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Service Dog Training Near You
What makes a dog a service dog? Who can have a service dog, and why? We answer all these questions and more, as well as explain what sets Dog Training Elite of Indianapolis apart from any other dog training service.
Not all training packages may be available at our Dog Training Elite of Indianapolis location, please reference our pricing page for complete information on services offered.
Service Dog Training FAQs
What makes a dog a service dog?
Service dogs are dogs that have been specially trained to assist their handler or owner with specific tasks. Dog Training Elite of Indianapolis trains dogs to assist people with epilepsy, diabetes, PTSD, autism, and various mental illnesses.
Who are service dogs for?
Service dogs are for any individual dealing with a disability that lowers their quality of life. For example, someone who suffers from epilepsy may avoid going out in public due to a fear of falling or other consequences related to seizures. This may inhibit their independence and sense of well-being.
In addition to improving the lives of individuals, service dogs can bring a sense of security to families, such as families with autistic children. Children with autism can often feel isolated and a service dog becomes a 24/7 companion to share experiences with, connect with and love. They can also help children reintegrate into society and connect with others.
Families who have children with autism experience a decrease in stress as they are more able to engage socially in public settings and experience less anxiety at home. A service dog increases safety and has a calming presence that can minimize emotional outbursts, allowing the family to feel more secure and a child with autism to better participate in family activities.
Service dogs are for all individuals or families that are experiencing a decrease in quality of life due to disability.
What kind of training does a service dog need?
Service dog training begins with puppies. Dog Training Elite of Indianapolis’s service puppy training program works with breeders to adopt puppies that are fully obedience trained by six months and are ready to undergo extensive socialization and additional training to ensure they are well-suited for service and therapy needs.
Then, Dog Training Elite of Indianapolis places puppies with families or individuals. Further specialized service training takes place alongside the new handler. It generally takes 1-2 years for a service dog to become fully trained.
Service dog training focuses on two main areas: public access behaviors, and how to “do work or perform tasks” that assist with a disability.
Public access behaviors refer to how a service dog acts in public - well-trained service dogs remain calm in public situations and in turn help their handlers to stay calm, and are attuned to any other handler needs.
As for “do work or perform tasks,” the ADA requires that service dogs be trained to take a specific action when needed to assist the person with a disability.
For example, to assist handlers with PTSD, Dog Training Elite of Indianapolis trains dogs to de-escalate anxiety, wake handlers experiencing night terrors, and so on.
Do service dogs require special certification?
The ADA does not require special certification for service animals. State and local government agencies, businesses and non-profit organizations may not require documentation, such as proof that the animal has been certified, trained or licensed as a service animal, as a condition for entry. Mandatory registration of service animals in the city of residence is also not permissible under the ADA.
However, service animals are not exempt from local animal control or public health requirements, such as vaccinations, or local dog licensing and registration requirements.
Why should I train my service dog with Dog Training Elite of Indianapolis?
Dog Training Elite of Indianapolis sets itself apart from other dog training methods by focusing on positive reinforcement with a personalized, in-home approach. This method empowers owners and handlers to be an integral part of the process for sustained dog obedience and service training. For service dogs especially, it is important that handlers be present and involved every step of the way.
The positive reinforcement approach, also referred to as “Classical Conditioning” or the “Pavlovian” model has shown to be more effective with longer lasting results than any other training method.
Dog Training Elite of Indianapolis does not use punishments or shock collars to break bad habits. Instead, Dog Training Elite of Indianapolis pairs positive reinforcement training with a vibration electronic collar. An electronic collar is not a shock collar and does not harm the dog. It is used to gain the dog’s attention, similar to a tug on a leash. It is never used as a punishment for bad behavior.
Another unique aspect of training with Dog Training Elite of Indianapolis is that while most dog training programs train dogs at their own facilities, Dog Training Elite of Indianapolis specializes in in-home training, customizing training to the dog, its owners and its environment for long-lasting success.
Positive Reinforcement Training
Training takes time, commitment and balance and Dog Training Elite of Indianapolis is there every step of the way. With Dog Training Elite of Indianapolis, dogs will learn the highest level of obedience, even in the face of the toughest level of distractions. The positive-reinforcement method focuses on encouraging good behavior through ongoing praise, creating a dog that wants to please from the inside out and creating deep-rooted, sustained obedience as well as a strong bond between dog and owner.
