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At Dog Training Elite Charlotte, we are also passionate dog lovers! Our program is designed from 40+ years of dog training experience gained by Dog Training Elite's CEO, John Mestas...who has created a positive dog training experience which stands apart from any other programs. What began as a small movement in the dog training world has gained incredible momentum. Dog Training Elite has attracted attention from both clients and trainers with our unique, successful in-home training model.
Dog Training Elite has developed a highly successful Charlotte dog training program that empowers dog owners and their canines to work together, creating strong bonds and sustained obedience.
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Not all training packages may be available at our Dog Training Elite Charlotte location, please reference our pricing page for complete information on services offered.
Our Services
Giving Back
Teachers & Educators Discount
at Dog Training Elite Charlotte!
We understand the important role that teachers and educators play in our communities. Dog Training Elite Charlotte offers a 10% discount to members of the education community.
Military & First Responders Discount
at Dog Training Elite Charlotte!
Whether you are on active duty in the military, a police officer, an EMT, a firefighter, or a veteran, we want to show our gratitude by offering a 10% discount on any training package.
Our Balanced Theory
We base our training around the "Classical Conditioning" model (a.k.a. "Pavlovian" or "respondent conditioning"). This includes developing conditioned or automatic reflexes to commands. In its simplest form (after proper conditioning), when the owner says "sit," the dog automatically sits without thinking about it. Our unique techniques ensure our program is a success no matter what behavior we encounter.
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Empowering Owners
We empower Owners to train so their dog knows who to obey at all times. -
Personalized
We deal with problem behaviors on a personal basis. -
Environment Specific
We train wherever issues tend to arise (i.e. jogging, park, home).
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Supportive
We support Owners in the off-hours (when training is "not in session"). -
Involved
We work with all members of the household. -
Simplified & Customized
We plan training around the owner's schedule and require only 20 min/day follow-up practice.
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Continued Training
Additional programs / group sessions offered after in-home training. -
Lifetime Investment
We follow up & are invested in the owner's success long-term. -
Satisfaction Ratings
Our high client satisfaction rating sets us apart from competitors.
clas·si·cal con·di·tion·ing
PSYCHOLOGY
noun
A learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired; a response that is at first elicited by the second stimulus and is eventually elicited by the first stimulus alone.
We help your dog become a valued companion and beloved member of the family. Read what our customers have to say and then give us a call!
Dog Training Elite deserves a standing ovation, a high-five, and maybe even a doggie treat or two! 🐾 I came to them with a goldendoodle who thought "sit" was a game of musical chairs and "stay" meant "run around like a maniac." But thanks to their magical dog-whispering skills, my mischievous furball now acts like a canine Einstein! The trainers are like the Jedi Masters of the dog world, turning chaos into obedience, one paw at a time. Sunnie now sits, stays, and even knows how to fetch my slippers without eating them although I'm still waiting for my morning coffee. 😄☕ If your dog is more misbehaved than a squirrel at a nut shop, Dog Training Elite is your lifeline. I give them 5 paws out of 5! 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾— Danielle Mauldin
Posted September 29th 2023
The whole team at Dog Training Elite did an excellent job preparing Lucie and I as we started our partnership as handler and service dog. Their knowledge and skill was an integral part of our training and I would highly recommend them.— Julia Bernanke
Posted September 22nd 2023
My wife wanted a puppy. I didn’t want a puppy. We got a puppy. A little floofy doodleish thing. I named her Winnie Pooper. She had soon earned the nickname “Sh!t Weasel”. We tried training her with food and treats. She soon learned that when we didn’t have treats - she didn’t need to listen. Her rampage through our lives continued unabated. I was ready to give her away to the first person who would take her. Then we called Dog Training Elite. Shawn came to the house for lesson #1. He had a calm, serious way about him. Winnie was outmatched and she knew it. Her capitulation was rapid and complete. Shawn demonstrated the e-collar by placing the prongs into the palm of his hand and turning the dial all the way up to show that it would cause no harm. Then he placed the collar on Winnie and in no time had Winnie sitting on command, and coming on command, and being a very good dog. Lessons 2 through 6 were with Angela. She showed us what to do and demonstrated that Winnie could learn commands very quickly. I nearly burst with pride when Winnie learned “place” and proved it by hopping on and riding a skateboard Angela had brought with her on our driveway. I ordered Winnie a skateboard of her own that very day. Today was our first group lesson with Winnie at the park. It was very organized and serious. Winnie was distracted by the other dogs and people, but with Shawn there helping we made it through some early drama. Now the dog I would have given away goes with me on a morning walk to start each day. She is still playful and full of joy, and now confident and poised, too. And I rarely have occasion to call her “Sh!t Weasel”, anymore. But that’s fine with me. Do yourself a favor and call Dog Training Elite today!—
Posted September 10th 2023
