America’s Top Dog Training Franchise

Over four decades of experience have gone into our proven training method.

Our Pet Training Franchise Story

From an early age, our Founder John Mestas knew he wanted to pursue a career working with dogs and helping them live their best lives. With 40+ years of experience as a professional dog trainer and Competitive Training Director, John launched Dog Training Elite using his proven balanced-positive dog training method that is still used today.

In addition to our original obedience training and behavioral modification services, we now offer even more specialized training programs. Thanks to the unique, successful in-home training model perfected by John and his team, what began as a small movement among dog training companies has grown exponentially.

Quotation Marks Quotation Marks

I was working for an international company. I was just another number to them. I thought, 'I don't want to go back to work for somebody.' I decided I wanted to train dogs professionally.

- John Mestas
Founder, Dog Training Elite Franchise

John Mestas

Founder, Dog Training Elite Franchise

pet business franchise

Meet the Founder

Learn how Dog Training Elite founder John Mestas turned his 40-year passion for training dogs into a an award-winning pet care franchise business.

The Dog Training Elite Story

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1976

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1990

Dog Training Elite's training business for sale opened to the general public in 1990.
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2011

Dog Training Elite's training business for sale becomes official in 2011.
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2014

Dog Training Elite's business for sale model is perfected in the year 2014.
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2019

Dog Training Elite's dog training business for sale goes national in the year 2019.
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2020

Dog Training Elite's dog training business for sale is one of the Top Emerging Franchises in 2020.
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2021

Dog Training Elite's dog training business for sale is one of the Top Emerging Franchises in 2021.
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2022

Dog Training Elite's dog training business for sale is one of the Top Emerging Franchises in 2022.
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Present Day

Dog Training Elite is growing rapidly, with over 55 locations today.

Our Dog Training Services

7 Elite Training Services, 1 Unique Dog Training Franchise Opportunity
Dog Training Elite offers a variety of training services for standard and advanced obedience training needs:

dog obedience training franchise

Obedience Training

pet business franchise

Puppy Services

dog training franchise

Service Dog Training

dog training business

Personal Protection Training

pet franchise

Anxiety and Aggression Training

dog friendly business

Service Dogs for Military/Retired Veterans

dog training companies

Therapy Animal Training

What Makes Us 'Elite' To Our Clients?

Since its inception, Dog Training Elite has distinguished itself as the best dog training experience available to our customers. We have earned a reputation for excellence through our highly personalized training programs, convenience, and emphasis on positivity in our proven dog training methods.

Training Icon Personalized Programs

Our dog trainers meet clients at their homes, conduct a comprehensive assessment, and select a personalized program that will provide the best fit for the clients' needs.

Training Icon Convenient In-Home Services

We train dogs in their own environment, making it easy and more beneficial for both dog owners and their canine companions!

Handshake Icon Superior Customer Service

We provide guidance to all our clients - no matter how long ago their dog graduated from Dog Training Elite!

Collar Icon Exclusive Dog Training Method

Our training is based on the "Classical Conditioning" (a.k.a. "Pavlovian") model. We use a balanced, positive reinforcement dog training method paired with a gentle, non-harmful, electronic collar.

Bark Trick Icon Advanced Training Services

With 7 different dog training courses available, we cover everything from obedience basics to Service Dog and Therapy Animal Training.

See Why Our Customers LOVE Us!

