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Positive Reinforcement vs. Punishment
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 than training that incorporates punishment for bad behavior.
Positive dog training in Howard & Anne Arundel Counties works because dogs are inherently eager to please. Rewarding your dog for good behavior helps create a deep, loving relationship with your dog built on trust, as opposed to one built on fear of punishment. The difference between a dog who has been trained to obey out of fear of being punished vs. a dog who learns to obey through a positive, loving bond with their owner is huge.
Dog Training Elite of Central Maryland trainers use treats as an initial reward for puppies and dogs learning commands. When the trainer is absent, or you’re in between obedience classes, you can continue to use treats as a reward for your dog when they exhibit a desired behavior. Dogs tend to be highly food-motivated, so this is an extremely useful tool. You can also reward your dog with a play session, take them to the dog park or anything else you know your dog enjoys. After all, you know your dog best!
Not all training packages may be available at our Dog Training Elite of Central Maryland location, please reference our pricing page for complete information on services offered.
Platinum
$2,975
OUR MOST POPULAR PACKAGE!
LIFETIME SUPPORT
Our platinum package offers you training sessions throughout your dog's lifetime! Follow-up sessions to be scheduled once per month as needed, after initial program is completed.
Training Equipment Included: E-collar and Accessories
- One-on One & In-Home Training Sessions 8 Sessions
- Group Park Sessions Unlimited
- Lifetime support via text/email and in-person support sessions *scheduled at trainer's discretion (no more than once per month, after completing initial program
- Come
- Heel(walk with you without pulling)
- Sit(next to you & off leash at a distance)
- Place(go to bed)
- Off(furniture, if desired)
- Quiet(stop excessive barking & whining)
- Down(next to you & off leash at a distance)
- Get Into Car or Kennel
- Build Confidence
- Manners, Safety & Boundaries
- Housebreaking / Potty Training
- STOP Running Away
- STOP Jumping on People
- STOP Puppy Biting
- STOP Chasing Animals
- STOP Chewing
- STOP Digging
- Choose to Address Advanced Concerns: - Control Aggression (dog & human) - Calm Anxiety
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Or Choose One Tailored Skill Below: *Specialized training options based upon your dog's abilities.
- Emotional Support Dog Training
- Ride on a Golf Cart, Skateboard, or Wagon
- Stay with You on Jog, Hike, or Bike Ride
- Other Custom Command Approved by Trainer
Out on the Town
$2,975
LIFETIME SUPPORT
Out on the Town offers advanced obedience/behavioral modification with a goal of off-leash control.
5 of the 8 sessions are one-on-one and in-home. The final 3 sessions are "out on the town" at dog-friendly locations you select (within our service area). This may be a dog-friendly store, brewery, winery, walk through Downtown Annapolis waterfront, hikes in the park, visit to a marina, and more.
Training Equipment Included: E-collar and Accessories
- One-on One & In-Home Training Sessions 8 Sessions
- Group Park Sessions Unlimited
- Lifetime support via text/email and in-person support sessions *scheduled at trainer's discretion (no more than once per month, after completing initial program
- Come
- Heel(walk with you without pulling)
- Sit(next to you & off leash at a distance)
- Place(go to bed)
- Off(furniture, if desired)
- Quiet(stop excessive barking & whining)
- Down(next to you & off leash at a distance)
- Get Into Car or Kennel
- Build Confidence
- Manners, Safety & Boundaries
- Housebreaking / Potty Training
- STOP Running Away
- STOP Jumping on People
- STOP Puppy Biting
- STOP Chasing Animals
- STOP Chewing
- STOP Digging
Gold
$2,225
Training Equipment Included: E-collar and Accessories
- One-on One & In-Home Training Sessions 5 Sessions
- Group Park Sessions 12 Sessions
- Come
- Heel(walk with you without pulling)
- Sit(next to you & off leash at a distance)
- Place(go to bed)
- Off(furniture, if desired)
- Quiet(stop excessive barking & whining)
- Down(next to you & off leash at a distance)
- Build Confidence
- Manners, Safety & Boundaries
- Housebreaking / Potty Training
- STOP Running Away & Bolting Through Doors
- STOP Jumping on People
- STOP Puppy Biting
- STOP Begging & Stealing Food
- STOP Chasing Animals
- STOP Chewing
- STOP Digging
Positive Dog Training in Howard & Anne Arundel Counties
As for not worrying about bad behavior – it may feel strange to act like everything is fine when your dog chews on your shoes, or goes to the bathroom inside your home. But focusing on rewarding good behavior and forgoing punishment for bad behavior is more successful in the long run.
