Back to Local Training

Military / Retired Vet Programs

Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro

Request Free Assessment

Request Free Assessment

A military veteran and service dog - Dog Training Elite offers elite veteran service dog training in Cleveland, OH.

Dog Training Elite

Military Veteran Service Dog Training in Cleveland, OH

At Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro, we strongly believe in the healing power of service dogs for military veterans. That’s why we dedicate our time and passion to providing veteran service dog training in Cleveland, OH.

Service dogs can greatly assist with both the mental and physical challenges veterans may face after serving our country. Many veterans experience PTSD, physical disabilities, or other impairments, and our service dogs have been proven to help reduce symptoms and support veterans in returning to their daily routines.

Learn more about our programs designed for veterans and discover why Dog Training Elite is committed to making a difference in the community.

See Training Packages
A service puppy in training - Dog Training Elite offers veteran service dog training in Cleveland, OH for those who have served our country.

Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro

Why We Offer Service Dog Training for Military Veterans

Read More
Read Less

At Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro, we are passionate about helping military veterans through the support of service dogs. We offer specialized service dog training options in Cleveland, backed by scientific research and proven by our own success stories.

In a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans paired with service dogs experienced a significant reduction in PTSD symptoms and fewer self-harm ideations. The mental health and medical communities increasingly recognize service dogs’ positive impact on emotional well-being and independence, making them one of the most effective tools for veteran recovery.

At Dog Training Elite, we are dedicated to providing exceptional dog training services that provide the tools and support needed for our veterans and their dogs to thrive, offering a path toward healing and better quality of life.

A beautiful golden retriever service dog - Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro.

Popular Service Dog Breeds


Read More
Read Less

Finding a service dog that fits your individual needs is important, especially for military veteran support. While most dogs can be trained to become service dogs, a few breeds stand out due to their personalities and inherent traits.

Here are a few of the most popular service dog breeds:

  1. Labrador Retrievers: Labradors are intelligent, versatile, and eager to please, making them ideal for PTSD service dogs. Their trainability allows them to excel in roles like guide dogs, mobility support, and emotional support, making them highly adaptable for veterans.
  2. Golden Retrievers: Golden Retrievers are known for their calm, gentle nature and strong work ethic. They are excellent at providing mobility assistance and emotional support, especially for veterans with PTSD, due to their patient and loving temperament.
  3. German Shepherds: German Shepherds are strong, loyal, and highly intelligent, making them excellent service dogs. Their protective instincts and trainability allow them to assist with mobility, search and rescue, and provide emotional support for veterans.
  4. Malinois: Belgian Malinois are known for their deep loyalty and intelligence. Malinois are not for everyone due to their energy and drive, but for retired veterans who appreciate discipline, structure, and a deep connection, they can be life-changing companions.

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!

Photo Gallery

See An Elite Dog in Action

A service dog and his veteran owner - Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro.

Our Veteran Service Dog Training in Cleveland, OH

Read More
Read Less

Service dogs undergo extensive specialized training to perform their tasks and assist their owners. Our 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, down, heel, come, as well as proper leash manners and socialization skills.
  • Task Training: Task training is tailored to fit the needs of each 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.
A beautiful service dog standing outside - Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro.

Service Dogs for Veterans & PTSD

Get Specialized Training with DTE Today

Read More
Read Less

Training with Dog Training Elite is tailored specifically for military veterans dealing with PTSD and other service-related challenges. Our programs focus on helping veterans regain independence, emotional stability, and confidence through the support of a well-trained service dog.

At Dog Training Elite, we are dedicated to providing service dog training that strengthens the bond between veterans and their dogs, guiding them toward a brighter future and supporting their healing journey.

Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Andrea Adkins
    Aug. 5, 2026
    What an amazing experience we had. Our now 10 month old Mastiff started lunging and bitting strangers out of no where. After doing some research I desperately wanted people I could trust and had the experience to handle my pup. We met with Kevin and Brian. It was scary for me at first because of Dukes ( pup) reaction. They assured me he would do great. To be honest, I was scared to see my pups reaction and I wasn't very hopeful. We went with the platinum plan because Duke would receive the most exposure and hands on training that we felt he needed. Duke loved it. Day two he was waiting at the door to leave. I was unsure of the E collor but it turned out to be a helpful tool especially working with Duke and his lunging. His behavior changed almost instantly. We absolutely are working on strangers, but what a world of difference with him! And me!! They have honestly restored my confidence back. Brian and Kevin have taught me just as much as they taught my pup and I truly cant thank them enough.
  • Erin McGinty
    Aug. 5, 2026
    All I can say is “WOW, why didn’t we do this sooner?” We stumbled on DTE and had a great home consult with Kevin and Brian, who assured us our rambunctious 6-year-old lab (Rory) was indeed not too old to learn a few new tricks. All we wanted out of DTE was to have a dog that walked in a nice heel that everyone in the family could handle. What we got was so much better! Rory has always been a good boy (what dog isn’t?), but now he listens more intently and has some great manners. We could not be happier with the overall experience and support we’ve received from Kevin and Brian. They took time during the consult to make sure all our questions were answered, and made sure at the end of every day that we understood the commands and how to work with Rory. They spent time explaining why the training functions as it does and why the teach commands in the order they do. They addressed any training issues we had immediately and have been fantastic to work with. We cannot thank Kevin and Brian enough for listening to all our concerns with Rory and ecollars, for taking time to explain every training point, and for all the training tips/ best practices they gave us. We would recommend Dog Training Elite to anyone without hesitation If you’re wondering if it’s worth it, we say YES! Thank you Kevin, Brian, and all of the Dog Training Elite team!
  • Madeline Anderson
    Jul. 27, 2026
    It’s not often that we find ourselves saying something is worth every penny, but Kevin proved some things are! His true love for dogs and dedication to his craft shone through in every session. We find ourselves at least once a day saying how grateful we are to have gone through these trainings. They have sincerely made our day to day lives seamless and stress-free. Grizzly is more confident and happy than ever!
  • Shawn
    Jul. 26, 2026
    Josh and his team were absolutely awesome! They were professional, knowledgeable, and great to work with from start to finish. We saw a huge improvement and couldn’t be happier with the results. I would highly recommend Josh and his team for all of your dog training needs!
  • sarah
    Jul. 22, 2026
    Excellent trainers! The dogs are cared for like family!
  • Joyce Forristell
    Jul. 10, 2026
    We chose Elite Dog training based on all the 5 star reviews they had compared to other training programs. Josh came to the house and did a tremendous job of describing the program and answering all our questions and concerns- this was so important for us. Then Josh came back before we started the program and instructed us on the collar - again answering all our questions and concerns - we felt confident that we chose the right place! Josh is an amazing resource and a wealth of knowledge on dog behavior- he is calm- patient and reassuring! We brought our 8 month old Newfie that weighed 91#’s at the time for obedience training so that her size (she is estimated to get around 125#’s) would be manageable for us to control and we wanted good manners! After training we have a fantastic dog that listens, is happy and playful! We owe this great training to Kevin- Haley and Brian (not to mention Josh’s guidance) What knowledgeable - patient- informative and professional trainers!! Kevin was the Trainer that worked closely with Abbey and he did a FANTASTIC job! He taught us so much about behavior - training tactics and patient practices! What an Outstanding Trainer! Abbey took to him and trusted him and they formed such a bond!! Our experience with Dog Training Elite has been EXCELLENT and beyond our expectations! Reviews like this are appropriate because of their Professionalism and Knowledge Base!! Strongly recommend!!!
  • Eric Logan
    Jun. 27, 2026
