An obedient puppy receiving expert puppy training in Cleveland, OH from DTE.

Professional

Puppy Training

Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro

Request Free Assessment

Request Free Assessment

Our Puppy Training Could Help:

Leash and potty training
Food guarding and begging
Destructive chewing and digging
Stealing food, clothing, or other objects
Barking, howling and whining
Aggression and anxiety
Jumping and hyperactivity

Dog Training Elite

Expert Cleveland Puppy Trainers

Bringing home a new puppy is exciting, but it also comes with challenges like chewing and accidents. The most common mistake new owners make is underestimating the knowledge, commitment, and effort needed to train a new puppy.

Once a puppy begins to grow, its energy can quickly feel unmanageable. It’s all too common that a well-meaning and loving family takes on a puppy lacking the knowledge and skills to train correctly. This often results in overwhelmed owners rehoming or taking these puppies to local shelters, feeling the puppy’s disposition is bad or simply that they are not cut out to be dog owners.

At Dog Training Elite, we focus on building that bond through effective training to foster trust and communication. Our experienced Cleveland puppy trainers use proven methods to help you and your puppy succeed together.

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A little puppy sitting in grass, contact Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro 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
Three puppies receiving expert training from Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro.

The Importance of Puppy Training


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Almost everyone and everything a puppy will encounter will be brand new, which can be exciting. However, puppies may not know how to respond positively and safely to new experiences without proper training. That's why Dog Training Elite believes in starting puppy training as soon as possible, so you and your pup can bond and start your adventures on the right foot!

Training the DTE way provides puppies and owners with a nurturing environment where they can learn to communicate and trust each other. Puppies have an innate desire to please, so training can be fun and even easy! Of course, it can be daunting to try and figure out how to make puppies understand concepts like potty training or commands like sit and stay on your own. That's where puppy training comes in.

Keeping a puppy safe should be the number one priority of new dog owners. By working with puppy trainers in, new puppy owners can learn how to teach their pup both basic and complex obedience skills effectively. Training a pup to be home alone, walk on a leash, wait on the threshold, and avoid consuming non-edible objects will help keep them safe when out of sight.

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!

Video Gallery

Videos

FAQs

One of our trainers will visit your home to meet you and your dog and discuss any issues you're facing. We will then demonstrate one of our model dogs so you can see what you can expect after hiring our trainers. From there, we will discuss the various packages we offer and which we feel best suit your (and your dog's) needs.
We provide full obedience training that covers all basic commands, both on and off-leash. Our in-home visits target specific issues like counter-surfing, digging, and more. Unlike some trainers, we work with all breeds, including those often considered challenging.
Yes. You (and anyone in your family who wants to be involved) are integral to your dog getting trained. We need you to practice 5-6 days a week, about 15-20 minutes a day for optimal results.
Once a week. We come to you (with the silver, gold and platinum packages) once a week to start your dog off, then you come to park sessions which are held once a week in Cleveland.
We train dogs of all breeds, sizes, and temperaments. Whether your dog is a tiny Chihuahua or a large Mastiff, we have the experience and expertise to work with them.

Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Jeff Moran
    Dec. 3, 2024
    Lexi, our trainer, made it very easy for me to understand how to relate to my dog. Charley has made great strides in his behavior and he just loves showing off his understanding of commands. I can take him anywhere and he is very well behaved
  • Marissa Razzante
    Dec. 2, 2024
    Josh was incredible to work with! We did in-home sessions to help my resident dog adjust to adding another dog to the home. Josh clearly explained the method behind everything and helped me to feel comfortable working with the dogs. A key area of focus was resource guarding that led to aggression by my resident dog. Josh created a safe environment to induce the resource guarding so we could work to correct it. He brought other dogs and trainers as needed to help create different scenarios. This was a great experience that helped us correct negative behaviors!
  • Ryan Savage
    Nov. 29, 2024
    Dog Training Elite is AWESOME! The owners are the nicest people, they really know what they're doing. If you need dog training, DTE is definitely the way to go. They offer service dog, therapy dog, and obedience training. Great guys overall.
  • Lynn Dutsch
    Nov. 23, 2024
    We were at our wit's end with our puppy but Dog Training Elite Northeast Ohio changed our lives for the better from the very first lesson. We have truly enjoyed our experience and have even been able to use the same techniques with our 5 year old dog. We absolutely recommend Kevin, Andrea, and the entire team for any dog or puppy that needs training. It has been such a pleasure to go from one semi-behaved dog and a crazy puppy, to 2 very well behaved dogs with happy owners! Thank you Kevin, Andrea, and the entire team.
  • dominick lesinski
    Nov. 14, 2024
    Thanks DTE Northeast Ohio!
  • kim pintar
    Nov. 12, 2024
    Kevin and Andrea were amazing with our very anxious and nervous Louie. They helped him work through a lot of his fears with an extreme amount of patience and reassurance. They also taught us how to train our dog in a way that was the best for him and build our confidence. What meant the most was how Kevin and Andrea cared when we lost our other dog, Margo. Great dog trainers!!
  • Abby Atkins
    Nov. 12, 2024
    I am so grateful for Kevin, Andrea, and Jimmy! They were so patient as we navigated training two dogs. My pitbull has skin issues so they worked with me on making sure the collar we used didn’t affect his skin. They were all so encouraging and gave my pups so much love. It was a great experience and I’m looking forward to continue the training with the pack walks.
  • Tiffany Brock
    Nov. 12, 2024
    AMAZING STAFF! We are so thankful to have connected with this group. They go above and beyond. We have a pack for life ❤️ Kevin and Andrea have been such a great resource, even before I had my pup! Andrea spoke with me for an hour or so about where to start in looking for a puppy as my service dog. We connected again after finding the best pup ever (thanks to Andreas expert advice on breeder selection). We got to work training and it just seemed like such an easy process, even with all the hard work! We had the tools, knowledge, and support to get where we are today!
  • julz vern
    Nov. 11, 2024
    Really happy with Dog Training Elite Northeast Ohio I am disabled and suffer from PTSD my doctor referred me to get a companion and or Service Dog My son purchased this beautiful German Shepard not only for Emotional Support, but for Protection as well. We love that we can count on Élite for training Baby Girl we see the changes in her every day. We love that it is a life time program if we should need it and the extra touch is the get togethers at the park with other dogs and their owners. We also love the Crew and the Owners they really take pride working with the dogs everyday, you can see the results at the end of the day when its time to teach the owners LOL
  • Bernard Agin
    Nov. 11, 2024
    Marley is a 7 year old cavachon. Happy dog. But a gleeful barker at dogs and people. A leash puller!! Still happy as can be. Walks like a champ. Even ignores those chatty squirrels and swarms of deer. Marley is becoming a trained PSA. And we owe it to Kevin, Andrea and Elite.
  • I P
    Nov. 11, 2024
    I can’t say enough good things about the Dog Training Elite Team. If you are looking for a practical approach to obedience training, look no further. The platinum dog training program set the foundation for success for our 1yr. Old Bully. He was reactive towards people and animals, making walks and community outings difficult. Kevin and Andrea, take the time to understand your needs. One-on-one sessions offer a better understanding of dog behavior and proper technique. I especially enjoyed the Doggie Day camps. Unlike board and train programs, our boy spent the day training and playing with new friends. Then, he was allowed to come home at the end of the day, where we completed our homework(Practice)! The entire staff at the training facility is knowledgeable, caring, and dedicated to helping your pup be all it can be. Be assured that when you partner with the DTE team, they will be committed to the long-term success of your fur baby.