Relying on punishment for errors and “low value” rewards, such as praise or petting are long held “traditional” methods for dog training. Punishments like flicking a dog’s nose, shocking them with a shock collar, or anything else that may cause a dog pain are unfortunately still in use today by many dog trainers.
Not only is it inhumane, but 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 — where the owner can’t find them.
Punishment training also damages the relationship between dog and owner. Dogs do not understand right and wrong. Instead of associating punishment with a specific behavior they learn to avoid, as with the bathroom example, they instead learn to live in constant fear of punishment. This prevents owners from bonding with their dogs in a meaningful way.
Se habla español!
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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
clas·si·cal con·di·tion·ing
PSYCHOLOGY
noun
A learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired; a response that is at first elicited by the second stimulus and is eventually elicited by the first stimulus alone.
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!
We have had nothing but great experiences with Dog Training Elite for the last few months. The trainers are honest, set realistic expectations, and are dedicated to helping their clients reach their training goals. The one-on-one sessions really helped set my puppy up for success for our first group session. We have seen significant improvement with every session and I highly recommend Dog Training Elite for anyone who is looking for obedience, consistency, and overall a more well-behaved dog.— kasey thomas
Posted April 27th 2024
A great experience and worth every penny! We are first time dog owners and this was exactly what we needed.Stanly follows all commands off, sit, down wait and finally free when he can end the commands. Walking actually became dangerous as Stanley went from 2 to 6 months we were the ones being walked or pulled down the street. We now love walks our arms are relaxed and the walks are a pleasure. Dinners are normal again as Stan will PLACE and stay down until he is told to “free” Stanley loves to please so he enjoys it also. Christie the owner is great following up and her trainer Sean is great too. Kevin— Kevin Dunn
Posted April 24th 2024
Dog Training Elite has by far exceeded my expectations when providing guidance for both my daughter's service dog and my personal dog. They worked with us 1:1 to develop a plan tailored to our family's needs and were always available for questions or concerns. Having at home training was perfect for our scheduling and then pairing with group sessions gave us a well rounded experience for our dogs. Highly recommend!— Carrie M
Posted March 22nd 2024
We had the pleasure of working with Christy to train my dog to be a service dog for me. She is so amazing, patient and understanding. My dog has fallen in love with her and lights up while wagging his tail so much when he sees her. I would HIGHLY recommend them for training.— LaToya Cross
Posted March 22nd 2024
Highly recommend. Christy and her team truly know dogs, understand dog behaviour, and are able to help us understand and work with our highly active dog! I have seen so much improvement. The instructions are clear and very doable.— Rachael Logan
Posted March 20th 2024
My Wife & I could not be more pleased with the overall experience we've had working with Christy & Richard from Dog Training Elite! We've seen a tremendous improvement in Baxter's (our 2 year old, German Shepherd Mix) responsiveness to commands, and his general behavior, and we're confident that we now have the tools we need to successfully continue his Training on our own. They came to our home for multiple sessions, addressed all of our concerns, and were very easy to work with! Their passion, communication & flexibility made Training much easier than we ever expected...Highly Recommend!— Dave Bond
Posted February 5th 2024
Excellent business! I can’t say enough about our trainer Christy, she was amazing with our dog Beau and us. He’s a different dog after he completed his training. I highly recommend Christy and her team at Dog Training Elite Central Maryland!— Cheri Chalk
Posted February 5th 2024
This training is a game-changer! I was amazed at how quickly we saw results and how easy it is to follow. I would recommend to anyone!— Nicole Mazzella
Posted December 11th 2023
Excellent trainers and an excellent investment. I made more progress in 6 months with my goldendoodle than I did the previous year of training. Their expertise in service animal training, especially with tasks has been a wonderful help!— Annie
Posted October 12th 2023
Dog Training Elite of Central Maryland is amazing!!! Our Goldendoodle was and is an extremely high-energy dog. We were having such a hard time teaching him not to jump on people and run them over as they came into our home. After just a couple of sessions with Christy, our Oliver is like a new man. Don't get me wrong, he is still super high-energy. The difference is, he now listens to our commands. Going on walks is fun again. Thank you, Christy and Dog Training Elite!!— Emery Nelson
Posted October 2nd 2023
Training was excellent!! Experience with trainers were great. Highly recommend this trainer to everyone.— Kenneth Sarkady
