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Puppy Obedience Training

Dog Training Elite Charlotte

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An adorable puppy being held by their owner - get professional puppy obedience training in Charlotte, NC with Dog Training Elite today.

Dog Training Elite

Puppy Obedience Training in Charlotte, NC

When it’s time to bring your new puppy home, one of the best things you can do for their well-being and your sanity is to start obedience training as soon as possible. Puppies are eager to learn and starting training early can prevent unwanted behaviors like chewing, whining, nipping, and accidents.

At Dog Training Elite, we offer professional puppy obedience training in Charlotte, NC. Our team has the resources and knowledge you need to feel confident in controlling your new companion and setting your puppy up for lifelong success.

Learn more about our specialized approach to obedience training and book a free consultation with our team to eliminate those unwanted behaviors!

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A little puppy sitting in grass, contact Dog Training Elite Charlotte today.

Puppy Essentials Webinar

Free 70-Minute video

$45 Value

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Our trusted puppy class is now available "on-demand" from the comfort of your home! This webinar video is designed for owners of puppies age 8-16 weeks old, and will be accessible to you for free after completing the form below or with the purchase of one of our puppy packages!

Access Webinar

Our webinar includes education on the following topics:
  • Introducing a new puppy to your home
  • Health & well-being
  • Veterinary care & vaccines
  • Nurturing a good temperament
  • Scruffing & calming signals (e.g. dog yoga)
  • Basic Treat Obedience Including: Come, sit, loose-leash walking, and down
  • Puppy Corrections (Stop biting, digging, jumping, etc.)
  • Crate Training / Housebreaking
  • Socialization Tips
  • Environmental Hazards
  • Puppy Enrichment
  • Caring for Your Puppy

Understanding Puppy Obedience Training

Dog Training Elite

Many behaviors that puppies exhibit are completely normal during the “puppy stage,” but if left unaddressed, they can develop into more serious concerns as your puppy grows.

Early obedience training is key to preventing these issues from becoming ingrained habits. Below are some common issues puppies often display, along with the underlying causes:

Puppies explore the world with their mouths, and teething puppies chew to soothe sore gums. While this is natural, it can become a problem when they chew on furniture, shoes, or other household items.
Nipping is a way for puppies to play and communicate, but as they grow, this behavior can become painful and unwanted. Puppies often learn bite inhibition from their littermates, but without proper guidance, they may continue to nip or bite when interacting with people.
Puppies often whine to express discomfort, fear, or a desire for attention. While it may seem cute at first, persistent whining can be a sign of anxiety or other underlying issues, and it may lead to attention-seeking behaviors if not addressed properly.
Jumping is a natural behavior for puppies as they seek to get closer to their handlers. Puppies jump to greet people, but as they grow, this behavior can become overwhelming or even dangerous, especially for small children or elderly individuals.
Puppies are still learning bladder and bowel control, so accidents are common. Without consistent training and guidance, house soiling can become a persistent issue.
Puppies are naturally excited about exploring their surroundings and often pull on the leash to get to where they want to go. Without proper leash training, this behavior can lead to difficulties controlling your dog on walks as they get bigger and stronger.
Puppies bark to communicate, get attention, or out of excitement. However, excessive barking can indicate boredom, fear, or territorial behavior. If not addressed, barking can become a nuisance, especially in social settings or shared living environments.
Digging is often a natural instinct for puppies, especially certain breeds. They may dig to bury toys, cool off, or out of boredom. Without proper intervention, this behavior can lead to damaged lawns and gardens, as well as unwanted messes.
Some puppies develop anxiety when left alone for extended periods. Signs of separation anxiety can include destructive behavior, excessive barking or whining, and even accidents inside the house. Without addressing the root of the anxiety, this behavior can escalate into more severe emotional and behavioral problems as the puppy grows.
Puppies have a natural prey drive, causing them to chase after fast-moving objects, such as squirrels, cars, or even children. Without training, this instinctual behavior can become dangerous, putting the puppy and others at risk, especially in busy areas or near roads.
An adorable puppy being trained by the experts at Dog Training Elite - get Charlotte puppy obedience training today.

