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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.

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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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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

  • Joanne Rocco
    Nov. 13, 2025
    Dog Training Elite and trainer Justin have been terrific to work with and I have seen very positive results with my dog. My dog and I have worked with Jason over several 1-1 sessions and his training is clear and easily applied. His feedback to me has been very helpful in addressing issues such as barking, reactivity, leash pulling and basic obedience. In addition to 1-1 sessions, the group training sessions have been great opportunities to expose my dog to other dogs in a controlled environment. These sessions also reinforce the training received in individual sessions. My dog loves Jason and responds very well to him, and I appreciate his patient approach to me as I learn to address issues with my dog. I highly recommend Dog Training Elite and Jason to receive positive results with your dog!
  • Lucas B
    Nov. 13, 2025
    So glad I choose these guys, from private sessions at my house (or even at a public place if I choose) to the group sessions they offer at various locations, it all helped my dog with everything she needed! They are knowledgeable, consistent, considerate, and very kind!
  • Vanessa Rodrigues
    Nov. 12, 2025
    Great training in home and group training. Saw improvements in my dogs leash walking.
  • Doreen Sudol
    Oct. 29, 2025
    Our Raina did so well. Jason was awesome he really tunes into a dogs personality! Raina is a 125 adopted malamute so she can be a lot😃 She has learned all her commands and can now go in public and behave like a lady😃
  • Sophie Michels
    Oct. 22, 2025
    I was impressed by the patience, knowledge, professionalism, and consistency of the team at Dog Training Elite of Southern CT. The service dog and medical response training sessions were clear and effective, and the trainer always took the time to explain each step. I appreciated how consistent the approach was, which helped my dog make steady progress. Highly recommend them as a professional dog trainer in Greenwich, CT
  • Angelo Trimarchi
    Oct. 2, 2025
    I would like to provide a five-star review to express my sincere appreciation for the exceptional training program offered by Dog Training Elite of Southern CT. My dog, Khloe, underwent training in Norwalk, CT, where she required obedience training prior to her service dog training. Jason, the trainer, demonstrated remarkable professionalism and expertise, effectively guiding my dog to successfully complete all necessary tasks for this process. The transformation in my dog’s behavior and performance has been significant. I am truly grateful for my decision to choose this company for my dog’s training, and I wholeheartedly recommend it. Thank you, Jason, for all that you have done for my dog.
  • Joell Pine
    Sep. 22, 2025
    I am very happy with Dog Training Elite of Southern CT. Top 3 things I loved: 1) Their knowledge and experience made every session effective. 2) Their patience and consistency built real confidence in my dog. 3) Their professionalism and friendly communication made the whole process smooth. I highly recommend them for dog obedience training and puppy training classes—they truly are the best dog trainer in the area.
  • JoAnn Sullivan
    Sep. 22, 2025
    Wonderful experience working with Jason. Our dog, Ruby, learned quickly and looked forward to seeing Jason each week. He explained everything very clearly and made sure we were comfortable with the training to be done on our own during the week. In addition, he always says to call with any questions or concerns so you fell completely confident as you guide your dog to living their best trained life. We Thank Dog Training Elite for a great training experience for us and our dog!
  • Kierra Parlagreco
    Sep. 15, 2025
    Dog Training Elite of Southern CT was amazing. Jason, our trainer, was very knowledgeable and patient, working with each member of the family to make sure we understood the obedience training methods and psychology. The whole team was great when our dear puppy broke his leg and we had to work around his healing process. I also really appreciate how Jason would respond to texts and give us some extra things to try, like when our puppy regressed and started pooping in the house. Thankfully, Jason helped us turn that around within a few days! Kepler, our puppy, looooooves Trainer J, too. And he is a very happy, (mostly) obedient seven month old pup now after working Elite! We all look forward to some upcoming group sessions with Elite!
  • Karen Brudney
    Sep. 9, 2025
    Jason was beyond superb. He never became annoyed or irritated by my failure to get my dog to do as instructed, even when I needed 6-7 times before the dog obeyed. He never made me feel incompetent-in fact, he instilled me with confidence that I could get the dog to obey. And I did! Cannot recommend highly enough.
