Elite, Award Winning Dog Training Services in Greenville

All Breeds. All Sizes. All Ages.

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Empowering Owners

We work with dogs of any breed, size or age - and we empower owners with lifelong skills to continue successes.


  • Leash & potty training
  • Staying & coming
  • Destructive chewing & digging
  • Stealing food, clothing, or other objects
  • Barking, howling & whining
  • Food guarding & begging
  • Mouthing, nipping & playing rough
  • Anxiety & submissive urination
  • Jumping up & hyperactivity
  • Aggression & anxiety

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We strongly believe that the key to sustained obedience and training is to empower owners to be an integral part of the training experience.

Dog Training Elite Upstate SC offers expert in-home dog training near you in Greenville.
In-Home Training

Dog obedience classes are held on a consistent basis and are included in most packages. Our dog obedience training classes are designed to place yourself and your dog in public places (surrounded by other dogs, people, smells, and sounds)!

Dog Training Elite Upstate SC offers professional group dog training programs near you in Greenville.
Socialized Group Training

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FREE In-Home Evaluation
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Dog Training Elite Upstate SC

864-863-3647

2514 River Road Piedmont, SC 29673
(Exit 39 off I-85)

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Dog Training Elite Upstate SC Featured on WSPA


Dog Training Elite believe all work we do should reflect our values. Dogs have an extraordinary healing power that can significantly benefit those with physical or mental health struggles.

That healing power can be found in pet ownership and animal work.

Take the story of Dog Training Elite owner Jared Smearman. A veteran who struggled with the transition of leaving the military and joining the corporate world, Smearman found the prospect of becoming a Franchise Owner exciting and motivating.

Smearman military experience turned out to be the perfect background for becoming a dog trainer and franchise owner. Helping owners with their furry companions and providing help and support to veterans who need it has given Smearman personal fulfillment and business success.

Dog Training Elite believes in the healing power dogs can provide to owners and those who work with them. Whether you’re looking for an opportunity to give back to your community or to find professional, quality service dog training, Dog Training Elite is here to help.

Giving Back


10% Military & First Responders Discount

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Whether you are on active duty in the military, a police officer, an EMT, a firefighter, or a veteran, we want to show our gratitude by offering a 10% discount on any training package.

Call to learn more!

864-863-3647

Award Winning Dog Training Services in the Greenville Metro Area


Welcome to Dog Training Elite Upstate SC! We are a professional, family owned Greenville-based dog training company with over 40 years of experience that specializes in strengthening the bond between your dog and your family, with a strong emphasis on teaching your dog the highest level of obedience, despite even the toughest level of distractions. Our Greenville dog training programs are certain to meet all of your training needs. Unlike a lot of other dog training companies, we understand that each client has different needs, so we tailor our dog training programs to accommodate your unique situation. Dog Training Elite Upstate SC also trains service animals and dogs ready to volunteer in the community as therapy dogs and companions to those with special needs. We also offer a fun and challenging personal protection program as well!

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Meet Our Trainers

(Click photo for full bio)


Our Balanced Theory

We base our training around the "Classical Conditioning" model (a.k.a. "Pavlovian" or "respondent conditioning"). This includes developing conditioned or automatic reflexes to commands. In its simplest form (after proper conditioning), when the owner says "sit," the dog automatically sits without thinking about it. Our unique techniques ensure our program is a success no matter what behavior we encounter.


  • Empowering Owners
    We empower Owners to train so their dog knows who to obey at all times.
  • Personalized
    We deal with problem behaviors on a personal basis.
  • Environment Specific
    We train wherever issues tend to arise (i.e. jogging, park, home).
  • Supportive
    We support Owners in the off-hours (when training is "not in session").
  • Involved
    We work with all members of the household.
  • Simplified & Customized
    We plan training around the owner's schedule and require only 20 min/day follow-up practice.
  • Continued Training
    Additional programs / group sessions offered after in-home training.
  • Lifetime Investment
    We follow up & are invested in the owner's success long-term.
  • Satisfaction Ratings
    Our high client satisfaction rating sets us apart from competitors.
Dog Training Elite Upstate SC has award winning in-home dog trainers and top rated dog training programs.