Puppy Training 101

How to Train a Puppy

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The #1 mistake new puppy owners make when learning how to train a puppy is waiting too long to start puppy training. Other common mistakes include:

  • Avoiding Crates: Crate training is not meant to be a form of punishment or isolation for a puppy or dog. Not only can it help with potty training, as dogs instinctively don’t want to soil their own space, but a crate can provide a safe place for a puppy or dog to go when they are feeling overwhelmed in their environment.
  • Not Puppy-Proofing Your Home: Much like baby-proofing, puppy-proofing a home is necessary to prevent the destruction of personal items, as well as to protect a puppy from harmful things like wires or toxic chemicals. Make sure these things are out of reach, or protected with a gate or another kind of barrier.
  • Scolding or Harmful Punishment: Pushing a puppy’s face into a mess or scolding them after an accident is a prime example of when focusing on positive reinforcement is far more effective than punishment. Puppies don’t understand what they’ve done wrong after the fact. Instead, they’ll associate their owner’s anger with the mess, which can lead to anxiety and cause them to hide their accidents in less obvious places around the house.
  • Failing to Socialize: The window of time between eight weeks and 16 weeks in puppy time is critical for learning to socialize with other dogs and humans. This can lead to antisocial, anxious, or even aggressive behavior when the puppy becomes a dog. Puppy classes at Dog Training Elite are a great way to achieve socialization.

Additional Obedience Training Info

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Agility Through Basic Obedience Training
An adorable golden doodle puppy with Dog Training Elite Charlotte.

Puppy Training with Dog Training Elite

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Dog Training Elite can help puppy owners learn how to train a puppy and avoid common mistakes, empowering owners to train at home with all the right tools. This is accomplished with our comprehensive in-home puppy training. For the first 4-6 weeks, trainers use “treat training” before moving on to more advanced puppy training. Treat training helps with the following behaviors:

  • Come, sit, loose-leash walking, and down
  • Puppy Corrections (Stop biting, digging, jumping, etc.)
  • Crate Training/ House Breaking

Trainers will also help owners learn about the following:

  • Socialization Tips
  • Environmental Hazards
  • Puppy Enrichment
  • Caring for Your Puppy
  • And more!
A dog being trained with {Fran_brand_name} - puppy obedience training in Charlotte, NC.

Start Puppy Obedience Training Today


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After initial training at home, obedience classes are also a great option for exposing a young puppy to other dogs, people, new sounds, and sights. Combining obedience classes with training at home will ensure a well-behaved puppy that learns quickly.

The Dog Training Elite training method focuses on encouraging proper behaviors with positive reinforcement. Punishment is never used as a form of training as it can lead to aggression and fear in dogs.

Positive reinforcement teaches a puppy that performing obedient behaviors wins love and affection from their owner. Our professional puppy trainers include owners in the training process so that puppies learn who is in charge. By working alongside owners, trainers will help owners and puppies build a strong, healthy relationship founded on loyalty and trust.

Contact us today to start your puppy training journey!

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!

