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Classical Conditioning

Dog Training Elite Indianapolis

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A dog walking on a leash after finishing a classical conditioning dog training in Indianapolis, IN.

Dog Training Techniques

Classical Conditioning Dog Training in Indianapolis, IN

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 Indianapolis dog training techniques are based on classical conditioning dog training in Indianapolis, IN to help your dog achieve deep-rooted obedience. Working with a Dog Training Elite Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis

Training With An E-Collar

Dog Training Elite Indianapolis NEVER uses punishments like shock collars to train dogs out of bad behavior. Dog Training Elite in Indianapolis, IN 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 Indianapolis classical conditioning dog trainers.

Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis, IN trainer to help your dog be more obedient will help you create a deep, loving relationship with your dog built on trust.

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A women playing with her service dog in Indianapolis, IN.

The Dog Training Elite Indianapolis Difference


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Dog Training Elite in Indianapolis, IN uses modern dog training techniques and methods focused on positive reinforcement and bonding you and your dog. Dog Training Elite Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis’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 Indianapolis, IN, when you say “sit,” your dog will automatically sit without thinking about it. The unique techniques of Dog Training Elite Indianapolis 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

  • Kaylene Graber
    Jun. 7, 2025
    Elijah did a wonderful job explaining all the steps in the process of training. He was thorough with what those steps look like he provided great examples of videos of the scent test and then he provided a real life example of the obedience training with his own dog Ash thank you for working with us and our family. We can’t wait to start training!
  • Jessica Beecher
    Jun. 6, 2025
    Dog training elite of Indianapolis has been amazing from the start. Every staff member has been polite and helpful. Elijah has been a god send. Having a child need a service dog presents many challenges. Elijah has not ony been amazing with the dog but with my child who is training the dog. His calm demeanor and patience is refreshing.
  • Corrie Marlowe
    May. 30, 2025
    The whole team and Our trainer Elijah is wonderful. He's a great problem solver at figuring out what your individual dog needs. He makes learning commands easy to understand. He has a passion for what he does and it comes through with each session. We couldn't have had a better trainer. It's obvious he loves what he does. We couldn't have picked a better company to help us train our DAD (Diabetic Alert Dog). Shadow is in the best hands.
  • Natalie Eden
    May. 30, 2025
    We are 2 sessions into training our dog, and the results are amazing. Eli is so knowledgeable and articulate. He really explains what we are doing, and also why we are doing it. The attention to detail is wonderful, and we have seen amazing changes in just one week. I am excited to see how well Murphy does in another month! I would absolutely recommend Dog Training Elite to anyone who wants to see change with their dog.
  • Jordyn Strong
    May. 23, 2025
    Josh has been absolutely incredible with our Duke. He explains each skill in detail, providing demonstrations, and having us demonstrate as well. He always takes the time to answer our questions, even beyond basic obedience skills.
  • Candace Harlan
    Apr. 22, 2025
    We were very happy with our trainer. He was very helpful and gave us a lot of information to help us with our training.
  • Evan Pulliam
    May. 21, 2025
    Having your dog trained can be a big step for owners. Whether that’s cost, time commitment, and questioning whether it’s successful or not. After sending my dog to Dog Elite Training I truly understood a different meaning to ownership and companionship. From the convenience of dropping off and picking up, to success from the trainings, and pure enthusiasm the staff brought everyday. I couldn’t recommend Dog Elite Training enough. As much as the training is for your pet, it’s more for their owner. Within 10 days of training I can no go about my day and enjoy every second with my dog without stress or worry. Having pure trust in my dog is now something I’ll have for a very long time.
  • Cat Coates
    May. 17, 2025
