Reviews & Testimonials

Nick should be your go-to guy for all of your dog training needs! The behavior changes we've seen since him working with our pups is night and day. Will absolutely be using his services again

Nick is fantastic! Highly recommend for anyone with dogs in Las Vegas. We can't say enough good things about Nick and Dog Training Elite. From our very first consultation, he took the time to get to know our pups and didn't hesitate to start working with them right away. He's incredibly patient and has a natural way with dogs, and it shows in how quickly they've responded to him. We have two dogs, and Nick works with both of them at the same time, which has made a huge difference for our household. He's also been wonderfully accommodating with our busy work schedules, always finding a way to make it work. Along the way, he regularly checks in and reassures us about our dogs' progress, so we always know where we stand and what to practice. If you're looking for a trainer who genuinely cares about your dogs and your family, Nick is the one. Thank you for everything!

We couldn’t be happier with the transformation in our dog, Jewels! From the very beginning, Nick was patient, knowledgeable, and incredibly attentive to Jewels’ individual personality and needs. Jewels has made such wonderful progress with her training, and we’ve seen a noticeable difference in her confidence, listening skills, and overall behavior. We also appreciate that Nick didn’t just focus on Jewels—he taught us how to better communicate with her and reinforce what she was learning at home. It’s clear that Nick genuinely cares about the dogs he works with, and that dedication shows. We highly recommend him to anyone looking for a professional, compassionate, and effective dog trainer. Jewels is happier, more confident, and so much easier to manage—and we couldn’t be more grateful!

I had the best experience! Not only were they extremely helpful and professional but Nick was amazing with my dog.

Nick was awesome! He helped so much with our little pup Kali, we were having a hard time with having her being a little bit rebellious and sometimes disobedient but he was able to help out tremendously. The weekend group classes have been awesome too, they’ve helped keep her training fine tuned and spot on. Would definitely recommend

Nick is the absolute best! We adopted a new dog and we needed a lot of training for our little guy. From the very beginning it was obvious that Nick knew what he was doing! He was able to get Brutus to follow even more commands than we had originally requested. I highly recommend Nick Smith from Dog Elite Training Southwest Las Vegas to help you with your training needs. You won’t be disappointed.

Nick is very down to earth and patient. He got our dog prepped for his therapy dog exam, which he passed on his first try. He never pushed too hard but also met our pup where he was at and got him to excel. The commands learned where unique to what setting we were going to volunteer in. We also enjoy the group classes any chance we get as a refresher of skills.

My Sully loves Nick and responds to his directions, thank you For helping Sully and I to achieve our goal of becoming a great dog team. He brought joy to my Anne before she passed, she loved Sully.

Our dog Max went through the psychiatric service dog program and Nick was AMAZING with him the entire time! He’s now a certified service dog and is such a good boy! Thank you Nick for everything you’ve done for us and Max!

The training was amazing and I say was because my dog Sassy and her humans have completed the class that was asked of us. I couldnt be anymore prouder and happier with what she has learned she's a keeshond that became our emotional support pupp she's so good to my son. I have no regrets I love everything about this company. Thank you for everything.

Great job working with our dog at home and out in public? Went with the service package to get extra training and well worth it. Very patient with hyper Doberman puppy. Flexible schedule and accommodated some last minute changes due to puppy mishaps. Very highly recommend.

Colin was awesome and easy to work with which was very refreshing! Our bernadoodle Bodhi had some behavioral issues that Colin helped correct in a short time period and she even came Out with a few new tricks!! I would highly recommend Colin to dog owners with any training needs!

We absolutely recommend Colin with Dog Training Elite! The experience has been fantastic! Colin is incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and truly cares about your dog and their individual needs. He’s not only patient with the dog but the owner as well. Always willing to answer any questions I had. The training sessions were fun and engaging, and I also learned so much about how to continue reinforcing positive behavior at home. Again I highly recommend this service to any dog owner looking for effective and compassionate training!"

We couldn't be happier with the results Nick helped implement in training our goldendoodle. Our dog needed obedience training and the improvement has been amazing - she is calmer, more responsive, and just better behaved all around. We were especially impressed that Nick trained her without treats due to her pancreatitis risk. You can tell that he really understands dogs and knows how to adjust his methods accordingly. We would absolutely recommend him to anyone looking for real results.