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.
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 had our dog go thru training with Dog Training Elite for a service dog. We were extremely happy with the service and the time they took with us to help train our dog! We cannot even thank them enough for what great service they have provided us! The trainers are awesome! They always kept us informed and replying quick! Poppy learned a lot and it all paid off!— Kelly Kiefer Brown
Posted April 11th 2024
Our puppy, Annie, just finished obedience training at Dog Training Elite and we are absolutely thrilled with our experience! Not only did Annie learn a lot of new skills while attending their day camp, they gave us tons of videos and constant support to help us maintain her progress at home. I was a little nervous to drop off our sweet girl that first day, but the entire staff loved her and cheered her on like she was one of their own. Annie was SO EXCITED to go back in the next day, and she kept her enthusiasm for the entire two-week course. We'll definitely be returning for their advanced training courses and can't wait to take advantage of the weekend group classes!— Kelly Davisson
Posted January 21st 2024
We worked with trainers Josh and Elijah and they were great! They showed us ways to train our rescue pup that came thinking he ruled our house. And they adjusted the training to fit the our and our dogs needs. You can tell with their interaction with dogs that they love dogs and really want to help owners learn how to manage their dog for a more peaceful household. I would highly recommend their services if you have a dog that needs training to fit into your household.— Cindy Aque
Posted December 4th 2023
Excellent people to help your dog learn proper manners. I can’t say enough at how well they treated my pet and showed him pet proper discipline. Thank you so much.— Roger French
Posted November 14th 2023
These people are miracle workers. I was looking for quite some bit for training for my pup. I found DTE, read some reviews and without any questions I set up the in home eval. I was pleasantly surprised when they said they would take on my reactive dog. I couldn’t be more thankful for the trainers at DTE. They are dedicated, hardworking, and motivated to get your pup where they need to be. Big thanks from Akira and I!!!!!— Reese Sommers
Posted November 14th 2023
Love working with them! They listen to what we need in our dog. Easy to schedule appt with. Love doing the group training classes. The trainers are very positive!— Kelly Brown
Posted November 14th 2023
We cannot say enough good things about Dog training elite. They are helping us train our pup to be a service dog for our son and he is doing amazing! They provide all the skills and teach you how to handle the dog. I wish I could give them 10 stars!!!!— Abby Wallace
Posted October 25th 2023
We hired this company to help us train our puppy to a be a service dog for our son. We started at 14 weeks and we have a lab. He is so smart annd well trained and the skills they teach you are spot on!— Abby Wallace
Posted October 25th 2023
There is no greater joy, as a pet owner, than when you hear others commenting behind you on how well behaved and obedient your dog is. Liberty has absolutely been a game changer for my everyday life… not just because she’s my pet, but because she’s my team mate. She is able to respond to my feelings and helps me feel like I have my “battle buddy” by my side at all times. We are going through Service Dog training with Dog Training Elite. The training tactics they teach work! Liberty has given me freedom to not be apprehensive about going out and about.— Jake Johnson
Posted October 25th 2023
We've really enjoyed our training so far at DTE. Great trainers who truly love and care about the pups! They set you up with all of the tools that you need and make it easy. They combine one-on-one training plus group classes which has been so helpful for my puppy, who at one point, was scared of everything that moved or made noise!— Kathleen Sievert
Posted September 17th 2023
We have been working with the trainers at Dog Training Elite Indianapolis for the last 6 months training a service dog for our son. I have never trained a dog beyond the “sit” command before. Doug, Josh, and Elijah have walked us through every step and were there to answer questions, offer support and celebrate our little successes even outside of our sessions. Our home is loud and chaotic having 6 children but the trainers always graciously included them as part of the training process. This act alone meant the world to us and is a huge reason as to why we were so successful. THEY CREATED A TRAINING ENVIRONMENT AROUND OUR FAMILY instead of trying to get us to conform to their training ways. I can proudly say we have officially passed our Public Access Test and are well on the way to perfecting our Service Dog Tasks. We would 100% recommend Dog Training Elite Indy for any and all of your training needs!— Karleigh Meyer
Posted June 16th 2023