We've tried dog training before with a different company but gave up due to no results. When we tried DTE we were skeptical but even just the free hour-long consultation with Evan showed us this place cared more than the other. We also noticed results after the first session. We worked with Deidre, Ryan and Evan to train our dog as a service dog for PTSD clients we work with. They are a great team and each of them know how to cheer you on and encourage more from you and the dog. Plus, they focus on building confidence and, when you're the only handler/dog in a public space with good behavior it really goes to show how much hard work the team and us put in. We could not recommend these guys more!
— Zachery Linscott
Posted April 29th 2023
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We worked with Ryan for our in home sessions with our two Malamutes! One malamute is 4 years old and the other is 10 months old. Ryan was awesome to work with! We’ve had a great experience and seen major changes in the behavior of both our dogs. We highly recommend Dog Training Elite. They were always on time, professional, and eager to answer any questions! We work at least 15 minutes a day with our dogs on their training. Some weeks are better than others, but it’s surprising how fast they picked everything up! The only issue that we’ve run into is that the dog collars are very inconsistent when it comes to having a thick coat like our malamutes have. We switched to longer prongs and have ordered some winged tipped prongs to see if it can make better contact with their skin. A lot of the frustration we had with our dogs behavior has completely disappeared. We can’t wait to continue working with them at group classes!
— Cody Ward
Posted February 19th 2023
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Evan and Ryan were excellent. Spent plenty of time answering my questions and always make themselves available. Their training dramatically improved my relationship with my dog. My dog is awesome, but you know, he's a dog. He does annoying things. Now that I have the tools and methods to communicate with him, the frustration is gone! This was easily the best money I've spent on anything dog-related.
— Tyler Smith
Posted February 10th 2023
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Our 1 year old Rottweiler, Bear, completed Elite Training Camp with trainer Erin. This experience was an absolute life changer! Erin was amazing and made sure that she helped address the unique issues that we were experiencing. Before training, we had reached the point where we dreaded taking Bear out in public because he didn’t listen to us and was hard to manage. At home, he was always trying to assert his dominance. That all changed after working with Erin. She taught us how to get the very best behavior from Bear. We are happy to have such a well behaved dog and Bear is happy that he can go more places with his family. I absolutely recommend Erin and DTE.

