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Classical Conditioning

Connecticut Classical Conditioning Dog Trainers

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A dog walking on a leash after finishing a classical conditioning dog training in Connecticut.

Dog Training Techniques

Classical Conditioning Dog Training in Connecticut

Classical conditioning is a learning process also known as the Pavlovian method or respondent conditioning. Discovered by Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov, classical conditioning involves developing automatic reflexes to specific conditions. This leads to creating behaviors.

Pavlov is considered to be the father of “classical conditioning.” As a matter of fact, he originally tested his theory using dogs. In an experiment, Pavlov observed dogs began to salivate not just when they received food, but when the people associated with feeding them arrived. Pavlov began to ring a bell when the dogs were presented with food. Over time, the dogs learned to associate the sound of the bell ringing with food. Their mouths would salivate whenever the bell rang.

Dog Training Elite of Southern CT dog training techniques are based on classical conditioning dog training in Connecticut to help your dog achieve deep-rooted obedience. Working with a Dog Training Elite of Southern CT trainer , your dog will become conditioned and develop those “automatic reflexes” to commands such as sit, down, heel, break, and more.

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Dog Training Elite of Southern CT

Training With An E-Collar

Dog Training Elite of Southern CT NEVER uses punishments like shock collars to train dogs out of bad behavior. Dog Training Elite in Connecticut does make use of an electronic collar. The use of an electronic collar is vastly different in two main ways.

The electric collar does not shock your dog. Instead, it generates a gentle electronic pulse, similar to the tug of a leash.
The electronic collar is never used to punish a dog. It is used to simply gain the attention of a dog and help them focus on the task at hand.
Other dog trainers use harsh static collars or spray collars which have been shown to be less effective.
A dog owner playing with his german shepard, learn more about our Connecticut classical conditioning dog trainers.

Connecticut Classical Conditioning Dog Trainers

Positive Reinforcement Vs. Punishment

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Traditional dog training methods rely on punishment for errors and “low value” rewards, such as praise or petting, when a dog performs a desired behavior. Dog Training Elite of Southern CT never resorts to punishing a dog to make them unlearn bad behavior.

Using punishment as a tool can actually backfire. For example: punishing a dog for going to the bathroom inside a house won’t teach them to go outside instead. Often, the dog only understands that the mess makes their owner mad. Instead of going outside, the dog is likely to continue to make messes indoors - but where the owner can’t find them.

Research shows that focusing on positive reinforcement when a desired behavior occurs and not worrying about correcting bad behavior in dogs is more effective and has longer-lasting results. The difference between a dog who has been exposed to dog training techniques used to obey out of fear vs. a dog who learns to obey through a positive, loving bond with their owner is huge.

Positive reinforcement works with dogs because they are inherently eager to please. Rewarding your dog for good behavior as you work with a Dog Training Elite in Connecticut trainer to help your dog be more obedient will help you create a deep, loving relationship with your dog built on trust.

Additional Obedience Training Info

Dog Training Elite of Southern CT - Positive Reinforcement Dog Training in Connecticut

Positive Reinforcement Training

Dog Training Elite of Southern CT - Puppy Obedience Training in Connecticut. DTE

Puppy Obedience Training

Dog Training Elite of Southern CT - Off Leash Dog Training in Connecticut. DTE

Off Leash Training

Dog Training Elite of Southern CT - Dog Agility Training in Connecticut. DTE

Agility Through Basic Obedience Training

A women playing with her service dog in Connecticut.

The Dog Training Elite of Southern CT Difference


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Dog Training Elite in Connecticut uses modern dog training techniques and methods focused on positive reinforcement and bonding you and your dog. Dog Training Elite of Southern CT trainers never resort to punishment to help dogs unlearn behaviors.

Through a combination of commands and an electronic collar, dogs learn to follow commands at once. Dog Training Elite of Southern CT’s method of focusing on positive behavior reinforcement nurtures a dog's loving and naturally obedient nature.

After proper conditioning and working with Dog Training Elite in Connecticut, when you say “sit,” your dog will automatically sit without thinking about it. The unique techniques of Dog Training Elite of Southern CT ensure training is a success no matter what your dog’s behavior.

Get started training your dog today. Find a trainer near you and schedule a free in-home consultation!