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Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • K Nimbus
    Dec. 20, 2024
    Working with Shawn and Sharon has been an amazing experience. It taught me how to communicate with my dog and provide leadership for him. I’ve gone through a few dog training programs before, but none have compared. Shawn takes his time with every lesson, and I never felt rushed. The support through texting that I’ve gotten has been outstanding. I can text with questions or updates anytime and I always get a very quick response. If you’re willing to do the work, you’ll 100% get the results. Without hesitation I would recommend Elite Dog Training - Charlotte to anyone looking for dog training or to build better communication with their dog.
  • Taylor Tannebaum
    Dec. 10, 2024
    Can’t thank Shawn and Sharon enough for how wonderful this process has been for me and my pup Mitch. It was an awesome experience and not only did my dog grow, but so did I as a dog owner! I feel so much better equipped and truly Mitch had a great time with Mr. Shawn! Their compassion, care and knowledge is elite. Thank you so much!
  • siddarth Prabhakar
    Nov. 16, 2024
    Around August this year I had a incident where my 7 year old husky bit my roommate and nearly bit my mom over food.I knew something had to change as I didn’t want my dog to get re homed or put down.So my girlfriend and I decided we needed help. DTE was extremely helpful in understanding and was willing to help and give their honest opinions after a free evaluation.Once we decided to go with them Shawn and patient and helped us every step of the way.We learned how to essentially demote our dog and make understand he’s not in charge,we did this by only giving him affection/love when he worked for it by sitting ,staying ,etc.We also were told to not allow him on furniture like bed or sofa, all very small things that made a difference.Shawn also taught us how to use the e collar properly as well as a prong collar.Thanks to this I feel so much more comfortable with walking my dog and calling back if I need him to.Shawn also taught us signs of how a dog is feeling in order to prevent a fight from happening which I think is extremely important. We started around September and by November I’m able to grab food out of my dogs mouth with no trouble even my roomate who my dog would ignore and not listen to was able to give my dog commands and have him listen.Its important to note Shawn taught us the tools and techniques but ultimately it’s the dog owners that will have to put in the work so be prepared for that.Additionally there were times when my dog threw temper tantrums towards Shawn , although it was hard to watch Shawn remained calm and was able to still work with my dog. I highly recommend DTE if your having trouble with your dog it helped my dog a lot and I’m so proud of my dog now.Important thing Shawn will tell you that I think most people should know is that they are there to help your dog become the best version of himself not make into a golden retriever that super sweet all the time and meeting with Shawn is only 50% of the battle it’s on the owner to train and make sure the dog learns the things Shawn teaches.Overall highly recommended here is my dog Zeus with his official certificate!!!
  • Allison Miller
    Oct. 7, 2024
    Absolutely amazing dog trainers who gave our havanese puppy, Tucker, and our family a wonderful training experience! I can truly say it has been life changing for us!
  • ABsolute Pilates
    Oct. 4, 2024
    I had my studio dog Louie, a 6 month old puppy at the tine, trained by DTE. Great experience all around, especially since I needed the training just as much as my golden retriever!:) At one year old now, he is a well behaved young dog at the studio and enjoys being around people. I could not have done this alone. The in house and hands on dog training made all the difference in our success. Thank you DTE.
  • Byron Penados
    Sep. 17, 2024
    Dog Training Elite Charlotte is undoubtedly a God-sent help with our puppy. We started noticing that our rather calm puppy was growing too fast and in part, developing bad habits he picked up at other day boarding places. We noticed rough playing behavior, jumping, barking to demand attention, counter surfing among other things. I started looking around for at-home training and DTE was the first contact I made. I submitted an online inquiry and Sharon called back within the hour. After feeling good about our conversation I called others to see what else was out there. Some didn't return my calls and/or voicemails, others had very much a one-size-fits-all approach so overall my wife and I decided to call back DTE and ask Sharon and her team to help us. Shawn was at our home the following week. We can talk all day long about our amazing experience with Dog Training Elite but here are the basic points that I hope drives home our overall experience: -Instantly calmer dog after 1st lesson -No more rough housing -Morning/afternoon walks are much better now -No more counter surfing -Peace around the house while doing daily chores -Calm puppy It's important to note that Shawn loves to educate on the behavioral aspect and psychology of why dogs are the way they are and act. This alone is very helpful because it helps dog owners understand and come up with solutions on how we can best help our dogs. We are still continuing to work with our puppy in all the areas that Shawn, Sharon and Angela have helped us during the 1-1 at home sessions and we understand this isn't a one time thing but rather a lifelong continuation of enforcing the basic rules that these pack animals abide by. This only *truly* works if you (dog owner) work at it continually for the sake of your dog if all else fails.
  • Mekkah M
    Sep. 4, 2024
    AMAZINGGG. Would recommend to any and everyone. My dog Mia has transformed right before my eyes!! She’s confident, listening and easier to maintain on a day to day. Sean, Sharon and his daughter are super attentive and passionate about their training. I trusted Mia 100% with them both every step of the way.
  • Kate Sudikoff
    Aug. 23, 2024
    Our puppy Veuve spent 10 days training with Elite dog Training of Charlotte. Even though she was only 6months old it was a great foundation for her and us too. She is now 1 year and is still learning and growing but we feel like we have a better dog because of our lessons. Highly recommended
  • Kat Billesdon
    Jul. 19, 2024
    Shawn is amazing and has helped our dogs and family so much! Our two dogs are now confident and great listeners. Even if you think your dog is perfect they is still so much they can learn. Cannot recommend Shawn and his training method enough!!!
  • Breezyday57
    Jul. 17, 2024