Why Dog Training Elite Upstate SC?

Lifetime Investment

We follow up & are invested in the owner's success long-term.

Value Priced

We pride ourselves on being able to offer our professional services at prices that are budget friendly.

Local Trainers

All of our local dog trainers are trustworthy, willing to be there for our clients and love what they do.

Simplified & Customized

We plan training around the owner's schedule and require only 15 min/day follow-up practice.

Come Meet Us!

We are often at home shows in your area! Our passion for dogs and service sets us apart. All of our local dog trainers are trustworthy, willing to be there for our clients and love what they do. We want to build a community for our clients that love their dogs just as much as we do and once you begin the training process with us, you become a part of the Dog Training Elite family.

Proud Sponsor of The Malinois Foundation

At Dog Training Elite Upstate SC, 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 Upstate SC work's with the Malinois Foundation to heal and empower these individuals with a specialized service animal, a partner in life, and a new best friend.

Learn More

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

We help your dog become a valued companion and beloved member of the family. Read what our customers have to say and then give us a call!

Wow! This friendly, expert group of trainers provided consistently encouraging instruction for me and my pup. We enjoyed the comprehensive training sessions and would HIGHLY recommend DTE - but only if you want to see real, life-improving changes. I am so glad to be training with DTE!
— Kathryn Walsh
Posted June 5th 2023
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The whole staff at Dog Training Elite has been amazing! Our family added a new baby recently and had worries about our dog’s behaviors. The DTE team went above and beyond to make sure we all felt confident and secure. They exceeded our expectations and our bond with our dog is happier and stronger than ever. Thank you!
— Mallory White
Posted May 23rd 2023
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Before I write a detailed review, here is the short version: we have a 6 month old golden retriever and without exaggerating - people are CONSTANTLY commenting on what a good boy he is, “especially for a puppy!” We hear a lot of “I wish my dog was that well-behaved!” That is all thanks the team at DTE Upstate SC!!! We took our dog to puppy training at DTE Upstate SC at 12 weeks old & we had such a great experience that we sent him back for e-collar/obedience camp 2 months later. I cannot say enough about Elizabeth, Jared, McKenzie, Sydney & Ken, they are the dream team! First & foremost - they really care about giving you & your pup the tools you need to have the best life together. They’re incredibly knowledgeable & you’ll see that daily in your pups progress. At puppy training, our dog learned basic commands like sit, down, place, and crate. We simply could not have taught him this stuff on our own, nevermind in 5 days! We practiced the commands at home daily & our pup responded wonderfully. The foundation he got from puppy training definitely put him on the fast track to success at e-collar/obedience training. He was quick to pick up new commands such as “heel” & learning the implied “stay” when seated or in “place” (this is something we struggled with at home, he’d gladly “sit” or “place” but if we walked away, he was right us). He was the youngest dog in his e-collar/obedience group, the other dogs were as young as 1 year & up to 6 years old & while I don’t want to speak to others experiences, I can say that without a doubt, I saw all of these dogs improving EVERY SINGLE DAY. It was a lot of fun to see our pup & his buddies so proud of themselves & eager to show their humans what they learned. Jared did a great job of explaining what the dogs learned, and specifically how your dog responded each day & really gave us a lot of insight into the dogs world & why/how training works. They are definitely not pushing a “one size fits all” model, they adjust as needed to fit you & your dogs needs. After just a day or 2, we were seeing huge improvements in our dogs listening & following of commands & he seems genuinely happier knowing what’s expected of him & his hilarious personality still shines through. Another thing worth mentioning - you are encouraged to text questions you have as they come up & Jared/Elizabeth will respond so that you can correct behavior or get an answer in real time! This is a huge help when you’re practicing commands at home. This is truly a family business & you become part of that family the moment you walk through the door!!!
— whitney conroy
Posted May 5th 2023
google