Colin has been a great instructor. We have learned so much and everyone is happier. Great job!

Colin did a great job with my pup Willow. She has manners and listens to commands so much better. I cak have company over without worrying about my dog being crazy. He was patient with her and she caught in quickly to his training.

Elon was a10 month old mini poodle when we started with Nick at Dog Training Elite. He's a medium size dog compared to the toy poodles we had in the past and double the weight. He also has double the energy and loves doing the zoomies, especially at bedtime. Being in our 70's, we needed help. Nick has a very quiet and understanding demeaner and loves dogs. Elon immediatly jumped on him and licked him thinking it was playtime. However, he also realized in a very short time that Nick meant business. Nick trained him to stay, go to his bed, heal, stay down, potty outside, and pay attention to my commands within 5 hour sessions at our home. He did so well, we decided to have him be a service dog. He "hugs" us now when we have anxiety by cuddling us and putting his full weight on our laps. Nick never raises his voice, and trains with love and affection. Nick does use a collar, but mostly for vibration that can be adjusted. Dog Training Elite and Nick went beyond our expectations. He definitly has a gift. Thank you, Nick.

Nick, with Dog Training Elite, was A-MAZing! We received his name as a referral and ran with it. We have TWO frenchies, who were a bit crazy...at only 11 months old. Our goal was not to train them on all things, but to have them listen, interact with guests, follow a series of commands, and be well behaved in our busy home. Nick did such a great job training our family, working with our dogs and educating us. We are excited to participate in the group classes moving forward. His kindness, expertise, and knowledge served our Cash and Annie so well. Thank you for helping us and making being a dog owner even more pleasant!

Nick was a phenomenal trainer! He was flexible with scheduling, patient as he guided us to give clear consistent training and last but not least, affordable! I finally have a family member who is also the service dog I have needed for years but could not afford. Thank you Dog Training Elite Southwest for improving my quality of life!

I am a first time dog owner and my Bernedoodle kind of fell into my lap one day and never left. The 1.5 year old puppy needed training in obedience and just the basics. I had no idea what I was doing and turned to Dog Elite Training. Colin was our trainer and I learned as much as my dog did. My puppy has made so much progress in the one-on-one sessions. Within a week of starting training, the most problematic behavior Colin addressed was dramatically improved. I would highly recommend Colin as a trainer. He is patient and is not an aggressive trainer as the prior one I attempted to have was. My dog loves Colin and has learned so much.

Nick Smith is the best dog trainer we have ever had. Over decades as dog owners, we've had numerous dog trainers and by far, Nick's patience and love for dogs shines through. We had recently adopted a pitbull from the shelter that had severe anxiety issues. There was some destructive behavior because of separation anxiety. We started training with Nick and our dog changed overnight. She's in therapy dog training with him right now and I cannot explain how much she enjoys going through her training regime each day. I implore people to get Nick to train their dog if they're having issues because you will not regret it.

We were incredibly lucky to welcome our goldendoodle, Fozzie, into our family at just 4 months old. As he grew (and grew!), his energy and strength became a challenge — especially with him jumping on guests and pulling on the leash when our kids walked him. More than just obedience, we were looking for a lifestyle change. I didn’t want to keep taking Fozzie out while constantly worrying about his behavior instead of enjoying the moment. Several coworkers recommended Nick’s dog training company, and after seeing the results firsthand, we decided to reach out. From our very first consultation, we knew we were in good hands. Nick immediately connected with our family and with Fozzie, and he created a training plan tailored specifically to our needs. Within just the first two sessions, the biggest concerns — leash pulling, jumping — had already improved dramatically. The remaining sessions helped us build a whole new rhythm with Fozzie. He now responds to commands like come, off, place, heel, stay, and lay down, and he even walks off-leash with confidence and control. It’s important to say this: Nick gives you the tools and structure, but it’s the consistency at home that brings lasting change. That balance is what makes his approach so effective — it’s not just about training the dog, but about equipping the whole family. A few more things we loved: 1. Nick worked with our sons as well, showing them the same patience and guidance he gave Fozzie. 2. Even after the 5 private sessions, he offers Saturday group classes to continue building skills and socialization. 3. He’s reliable and flexible — scheduling was always smooth, and he never canceled or no-showed, which means a lot to a busy family of five. 4. He makes it all feel doable. His calm, patient approach builds confidence in both people and pups. We truly couldn’t recommend Nick more. If you’re looking not just for training, but for a real lifestyle shift with your dog, don’t hesitate to reach out to him. 5 stars

Thank you Nick and Dog Elite Training for being the best dog trainer out there for our silly bull terrier Rocket. We have been seeing Nick for a full year now. We appreciate his patience and how thorough he is when he is training our pup. We have learned so much about dog training and we know this investment will be great for our pup’s future. Highly recommend !!

