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PTSD Service Dog

Dog Training Elite Midlands SC

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A well-trained PTSD service dog in Columbia, SC  - contact Dog Training Elite today to discuss training options!

PTSD Service Dog in Columbia, SC

DTE: Top PTSD Dog Trainers

A psychiatric or PTSD service dog in Columbia, SC provides invaluable support to individuals experiencing high anxiety, stress, or trauma-related symptoms. These service animals accompany their handler everywhere, offering emotional support and helping them reintegrate into society.

Through our specialized PTSD service dog training program at Dog Training Elite, dogs are taught to assist in reducing depression, decreasing the frequency and severity of flashbacks, anchoring their handler to the present, and helping minimize suicidal thoughts.

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A picture of an obedient PTSD service dog in Columbia SC trained at Dog Training Elite.

PTSD Service Dog in Columbia, SC

How PTSD Service Dogs Help in Public Settings

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For individuals with PTSD, public settings can feel unsafe and overwhelming. Service dogs for PTSD provide grounding and protection, preventing people from crowding their handler and offering emotional support during moments of heightened anxiety.

Service dogs can also be trained to recognize signs of an impending panic attack, wake individuals from night terrors, and regulate emotional responses by applying pressure, helping their handler regain a sense of calm and control.

Our Service Dog Training Programs

Dog Training Elite Midlands SC - Psychiatric Service Dog Trainers in Columbia
Psychiatric Service Dog Training
Dog Training Elite Midlands SC - Seizure Response Dog in Columbia, SC
Medical Response Dog Training
Dog Training Elite Midlands SC - Autism Support Dog Training in Columbia, SC
Autism Support Service Dog
Two PTSD service dogs trained by the experts at Dog Training Elite Midlands SC sitting with their owners.

Benefits of PTSD Service Dog Training


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  • Increase activity and integration into society: Dogs are active and need to be exercised regularly, the responsibility of caring for a service animal will force their handler to get out and exercise. A routine is established and ties to the future are forged again.
  • Create a sense of safety: Public settings and crowds are an enormous trigger for most individuals suffering from PTSD. Psychiatric service dogs are trained to create a physical barrier between their handler and crowds of people.
  • Ground in reality, redirect hyper-vigilance: Hyper-vigilance is a symptom of PTSD and creates constant tension and paranoia within suffers. Service dogs are trained to recognize their handler’s warning signs for anxiety, hyper-vigilance, and panic attacks and redirect that energy into positive coping skills and grounding techniques such as petting the dog.
  • Reduce nightmares and flashbacks: One of the most emotionally challenging situations for individuals with PTSD to deal with are flashbacks and nightmares. They can transport an individual back to a terrifying time in their life where they have felt unsafe, threatened, and traumatized. A PTSD service animal is trained to bring their handler back to reality quickly and calmly, ground the individual, and help them to feel safe in their environment again.

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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!