Posted January 31st 2023
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This is hands down, the best training place you could do with your dog. They have an amazing program and it is a game changer for having an obedient dog. Evan runs a great program and our trainer Deidre was so awesome. They are so professional and are really there for you. So nice! Everyone who interacts with our dog is so impressed by her behavior.
— Tina Sterzer
Posted November 26th 2022
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Our Staffie had some major Aggression and obedience issues; with him already being 5 years old and with recently bringing a newborn home, we were nervous and knew we needed help correcting our dogs bad behavior. A friend highly recommended Dog Training Elite and we could not be more grateful. We have learned how to fix the hierarchy in our family pack as well as how to communicate better with our Staffie and now feel like we are in control. We highly recommend Dog Training Elite to any one needing help with aggression or anxiety to basic obedience. The trainers are excellent and put your mind at ease when you are nervous in those first few appointments. The trainers are sure to make sure all of your concerns are addressed and teach you the tools to achieve success with your dog. We will be putting our second dog into obedience training next and we are very excited. Thank you Dog Training Elite!!!
— Milani Hedquist
Posted November 16th 2022
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We were on the verge of putting our dog down due to multiple instances with aggression and not wanting to have another family have the same problem. We were in tears for days about what to do. Then I got a recommendation from a friend to check out DTE and they offered a free consultation and so we decided to check it out. Evan and Ryan came over and he came in and talked to us and observed our yorkie, Chewie. After talking with us he asked if we wanted to go see his dog in the truck and see what the Training has done for his dog. I was floored by the obedience and submissiveness of his dog Echo. But was still unsure it would work for my dog and be worth the money. Evan told us to think about it and see if it was a good fit for us. No pressure from it at all but the confidence he has that it would help. Is what ended up selling us. So we signed up and started our training and our experience with our dog changed overnight. He got knocked down on the food chain from thinking he was large and in charge to realizing we were the owners and he needs to listen to everyone in our family. No matter the age. It has been a game changer for us and our family. We had never had a dog before and were lost at what to do and they helped us not only learn, but understand and implement. We had issues come up along the way and the owner came over immediately that day to address it and help correct his behavior and help us know what to do. The trainers, Ryan & Deidre, were always very good at explaining what they were doing, how the dog reacts, why he behaved or was acting a certain way to the training and they were gentle, kind, and patient during the whole process. I would recommend Dog Training Elite to anyone looking for help with their dog. It is a game changer for me and my family and I know it will be for you too. It was worth every dime and we are only through the inhome training. I look forward to continuing with it all in the group lessons too for the next 12 group lessons. So glad we found them and the confidence and help this team brought us was phenomenal. Highly recommend.
— Jessica Bentley
Posted November 9th 2022
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Loved working with Ryan and Deidre, they are super knowledgeable and honest! I would highly recommend going with this company to train your dog! I see a huge difference with my dog!
— Mario Garcia
Posted November 3rd 2022
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I own a year-old wire terrier (or Terror) mix, and I love her to pieces. However, my husband has had a stroke and needed our dog to be a lot calmer...and I was super-hesitant about any trainer being NICE enough to my dog, my little blond-haired Winnie. Well, I agreed to a home evaluation and was instantly impressed with both Evan and Ryan. You could tell they knew dogs well, and Winnie fell in love with them both, so I signed up and couldn't be more grateful. I loved the six visits to my home, and Winnie has learned so much about obeying simple commands, and she still loves both me and my husband. It's been a win-win situation all around.
— Kathy Farnes
Posted November 1st 2022
google
Evan and Ryan have been amazing! We had so much chaos and lack of structure for our dogs, and they have given us relief and resources. They have done all of the hard work in teaching new behavior to our dog, and then taught us how to continue the training. It has made all the difference in our lifestyle. I would ABSOLUTELY recommend them to everyone.
— brittny hart
Posted October 14th 2022
google
My 126 pound 1 year old puppy just completed training with Ryan. My pup Ross now knows that I’m the boss. Ross loved learning and has corrected a long list of misbehaviors. My grandkids can now safely pet & play with him. This has been a game changer for me & such a relief to find a program that worked. Thanks Ryan!! Thanks Elite!! We look forward to our group sessions.
— Moana Burgess
Posted October 12th 2022
google
100/100 stars. We did the therapy dog training and was so impressed with what they were able to teach my dog. We had already done a lot of training, but the class was still worth it and too my dog to the next level.
— Lydia O.
Posted October 6th 2022
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I genuinely cannot recommend Dog Training Elite-Utah County enough--Evan (the owner) truly saved our beagle. Evan will be honest with you about your dog, so much so that it is obvious he isn't trying to just get money out of you--he wants you to have the best relationship with your dog. Our story is a prime example of that. Our beagle exhibited really aggressive behavior at only 2 months old. It got so bad that we all had several puncture wounds, torn skin, and constant bleeding issues. He was so aggressive that even the vet recommended returning him to the breeder--Evan agreed with them. Even though that would mean he would lose out on a client--he wanted us to be safe, and our dog to be safe, even more. He even offered to help us find a new dog if we ended up having to send our puppy back to the breeder. He took my calls all week as we took our puppy to the vet, did research and HE consulted a beagle professional on our behalf. Finally, he came over late on a Friday--and really sat with our dog for a long time--and it was clear that our dog WAS capable of better behavior because that dog was on his BEST behavior for Evan! This gave us all hope and Evan was confident that our dog could definitely be trained out of the aggression. HE. WAS. RIGHT. We had to wait till our dog was old enough for training and Evan checked in on us FREQUENTLY to make sure we were all still ok. He gave us tips and tricks, well outside of the one puppy training class Dog Training Elite promotes. After just ONE in home session--our beagle stopped ALL aggressive behavior--over night(!!!!!!) Since that first session, our beagle is a COMPLETELY different dog. Our children (10, 7, 5) who were genuinely afraid of our dog and avoided him--flock to him every minute of the day--and he is the first "good morning" and the first "good night" for each of them. Evan and Dog Training Elite gave us this wonderful gift of helping our dog be the sweet and loving beagle he is now (and no longer a land shark!) Evan helped us save our relationship with this little dog who we love SO much and can't imagine our lives without. THANK YOU EVAN AND DOG TRAINING ELITE!
— Tanika Rice
Posted September 26th 2022
google
Evan is an amazing dog trainer. My nervous dog was fearful of tall men. Evan was able to turn him around immediately. He is no longer fearful and Evan really helped me to teach my dog better manners.
— Danielle Sanderson
Posted September 23rd 2022
google
I have looked for a while now to find a dog training facility that I could feel confident that both me and my dog would learn and get better together. DTE has done that for me and my pup. The experience has been nothing short of amazing! I am glad I called. Thanks for all of your hard work. Keep it up!
— Deidre Wilson
Posted September 9th 2022
google
We've gone through the obedience training program on our way to training our pupper as a service animal for our daughter. Evan and Ryan have been absolutely wonderful to work with, and our dog has taken to the training and learning and grown so much. She's definitely happier for it, and we're excited to keep working with this team going forward! Highly recommended.
— AJ Larson
Posted September 7th 2022
google
I can not say enough about how pleased I am with their service. Very kind, very professional in teaching me and my dog. My dog Goose is so calm now. I am not anxious as I walk with him. Our walks are relaxing for us both and this is huge. Over the top pleased with our training. Thank y'all so much! As I work in my front yard Goose is lying very calm without his leash even when a dog, runners go by, he is not distracted or run to meet them like before the traing. Elite is the best dog training, hands down.
— Colleen Weaver
Posted September 6th 2022
google
The trainers and staff are so friendly & knowledgeable. We are so impressed with the progress they have made with our dog and can’t imagine what our lives would look like without them 😂 You can tell they truly love what they do and care about the dogs they train. 10/10 recommend. Nana will be our 2 year olds service dog and we know they are both in amazing hands so they are successful in training. Truly worth every penny. There isn’t enough good things I could say about the trainers we love them!