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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

  • Rebecca McCall
    Oct. 19, 2026
    We are so appreciative of our time with Illiana! She created an enjoyable experience that helped build our confidence in ourselves and in Duke. It has been wonderful watching Duke develop his own self-trust and learn to trust us, too. We feel Illiana tailored Duke’s training to help our family thrive, and we are so grateful that she helped us navigate his early days as a timid, unsure puppy. Now, at just 8 months old, Duke is playing with other dogs and becoming more comfortable welcoming people into our home and greeting them on walks. It was so much fun having Illiana in our home and working with us at the park! We enjoyed sharing laughs while watching Duke learn and grow in real time. A shoutout to Illiana and Jason for enriching our group experience! We love seeing Duke make more progress with his social skills every time we attend class. A huge thank-you to Wendy for accommodating our scheduling needs and preferences. Communication was always easy and timely! :-) I highly recommend this team to anyone looking for a positive, supportive dog-training experience!
  • Linda Saundry
    Oct. 15, 2026
    I would like to take this opportunity to leave a review for the dog training at Dog Training Elite of Southern Ct. The training is well organized, professionally run and very beneficial to myself and my dog Maverick. Jason and Illiana were very patient with me and Maverick and answered all of my questions!! I was also able to contact them when I needed extra guidance. I highly recommend Dog Training Elite of Ct to anyone looking for excellent training🐾 Linda Saundry
  • Erin Fado
    Oct. 11, 2026
    We can’t recommend Dog Elite enough! Our investment in training has been one of the best decision we've made when it comes to Oakley! Jason has been incredible to work with! He is extremely knowledgable and has provided us the tools to help Oakley become a well-behaved dog who listens and can go just about anywhere with us! We've done both 1-on-1 training and group classes with our Border Collie. If you’re looking for a trainer who can make a real difference, we highly recommend the entire team at Dog Training Elite of Southern CT!
  • Becky Terry
    Oct. 6, 2026
    Top notch personalized training for your Pet. Would recommend Jason and his team. Myla loved her buddy Jason!
  • Jack Feuer
    Sep. 28, 2026
    Dog Training Elite of Southern CT was excellent! After thorough research near Westport, CT, we picked DTE and we are very happy with our decision. All of our expectations were exceeded. Howie was is now fully trained as a Service Dog. All sessions were on-time with follow-up notes texted to me. Howie really enjoyed the sessions too! It was a smooth process for all.
  • Temple DaSilva
    Sep. 4, 2026
    We took in our four year old English mastiff Hank as a foster to adopt in January 2026. He came to us with zero history but it was immediately apparent he had some serious reactivity and behavioral issues. At 165 pounds, it was a very big concern. We looked into board and train but knew that would not be the appropriate solution for Hank. We tried another local training facility and found them to be a waste of time and money. Our neighbor recommended Jason, having recently trained with him for her service dog. In our first meeting with Jason, we knew he would be the right fit for us. He was undaunted by Hank’s size and reactivity. He made sure to understand our goals and the approaches we felt comfortable in trying with Hank. He never pushed us into only one method and continually checks in to see if we want to change our goals or approaches. He has been available to us when we had issues arise between training sessions. His calm, clear instruction is so appreciated. He has trained us in how to manage our new guy. His understanding of dog behavior and openness to solutions that fit the dog and family is invaluable.
  • Katie Francis
    Sep. 3, 2026
    We had an excellent experience with Jason and Iliana. Our 2 year old GSP is an amazing dog but full of energy and curiosity - we love taking him on hikes and wanted to strengthen his off leash recall, as well as leash pulling. We tried other training approaches but he seemed immune! DTE helped us strengthen our communication and trust with our pup, and his overall obedience. They come to your home, meet you out in public training locations, and offer 1:1 and group sessions. Thank you team!
  • Christyn Arisco
    Aug. 28, 2026
    We absolutely loved our training with Jason and Dog Training Elite. He was so knowledgeable and helpful working with Walnut. We have seen so much improvement in Walnut's anxiety, behavior in social settings, and in listening to our commands. We have been able to enjoy walks with him when he can meet new pup friends in our neighborhood, and we are even able to relax when we take Walnut to the brewery! Can't wait to attend our group classes to see his continued improvement.
  • Gina Desmond
    Aug. 25, 2026
    Illiana has been awesome for our dog, Lenox. She is an excellent trainer and she teaches in a way that makes it easy for me to implement everything we practice in our sessions, in every day life when she is not here.
  • Daisy Luv
    Aug. 19, 2026