Posted September 26th 2023
Dog Training Elite Central Maryland did such a wonderful job helping me to train my puppy. Christy and her staff are top notch, very professional and go above and beyond to help their clients! I definitely recommend them to help anyone training their dog to be the best they can be.— Stephen May
Posted September 6th 2023
Christy did an excellent job training our miniature schnauzer Marty. We saw immediate improvement after the first training lesson, and this was saying a lot since Marty can be extremely stubborn. He listens so much better now, and barely barks or looks at other dogs on his walks like he used to. She taught us how to train our dog, and what tools/ things we can do to continue reinforcing his training. We are very thrilled with the training and happy we invested in DTE.— Rachel Hall
Posted August 6th 2023
We finished our in-house sessions this past week and I’m delighted with the progress we’ve made under Christy’s guidance. The lessons all made good sense and, when I had questions between sessions, Christy gave prompt and detailed responses. I feel I now have the tools to handle just about any training issues that arise. I would certainly recommend Dog Training Elite of Central Maryland to others.— Joel Kramer
Posted August 5th 2023
Christy is a great trainer and she truly seems to love what she does. Our dog Nala took very well to the training and she is doing so much better. We have a golden retrevier that loves people and they were able to help me get her not to jump on people and just be more lady like lol. I highly recommend this company if you need dog training services— Teri Bechtoldt
Posted July 20th 2023
Christy and colleagues were great in our private sessions. We saw immediate improvement with our dog, and the training plan was simple. We look forward to keeping up with his progress in the group classes.— Aubrey Soller
Posted July 26th 2023
My husband and I have a 3yr old Australian shepherd+lab mix. Super high energy! Christy and Tyra did great with her. Our pup is much more well mannered and we now have the right tools to use in different situations to help her focus and make doing things fun for all of us!— Ashley Hall
Posted July 10th 2023
Our Wheaten Terrier, while generally a good dog, is a Terrier with all of their crazy behaviors. But he was starting one that was pretty dangerous - reacting to passing vehicles. He also would react to certain dogs in the neighborhood. We worked with DTE for several weeks to train our dog to act/react appropriately while on walks, etc. When he reverted to reacting to cars again, they continued to work with us. For the last several months, he has been amazingly good. DTE worked with us throughout and made clear that they would be available if he needed more work. We can definitely recommend them.— Robert Sledgeski
Posted March 7th 2023
Great trainers! Highly recommend Christy and Sean!! Thank you for all your hard work!— Jessica Cunningham
Posted March 3rd 2023
Sean is a spectacular trainer and we couldn’t be more happy with the transformation in our dogs behavior and obedience. Now our baby goes everywhere with us!— Ryan Roudebush
Posted March 2nd 2023
Proud Sponsor of The Malinois Foundation
At Dog Training Elite of Central Maryland, 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 of Central Maryland works with the Malinois Foundation to heal and empower these individuals with a specialized service animal, a partner in life, and a new best friend.
The Dog Training Elite of Central Maryland Difference
Dog Training Elite of Central Maryland uses modern training methods focused on positive dog training using reinforcement and bonding you and your dog. Dog Training Elite of Central Maryland 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. The electronic collar is not a shock collar and never used to punish bad behavior. Instead, it produces a sensation like the gentle tug of a leash, and is used to help recapture the attention of a dog who gets distracted.
Dog Training Elite of Central Maryland’s method of focusing on positive behavior reinforcement nurtures a dog's loving and naturally obedient nature. The method is the same regardless of the situation, whether training a puppy, an older dog or a service dog.
The positive dog training method of Dog Training Elite of Central Maryland ensures training is a success no matter what your dog’s behavior. If you have a brand new puppy who is stubborn and smart, or an older dog who has slipped into bad habits – or perhaps never learned – after proper conditioning and working with Dog Training Elite of Central Maryland, when you say “sit,” your dog will automatically sit without thinking about it.
Dog Training Elite of Central Maryland offers specialized in-home training services so your dog gets the attention and training he or she needs, and you learn alongside them so training continues when the trainer leaves. Dog Training Elite of Central Maryland also offers group classes for dogs who are ready to take obedience training to the next level, and service training programs for a variety of needs.
If you’re looking to train a service dog, or just looking for a loyal four-legged companion, Dog Training Elite of Central Maryland will help you get there with our positive dog training. You can get started today.
Find a trainer near you and schedule a free in-home assessment!