Elite

Therapy Dog Training


Top Therapy Dog Trainers in Kansas City, MO/KS

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816-308-6985


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Contact Dog Training Elite Kansas City

Or Call to Schedule FREE In-Home Assessment

816-308-6985


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What is a Therapy Dog?

A therapy dog is a dog that performs a service for other people. Typical therapy dog tasks are going to nursing homes or hospitals to cheer people up. For your dog to qualify, he/she must be friendly with strangers, and with training, be able to work around a high level of distraction and to understand personal boundaries, such as not jumping up, licking, mouthing, etc.

Research shows that therapy dogs can have a positive effect on a patient’s mood, stress, and pain levels during facility stays. Children, in particular, respond positively to therapy dogs. They are more motivated to participate in treatments, feel optimistic about the future, and experience an overall sense of calm when a certified therapy dog is present.

Therapy dogs can promote social interaction between individuals within communities that may not otherwise experience socialization typically. Therapy dogs offer unconditional love, non-judgmental interaction, reduce stress, anxiety, and loneliness and provide an overall positive distraction to ailments.

Goals for Your Therapy Companion


  • Socialization
  • Lower Pain Levels
  • Motivation
  • Provide Comfort
  • Decrease in Stress, Anxiety, and Depression
  • Promote Healing
  • Increase Overall Optimism
  • Ease Loneliness


Not all training packages may be available at our Dog Training Elite Kansas City location, please reference our pricing page for complete information on services offered.


Therapy Dog

Therapy dog training is based on your dog's abilities.

$3,495

A therapy dog volunteers alongside you, where permitted, and provides comfort to others. Examples include cheering people up at nursing homes or hospitals.

A good therapy dog is naturally friendly with strangers, able to work around a high level of distraction (with training), and able to understand personal boundaries, such as not jumping up, licking, mouthing, etc (with training).

Training Equipment Included: E-Collar, Training Place Cot

  • Private, one-on-one training sessions 8 Sessions
  • Group dog training in the community Unlimited
  • Community Training SessionsOne-on-one with you & trainer 3 Sessions
  • Therapy bandana, certification and ID Cards
  • An exclusive directory of therapy events and locations for you to donate your time
  • Certification/Testing
  • Come
  • Walk with you (no more pulling)
  • Sit (next to you)
  • Sit (off leash, at a distance)
  • Down (next to you)
  • Down (off leash, at a distance)
  • Wait
  • Quiet (stop barking and whining)
  • Load up in the car or kennel
  • Place
  • Heel
  • No Jumping up (on people)
  • Make a friend
  • One personalized greeting (high five, shake, hug, etc.)

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.

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!