    Josh was absolutely amazing, every single time. He always showed professionalism, friendliness, compassion, expertise, communicativeness, patience, flexibility and humor. Our dog is a rescued pitbull who came from a bad situation and acted out in fear and confusion. We'd tried many techniques and even sent him for a weekend training on a remote farm with dog gurus - seriously, we tried everything! But some of his problematic behaviors just wouldn't stop. Josh helped us to understand our dog's actual needs and showed us how to meet them. With our dog's abundance of health issues when we took him on, we weren't surprised to see that he was also not the brightest dog out there. We always said "he's got no brain, but the biggest heart". Josh came along and trained us to train our dog. Turns out he's no dummy at all and within 1 session his behavior AND confidence were dramatically improved. Because of Josh and this training program we now have full confidence in our ability to guide our rescue pit through a safe, happy, fulfilling, and social life. People have commented on how well behaved he is and we're so proud that he is empowered to show others in public the sweet, loving boy we've always known him to be at home. Thanks, Josh!!!
  • Martina Gaughan
    May. 14, 2025
    Josh came to our home for an in home session following two weeks of day camp training. Douglas, our dog, was really excited to see him! He helped us practice with some of the triggers we encounter at home and encouraged us is the use of what was taught at camp!
  • Beriault Family
    May. 14, 2025
    Best money spent on this training. The care, the love, the details, and the outcome of our dog is mind blowing. Everyone is so wonderful and we are so happy to have found Dog Training Elite! It’s so worth every dollar. We have group training for life and will definitely recommend to everyone! Thank you all! Shout out to George. He’s fantastic!
  • Camellia Poplarski
    May. 13, 2025
    Elijah helped us address very specific issues with each of our dogs. He is so calm and very informative making for a great learning experience for our dogs and for us. He is a pro!
  • tracy cherba
    May. 9, 2025
    Dog Training Elite has been WONDERFUL and extremely helpful in getting my Bella girl ready to be my service dog. I would highly recommend them to anyone that is looking to train their service or therapy animal.
  • Holly Gullett
    May. 7, 2025
    Elijah did a great job, focusing on the problem behaviors I reported. I’ve always been impressed with DTE training staff, during one-on-one lessons and then during group classes. Elijah’s explanations, methods, instructions were clear and easy to follow. I’m confident our pup will catch on quickly with consistent practice and we’ll both be able to enjoy our walks again soon.
  • Hannah Shockey
    Apr. 30, 2025
    Elijah is great. He is really patient and it's so obvious he wants you and your dog to succeed. He is easy to relate to, very kind and great with my dog. I appreciate all of his help.
  • K Crosley
    Apr. 28, 2025
    I really appreciate Elijah from Dog Training Elite as he has helped me so much in training my puppy. I love the program DTE offered me and get so many compliments on how well mannered my puppy is. My neighbors have been very complimentary on my puppys progress too!!! Program well put together with concise directions from my trainer. If i have questions in between sessions I can reach out to my trainer which has been wonderful. They worked with me in personalizing sessions as needed to address any concerns or problems I had in training my puppy. Group classes review and reinforce what has been learned in individual sessions. A great help. Elijah is truly a dog whisperer!!!!
  • Thomas Korecki
    Apr. 25, 2025
    The team at Dog Training Elite did an amazing job training my sweet little girl, Olive! And providing me with the knowledge and tools to tame her rambunctious nature and calm her anxieties. A worthwhile investment in creating a happier and healthier dog!
  • Makaela Hudson
    Apr. 23, 2025
    Josh has been amazing. Have seen so much progress even with only a few sessions.
  • Chris Sargent
    Apr. 22, 2025
    My pup was very stubborn and had terrible recall. This dog training has made her one of the easiest pups to walk and call back. Worth every penny.
  • Brenda C Gordon
    Apr. 21, 2025
    My dog is a Cane Corso so proper training was a priority. I researched the available options before deciding to train with Dog Training Elite. I asked them lots of questions and let them know my expectations. The preliminary interview with the company owner, Doug, and our family (including our dog) satisfied my expectations. The first training session was great. Our trainer was Josh. We had the best first session learning how consistent and clear commands make for quick understanding. Our dog responded to Josh better than I anticipated.
  • Sarah Randall
    Apr. 18, 2025
    We had a great experience with Dog Training Elite and highly recommend them. Elijah was easy to work with, professional, knowledgeable and made training fun.