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Military / Retired Vet Programs

Dog Training Elite of Southern CT

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A military veteran and service dog - Dog Training Elite offers elite veteran service dog training in Connecticut.

Dog Training Elite

Military Veteran Service Dog Training in Connecticut

At Dog Training Elite of Southern CT, 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 Connecticut.

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.

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A service puppy in training - Dog Training Elite offers veteran service dog training in Connecticut for those who have served our country.

Dog Training Elite of Southern CT

Why We Offer Service Dog Training for Military Veterans

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At Dog Training Elite of Southern CT, we are passionate about helping military veterans through the support of service dogs. We offer specialized service dog training options in Connecticut, 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 of Southern CT.

Popular Service Dog Breeds

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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!

Call 203-433-6287 Free Assessment

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See An Elite Dog in Action

An adorable dog obstacle training with Dog Training Elite of Southern CT. See Gallery
An golden retriever at a show demo with Dog Training Elite of Southern CT. See Gallery
A group of dogs being trained by experts at Dog Training Elite of Southern CT. See Gallery
An adorable Australian Shepherd on a place platform with Dog Training Elite of Southern CT. See Gallery
An adorable golden retriever puppy service training Dog Training Elite of Southern CT. See Gallery
A service dog and his veteran owner - Dog Training Elite of Southern CT.

Our Veteran Service Dog Training in Connecticut

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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 of Southern CT.

Service Dogs for Veterans & PTSD

Get Specialized Training with DTE Today

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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