    Fantastic training for my 4 year old Golden. My boy loved his trainer and responded very well to everything he was taught. I will also say the business is run extremely professionally. Very good communication at every step of the process. Every question I had was answered quickly and you can tell Josh and the trainer Kevin are great at what they do. I also like the fact that there are group classes every so often that you can train with other graduates of the program at a park.
  • Shannon King
    Jun. 27, 2026
    Josh was great at training and we couldn't be happier with how our dog rip has been. Highly recommend.
  • Andriana Rosa
    Jun. 24, 2026
    The Best decision we made for Cody and my family!! I honestly thought my dog, Cody, was untrainable. Cody is a 6-year-old, energetic Labrador Retriever who would pull us down the street every single time we went for a walk. We couldn’t take him to parks, he wouldn’t listen, and he had a hard time bonding with strangers. I truly believed that was just the way he was. Then we met Kevin. From the very beginning, Kevin was patient, knowledgeable, and incredibly understanding. What amazed me most was how quickly he bonded with Cody. Seeing someone connect with my dog the way Kevin did gave me hope that things could actually change. Kevin took the time to teach both Cody and me in a way that was easy to understand and follow. He never made me feel overwhelmed and was always willing to answer questions and help us work through challenges. His patience with both of us was something I’ll always appreciate. One of Cody’s biggest challenges was being around other dogs. Walks were stressful because he would react whenever we passed another dog, and I was constantly worried about how he would behave. Kevin worked with us through those issues and helped Cody learn how to stay calm and focused. Now we can walk past other dogs with so much more confidence. Today, Cody walks perfectly by my side. The pulling is gone, his bad habits have improved tremendously, and he listens so much better. The difference in our daily lives is unbelievable. We can finally enjoy walks, trips to the park, and family outings without stress. It’s honestly been such a breath of fresh air!!🥹 Words can’t fully express how grateful I am for everything Kevin has done for us. When I say we tried everything for Cody before the training, I mean everything!! At one point, we even wondered if Cody had sudden rage syndrome because of the way he would act. Our neighbors thought he was a horrible dog and that he would never change, but Kevin saw something completely different in him.Before Kevin We tried no-pull leashes, anxiety medication for trips to parks and the vet, muzzles, different training methods, and everything else you can think of, and nothing worked at all!! If you’re considering training for your dog, I cannot recommend Kevin enough. I had so many doubts and fears that Cody would never change, but Kevin proved me completely wrong. Thanks to his patience, knowledge, and dedication, Cody is a completely different dog today. Thank you, Kevin, for helping me build a better relationship with my dog and making our lives so much easier. I will absolutely be recommending you to all of my friends and family! ❤️
  • Penelope Koach
    Jun. 18, 2026
    Hayley is the best. Not only is she great at Dog Training but she’s a really nice person to be around.
  • Olena Fergurson
    May. 27, 2026
    Everyone was very professional, kind, understanding and very thorough in the training. Very accommodating with the schedule as well. I can honestly say that they exceeded my expectations of training my dog. Great place
  • Kerri Warner
    May. 23, 2026
    Highly recommend DTE! Perfect combination of on site training and in home instruction. Josh, Kevin, Brian, and Hailey are amazing to work with! My dog has amazingly better behavior!
  • Susan & Bryan Berry
    May. 22, 2026
    Josh, Brian, Kevin, and Haley are great to work with. The results we saw with Foundry have been amazing. Foundry is a very reactionary family member when seeing another dog, unknown person, and wild animals especially deer. We were not able to get Foundry’s attention during his reactionary episodes but the Elite team have brought him down from 100 to a 0 while also training us to do the same. We are not experts so will continue our due diligence to keep Foundry on the calm path forward. Thank you Elite team, you truly are elite!! Bryan and Susan. Picture is week after training!
  • Robin Oleson
    May. 15, 2026
    I sincerely can not express my gratitude for how professional the team is at the North Olmsted facility. I honestly thought my dog would be a tough dog to train, boy was I wrong, within a couple of days I started to see Moose transform into a completely different dog. I would highly recommend Dog Training Elite Greater Cleveland in North Olmsted to anyone that wants quality training with a team that truly loves what they do. Once again Thank you all from the buttom of my heart. Moose also thanks you!
  • Sydney Berg