Posted August 21st 2022
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Dog Training Elite Utah County has been wonderful to work with. They have been professional, caring, and so responsive. I had the opportunity to see them work with a number of well behaved dog and reactive dogs. They were able to work with my fearful rescue, and she has made so much progress! Highly Recommend!
— Katie Matt
Posted August 10th 2022
google
My dog is still a 5 month old pup and is in training to be my service dog. Every single person that meets her thinks she is just a small dog because they can’t grasp how well behaved she is!!! She is a completely transformed dog from when we first got her. She is still herself 100% but she is so well behaved and listens immaculately thanks to her trainers!!!! The fact that they come to MY HOME to train her has been huge for me especially with these gas prices! They adjust her training to HER too. It’s not just a set training without modifications. They understand that every dog and every owner is different and have such a wide knowledge on owners and dog health and more. They work with you in every aspect, LITERALLY. You think of something, they will work it out with you and they respond so quickly, professionally, and kindly. I truly am blown away with this company, her trainers, and of course my dog! As are everyone that crosses her path. Could not recommend Elite enough. I do want it to be known that we are NOT wealthy! Quite the opposite. But again, they work with you and every single penny is undeniably worth it. If you are considering giving your dog up, DONT. Get them through this training, even just the basics, your frustrations will disappear. I’m certain of that.

Posted June 21st 2022
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Meet Our World-Class Team

John Mestas

President & Founder

  • Professional and experienced dog seminar instructor with over 40 years of dog training experience.
  • Developed the training systems utilized by Dog Training Elite professionals.
  • Served on the boards of Utah Valley Kennel Club, Great Salt Lake Retriever Club and Northern Utah Retriever Club
  • Worked with guide dog puppies for the blind in San Rafael, California
  • Trained with renowned trainers such as Bill Totten, President of the Professional Retriever Trainers Association

Kelley Rosequist

CEO

  • Has been working in Office Management, Corporate Training and Human Resources for over 10 years.
  • An integral part of the initial training program and grand opening launch events.
  • Helps Franchise Owners wherever needed, from simply picking up the phone and answering questions to going out and being physically present to provide additional support.

Aiden Rosequist

COO

  • Has been training dogs for 17 years. Aiden trains dogs for obedience, personal protection, and service dog training.
  • Recognized by the American Kennel Club as a certified instructor for AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, Canine Good Citizen and Community Canine testing.
  • Specializes in advanced service dog modalities, obedience and personal protection training, and building client relationships.
  • As a Dog Training Elite Franchise Owner himself, he can relate to other Owners on a deeper level and speak to experience on the challenges he has faced and how he has been able to overcome them.

Certifications & Recognition

Malinois Badge

The Malinois Foundation

At Dog Training Elite, we believe that Service Dogs save lives. It is our mission to make these life-saving companions available to our Veterans, First Responders, Women Survivors, and Children with Medical Needs.

Whether it be for PTSD, Mobility Support, or Special Needs, Dog Training Elite works alongside the Malinois Foundation to heal and empower these individuals with a specialized service animal, a partner in life, and a new best friend.

About the Malinois Foundation Learn More

Dog Training Elite - Canine Good Citizen Evaluator Dog Training Elite - AKC STar Puppy Instructor Dog Training Elite - AKC Member Dog Training Elite - AKC Community Canine Dog Training Elite - PRTA Pro Dog Training Elite - PRTA Pro Dog Training Elite - IACP Member

Hear From Our Franchise Owners

Learn More About Our Dog Training Business For Sale Experience And Passion Have Made Our Pet Franchise A Proven Business Success!

Starting a dog training business for sale is simple with Dog Training Elite.

A childhood love of dogs led Dog Training Elite's founder to create a pet training franchise that offers a proven, balanced and positive training method. Our dog training business for sale looks out for man’s best friend, but treats our Owners right, too. We combine a love of dogs with a successful business model and support for every single Franchise Owner.

End your search for the best dog training franchise for sale. Contact Dog Training Elite today to learn more about available franchising opportunities.

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