An image of a german shepard with their owner - contact Dog Training Elite for your german shephard training in Cleveland, OH.
Dog Training Elite

German Shepherd Dog Training in Cleveland, OH

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Our German Shepherd Training Could Help:
Excessive barking
Aggression
Separation anxiety
Destructive chewing
Leash pulling
Over-protectiveness
Resource guarding

German Shepherd Training in Cleveland, OH

German Shepherds consistently rank in the top five most popular dog breeds in America—and for good reason. German Shepherds are highly intelligent and loyal. With proper training and socialization, they are also obedient and great with other dogs and children. Not to mention, they’re beautiful!

Dog Training Elite has years of experience with German Shepherd training in Cleveland, OH and has developed obedience programs suitable for this breed. Because of their intelligence and natural herding instincts, German Shepherds can also be trained as service dogs.

Like any intelligent dog, however, a German Shepherd without proper training can become a handful. Their intelligence can lead to stubbornness. Extensive training and socialization are key to harnessing the unique abilities of this breed and diminishing any potential destructive behaviors. Thankfully, the high intelligence of German Shepherds enables them to learn commands quickly.

With our targeted and specialized breed training programs, Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro can help any German Shepherd become an incredible companion to individuals and families.

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An image of multiple german shepherd puppies - our Cleveland german shepherd trainers ensure you pup is ready to be the best companion possible.

German Shepherd Puppies vs. Adults


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Dog Training Elite recommends starting dog training as early as possible, soon after a puppy is ready to leave its mother. Puppies are capable of learning basic commands, and smart German Shepherd puppies do great with early training.

If you adopt an older German Shepherd, or never got around to puppy training, don’t worry! Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro offers adult dog training programs as well. A complete puppy training typically takes a few months. Adult dog training can take longer or shorter, depending on whether a dog needs to unlearn bad habits in addition to being trained.

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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!

Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Michelle Kollar
    Aug. 21, 2026
    I got the platinum Package for my Great Pyrenees, because I’ve never had a big dog before and was really nervous. Dog training Elite not only helped me to feel confident with my dog, but trained him onsite and in my home until I was comfortable. All the trainers are excellent. I highly recommend investing in your dog through Dog Training Elite if you want less chaos in your home. 😊
  • Angela Dephilips
    Aug. 14, 2026
    I am a master trainer who travels the country saving dogs in line for euthanasia, I met Josh and his team a little over a year ago and not only were they welcoming, friendly and supportive they allowed me to come work dogs with them and they have come over and helped me with my dogs too. The owner of this facility is transparent and very knowledgeable . I count on Josh for some of my hardest questions and hardest dogs. I highly recommend Josh and his team to anyone looking to level up their knowledge on working dogs or pets!
  • Mark Dephilips
    Aug. 14, 2026
    Amazing place great trainers. Josh came out tested a potential protection dog for us. Amazing work. 💯 great company
  • 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.
A dog owner with his German Shepherd - get your professional german shepherd training in Cleveland, OH with Dog Training Elite today.

In-Home German Shepherd Training

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Dog Training Elite offers specialized in-home German Shepherd training for both owners and dogs of any age. Working with a German Shepherd and the owner directly in the home allows dog trainers to create personalized training plans for individual dogs, as well as address any unique needs or issues.

Once a dog has completed in-home training, they can take group classes for more in-depth training - Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro offers both puppy and adult dog group classes.

Beginning training in the home also helps owners bond with their dogs so when the dog trainer leaves, no progress is lost.

Additional Breeds We Train

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German Shepherd Training Tips

German Shepherds are loyal and intelligent dogs that require a thoughtful approach to training. They are eager learners, but they also need structure and clear guidance to reach their full potential.

Here are some essential training tips for German Shepherds.

Dogs, and especially German Shepherds, do best with consistency. Always make sure to use the same verbal and/or physical cues during training to avoid any confusion. Also, be consistent about rules - establish at the beginning, for example, whether or not your dog is allowed on the couch. Then, don’t change the rule under any circumstances.
German Shepherds are an energetic breed - if you don’t have a yard for your dog to play in, that’s fine, but make sure your German Shepherd gets daily exercise through walking, hiking, etc. An energetic dog with little to no exercise can become a destructive, disobedient dog.

Since German Shepherds are historically trained as working dogs, they thrive on being busy. Training is a great way to give German Shepherds the mental stimulation they need.

A group of dogs being trained by the expert team at Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro.
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Victory Begins With Elite Education

An adorable German Shepherd with their owner - Dog Training Elite is your go-to choice for Cleveland german shepherd trainers.

Your Expert German Shepherd Trainers in Cleveland, OH

The Dog Training Elite Difference

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Dog Training Elite uses modern training methods focused on balance and bonding between dog and dog owner. Dog Training Elite never resorts to the use of punishment to help dogs unlearn bad behavior. The difference becomes clear when comparing a dog that is trained out of anxiety and intimidation vs a dog who truly desires to please from the inside out.

The Dog Training Elite training theory is mostly based around classical conditioning, also known as the Pavlovian method or respondent conditioning. This includes developing conditioned or automatic reflexes to commands. In its simplest form (after proper conditioning), when an owner says "sit," their dog automatically sits without thinking about it.

Through a combination of commands and an electronic collar, dogs learn to follow commands at once. The electronic collar is not a shock collar; it is a gentle electronic pulse, similar to the tug of a leash, used to get the dog’s attention. Other dog trainers use harsh static collars or spray collars which have been shown to be less effective. Dog Training Elite’s training methods nurtures a dog's loving and naturally obedient nature.

Ready to turn your dog into a loyal and loving companion? Contact Dog Training Elite today for professional German Shepherd training in Cleveland, OH!