Nick is amazing! He is patient and very knowledgeable!!!

Nick, the owner and trainer, for Dog Elite Training, worked wonders with our Border Collie/Australian Shepherd mixed breed; named Buddy. Nick provided five in person training sessions, and we are in the midst of 12 group lessons, for Buddy. Buddy was a shy 15 month old puppy when Nick started training him. Nick brought Buddy out of his shell. Buddy gained confidence in learning how to come to his name, sit, lie down, go to place, break from place, heal, and use the dog door. We work with Buddy on what was learned, and continue to take him to group sessions. Now Buddy is a confident and loving dog. Thanks Nick!

Nick is patient and has a calm demeanor that makes it easy for my dog to trust him. He is a great teacher and gives me the tools to continue training until our next session. I’ve recommended him to others without hesitation. Amazing service!

Nick did awesome job training my wife and me in techniques for how to train our dog. Nick used techniques for training that has helped Merlin be the best dog ever. When meeting up with other dog walkers and people on the street, they all comment about how well trained Merlin is. I credit that to the basics that Nick taught us. We would not hesitate to recommend Nick and his staff train your dog. Next group training session at the park was very helpful as well. Ask him about it.

Nick of Dog Training Elite is on time and is responsive to questions I have as a first-time dog owner. The training he provided was well-paced and practical. I appreciate his availability to attend group training for refresher training and socialization with others dogs, even after the individual sessions are utilized. Nick is pleasant and firm with each of the dogs at the group training, and consistently caring.

Nick was great at teaching Lila how to behave and react to commands - I would definetly recommend him - His group lessons worked great for Lila in regards to socialization.

My dog Wilson was trained by Nick. Wilson gets many compliments on his behavior in public. Nick takes the time to educate us on how best to handle circumstances that Wilson might encounter. He follows up on Wilson’s progress and even offers weekend group classes. I would highly recommend Nick.

Nick is great and provides a wonderful service. I would highly recommend this company.

When we brought our 8-week-old English lab pups home I knew I wanted professional help with training. Nick went above and beyond our expectations. We did the work. Two years later, my girls are the most responsive dogs I've ever known. Nick's technique and approach are unmatched. I've known him to train the most challenging dogs. While mine were easy by Nick's standards, you owe it to yourself to invite him to make dog ownership all you ever dreamed it could be, and more.

Nick is doing a wonderful job training my mother in laws Yorkie! Last week was the first time Penny didn’t try to turn my pants in to shorts when we came to visit! I thought she had gotten a new dog! Dog Training Elite and Nick are the best trainers, they not only train dogs but mother in laws too!

Working with Nick was an excellent experience! When our son started walking his relationship with our dog went downhill fast. Nick gave us simple but effective tools to keep everyone safe and build a better relationship between the two. The weekly group sessions are a great way to keep the training relevant and front-of-mind. Highly recommend!

Nick was incredible with my dog, Kaya. He showed me what to do with her when she gets too excited around other dogs. My favorite was learning heel, and noticing how fast she picked up on it. If you’re looking for a place to help you and your dogs, your search is over! Thanks again, Nick!

I knew there would be obstacles adopting a young rescue shepherd from the Animal Foundation so I immediately reached out to Nick to see if he could help. I am so pleased with the experience I have had with both at home sessions as well as group training. Wynnie has made tremendous progress with basic training commands (sit, stay, heel) and has overcome the obstacle of learning to play nicely with her 12-year-old dog brother at home. The socialization skills she has gained in the group setting have made me comfortable enough to bring her out in public and to the dog park. Nick does a wonderful job accessing the needs of your dog at each session and making sure to leave you with knowledge and homework to maintain the work put in during the session. I would 100% recommend this program as it not only teaches the animal but more importantly the owner so much. Thank you Nick!