DTE Charlotte has been absolutely amazing with helping me train Lupin to be a service dog. Shawn walked through the whole process and the initial consultation was super thorough and explained every step of the process including how they make sure the dog's temperament fits for service work through the the initial obedience at home classes and group work. Each training session is super involved and Shawn and Angela showed me how to work with him and made each training session fun for him. They came with several tools to help him master the commands. The group classes were something I have never experienced with dog training but they were so helpful! We were able to practice our newly learned skills with people doing the same thing and have plenty of distractions to help build on the commands. Shawn and Sharon were always nearby to help if a dog struggled. Lupin even learned how to skateboard! They truly love dogs and helping people build a better bond with their puppers. 🐶— Jessika Lawrence
Posted September 10th 2023
Shawn, Sharon and Angela are beyond amazing! They are kind, knowledgeable and encouraging! After doing a ton of research we decided to go with DTE Charlotte and we are so glad we did. Our puppy Goose started with advanced obedience and is currently in service training to be our sons autism service pup. DTE Charlotte has helped us learn so much and I am still amazed at how available they are every time we have a question or need guidance. We can not say enough incredible things about this team of trainers. We are beyond thankful and would 100% recommend them to anybody looking into dog training!— s c
Posted September 5th 2023
Thank you so much to Dog Training Elite for working with my maltipoo Dakota! They did an incredible job and I couldn't be happier with the results. Dakota is now well-behaved, obedient, and a joy to be around. The trainer's expertise and patience truly made all the difference. I am so grateful for their dedication and commitment to helping my puppy become the best version of himself. Thank you, thank you, thank you!— Christy Key
Posted August 26th 2023
Dog Training Elite has shown my daughter and her service dog how to be a great team. They took the time to give us great tips to reach our goals! They were always available to any help we needed. We are so thankful to have met this beautiful family and be a part of their DTE team! 💙👩🏻🦱🦮— Christina Reyes
Posted August 25th 2023
Shawn is a skilled highly professional dog trainer. We cannot thank him enough for his patience and expertise. He helped us with not one but both of our dogs, one being a puppy one being nine years old. In addition, they are always quick to respond with any questions we have following a session. If you are on the fence, pull the trigger and sign up trust me it’s worth the money.!!—
Posted August 25th 2023
Shawn is a skilled highly professional dog trainer. We cannot thank him enough for his patience and expertise. He helped us with not one but both of our dogs, one being a puppy one being nine years old. In addition, they are always quick to respond with any questions we have following a session. If you are on the fence, pull the trigger and sign up trust me it’s worth the money.!!— Julie Swanson
Posted March 16th 2023
Shawn was wonderful trainer. Highly recommend him— madhankumar sathyamoorthy
Posted August 23rd 2023
Best trainer in the Charlotte area!! Our 5 year old dog, Leo, was very reactive towards strangers and dogs but with just the first couple in-home sessions, we felt more confident in ourselves and Leo trusting us as his owner. Shawn taught us how to think and understand our dog better and now we are able to take him out to parks and trails and advocate for Leo. Shawn and Sharon are amazing in communicating and are such genuine dog lovers!— Juablai Yang
Posted August 20th 2023
Shawn, Sharon, and Angela are absolutely phenomenal. I cannot recommend them enough! From the moment we met, their passion for dogs was evident, and it truly reflected in their training methods. We signed up for the 5 in home sessions & 12 group classes. We have a Rottweiler who is a bit of a handful, but thanks to the trainer's expertise, patience, and positive reinforcement techniques, they have been transforming my very large (100lbs) 8 month old puppy Blitz into a well-behaved and obedient companion. They have took the time to understand my dog's personality and tailoring the training recommendations to address specific behaviors and challenges. I really appreciate the trainer's ability to not only work with Blitz but also educate us on how to continue reinforcing the training at home without their presence. Their knowledge and guidance is invaluable in ensuring that the lessons we learned during the sessions were effectively applied in our daily routines. All 3 trainers are always punctual, professional, and easy to communicate with for scheduling at home sessions and group classes on Saturdays. They have genuinely been invested in our dog's progress, and their genuine care and passion has been evident throughout our training journey. If you're looking for a dog trainer who can make a real difference in your dog’s behavior and your relationship with them, look no further. I wholeheartedly endorse Dog Training Elite Charlotte and give them a well-deserved 5-star rating!!! Thank you sooo much Shawn, Sharon, and Angela!! We truly appreciate you all!— Lauren Smith
Posted August 6th 2023
I really enjoyed working 1:1 with Shaun training my feisty Cane corso. Looking forward to attending group classes next.— Rick Burke
Posted July 24th 2023
Angela, Shawn, and Sharon have been a delight to work with when it comes to training my pup! They have helped me train my very friendly and highly active goldendoodle to not only be obedient but still be his loving self. Denver has gained so much confidence! No more leash pulling or barking at everything in sight. He now does so well in public and on our long walks. The communication with Sharon has gone above and beyond my expectations. All 3 are very knowledgeable! Always answers any of my questions and concerns (and believe you me, I had plenty of them). Not only have they taught Denver how to be an obedient dog but they have taught me how to be a great mom/leader for Denver. I highly recommend DTE!!— Geneva Johnson
