Service Dog Breeds


The Best Service Dogs for Veterans & PTSD in Charlotte

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Service Dog Breeds

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. We've created this brief guide to review 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. Take the first step towards a better future with a trained service dog by contacting Dog Training Elite Charlotte today!

Dog Training Elite offers professional training of service dogs for veterans in Charlotte.

Popular Breeds for Service Dogs

While most dogs can be trained to become service dogs, regardless of breed, a few breeds lead the pack in popularity due to their personalities and inherent traits. Here are a few of the most popular service dog breeds.


Labrador retrievers are among the most sought-after breeds to be service dogs for PTSD in Charlotte due to their intelligence, versatility, and friendly nature. They excel in various roles, including guide dogs for individuals with visual impairments, service dogs for individuals with mobility issues, and service dogs for veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Labradors are highly trainable and possess a strong desire to please, making them ideal candidates for service work.

Golden retrievers are known for their gentle and patient nature, making them excellent service dog candidates. Their calm temperament, intelligence, and willingness to learn contribute to their success in roles such as mobility assistance, therapy dogs, and service dogs for veterans. Their ability to provide emotional support and comfort makes them particularly well-suited for individuals with PTSD or other mental health conditions.

German shepherds possess a remarkable combination of strength, intelligence, and loyalty, making them an excellent choice as a service dog for veterans. Their versatility allows them to excel in various roles, including mobility assistance, search and rescue, and service dogs for individuals with psychiatric or neurological conditions. With their keen sense of observation and natural protective instincts, German Shepherds can provide physical and emotional support to their handlers.

Poodles are renowned for their intelligence, trainability, and hypoallergenic coats, making them popular for service dog training, especially for individuals with allergies. They excel in roles such as mobility assistance, diabetic alert dogs, and medical alert dogs.

An adorable golden doodle service pup trained by Dog Training Elite Charlotte, ready to help their owner throughout the day!

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.


Dog Training Elite Charlotte is the top company near you that uses professional positive dog training methods.
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).

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.

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.

See Our Pricing

Dog Training Elite trained service dogs for veterans can help them with PTSD and so much more.

Who Are Service Dogs For?

Service dogs offer invaluable support and assistance to individuals facing various challenges. Service dogs are sought after by individuals with conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mobility limitations, visual or hearing impairments, autism spectrum disorders, anxiety disorders, and more. Service dogs can help provide security, independence, and emotional well-being regardless of the specific condition. If you seek a loyal and capable partner to enhance your daily life, a service dog for PTSD in Charlotte can make a remarkable difference.

Training a service dog for disablities like autism, is a Dog Training Elite specialty.

Service Dog Training

Service dogs undergo extensive and specialized training to perform their essential tasks and assist individuals with disabilities. The training process involves a combination of obedience training, task training, and public access training.

  • Obedience Training

    This training focuses on teaching a dog basic commands, such as sit, stay, heel, and come, as well as proper leash manners and socialization skills.

  • Task Training

    Task training tailors to the specific needs of the individual. It involves teaching the dog to perform tasks that mitigate the person's disability, such as retrieving items, opening doors, or providing deep pressure therapy.

  • Public Access Training

    This type of training is crucial to ensure the dog remains calm, well-behaved, and non-disruptive in various public settings. This training includes exposure to different environments, distractions, and social interactions to provide a dog that can confidently navigate public spaces.

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!