I highly recommend Nick with Dog Training Elite. He is knowledgeable, professional, personable, and training with him has been such a success for my mini dachshund, Desi. She is a therapy dog and I have so much confidence in the skills Nick has helped us with. She is attentive and off leash most of the day and I have full confidence in this due to the skills she's learned with Nick's guidance. The skills he's helped us with has made her progression into the office such a breeze. The ability to go to the group classes ongoing is so helpful to keep her skills sharp and continue to socialize with other dogs as well. Not only did he help her with baseline obedience training but she has also mastered following through with therapeutic commands as well. Any questions I have, he always has a plan ready to deal with it. Could not recommend enough!

Highly recommend Dog Training Elite Southwest Las Vegas! The one on one classes with Nick were awesome. He taught us how to have patience and to be consistent. We have seen a tremendous amount of improvement with our bull terrier, Rocket’s attention and behavior. Rocket always looks forward to group classes on the weekends !

Nick is the best. He makes sure he gives the dog his utmost attention and makes sure you understand what he is trying to accomplish and makes sure your dog understands it as well. Highly recommend this person to fulfill all your training needs for your dog

I cannot express how grateful we are to have found Nick! He is so knowledgeable, professional, personable, and ever so patient with our big puppies! We rescued two brothers and we were worried about litter mate syndrome, along with just the training involved with puppies (we're too old for all that energy ha-ha). But Nick is so fantastic, our pups love him and so do we!! He is a continuous learner and if you ask him something and he's never encountered it, I guarantee he will leave and find it out for your next training session. You can't find another more dedicated trainer than Nick!! Simply stated, he is THE BEST!!!

We researched a lot of other companies, we decided to hire Nick to train our brown lab to be a therapy dog. He went above and beyond, and we're very satisfied. I strongly recommended his service.

Highly recommend! We rescued a Siberian husky/aussie mix and she needed training badly!! Nick came to Our house and worked with her and us and now she listens to us and knows all the commands! We’re just waiting for it to cool down to start the Saturday mornings at the park that’s included with the package we got!

I’ve known Nick for a really long time and his love for dogs has always been his passion. I believe he can work you and your dog on fundamental training and bad habit breaking!

I have worked with several trainers in the valley, but Nick at Dog Training Elite has been the best. I chose DTE for my service dog training after researching several other options within Las Vegas. I am so happy with the results. Wherever I take my dog, I am always getting compliments on how well behaved she is, and I'm asked if I had her trained at a facility. I am constantly recommending Dog Training Elite and cannot say enough praises about the program. Nick is extremely patient with both you as the owner and your dog. Keep in mind, you get what you put into the program. Nick will make sure you and your dog know the basics and how the task should look before he leaves but it's on the owner to keep working with the dog between sessions. Nick is very responsive if you have questions outside of your training sessions as well. I highly recommend Nick with Dog Training Elite. I will not trust any other trainer in the valley in the future. Customer for life.

I met Nick through the Malinois Foundation . It’s a non-profit organization that connects veterans like myself with service dogs and dog trainers. I’ve known Nick about a year now and he helped me train and certified my service dog Roxy. She is a one year old golden retriever. Nick is nothing short of outstanding. He is courteous , kind, personable and punctual at all our training sessions. We had approximately 14 one on one sessions as well as weekly group sessions. It’s always a professional atmosphere and always a safe & healthy training environment for our animals. I couldn’t recommend Nick and DTE more. 6 stars.

Nick is very professional yet friendly and really taught us more about our dog's behavior. He works with our schedule and really cares about our progress. Fair prices as well.

Nick was patient, kind and professional working with our dogs to improve thier behavior. We have multiple dogs and it is important that they are well behaved for us and our houseguests/family/friends. We worked on the introduction of our newest pup to our pack. He helped us to develop and maintain good potty training habits. Our puppy is high energy and would jump up in excitement, we have seen a remarkable improvement working with them and implementing the recommended techniques. We are greatful we connected with Nick and Dog Training Elite SWLV. Highly recommend!

Nick is the absolute best there is! He taught me how to be the best trainer and owner that will last a lifetime. I feel very confident in my commands after working with him. We worked on leash training, come/stay commands, barking and jumping up. Highly recommend!!

Can't say enough good things about Nick and his natural skill with dogs. My wife and I got a wirehaired pointing griffon bird dog to join our family. We soon found out that bird dog puppies are wound like 8 day clocks! After some work with Nick, our pup Stu is such a little gentleman. He is so much better on the leash, is no longer jumping on strangers, and we are making great progress on his barking. Thank you Nick for your help with Stu.