  • Lucineide Da silva
    Sep. 9, 2025
    Dear Dog Training Elite Team! I just wanted to say that, I really enjoyed working with you all.You trained my dog so well, and I absolutely recommend you to others.Also,Jason is an excellent professional!Thank you so much for your kind.😊😊
  • Heather Cabral
    Aug. 20, 2025
    Our experience with Dog Training Elite of Southern CT was nothing short of amazing! We originally sought out their help here in Newtown for diabetic alert training for our dog, Lucky, but we got so much more. Thanks to the dedication and personalized training from Jason, Lucky is now able to go everywhere with us, without any issues. ​We recently took a trip and received so many compliments on how well-behaved Lucky was. He was incredibly responsive to all his commands, including come, heal, sit, and lay. He stayed right by our side, even in new environments. Lucky was able to join in on all of our family activities, including going to restaurants, the beach, and even an arcade center! He laid patiently at my feet during meals and relaxed on a yoga mat at the beach. Dog Training Elite has truly given us the gift of being able to take our dog everywhere we go while knowing he is taking care of his responsibilities as a diabetic service alert dog. We are so grateful for all the work Jason put into training Lucky and for all the support provided by the entire team. We highly recommend them!
  • Reese Ramponi
    Aug. 9, 2025
    Loren and Jason went so above and beyond. From the actual training, to making accommodations when our pup got sick, I couldn’t recommend this organization more. Please bring all your dogs here!
  • Evelyn Rodriguez
    Aug. 4, 2025
    The expertise of Dog Training Elite of Southern CT's professional dog trainer was exceptional, providing constructive guidance and personalized attention that effectively addressed our pet's needs in fields like anxiety training for dogs and obedience training. From the results we've seen in our dog's behavior, it's clear that their expertise in areas like puppy training classes and in-home dog training has made a significant, positive impact.
  • Caela Daly
    Jul. 29, 2025
    My dog trainer at Dog Training Elite of Southern CT is encouraging, knowledgeable, and friendly and provides exceptional guidance and support throughout our experience with puppy training classes, and we saw significant improvements in our pet's behavior over time. Her expertise in dog obedience training has ensured we received the very best training and attention for our Bernese Mountain Dog!
  • Amanda DAngelo
    Jul. 16, 2025
    Cannot say enough good things about DTE of Southern CT. Loren is prompt and courteous and Iliana shows a true love and commitment to dogs.
  • Lisa Puglia
    Jul. 15, 2025
    I adopted a dog that resided in a shelter for 6 yrs. Roy came from an abusive home and has many fears, anxiety and mistrust of people. I researched training facilities and chose Dog Training Elite of Southern CT. I liked the several levels of programs offered and the write-ups on the trainers. I've worked with Jason for the in-home sessions and have been very pleased with all the information and exercises he has provided to decrease the anxiety/fear/mistrust level. Within a few weeks of training my neighbors started noticing a difference in Roy. I'm looking foward to the group training sessions to continue my dog's journey on learning how to be a dog in the real world. The team at Dog Training Elite of Southern CT provided top-notch training classes, delivering expert guidance and encouragement that will help my pup thrive with a seamless transition into correct canine behavior. I would highly recommend Dog Training Elite of Southern CT
  • Katt Luke
    Jul. 9, 2025
    The team at Dog Training Elite of Southern CT is excellent. My dog showed amazing improvements from the first session. Jason is great at explaining her behaviors and how to quickly and easily correct them. I had a good dog, now I have a great dog. I would recommend them to everyone (and I do!).
  • Patricia Albanese
    Jun. 24, 2025
    Our experience with Dog Training Elite of Southern CT was exceptional, thanks to their clear instructions, empathetic approach, and professional demeanor, which made the Puppy training classes a delightful experience for us and our new furry family member.
  • Kaitlin Stewart
    Jun. 18, 2025
    Dog Training Elite of Southern CT's staff is exceptional, offering patient, friendly, and supportive guidance that eased my concerns and helped my furry friend thrive in the pet trainingand obedience classes. Jason was fantastic, he was patient with me traibibg my shepherd, and making sure Penny and I were completing and understanding the training plan. I appreciated his input and experience. I’d recommend him!!