Great experience! Big take aways.... 1. Aided with detachment from mom doggie 2. Aided in a nice transition with crate training 3. Aided with excellent transition to have the doggie understand how to be trained 4. supportive, informative and available Note initially I was skeptical and thought the price was high, that said im VERY happy with the outcome and would not blink at the cost a second time around with another doggie. I hope you enjoy the experience as much as I did!!
— Michael Rousseau
Posted April 9th 2024
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Best decision I could’ve made for my dog! He still has the same lovable personality, but he now understands what I’m communicating.
— Jasmine Copeland
Posted April 7th 2024
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These guys are incredible! Our Bailey was well behaved except for jumping up and pulling on her leash. After one session with Shawn the walking issue was done and after two sessions she was a different dog. She's such a pleasure to be around and love. Shawn adapted to her mood and was consistent and effective. I highly recommend Dog Training Elite!!
— Jeff Kearns
Posted March 24th 2024
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Fabulous people to work with. I saw a difference in my puppy’s behavior after the first visit. They are knowledgeable and easy to work with. I highly recommend this company.
— Laurie Cherry
Posted March 19th 2024
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Our puppy was out of control and made us miserable before we hired DTE to help us out. The results were instantaneous and I’m proud to say he is a great boy now thanks to the help of this organization!
— Devin Carter
Posted March 16th 2024
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Shawn is the best! We adopted our dog at 7.5 weeks old and he was TERRIBLE! After a lot of research, we decided to go with DTE and chose the Gold Puppy Package. We noticed a difference after our first session. Shawn was very patient with us and our dog and he explained everything very thoroughly. Shawn planned out the sessions in an order that worked best for our dog. Our dog is now 5 months old and doing great. We just completed obedience training and attended our first group class. The group class was great and we can’t wait to attend more. 10/10 recommend DTE Charlotte for any dog training needs!
— Haley Carter
Posted March 16th 2024
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Excellent training. My puppy went from a wild child who was very dramatic ever time you'd try to train her something new. Dog training elite to the time to improve her obedience leaps and bounds. She is a whole new dog and I can't recommend dog training elite enough to people looking to make a change in their dogs
— Lia Knox
Posted March 13th 2024
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Amazing! Dog Training Elite Charlotte has been working with my Doberman since she was 8 weeks old. We picked up our sweet girl on Saturday and they were at my house on Monday helping. They are available 24/7 to help with any questions you may have. I could not imagine going through this without their help. My Doberman is going on 5 months and she is calm and listens very well. She does not react to dogs or people. They truly care of about dogs and VERY knowledgeable. I am so grateful for them!!!
— Amanda King
Posted March 2nd 2024
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Very good experience, they did an amazing job with my dog and would recommend this to any dog owner.
— slenderman 4558
Posted November 6th 2023
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I could not be more happy and pleased with Dog Training Elite! From the first home visit, I saw my dog’s obedience improve tremendously. I had the pleasure of getting to work with Shawn and Angela and both were outstanding! I would highly recommend DTE Charlotte to any and everyone!
— Brice Talley
Posted February 26th 2024
google
We found Dog Training Elite Charlotte to be an excellent team to train our daughter’s dog to become a service dog. Our daughter has some learning disabilities and needed a therapy dog to help her cope with some of the challenges she faces. Shawn began our process with an introduction to the program and explained how things would proceed. He conducted the first session and then Angela took over the program. She developed an excellent relationship with our daughter and earned the trust and confidence of our daughter and her dog. Obedience training went very well and prepared Lilly for the next steps of group training and public access training. Any time we had questions, all we had to do was call or send a text and got a response almost immediately. Sharon worked with us on our scheduling of classes and the overall coordination of the program throughout the timeframe to keep things moving smoothly. We could not have asked for them to do anything better. Communications, quality of the program, expertise of the staff, customer service, and focus on success of our daughter’s dog were superb.
— Steve Froneberger
Posted February 21st 2024
facebook
We found Dog Training Elite Charlotte to be an excellent team to train our daughter’s dog to become a service dog. Our daughter has some learning disabilities and needed a therapy dog to help her cope with some of the challenges she faces. Shawn began our process with an introduction to the program and explained how things would proceed. He conducted the first session and then Angela took over the program. She developed an excellent relationship with our daughter and earned the trust and confidence of our daughter and her dog. Obedience training went very well and prepared Lilly for the next steps of group training and public access training. Any time we had questions, all we had to do was call or send a text and got a response almost immediately. Sharon worked with us on our scheduling of classes and the overall coordination of the program throughout the timeframe to keep things moving smoothly. We could not have asked for them to do anything better. Communications, quality of the program, expertise of the staff, customer service, focus on success of our daughter’s dog were all superb.
