Rescue and wanted to give him the best life possible after being in a really horrible situation. Little did we know that golden doodles can be difficult to train. The training is a lot of work for everyone involved but let me tell you it is worth it!! The training is top notch and you will not be disappointed! They are so nice, professional and always available if needed between training sessions. We are now in the group phase of training and Finnegan is doing great! We now can take him places with us and he is loving it.

Shawn, Sharon, & Angela are the type of people and trainers that immediately put you at ease because you know they have your dogs best interests at heart. When we first met them in February of 2022, the Charlotte team hadn’t trained a mobility support service dog yet, but worked to put together a training package that fit my needs. Before DTE, Landon would barely sit and lay down on command, but now because of them, I have an incredibly well trained and solid mobility support service dog! The only thing Landon struggles with is being in the crate, however this has nothing to do with DTE’s training abilities, and everything to do with me not listening to the importance of crate training. They genuinely have you and your pups best interests and know what they are doing, so use their knowledge and skills -and don’t skip the crate training ;) DTE is like our family and has been since the start. I am forever grateful to and for them! It’s an honor to be a part of the DTE pack!! You won’t regret using them as your trainers!!

We used DTE for our dog Bowie and we can't say enough good things about our experience. Bowie is like a different dog (in a good way.) By implementing the DTE method as taught by Shawn, we have seen a dramatic improvement in Bowie's behavior and habits. Not only are we more at ease, but Bowie is visibly less anxious and has been responding well to the leadership, direction and structure we are now providing for him. Thanks so much, DTE CLT!

Dog Elite Training was wonderful! Maisey and we learned so much! Would definitely recommend.

Shawn was great helping me work with my rescue puppy Franny. She struggled with a lot of anxiety and we couldn't even walk around the block without her losing it. Franny was scared of just about everything and I didn't know how to help her. Shawn was very patient with Franny (and me) and we now enjoy nice long walks together. Franny gained a ton of confidence and now I have the tools to help her as she experiences new things. The group classes are always something we look forward to and if you have questions at other times DTE is just a text away. I highly recommend them.

All the staff at Elite have been more than fabulous. They worked with my other dogs prior to bringing in our golden doodle puppy to get the house in order. So far the training with our puppy is going great they have taught him so much in a short amount of time while still loving on him. We recently had some problems in house with him and the day I called both Sharon and Shawn came to the house and fixed so many little issues in just one house which made a huge difference. So glad to have them at the other end of the phone.

Maggie and I had an awesome training experience with DTE! Shawn is very passionate and excellent at what he does. The support that Shawn and Sharon provide outside of sessions is so helpful. Maggie learned so much and is doing great! She is now a joy to take on a walk and I feel confident taking her to public places. If you are thinking about hiring a trainer, just do it! Everyone in your family will be happier!