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Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Mike Alexander
    Dec. 16, 2024
    Crystal is amazing! She is so patient and knowledgeable when it comes to training our Harley and showing us exactly what to do in between sessions. We are so glad we found her and can’t wait to see our “final product”. The difference we already see after only two sessions is UNBELIEVABLE! We are very impressed!!
  • Robert Johnson
    Dec. 23, 2024
    Very good for smokey&Elizabeth
  • Brian Pioreck
    Jan. 28, 2025
    Professional, polite, straight forward, and honestly. Crystal explained the whole process as well as expectation that would be set. She provided a skills demonstration in a practice environment and made it clear that success relied on my investment.
  • Tim Dorton
    Jan. 28, 2025
    She was very thorough, polite and dog friendly.
  • Betty Pearson
    Jan. 14, 2025
    Take his time and shows a LOT of patience with my CoCo and me. Highly recommend!
  • Manda Fontenot
    Jan. 20, 2025
    We have been so pleased with Dog Training Elite Midlands. Not only are Justin and Crystal fantastic trainers, they are fantastic people who genuinely care about you and your dog. Signing with Dog Training Elite Midlands is signing with a solutions oriented team to help grow you and your dog. Our puppy loves them and loves training! She has learned so much, and we get so many compliments now when we are out on her behavior and demeanor. Justin and Crystal meet your pet where they are and exceed all expectations from there. We can't recommend them enough!
  • GB Olsen
    Dec. 17, 2024
    My corgi and I are learning so much from Crystal and makes it clear to me the value of being consistent.
  • Jacob Stone
    Jan. 8, 2025
    Our initial consult went great and we are so excited to begin training our dog!
  • Haleigh Pool
    Jan. 6, 2025
    Justin and Crystal were amazing! So glad we decided to train our dogs with them. We’re so happy with the results. We can now go on off leash walks confidently and their excessive barking has stopped.
  • Dustin Langenhuizen
    Dec. 20, 2024
    Crystal is amazing to work with. Very knowledgeable and patient. Simba is picking everything up quickly.
  • Mandy Fennell
    Dec. 23, 2024
    Justin and Crystal are the absolute best in the business. They are so patient with both owner and dog. They do a great job communicating and demonstrating the current plan and client homework. In 4 short weeks, my dog is already a different dog. Her confidence has increased tremendously and bad behavior is almost gone. We can’t thank them enough.
  • William Bossong
    Dec. 14, 2023
    Justin is an incredible dog trainer. He really cares about your dog's progress and wellbeing with a good balance of assigning and holding the owner accountable as well. Would highly recommend Justin and his Company! When our golden retriever was back in town recently, Justin made himself available to come back and visit him to check in on his progress. His service and caring is second to none. We would continue to recommend Justin and DTE for all of your dog training needs!
  • Lesley Coggiola
    Dec. 18, 2024
    Crystal did an excellent job of training my goldendoodle puppy (and the owner) to be an obedient dog while keeping her a happy loving puppy. The program is professional and well run. I would recommend them to anyone.
  • Brooke Nardi
    Dec. 4, 2024
    It was so much fun getting to work with this team and they did a phenomenal job working with my doggo. Hands down the easiest money I’ve ever spent and was worth every penny. I’ve looked for trainers that would really get the job done and I’ve come up short for the past two years. Elite Midlands is the best I’ve seen yet. The entire team was super friendly, knowledgeable, and knows how to handle any type of dog out there. I foolishly thought that only certain dogs had capacity to do what they train dogs to do. However, I quickly learned that with the technique elite midlands uses, no matter your pet’s behavior, past, or struggles they can learn and love what they do with this team. Thank you guys so much for the experience! Shylah and I will be forever grateful!
  • Brooke D
    Dec. 3, 2024
    It was so much fun getting to work with this team and they did a phenomenal job working with my doggo. Hands down the easiest money I’ve ever spent and was worth every penny. I’ve looked for trainers that would really get the job done and I’ve come up short for the past two years. Elite Midlands is the best I’ve seen yet. The entire team was super friendly, knowledgeable, and knows how to handle any type of dog out there. I foolishly thought that only certain dogs had capacity to do what they train dogs to do. However, I quickly learned that with the technique elite midlands uses, no matter your pet’s behavior, past, or struggles they can learn and love what they do with this team. Thank you guys so much for the experience! Shylah and I will be forever grateful!
  • Erica Reyna
    Oct. 21, 2024
    We have had the best experience with Dog Training Elite Midlands! Everyone is so professional and friendly. Justin has been our main trainer and he is patient, knowledgeable and very caring! If you are looking for a dog trainer, I cannot recommend them highly enough!
  • BrennanOMalley
    Oct. 16, 2024
    Justin and Crystal did a wonderful job training my dad’s dog! I am leaving this review for him because he couldn’t figure out how to but, said he had a great time! We can definitely tell there is a lot more peace in the home already and a lot less barking in the background on our phone calls!
  • Nick Smith
    Oct. 16, 2024
    Justin was an absolutely amazing dog trainer. He trained my dog Kaden. I had so many issues with Kaden. He peed in the house, lunged at other dogs, didn’t come when called, pulled on the leash, jumped all over guest in my house, and many more issues. Justin solved every single issue I had with Kaden. His training method was fair to my dog. You can tell when someone truly cares about your dog and Justin 100% did. I highly recommend him.
  • Timothy Kinney
    Sep. 18, 2024
    We can’t say enough good things about Justin! From the moment we met, we knew our dogs were in great hands. Not only does he have a wealth of knowledge about dog behavior, but he also has a unique ability to connect with dogs on a personal level. My dogs, who used to be anxious and reactive around other dogs, and people, has completely transformed under Justin’s guidance. Each session was tailored to our specific needs, and I really appreciated the positive reinforcement techniques used, which made the training both effective and enjoyable for my dog. What impressed me most was the patience and encouragement Justin showed both to our dogs and us as pet owners. Thanks to Justin, our dogs are more confident, better behaved, and we all enjoy our time together so much more. We even are able to have one of our dogs working through the process of becoming a therapy dog. If you’re looking for a professional, compassionate, and skilled dog trainer, I highly recommend Dog Training Elite Midlands SC—you won’t be disappointed!
  • Dana Lindsey
    Sep. 18, 2024
    We were referred to Justin and his team by a close friend for our Poppy, who 100% lives up to her name. She is smart but we needed training on how to outsmart her and get her to listen. Justin and Crystal have been so patient and supportive, their explanations thorough, instructions clear, and they make training FUN. Poppy adores both of them, and has learned so much. I would recommend this company to anyone looking to train and be trained. They know their stuff, and are just a delight to work with. 10/10 recommend.