This training was a true game changer for me and my sweet dog! I was so surprised at how quickly Benson caught on to the training! He’s actually stopped jumping, and it’s a pleasure now to take him on walks, because there is no pulling or dragging me along. Doug is great with the dogs, and trainers Elijah and Josh are just so easy to work with, knowledgeable and fun! Thanks for making us both so happy!— Betsy Rosiek
Posted May 26th 2023
I couldn't be more happy with my experience so far with Elite Dog Training. Doug has been so patient and helpful in training my Great Dane, he is a rescue and came to us with some bad habits and issues going on walks. I am so thrilled that we have a plan in place and we are working making his and our lives better! Thank you so much for your help and guidance!!— Jennifer Scott
Posted May 12th 2023
Dog Training Elite has been great for our 2 dogs. Making this commitment to training our pups has been rewarding for the family and for the dogs! Doug and Eli have been very helpful as we've overcome training obstacles and we are so grateful to the team. Thank You!— joshua bangert
Posted May 12th 2023
We just finished our in home sessions and started the group classes. And I can’t say enough how absolutely wonderful this group of trainers are. They are dedicated to the success of our German shepherd, Nikita. First the in home evaluation with Doug, was a great start because they met our dog in her environment and was very thorough in explaining the program and options. They were flexible in scheduling her sessions. Elijah became Nikita’s trainer consistently with her in home sessions. Elijah has been great with Nikita, who can be a bit stubborn at times. He has answered our many questions and given us the tools we needed to have a dog we can enjoy! When we started training I couldn’t take Nikita for a walk without her barking at people and other dogs. I was so pleased yesterday in group class when I could tell Nikita to sit and walk about 20 feet away from her and had someone run passed her about 2 feet in front of her. SHE didn’t budge! She held her stay! Elijah and Josh and Doug are the best!— Renia Hughes
Posted May 7th 2023
My German shepherd Iyla and I have loved getting to work with the folks at dog training elite. We started with the in home training and we now attend their weekly group class going on a few months now. They have been so helpful with not only teaching me the proper tools and techniques for training Iyla, but they have also helped with ongoing support as she grows up and I have more questions. They repeatedly reached out as we started training to make sure things were going well between lessons and to answer questions. Even after we finished the in home classes they continue supporting us with the group classes with fun training games and they even thought to deliver us a lovely personalized gift during the holidays! Sorry for the long review, but we really do appreciate everything they do. We love being a part of the DTE family— Anna Berndt
Posted May 2nd 2023
I will recommend them to anyone and everyone! My puppy has so much more confidence and responds to us without yelling. Elijah was our trainer for most sessions and was amazing. You can truly feel his passion for training and he will go so far with this company. He was also incredibly kind to my son who was a bit nervous with the training. Josh was also great to work with even though he wasn’t there for all the sessions. Both of these men clearly have what it takes to excel in their careers. I can’t thank you all enough!! And I look forward to the extra training classes at the park!— Amanda Caughey
Posted April 27th 2023
I highly recommend Dog Training Elite!! Doug and every single one of the trainers have love for what they do. After two weeks of having worked arduously with Elijah, Donna and Doug, our puppy started showing a huge improvement. Fast forward three months, and our dog is now attending group classes. Our next goal with Dog Elite is for our boy to pass the CGC. Needless to say, we will be forever grateful for all the wonderful tips shared; the patience, love and professionalism you all have exhibited throughout Apollo’s training process. Thank you for all you do. -The Hernandez family 🐾— Clare C.
Posted March 10th 2023
ALL of the trainers at DTE are wonderful. We opted for the in-facility training for our newly rescued pit bull, and it helped us tremendously! You can tell that they really care about the success and wellbeing of your dog outside of their training sessions. Doug and Donna were always able to talk to us at drop off and pick up and let us know what they were working on, and how our dog did. Our girl used to be a crazy puller when not wearing her harness, and now we are able to walk with her right next to our side. Highly recommend DTE, it’s worth the money!— Amber Evans
Posted March 1st 2023
Proud Sponsor of The Malinois Foundation
At Dog Training Elite of Indianapolis, 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 Indianapolis 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.