    This is a great place to find a trainer for your dog, I had trainer Jay. He’s absolutely amazing! They provide you with all the possible tools you will need for your doctor to succeed with his/Her learning. Will continue to use them first service our training wouldn’t choose another place another time to recommend
  • Edwin
    Jul. 27, 2026
    Jason came for the initial visit. We were impressed with his presentation and signed up. Illiana is our trainer who comes to the house and we really like her because she has a special way about her. Pia and Shultz get all excited when she comes. Both pups are responding nice to the training methods introduced at home and at the group classes. We are very happy with the service. Thank you. Ed an Cat- Pia an Shultz
  • Courtney Cole Hurley
    Aug. 12, 2026
    We had such a great experience with Dog Training Elite while working with our 8-month-old Golden Retriever puppy! Jason did our initial evaluation at our home and was incredibly thorough, attentive, and thoughtful. He took the time to understand exactly what we wanted to work on and created a training plan that was truly tailored to our puppy and our goals. We really appreciated that the approach was effective without ever feeling aggressive or overwhelming for our puppy. We then continued our 1:1 training with Iliana, and we saw tangible improvements from day one! She was patient, knowledgeable, and so great at helping both us and our puppy understand what we were working toward. The entire team has been flexible, friendly, and responsive, and it’s very clear how much they genuinely love and care about dogs. We’ve been so happy with the progress we’ve made and are looking forward to continuing our training with the group classes. Highly recommend Dog Training Elite!
  • Albert H
    Aug. 9, 2026
    From day 1 Eliana from Dog Training Elite was professional and taught us many things to work with Hazel. Hazel just 11 months and has a personality befitting a Shih Tzu so it was challenging but with patience eventually she caught on. We highly recommend DTE and look forward to Hazel’s group lessons.
  • Yani Lagoutis
    Aug. 1, 2026
    We’ve had a great experience with Dog Training Elite of Southern CT so far! The personalized training they provide for Hope has made a noticeable difference with leash walking, basic obedience, confidence, and socialization. We really appreciate that the training is tailored specifically to her rather than feeling like a one-size-fits-all approach. We’ve already seen a clear improvement in Hope and are very happy with the progress she’s making. We would definitely recommend Dog Training Elite of Southern CT to anyone looking for professional, personalized dog training!
  • caroline moore
    Jul. 31, 2026
    Jason has been an awesome trainer for Berkeley. We started training when she was just 12 weeks old, and she turned one at the end of April. In less than a year, my pit mix has become a reliable psychiatric service dog that I confidently take everywhere with me. Berkeley has flown with me on four cross-country flights between Connecticut and California, comes with me to all public places, and handles those environments incredibly well. The foundation Jason helped us build from the very beginning has made all the difference. Berkeley had some anxiety in certain situations early on, and Jason gave me practical advice and tools to help us work through it. His guidance helped build her confidence just as much as her skills! If you’re willing to put in the time and effort with your dog and follow Jason’s advice, you’ll absolutely see the results. I highly recommend him!
  • Lucia Hoyte
    Jul. 27, 2026
    We had a wonderful experience working with Ileana and the team. She was able to walk my fur son through all the steps. Scheduling was extremely easy and group session were a great experience. We made meaningful progress with socializing. I would recommend the team 100%!
  • Kyle Buchanan
    Apr. 20, 2024
    From the time my dog was 8 weeks old until now two years later I have taken my dog to Jason at Dog Training Elite of Southern CT for obedience and service dog training. His skill and expertise has been nothing less than exceptional. He taught me how to understand and work with my dog effectively bringing her to the certified service level she has recently attained. I am so grateful for all that he has done. He allowed me to gain confidence within myself throughout the training process. Training me to train her. Thank you Jason for all you have done I will always recommend you to others. I wouldn’t have made it as far as I have without your guidance and support.
  • Sandy Perreault
    Jul. 15, 2026
    Had a wonderful experience with Jason and Illana. My dog has taken large strides in controlling herself around people and other dogs. She's a terrier with a spicy attitude! Still have few more group sessions. Can't wait. I now have a basic idea on how to handle her.
  • wynne mccormick
    Jul. 6, 2026
    Me and my Catalan sheepdog mix/supermutt girl, Dooley, have been learning so much with Illiana, one of the best trainers ive met in my 27 years of dog-owning. Because Dooley loves to run, we've been focused on e-collar training so that I can take her off-leash to various areas and keep her safe and under my command. You think you know dogs and then you meet a trainer like Illiana and realize there's a lot more to learn! I definitely recommend Dog Elite and their trainers.
  • 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