  • Laura Lorenzo
    Jul. 3, 2026
    DTE has proven to be the right choice for our GSD. Jason has put us on the right path for this training to be successful. Coraggio responds well to Jason. We actually feel like proud parents. This was money well spent. Stratford ,CT
  • Liana Smith
    Jun. 30, 2026
    We absolutely LOVE Dog Training Elite. Jason has been so great with our dog Rhodes. He was a very difficult puppy but with patience, persistence and guidance - he is now a well mannered member of society (most of the time haha). Group training has also been a great help. It’s exposed Rhodes to other dogs, people and environments which have helped widen his training scope. Couldn’t recommend them more - with every penny!
  • Laura Dupont
    Jun. 25, 2026
    Jason primarily helped us with leash manners for our newly adopted rescue pup. We’ve seen so much improvement so quickly and it has helped make walks more enjoyable for us all. He’s very generous with his time and happy to answer any and all questions as things come up. Highly recommend Jason!
  • Steven Albert
    Jun. 21, 2026
    My name is Steve and my dog is Nonna from Northford Ct ,We have just finished the platinum package from Dog Training Elite of Southern Ct, Training my dog to be a service dog. Lauren The owner and Wendy in the Office and Jason and Juliana, who were the instructors out in the field, going to multiple destinations to ensure proper training and socialization for our future together, was very stress-free and accommodating for times and destinations The training was so professional that everyone was relaxed through All the sessions during an after your final training when my dog is certified as a service dog, we can go twice a month for group training, which gets your socialization and training with other dogs. The veterans helping veterans nonprofit organization, took care of all the training needs in order to hit Our final goal thank you one and all It was our pleasure to have worked with you and thank you for all your help!
  • Tess Nogueira
    Jun. 10, 2026
    DTE has helped us so much since starting with them. We have two dogs that were working through a lot of reactivity and separation anxiety and the change we have seen in them this early on is so amazing. Jason has give us the training expertise and tools to continue to build on the foundation we have created, and that’s just in a handful of one on one training sessions. They come to you and work in your environment which is extremely helpful. Additionally, having group classes where our pups can continue their learning and be exposed to other dogs as well is a huge plus. I’m so happy we came across DTE. Their philosophy and the way they treat our pups is very thoughtful and done with lots of care. Couldn’t recommend more!
  • Mindy Meyer
    Jun. 2, 2026
    We had a really positive experience working with Jason for basic dog training. From the very beginning, communication was excellent — responses were timely, professional, and easy to understand. It was clear they genuinely cared about helping both us and our dog succeed. The training process was organized, practical, and tailored to our dog’s needs. Jason explained techniques clearly and made sure we understood how to continue reinforcing the training at home. I appreciated that Jason focused not only on teaching commands, but also on helping us build better consistency and communication with our dog overall. We saw noticeable improvements in behavior and obedience throughout the training. Basic commands became much more reliable, and our dog gained confidence and better manners in everyday situations. The results were absolutely worth it! What stood out most was how patient, encouraging, and knowledgeable Jason was during the entire process. He created a comfortable environment for both the dog and owner, which made learning much easier and less stressful. I would definitely recommend Jason to anyone looking for reliable, effective, and professional dog training services. Great communication, solid training methods, and real results.
  • Skye McCashion
    May. 28, 2026
    We were having behavioral problems that seemed to come out of nowhere with our dog. Everywhere we turned to seemed to judge us and acted as though we were bad dog parents. Until we came across Elite. They were so kind about everything, very understanding, and truly just wanted the best for us and our dog. Iliana is an AMAZING trainer. She really cares about you and your dog and walks you through everything that’s going on with your pup and the exercises in the training. We love having her come over and going to group sessions with her!
  • Lauren Richitelli
    May. 20, 2026
    I adopted my 2 year old American bully last summer, and I reached out to Dog Training Elite to start obedience and lifestyle training immediately in Branford, CT. Jason and Illiana were both great, giving clear instructions and helping me set expectations with Ziggy. They are also very responsive - I texted Illiana after having a particularly frustrating day with my little teenager, she answered immediately and was able to talk me through what I should do and followed up in our next training session. Ziggy is well socialized, calm, and respectful in almost any situation. I feel confident taking him with me in public places and it has definitely fostered a great relationship between us - he really enjoys training, and it’s fun to watch his brain work! The group classes are also a great way to socialize with other dogs in a professional setting - and they are located at some beautiful parks I’ve never been to which is a fun bonus!
  • WendyLeigh C
    May. 14, 2026
    We are in Brookfield CT and both trainers came to us for sessions, one of the biggest perks of this company. They were always on time, always super productive and fun sessions. Also very reasonable prices in comparison to other options in CT. We did the Gold obedience package for our puppy with the goal of doing service training down the line. It went really well and we can't wait to continue when he's a little older. Highly recommend, you will not be disappointed!
  • Austin Witte
    Apr. 23, 2026