  • Leslie McIntyre
    Nov. 10, 2024
    Very clear and positive way of dealing with issues your pup may have. The trainers are encouraging no matter what happens, or how stubborn your dog is. They figure out ways to solve all problems. Extremely happy to have hired them
  • Kaleigh Hunt
    Nov. 10, 2024
    Dog Training Elite has forever changed our lives. I got my first puppy, Vienna, and while I loved her, I struggled through the puppy stage and remember feeling overwhelmed. That changed once we started training with Kevin and Andrea. Now, Vienna is incredibly well-behaved and receives compliments wherever we go. We’re so grateful for the work they put into helping us with our dog. Their family-run facility makes you and your pet feel like family too. We’ll definitely be going through Dog Training Elite for our next puppy!
  • Danielle Manzeo
    Nov. 2, 2024
    Josh, Lexi and Hayley were amazing to work with! After completing the 4 week dog therapy camp, I feel confident bringing my pup to work with me on a daily basis. The support after camp was over is also really impressive and helpful. I couldn’t be more pleased and I would recommend them to anyone.
  • Amanda Mitchell
    Nov. 1, 2024
    Josh did an amazing job working with our German Shepard-husky mix, Bear! I liked having a combination of in-home, outdoor, & public location sessions for training. You have to make sure you are willing to put in the time, but the results are great, and it’s so worth it!
  • Susmita Subba
    Oct. 31, 2024
    I cannot recommend Dog Training Elite enough! From the start, Lexi made everything easy to understand and gave us the confidence we needed to train our German Shepherd. I knew owning such a strong, intelligent breed would be a challenge without proper guidance, so I’m grateful to have found Dog Training Elite. Thanks to Lexi’s expertise, Ace has come so far! She even provided tips to help us reinforce good habits at home, making the progress stick. I also had the pleasure of meeting Josh during a group class at the facility, and he’s just as amazing and passionate about his work. I can’t wait to take Ace on many for group classes in future.
  • Jenna Bowles
    Oct. 30, 2024
    Everyone was very knowledgeable and polite. And were willing to help answer any questions about dogs.
  • Thomas Kozub
    Oct. 30, 2024
    I am extremely impressed and thankful for Dog Training Elite, especially Josh. I have a 3 year old Doberman rescue (Hank) who needed the training and discipline. From day one Josh provided exactly what Hank and I needed. Hank is obedient and a completely different dog. This helped us bond, build trust, and grow the relationship. Thank you Dog Training Elite and Josh, I am grateful and I appreciate your services.
  • Jacob Oberst
    Oct. 5, 2024
    I’ll try to keep it short. I wish I could add videos because these pictures are just a sneak peak of the incredible things he will be able to get your dog or dogs to do! JOSH IS THE MAN!! Listen if you’re looking for a great dog trainer this is the place to go. You truly must be willing to do your part just like you’re paying them to do. This place really knows how to dial your dog in. They also take the time to teach you what they do which is truly amazing ! I would recommend anyone to go here for their dog! Josh is a very genuine human. Very warm kind heart guy. Have absolutely nothing but great respect for that man. Very intelligent when it comes to working with animals. He knows the breeds inside and out knows a lot of great great information. The in facility portion is highly recommended in my opinion if you want those results fast and that good socialization. The at homes are just as good the in facility though man it worked wonders. Feel free to follow me and I’d be happy to share my only 5 month old Rottweilers amazing results !
  • Jacob Oberst
    Oct. 5, 2024
    I’ll try to keep it short. Listen if you’re looking for a good dog trainer this is the place to go. You truly must be willing to do your part just like you’re paying them to do. This place really knows how to dial your dog in. They also take the time to teach you what they do which is truly amazing ! I would recommend anyone to go here for their dog! Josh is a very genuine human. Very warm kind heart guy. Have absolutely nothing but great respect for that man. Very intelligent when it comes to working with animals. He knows the breeds inside and out knows a lot of great great information. The in facility portion is highly recommended in my opinion if you want those results fast and that good socialization. The at homes are just as good the in facility though man it worked wonders. Feel free to follow me and I’d be happy to share my only 5 month old Rottweilers amazing results !
A Cleveland puppy trainers giving a puppy positive affirmation during an in-home training session.

Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro, OH

In-Home Puppy Training

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Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro offers comprehensive in-home training. For the first 4-6 weeks, trainers use “treat training” before moving onto more advanced puppy training. Puppies will learn the following behaviors:

  • Come, down, loose-leash walking, and down
  • Puppy corrections (Stop biting, digging, jumping, etc.)
  • Crate training/ housebreaking
  • Focus around distractions

Trainers will also help owners learn about the following:

  • Socialization tips
  • Environmental hazards
  • Positive reinforcement techniques
  • Puppy enrichment
  • Caring for your puppy
  • And more!

Training a puppy can feel overwhelming. By pairing you with a professional trainer, not only will your puppy learn quickly, but you will feel confident and empowered to continue training your puppy after the sessions are completed. Training in your own home will help you bond with your pup so even after the professional trainer leaves, you and Fido can continue to progress together.

A puppy ready to start training with Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro.

Start Puppy Training Early

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First-time dog owners are often unsure of when to begin training their dogs. For the best results, it’s essential to start training your puppy as soon as possible. You can start socialization and basic commands as soon as you bring your new puppy home. Puppies are open to new experiences and people and learn quickly while they are young. It is beneficial to take advantage of this stage. Start with basic commands like "down," "come," and "stay." If you are searching for classes, Dog Training Elite offers puppy obedience classes.

Additional Puppy Training Info

Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro - Puppy Crate Training in Cleveland, OH. DTE
Crate Training
A well-manered puppy receiving positive reinforcement from their owner.

Cleveland Puppy Trainers

The DTE Approach

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We have developed a highly successful and unique positive puppy training program empowering dog owners to train. Hence, their dog knows who to obey at all times, in all situations or environments. We offer personalized training to deal with specific issues and behaviors. We even offers customized training schedules to offer you the support you need as a dog owner.

Involvement is Key!

Most dog training programs don’t allow for the involvement of owners and families. Our trainers greatly encourage owners and their families to be involved in the training process. Why? This ensures you and your family know what’s expected, allows for continued education and means all the progress isn’t lost. Your puppy won’t come home and forget everything he’s learned.

Our puppy training program consists of two phases, early training and advanced training. Puppies as young as eight weeks can begin learning with Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro. Our process allows us to efficiently complete in-home puppy training services at your home or within the environment where behaviors manifest - such as in the park or around other dogs in the neighborhood.

A Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro puppy training outside.

Dog Training Elite in Cleveland Metro

How Puppy Training Works

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We use a positive puppy training method paired with an electronic collar - not a shock collar. Unlike shock collars, electronic collars do not hurt or harm the pup. They are used only to obtain their attention, not to punish bad behavior. We believe in using constant praise to encourage good behavior. The difference becomes apparent when comparing a puppy trained out of fear to a puppy who truly desires to please.

Positive Reinforcement for Positive Pups

Positive reinforcement is the best option in puppy training. Punishments will only scare your dog, and fear can lead to aggression problems later in life. Our trainers use a classical conditioning program focusing on positive reinforcement of basic commands.

Dogs are eager to please. When they learn following basic commands results in affection or a treat, they will be happy to do as you ask. With patience - and the assistance of a professional puppy trainer - you'll be rewarded with a lifelong loyal pal.

We base our training around the "Classical Conditioning" model, also known as the "Pavlovian" response or "respondent conditioning." This means developing conditioned or automatic reflexes to commands, so when the owner says "sit," the dog automatically sits without thinking. Our unique technique ensures our program is a success no matter what behavior we encounter.

Contact us today to learn more about our training programs!

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

Tips on How to Bond

Training is a great way to establish a deep, loyal bond with your puppy. Outside of your training sessions, there is more you can do to strengthen your bond. Here are some more tips for how to bond with your puppy:

Your puppy may not understand the words you’re saying, but he or she will understand your tone of voice. Speaking in an excited tone of voice will get your pup excited and motivate them to do what you want them to. Speaking in a low, calm voice can help soothe and relax your puppy.
Puppies thrive on routine. A consistent schedule will help your puppy adjust to their new home, and to you and your family. A puppy’s schedule needs to include eating, playtime, puppy training, potty breaks, and nap times.
As mentioned above, playtime is an important part of your puppy’s schedule. Playing with your puppy will help strengthen your bond and stimulate their brains. Walks are an easy and great way to give your puppy much-needed exercise. Start small, walking around in your yard or driveway and gradually extending the distance around your neighborhood.
Creating boundaries in your home for your puppy helps strengthen your bond because your puppy will look to you for direction and guidance. It will also help your puppy avoid bad habits. Baby gates and playpens are a useful way to create physical boundaries.
Puppies can become overwhelmed about all the new things they’re exploring. Crate training is a perfect way to allow your puppy to have their own space where they feel safe and comfortable and help them develop some independence so they grow into a well-adjusted dog.
The most adorable way to bond with your puppy is by cuddling them! Snuggling with your pup can help him or her feel comforted and safe. The best time to get a cuddle session with your puppy is when they are sleepy. Cuddling also helps puppies get used to having their paws, belly, face, etc. handled, and can be a good time to introduce light grooming practices like brushing their fur.