    My experience with DTE Charlotte was absolutely exceptional! Shawn and Sharon went above and beyond in many ways. My dog was dealing with a lot of issues and Shawn came in and was so informative and helpful with all the questions we could ever think of, and we never felt he was rushing us through any of our (sometimes very difficult) training sessions. He is calm and steady- exactly what you need for dog training! Sharon was always quick to respond to any questions we had and was always so kind and understanding. My dog is so much better after having this training. Shawn understands dogs so deeply, and really helps you understand how a dog’s mind works and why they do what they do. My dog and I have learned so much through this experience, and have became so connected since. We use our training everywhere we go! The group classes are extremely helpful to keep up with the training, while having fun with other dog owners and spending quality time with your dog. People compliment me on my dogs behavior quite a lot and that’s all thanks to ‘Dog Training Elite Charlotte’!
  • Rita Vogel
    Jul. 2, 2024
    Highly gifted and perspicacious group. I completely entrust them with my beloved pet. They are leading us forward to a life of service to others. Thank you Elite!
  • Sharon Yaskin
    Jul. 1, 2024
    Dog Training Elite Charlotte is the most FANTASTIC organization of its kind...!!! The whole family truly cared about our pup and gave their all to make sure they answered all our questions, were exceptionally kind and caring to our family and our loving dog, Charlie!!! Angela, our main trainer , has to be the best of all there is!!!! Sharon, who answered the phone was so kind ALWAYS and had our best interests at heart...Shawn came first and had to make sure our puppy had the best match and fit.....and he was RIGHT!!!! Both my husband, Pat and I feel Dog Training Elite is the best there is..I have had 26 dogs in my life and I have found that Elite is the BEST ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I thank them sooooo much!!!! They deserve more than 5 stars.....Perhaps all the stars there are!! Fondly, Sharon Yaskin
  • Coty Metz
    Jun. 29, 2024
    These guys are great! Very professional and they understand dogs really well. They helped us with our service dog training. Amazing results in just a few months.
  • Cristin Sulfridge
    Jun. 21, 2024
    We adopted our dog, Finney, from the shelter in February. As a shelter dog, he came with challenges such as nipping, pulling when walking, and severe dog reactivity. We tried what seemed like everything to resolve the issue on our own, but after many failed attempts we called Dog Training Elite and signed up for their behavior modification training which included 7 one on one sessions coming to our home and then 20 group sessions. We saw HUGE improvements with our pup after just one session. By the end of our one on one sessions we no longer have a dog who nips, pulls or barks at other dogs. We have a calm dog who looks to us for direction on what to do when he feels anxious. We went from being scared taking Finney on walks for fear of how he would react to other dogs to being able to confidently take Finney on walks with our new skills learned. We cannot thank the dog training elite team enough for everything they have taught us and continue to help us with!
  • Grayson Askew
    Jun. 21, 2024
    The trainers are extremely knowledgeable and have helped me turn my hyper puppy into my service dog in less than a year. I will be taking my service dog with me to college and can’t wait for all of the fun adventures we will be able to go on thanks to her wonderful training!
  • Ashley Liberto
    Jun. 12, 2024
    Dog Training Elite has been an absolute game-changer in my journey to prepare my dog for therapy work at my school. Shawn and Angela are phenomenal trainers who have guided us every step of the way with expertise and patience. Their dedication and knowledge are evident in every session, making the training process smooth and enjoyable for me and my dog. Sharon's behind-the-scenes work is remarkable, ensuring everything runs seamlessly. They've transformed my dog into a confident and well-behaved therapy companion. I couldn't recommend Dog Training Elite highly enough for anyone looking to embark on a similar journey or to have a well-trained dog!
  • Ashley Liberto
    Jun. 12, 2024
    Dog Training Elite is truly exceptional! Shawn and Angela are not only incredibly skilled trainers but also incredibly compassionate individuals. Their dedication to helping dogs reach their full potential is unmatched. With their guidance, my dog has transformed into a well-behaved therapy companion, ready to bring joy and comfort to those in need. Sharon's organizational skills ensure that every session runs smoothly, making the entire process a breeze. I can't thank Dog Training Elite enough for their amazing work and highly recommend them to anyone looking for top-notch training services.
  • Chandler Hudson
    May. 25, 2024
    I'm so glad I chose Dog Training Elite Charlotte as my dog trainers! They helped me train my girl all the way from puppy camp to now a graduate of their service dog program! They are fanastic with communication, teaching, and helping you understand your dog better. The group classes are a huge bonus and are so fun! Watching other clients of DTE grow in confidence with their dogs at classes was an awesome experience. Because of DTE helping me train my girl to become my service dog, I've been given more freedom and comfort by having her than I have had in years. I highly recommend DTE for any of your dog training needs, no matter the circumstance! Therapy dog, service dog, or even just a family dog, they are the ones to call! It could be truly life changing! Thank you DTE Charlotte for ALL you do!
  • Monica Hoekstra
    May. 16, 2024
    Loved everything about this experience with my golden retriever! The staff was incredible - always available to answer any questions, provided me with clear instructions after every training session and they were patient, kind and a pleasure to learn from! My dog is so well behaved ..and I am a more confident dog mom now too! Thank you.
  • courtney zenger
    May. 10, 2024
    Our puppy Navy is around a year and 2 months and desperately needed some help, she would constantly pull on walks and bark at every person and dog that walked by. She would always jump on people when they came inside and that’s where I started looking for training and I found dog training elite! They have completely transformed my dog into a respectful sweet pup that listens to all the commands I give her! I’m so grateful to have worked with them and it’s been life changing to have a dog who now respects boundaries and who can walk beside me on walks! Definitely recommend them if you need some training!!!