I cannot recommend Dog Training Elite enough! My Golden Retriever attended both Puppy Camp and E-collar training, and the results were simply amazing. Elizabeth, her husband Jared, and McKenzie were all fantastic trainers who paid incredible attention to detail in transforming my puppy into a perfect gentleman. Thanks to their expert guidance, my puppy learned all the important commands and behaviors that make him a well-behaved and obedient companion. He is now a joy to be around, and I couldn't be happier with his progress. The trainers at Dog Training Elite truly care about their clients and their dogs, and it shows in everything they do. If you're looking for a top-notch dog training program, look no further than Dog Training Elite. They will exceed your expectations and help you and your furry friend achieve your goals.
— Michael Hill
Posted May 5th 2023
google
My 7-month old GSD has learned so much in our in-home visits. We are excited to start our group sessions next week. Ken and Sidney were great, so patient and so knowledgeable. I highly recommend Elite Dog Training and I definitely feel it was/is worth the cost.
— Anita Rudd
Posted May 2nd 2023
google
If you’re looking for the most incredible dog training company, look no further! I could not be more impressed with Elite. Everyone you work with is kind, compassionate & understanding. They explain things thoroughly to you. I have a 2 year old collie mix who was left abandoned & came with quite the baggage. All the trainers took the time to understand Lucy and was patient with her. She used to be highly reactive on the leash - lunging, growling & barking at every dog we walked by. Now she walks by dogs confidently with limited reactivity knowing she is safe. Elite is life changing and I promise you will not be disappointed in this investment!
— Abby Markle
Posted April 29th 2023
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After getting a new puppy, it didn’t take long before I knew I needed help. I had trained my previous dog through a dog train class, and thought I could do it on my own. But with a busy life and wanting to start out right with the new puppy, I decided to give Dog Train Elite a try. I am SO glad I did!!! It is like night and day the difference in how my puppy responds to me now. And because of that, I believe we are both calmer, happier, and enjoy each other more. The trainers are so nice and easy to work with. The schedule is very accommodating. I would suggest Dog Train Elite to anyone!
— Debbie Milholland
Posted April 26th 2023
google
We are so thankful for everyone at Dog Training Elite!! Everyone was so kind to our family and our dog, Leroy. From our initial consult to our final in-home training, everyone communicated clearly and helped us quickly learn how to train Leroy. The training made a big difference even after the first session. He listens so well to all of us now and others are able to enjoy being around Leroy too:) Thank you so much DTE!!
— The McCarnans
Posted April 13th 2023
google
We are so pleased with the training from DTE for our year old GoldenDoodle! Every staff member we worked with was professional, compassionate, knowledgeable, and friendly. Theo has learned so much… and so have his “parents!” It’s a sense of peace knowing we can have friends over and also go places with our dog who obeys well. Thank you, Dog Training Elite! We appreciate everything! Will see you for the group classes soon!
— Mary Ann Smith
Posted April 12th 2023
google
Absolutely wonderful!!!! Has helped me and my dog so much! I can not put into words how happy I am that I went with them!
— Danielle Miller
Posted April 10th 2023
google
Our experience for our therapy dog in training Oakley has been so great from the start. Elizabeth was so helpful in answering my questions about the whole process and even led me to the perfect fit of a breeder to get our therapy dog. Each member of the staff has been so encouraging and helpful and great with Oakley. They are so great to answer any and all questions. Jared, Elizabeth, McKenzie, Ken, and Sydney are all the best! Highly recommend to anyone looking!
— Erin Kornahrens
Posted March 24th 2023
google
Working with Dog Training Elite - Upstate SC has been such a great experience. We wanted to train our Chocolate English Lab (Nash) early on, and we feel like training with Jared and his team was the best decision we could have made. As owners, we feel confident using the training techniques that we have learned through home sessions with Jared and his team. They were very professional, great dog trainers, good teachers (for us) and very easy to get along with. We went into this knowing that as owners, it’s our responsibility to keep up with training and to hold ourselves accountable. We have to work every day with Nash on keeping up with his training, and I think it’s important for people to know that before committing to a training program. You get out what you put in, and we feel confident thanks to this team! As a 6 month old pup, Nash has learned so much. We look forward to learning more at group sessions with everyone!