— Steve Froneberger
Posted February 21st 2024
google
I have a 4 year old dog who used to be reactive, pulled on the leash, barked a lot, and was very hesitant towards new people. After day 1 of working with Shawn and DTE her behavior completely shifted. She is now so well behaved, more confident, and more relaxed walking around. DTE has been amazing to work with - they are extremely kind, patient, organized, and very knowledgeable about dog training and what each unique dog need to thrive. I am so thankful for DTE and recommend them to anyone who is looking to better their dogs behavior and their relationship. Thank you DTE!
— Karenna Heighton
Posted February 11th 2024
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I have a 4 year old dog who used to be reactive, pulled on the leash, barked a lot, and was very hesitant towards new people. After day 1 of working with Shawn and DTE her behavior completely shifted. She is now so well behaved, more confident, and more relaxed walking around. DTE has been amazing to work with - they are extremely kind, patient, organized, and very knowledgeable about dog training and what each unique dog need to thrive. I am so thankful for DTE and recommend them to anyone who is looking to better their dogs behavior and their relationship. Thank you DTE!
— Karenna Heighton
Posted February 11th 2024
google
5 stars just isn’t enough. I have a 10 year old mini Australian shepherd who through the course of her life has picked up horrible habits and aggression through lack of knowledge on my part. After finding out I was pregnant I sought for help and with Shawn and Sharon my prayers were TRULY answered. The professionalism, knowledge and skill set they provided me with has instilled confidence and security in my dog with my family. The gratitude I have for DTE can’t be expressed in words or stars. From the bottom of our hearts THANK YOU ❤️- Julia, Justin, Henry, & Jamie 🐾
— Julia Thompson
Posted February 10th 2024
google
DTE provides excellent training for pup and human! We are very pleased with our progress. We were having significant problems with him pulling during walks and other manners issues, but in a short time they have helped us take control of his issues. DTE folks are professional, courteous, extremely responsive and always on time! We are looking forward to continuing our group training with them! Highly recommend!!
— Candra Symonds
Posted February 9th 2024
google
I wish I went with you from the start! Absolutely worth the money!
— Nikita Fenko
Posted January 26th 2024
google
So grateful to DTE- they helped us with obedience training for our corgi puppy, and even completed Service dog training for our adult corgi. I’d highly recommend them ten times over! They’re very knowledgeable & it’s apparent they are passionate.
— monica patel
Posted January 20th 2024
google
We inherited a high energy, free spirited Australian Shepherd, that one trainer had suggested they needed to be put down because the dog wasn’t trainable. The dog was very loving, but she went crazy around other dogs and other people and couldn’t be walked on a leash. We knew professional dog training was the only answer, So we searched the reviews online. We stopped at Dog training, elite. The reviews were almost unbelievable. They painted this picture of Shaun being some kind of mystical dog guru. So we hired Shawn to train Darcy. He is not a mystical dog guru. He is a highly competent, professional dog trainer that knows his subject and knows his dogs. Darcy completed the course. And now we have a calm dog that is enjoying not being anxious all the time, going for walks with her family, not freaking out when there are other dogs and other people around. She’s a joy to be with. We have nothing but high praise for Shawn and have already referred him to several Dog owners in our neighborhood. If you need your dog trained, look no further than Dog Training Elite!
— Jim Solka
Posted January 15th 2024
google
Could not recommend DTE enough. We adopted our 80lb dog (Rider) at around two years old and he was extremely reactive on leash. After one session with DTE we saw a complete 180. They gave us the tools, knowledge and confidence that we needed to correct this behavior and after 5 sessions our boy goes off leash on hikes and is no longer reactive on walks! They are also incredible accessible. They answer any and all questions as we have them and genuinely have made us feel so supported as we learn with Rider! They will help you communicate with your dog effectively and make your bond that much stronger. Endless thanks to the wonderful DTE Charlotte team!!!
— Ariana Gianacopoulos
Posted January 13th 2024
google

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Service Dogs for Veterans & PTSDTraining with Dog Training Elite in Charlotte

Dog Training Elite offers comprehensive service dog training programs designed to meet your unique needs. With our expertise and personalized approach, we can help your service dog develop the skills and behaviors necessary to fulfill their vital role in enhancing your daily life.

Service dogs are an invaluable resource for individuals with disabilities, providing support, independence, and companionship. Service dogs can benefit individuals with various conditions, including PTSD, mobility limitations, autism, anxiety disorders, and more. At Dog Training Elite Charlotte, we offer comprehensive service dog training programs to ensure your dog has the necessary skills to meet your needs. Our expertise and personalized approach will help you forge a strong bond with your service dog and confidently navigate daily life. Take the first step towards a brighter future by contacting Dog Training Elite today and discovering how a service dog can make a remarkable difference in your life.

Let Dog Training Elite take care of the service dog training so you can have support in your life while in Charlotte.

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.

Learn More

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

Website 704-728-4924

Carolina Dapper Doodles

Website 980-944-5120

Barefoot Kennels

Website 828-781-9461


Dog Training Elite Charlotte Partners


Dog Training Elite Charlotte - IACP Member