Posted July 3rd 2023
I can’t speak highly enough about my experience. My dog had nearly died twice, and as a result had severe anxiety. To the point where she would be reactive towards other dogs, and I was scared to take her places. Shawn worked with me every week, the one on one classes were crucial, and now she is not only getting over her anxiety, but able to socialize with other dogs. I can’t recommend this program enough. Sean is fun to work with and super educational. It wasn’t just my dog who learned something, I learned a lot about my dog as well and how to be the best owner I could be.— Aidan Steinbach
Posted June 30th 2023
DTE (a family business) has provided wonderful dog training lessons for us and our GSD! The competence, commitment, flexibility and professionalism employed by Sharon in Admin and Shawn, Owner and the Trainer Extraordinaire has been outstanding! I will keep my comments based on Shawn since he is with whom we have had the most contact and has trained our GSD from the very first home visit. We started training our GSD when he was 8 months old and Shawn had his first (of 5) home training visits. I think it is important to remember that when I say Shawn began training our GSD, he was also training us! It has been imperative to do the follow-up work on the weekly training concepts that Shawn provides us in order to have the GSD behavior we would like and that our GSD would like also! Shawn has been terrific - even visiting us (outside the lessons) to make sure that we were walking with him correctly and not letting him get away with his shenanigans. We have also been taking our GSD to DTE’s classes at the park (2 times now, with more to go) and it has helped tremendously - socializing and working with another 20 or so dogs - at one time! Who would have thought that? Anyway, we will continue to follow the process, we have a ways to go, but have come a long way! It is mighty fine knowing that we have Shawn and DTE right there, a phone call or text away to help us and/or GSD get back on track! It goes without saying, - we have absolutely no qualms and greatly recommend Shawn and DTE Charlotte!— Caitlin Echave
Posted June 26th 2023
I recently had the pleasure of enrolling my furry companion in this dog training program, and I must say that the experience exceeded all my expectations. The expertise and dedication of the trainers, combined with their exceptional methods, made this a truly remarkable five-star experience. First and foremost, the trainers displayed an unparalleled level of knowledge and skill. They demonstrated a deep understanding of canine behavior and psychology, allowing them to tailor the training techniques to suit each individual dog's needs. Their ability to effectively communicate with dogs and get them to respond positively was nothing short of impressive. The training methods employed were not only highly effective but also focused on positive reinforcement. I appreciated the trainers' emphasis on rewarding good behavior, creating a supportive and encouraging environment for both dogs and their owners. This approach helped foster a strong bond of trust between my dog and me, leading to remarkable progress throughout the training sessions. Furthermore, the training program was comprehensive and well-structured. It covered a wide range of essential obedience commands, as well as specific behavioral issues. Whether it was teaching my dog to walk politely on a leash or to come when called, the trainers utilized innovative techniques that yielded noticeable results. I was particularly impressed by the trainers' ability to address more challenging behaviors with patience and persistence, ultimately transforming them into positive habits. The trainers were also readily available to answer any questions and offer personalized guidance, ensuring that I felt supported throughout the entire journey. Overall, my experience with this dog training program was nothing short of outstanding. The trainers' expertise, positive reinforcement techniques, and comprehensive curriculum created an environment conducive to both learning and enjoyment. My furry friend and I have developed a stronger bond, and I've witnessed significant improvements in their behavior. I wholeheartedly recommend this dog training program to anyone seeking exceptional training services. It's a five-star experience that will leave you and your furry companion wagging with joy!— Reema Singh
Posted June 19th 2023
Excellent team, helped us every step of the way from talking through logistics before even getting a puppy all the way through high obedience and soon to be service dog training for our wonderful new family member.— Felicia Holland
Posted June 12th 2023
Bentley has gained so much confidence in just 2 short weeks I have a brand new puppy! Highly recommend Dog Training Elite Charlotte!!!— Natalie Orr
Posted June 1st 2023
Bentley has gained so much confidence! In just 2 short weeks I have a brand new puppy! Highly recommended using Dog training Elite services.— Natalie Orr
Posted May 31st 2023
Proud Sponsor of The Malinois Foundation
At Dog Training Elite Charlotte, we believe that Service Dogs save lives. It is our mission to make these life-saving companions available to our Veterans, First Responders, Women Survivors, and Children with Medical Needs. Whether it be for PTSD, Mobility Support, or Special Needs, Dog Training Elite Charlotte work's with the Malinois Foundation to heal and empower these individuals with a specialized service animal, a partner in life, and a new best friend.
Dog Training Elite Charlotte is Proud to partner with quality breeders:
At Dog Training Elite Charlotte we trust experienced breeders who focus on breeding healthy, well tempered pups in a safe, ethical environments. Check out the breeders below for more information.
Darlin' Doggies
Carolina Dapper Doodles
Barefoot Kennels
Dog Training Elite Charlotte Partners