Our experience with Chuck and the entire team at Dog Training Elite has always been great! They offer so much more than just training for your pet. Would recommend to anyone wanting to train there beloved pets!
— Benny Smith
Posted March 23rd 2024
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The group class is great for the dogs. It helps with socializing and group work. The trainers are all great. I love the classes
— jodi khazin
Posted March 22nd 2024
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Dog Training Elite is the real deal! Professional, accomodating and really good people. They take the time to explain and teach my service dog (and me as his handler). Highly recommend!!
— Paul Rieck
Posted October 12th 2023
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Best trainers ever!!!! I have tried many. These are the best! I recommend them to everyone.
— Heather Massey
Posted January 28th 2024
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If I could give more than five stars I would. Very knowledgeable on different dog behaviors and really focusing their attention on what the dog and owners need/want from training. Chuck came out for a consult prior to committing and he really walked us through their program and listened to all of our concerns and our reasonings for getting our dog training. We worked with Nate and now my dog looks forward to weekly visits. Great company and employees!
— Samantha Stallman
Posted January 5th 2024
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The Dog Training threw ELITE is wonderful
— Mike Wentworth
Posted September 20th 2023
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Truly phenomenal team! They train you in order to train the dog rather than just focusing on the dog. Very much a "Teach a man to Fish" type of training. Our Service dog was the Royals Buck O'Neil Honoree because of their tremendous skill.
— Aaron Mizell
Posted September 19th 2023
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I absolutely loved Dog Training Elite. They came weekly to help both me and my dog to learn how to work together. DTE both demonstrated and allowed me to learn how to train my dog. DTE also answered all my questions, even making themselves available to continue and support my efforts in having a well trained family dog.
— Dennis Aldy
Posted July 21st 2023
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Our Buster Brown has improved so much, Never likes the dogs on the TV but now we can tell him off and he just grumble talks to them. We are still working on boats that pass by on the lake but consistency will win the game. cheers to the Elite team!
— Douglas Scott
Posted April 15th 2023
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Great group to work with and training approach if very effective and gets results.
— Charles Huddleston
Posted March 28th 2023
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Working Willow with Kaylee was the best! She is very good at what she does and you can tell she genuinely loves it, she never hurts your furbaby. Kaylee explains how to teach them each step in easy to understand language. She makes sure you understand before you start training at each step. This was not the cheapest place, but I feel it was the best choice. Both before and after she was trained. My dog was so skiddish, she has learned to be calm and not bark so much as she has more confidence. I would give my highest recommendations to Dog Training Elite! If I ever get another dog I'd do it again. Worth every penny. They go above and beyond to your dog be everything you dream of!
— Darla Hawkins
Posted March 17th 2023
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Haley with Dog Training Elite did an amazing job training our dog, Dingo. When we rescued him he didn't have really any house manners and would chase our cats, after the first lesson he was acting so much better! He gets along with our cats now and listens to us, we are beyond happy with the training! Their trainers definitely know what they're doing!
— Shelby Flowers
Posted February 27th 2023
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Our trainers were very helpful in teaching us and helping train our 2 yr old dog.
— Molly Schwery
Posted February 22nd 2023
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Excellent dog training. Best and easiest way to train a dog that I have ever come across. And the trainers are well educated on training techniques that work for everything i wanted my pup to know. I will be using this method to train all my dogs from here on out.
— Steven Adams
Posted February 8th 2023
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This dog training company was very pleasant and down to earth. Genuine and honest and patient. Also very professional. We were apprehensive and they were so easy to work with and let our guard down. Highly recommend.
— Whitney Bennett
Posted February 8th 2023
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If you are still looking for a dog trainer, your search should end here. Chuck and his team at Dog Training Elite KC truly have a vested interest in supporting your dog and you as the owner; they take the time to get to know you and your sweet fur baby. Private lessons were a great way to ease my anxiety as a dog owner, the individualized support has been so helpful. I appreciate group classes for continued learning, activity and socialization for our dog. The saying is true, "people don't care how much you know until you they know how much you care," and Dog Training Elite KC cares.
— McKenna Elfrink
Posted January 31st 2023
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Wonderful people who know dogs. Took our 5 month old Standard Poodle from a great puppy to my licensed diabetic service dog in 6 months. Just do the homework. They continue to provide weekly learning activities. Great group. Highly recommend.
— Diane Gardner
Posted January 21st 2023
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Chuck and his team are unparalleled in the dog training world. If you’re looking for an excellent trainer, look no further. I wish I called them 3 years ago.
— Jim Tharp
Posted December 15th 2022
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I am so in love with this company! I have two older German Shepards and I thought you couldn't teach an old dog new tricks. Well I was wrong. Chuck was amazing with our dogs and it has changed our lives. Gave me freedom of not fearing taking my pups out. One of them has been aggressive and this training was worth every penny!!! Now...practice at home is vital but honestly I loved to do it. Only really 15 minutes a day per dog for me. Amazing!!!!!!! Now at home I have peace when someone new comes over and we get to go to the dog park! Also heeling and learning that correctly changed my life as one of my pups is a big...big boy!.
— Jonalyn Ell
Posted November 8th 2022
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The entire "Dog Training Elite Kansas City South" bunch is fantastic! Very professional and absolutely top-notch/excellent with dogs. We were pretty skeptical about what they would be able to do with our reactive boy that we dearly love, but it didn't take long to make believers out of us. Given what we have seen so far, I can't imagine that there is a dog they cannot work with. They really are an "elite" group of dog trainers and lovers!
— debbie hendrix
Posted November 8th 2022
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Proud Sponsor of The Malinois Foundation

At Dog Training Elite Kansas City, 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 Kansas City 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.

Learn More