Posted March 18th 2023
facebook
Working with Dog Training Elite - Upstate Sc has been such a great experience. We wanted to train our Chocolate English Lab (Nash) early on, and we feel like training with Jared and his team was the best decision we could have made. As owners, we feel confident using the training techniques that we have learned through home sessions with Jared and his team. They were very professional, great dog trainers, good teachers (for us) and very easy to get along with. We went into this knowing that as owners, it’s our responsibility to keep up with training and to hold ourselves accountable. We have to work every day with Nash on keeping up with his training, and I think it’s important for people to know that before committing to a training program. You get out what you put in, and we feel confident thanks to this team! As a 6 month old pup, Nash has learned so much. We look forward to learning more at group sessions with everyone!
— Kathryn Ludwikowski
Posted March 18th 2023
google
I can’t thank the Elite team enough for all their help with our Rottie KASH! Definitely worth every cent! Group class here we come!!

Posted March 7th 2023
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Estoy muy feliz de que hallan entrenado a mi pastor Aleman muchas gracias 🙏🙏

Posted March 6th 2023
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Really enjoyed the entire program and experience. Every person on the team we interacted with was exceptional in both communication, professionalism, as well as ability to interact with our dog. Our pup is a very anxious guy and while that continues, the skills he gained through the 1:1 portion of the training have given us/him great tools to help both in his calm and anxious moments. He has learned how to do things I didn’t even realize we would be able to teach him and we are really looking forward to the group sessions on Saturday’s as a next step. For our next canine family member we will do this program when they are still a puppy vs waiting 5 years. We will be back!
— Thomas “Tmac” McGuire
Posted March 2nd 2023
google
Best thing I did for my 8 year old miniature rat terrier. He was a horror before training and now thanks to Elite he is listening to commands and so much more. They were there for me every step of the way and always available for questions after training. Thanks again!
— Kelly Fountain
Posted February 4th 2023
google
From the initial in home evaluation to the last one on one session, the entire staff has been great to work with. They went out of their way to accommodate our schedule and work with us to guide us to the best life for us and our dog! After just one session, we couldn’t believe how much better Reesie’s behavior and manners were around the house and traveling for the holidays. We could not be more impressed and thankful for the help of Jared and the whole team. Looking forward to joining the group classes soon! Jackson, Mady, and Reesie
— Jackson Kilian
Posted February 2nd 2023
google
Could not recommend DTE Upstate enough! When we got our GSP puppy, we were in over our heads with how energetic she was and worried that we may not ever be able to teach her the skills that she needed. After contacting DTE Upstate, Jared came over for an initial evaluation and stayed for over an hour to discuss our goals and to ensure that we understood the training process. Since then, each session has been thorough and the trainers have been so patient with our dog—even on her most energetic days. Jared and the team have been fully committed to training Maple, even offering to do an extra session with us when Maple was unable to adequately learn a skill. After completing all of our private sessions, Maple is now able to come out with us in public and we can trust her to go on walks even in the busiest areas. Our relationship/bond with Maple has even gotten stronger since training. It is obvious that the trainers at DTE Upstate truly care about their customers/pups and are passionate about providing them with the skills to live a better puppy life. A big thank you to all the trainers of DTE Upstate for giving Maple the opportunity to be the best pup that she can be! 10/10 ⭐️
— clare koss
Posted January 31st 2023
google
Just finished the 6 one on one training for our sweet Lucy! Check her out below relaxed, confident, and sitting in “place” like a champ. I would highly recommend the staff at Dog Training Elite for the patience, kindness and effective work with our pup!
— Traci Newkirk
Posted January 25th 2023
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