    Apr. 22, 2026
    I have so many good things to say about Dog Training Elite, I don’t know where to begin! We did both of our dogs, a Cardigan Corgi and Teacup Pomeranian. The trainers helped so much. I was in the hospital and my boyfriend was taking the dogs to training. Everyday the trainers walked him through what my dog had done that day and let him take videos so I could keep up on training myself! Josh is a rockstar! He helped us through the whole process and was very understanding! If you are looking for training that will last and allow your dog to be the best version of themselves then I would HIGHLY recommend Dog Training Elite Cleveland!
  • Maxwell Rowe
    Apr. 22, 2026
    I can’t say enough good things about Dog Training Elite. From the very first session, it was clear they truly understand dogs and how to communicate with them in a way that actually works. They took the time to get to know both me and my dogs, tailoring the training to fit our specific needs instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach. The results have been incredible. My dogs are more confident, well-behaved, and responsive than I ever thought possible—and our bond is stronger because of it. What I appreciated most was how patient, encouraging, and knowledgeable they were throughout the entire process. They didn’t just train my dog; they taught me how to be a better, more consistent owner. If you’re looking for someone who genuinely cares and delivers real results, Josh, Brian, Kevin and Hayley are who you want. Worth every penny. Highly recommend! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Jennifer Miller
    Feb. 23, 2026
    Dog Training Elite Greater Cleveland is exceptional. They helped train my little monster as both a service animal and therapy dog. He’s constantly getting compliments on how well-mannered he is and how calm he behaves across environments. He’s such a playful gentleman with other dogs. He’ll be joining me in my work as a MH provider on both civilian and military careers. Having a well-trained dog is such a game changer! I can’t recommend Josh and his crew enough.
  • Alex Young
    Apr. 10, 2026
    The team is extremely knowledgeable and have a very dialed in training program. 2 weeks of training and I feel like my puppy is set up to succeed forever. 10/10 would recommend
  • Mari
    Mar. 31, 2026
    I am incredibly happy to have found Josh and his team at Dog Training Elite Greater Cleveland. The depth of knowledge and experience combined with patience and the ability to explain not only the process but also how and why, has made all the difference in MY confidence to train our oldest. Throughout our sessions communication was always clear and empathetic, and the expertise shown in basic obedience lessons really made a clear picture for our dog. I’ll be using the skills Dog Training Elite has given me to train my younger pup (as well as future dogs) which makes the value of this package exponential!! I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a top‑notch dog trainer in Cleveland.
  • Annie Zelley
    Mar. 30, 2026
    Dog Training Elite Greater Cleveland is the VERY BEST! I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND them. We were beside ourselves because our dog was showing extreme resource guarding and being very aggressive to the point we were seriously considering rehoming him. We've always been dog owners and never had any issues with a dog until this time. Our dog's aggressive behavior was VERY scary. He would sometimes be like "Kujo" when he got around food. He would growl like a wild dog, show his teeth and snap at us if we got near his food. It was something we had never experienced before. I was scared of him and I was very afraid he would bite someone. He would bark ferociously at the neighbors if they were outside and acted like he was going to eat them alive! I was looking into rehoming him and if you knew me and my love for dogs you would be very surprised that I would even think of rehoming him. I pictured myself handing him over to a new owner and I thought if he acted out and got aggressive they may hurt him or put him down. I found that thought unbearable. As a last straw we took him to Dog Training Elite in North Olmsted and his transformation was absolutely MIRACULOUS!!! In a matter of 2 weeks we had a completely different dog! It was unbelievable! The trainers there were awesome. They not only trained our dog but they trained us on how to manage him. It was so simple. We followed up with their training at home and my husband would take our dog to the extended free training on Saturdays in the park. My husband now enjoys showing off our dog and how well he listens. Our dog is so well behaved now because if their training. It was well worth the money spent. Thanks to Dog Training Elite all is well. We are so grateful and happy we were able to keep him as a member of our family and now live in peace.