    Jason at Dog Training Elite has been a tremendous help for us with our 2 year old lab mix who was dealing with anxiety, recall, leash pulling, and impulse control. Finn loved Jason and responded super well to the lessons. My wife and I were already decent at basic training from our older dog but Finn is a bit more stubborn and needed a different training method. Jason was patient and guided us through how Finn learns and responds to training differently than our other dog. We worked on lots of things to help confidence, leash pulling, and impulse control. Jason was flexible to meet for home visits, outdoor lessons, and even Home Depot. I would recommend him to anyone in CT but we were based on Glastonbury, CT. The group training is an awesome perk as well to build confidence around other well-behaved dogs. Jason and his team were super helpful and accessible for questions we had outside of our scheduled lessons as well.
  • Emily J.
    Apr. 23, 2026
    We have two strong-minded, high-energy young beagles. Jason is a magician. Professional, patient, kind, empathetic. A gifted teacher. Our dogs love him and yours will too. If you wish to resolve any issues concerning obedience, anxiety, and/or bad/dangerous puppy habits, Jason is the answer. Well worth the investment in the quality of life for all. Loren is also a pleasure with whom to do business. A+ for this enterprise.
  • Lelio Vieux
    Apr. 21, 2026
    Here’s a clean version with Shelton mentioned clearly: ⸻ Great experience with this team in Shelton, CT! They came right to our house in Shelton, which made everything so easy. We worked with them for our dog Mitch’s basic obedience training and saw a big difference right away. He’s more focused, listens better, and overall just behaves so much better. Jason and the team were super easy to work with and really know what they’re doing. You can tell they truly care about the dogs. Highly recommend!
  • scott frisoli
    Apr. 17, 2026
    I personally worked with Jason and Illiana. I recommend both highly. We did group sessions with other dogs and training in busy malls and home training indoors and outdoor training at home. I was extremely impressed and happy to benefit from the professional calm experience of both these trainers. My dog Bear and I were held to a high standard, training which was taught with Professionalism and confidence. The results speak for themselves. I realize that much of what they teach is for my dogs sake but much of it was also for me. The interaction between Owner and Dog is key to success. I feel extremely fortunate to have been trained and supported by Jason and Illiana.
  • Marina Kovalskiy
    Apr. 10, 2026
    From the very first session Jason made training fun and stress free for our 2 year old mini poodle. His team made everything possible to turn our anxious dog in to a calmed and confident companion and a service dog Thank you Jason, Iliana and Laurent for making all this hard work to come true!
  • jodie vecchio
    Apr. 8, 2026
    Our trainer Jason was very accommodating and did an amazing job training Reggie, as well as training me as the owner. Someone was always available for questions throughout. The difference in Reggie’s behavior was even commented on by all my neighbors. Jason adapted the training to our specific needs, and to Reggie’s stubbornness. More than satisfied with our experience, recommend to anyone who has that stubborn pup that seemed untrainable. Reggie and I are both happier now and so grateful to Jason.
  • Keith Robertson
    Mar. 19, 2026
    Trainer Jay worked miracles with my high drive German Shepherd, Rocky. Rocky learned so much from Trainer Jay and my family learned how to train Rocky to be a good member of the family. By the time our private lessons were done, Rocky walked great on a leash, listened and responded extremely well to all of his commands, had almost zero reactivity. He still gets excited and jumps a little when he sees Trainer Jay but we’ll keep working on that. Thanks Trainer Jay and Dog Training Elite of Southern CT for helping with Rocky. I highly recommend Dog Training Elite of Southern CT!
  • Kyle
    Mar. 4, 2026
    10/10 experience. Great knowledgeable trainers. Helped with my Dutch Shepherd a lot. Would highly recommend.
  • Bauer Sumpio
    Mar. 2, 2026
    What’s better than competent, knowledgeable and personable dog trainers? When they come to your home and give individualized bespoke training! Iliana and Jason have been training my 7 month old goldendoodle Lola and they are outstanding …we’ve utilized all the techniques including choke, prong and e-collar. Lola is now a more confident dog and a joy to walk around our town of Woodbridge. They also run group sessions with their client dogs which is really valuable in socializing Lola to other dogs and managing her behaviors. When I take Lola to the dog park, she is very comfortable with other dogs and plays well with them! I highly recommend this dog training program. It has given me the tools to properly communicate and interact with my dog.
  • John Barrett
    Feb. 20, 2026
    Illiana has been an amazing trainer. Our dog, Finn has seen vast improvements since when we started. We would highly recommend Illiana, Jason, and dog training elite to anyone looking for help!
  • Bill Keyt
    Feb. 17, 2026
    The team at Elite has been spot on since the initial contact. Great communication and follow-up for scheduling the sessions, answering questions, providing feedback and offering suggestions. We had 5 private training sessions. Four at our house in Manchester and one of them we met at Cabela's. All proved to be very valuable and informative. Training techniques used are all chosen based on our comfort level, desired methods and objectives. We recently had our first of 12 group sessions. Our pup met up with about 6 or 7 others at Hubbard Park. We ran through a number of exercises and drills that with practice are going to lead towards great public behavior. We look forward to connecting for the rest of the group sessions. Overall we are very pleased with the services and professionalism provided by Elite. Extremely satisfied and recommend them.
Reviews & Testimonials