Nick is an extremely professional trainer that helped me assess and train a service dog for a special needs child. He is a wonderful asset to our family and helped ease our minds and ensured results through the process.

If you are looking for someone able to understand and help your dog change and learn good behavior, Nick is the person.

If you are looking for someone to effectively address leash training, as well as staying and coming commands, look no further! They skillfully tackled chewing, digging, and food aggression issues as well. I’m super happy with our results and I highly recommended!

I thought my dog would never get along with other dogs or stop barking! What can I say about Dog Training Elite SW Las Vegas .....Nick is the freaking bomb! My pitbull, Damian, was a nightmare on the leash, aggressive towards other dogs and barked at a fart in the wind. It got to the point that our neighbors would see us coming and turn and go the other way. We couldn't take him anywhere. Now it's totally different. After training with Nick, we frequently take Damian out to eat, on walks downtown main street, and to Home Depot. When I stop walking, he sits next to me. We get compliments from people on his good behavior every time. Our friends and neighbors are amazed at the progress our dog has made. Even though we are leaving where Nick left off, he has set a much needed foundation. I definitely would recommend Nick at Dog Training Elite SW Las Vegas over and over.

I am incredibly grateful for Nick that helped train my son’s service dog. He went above and beyond, first understanding my son’s anxiety and triggers. The tailored approach he came up with not only produced a well-trained service dog but also provided immense comfort and support to my child. This service has made a significant positive impact on our lives. Highly recommended for their compassion and expertise.

Dog Training Elite SW Las Vegas exceeded my expectations. Nick, the trainer, employed effective techniques that significantly reduced my dog's excessive barking. I appreciate his expertise in tackling this specific behavioral concern, making the overall experience worthwhile. My neighbors say thank you as well!

Nick was amazing with my dog. She was shy at first and took some warming up. Wasn’t long before she was excited to see him and get to work weekly. She is well behaved and knows when it’s time to work (certified service dog) and when she can be herself. She is amazing and so loving. I had no idea she could be so focused. I get so many compliments on how well behaved she is. You guys are awesome.

Nick has been amazing! He has been working hard with our 5 month old German Shepherd Gunner. He is absolutely amazing. Gunner has really done well working with him.

My puppy husky/pit mix Milo loved his training sessions. Both with Nick and Bryanna. They treated him as if he was their own and made him and myself feel very comfortable to be around. We were lucky enough to have some training time with their beautiful puppy Kaden as well. Milo was a big jumper and commands weren’t his strong suit. After a couple of training weeks with them I now feel safe having him at dog parks and even having him off leash when we go for his regular walks. I couldn’t thank them enough for the patients they had with Milo.

We are so happy with the training we are getting with Dog Training Elite Southwest LV! Our puppy has become calmer and more disciplined as we go through the process, and he really loves to practice the commands we learn. Nick is patient with our pup and committed to making sure he learns the commands accurately. I would absolutely recommend them for anyone with a new puppy or even an older dog who needs to learn. Thanks so much!

We worked with Nick Smith and his wife Bry, both of whom were easy and friendly to work with. Our pup Damian is a high energy pit bull who had trouble jumping up. After just a few sessions with Elite he understands boundaries better and we understand how to communicate effectively with him. Thank you for all of your efforts Nick and Bry, we will be recommending you in the future.

Nick has done wonders for my pup! He’s knowledgeable, patient, responsive & easy to work with. Training is based on praise treatment, not discipline. Commands are not only demonstrated but fully explained, which eases my mind and makes the training process easier for me to understand & implement with Piper. I highly recommend reaching out to Nick for your training needs! Pictured: Piper in her place(s) ☺️

We have two small children so having a well behaved and mannered dog who listens well is a top priority and after completing the training our dog was the most behaved he’s ever been.

Great to work with Colin. My dog Bentley overcame his aggressiveness after the 1st day of meeting Colin. Very effective training methods. I am more than happy and pleased with the results so far. Cannot wait for more training for Bentley and me!

Dog Training Elite is helping me train my 3.5 year old doberman/shepherd mix pup. Kylo had some behaviors that I knew we needed help with and Colin has been a savior. We are currently in week 2 of training and already I am seeing huge benefits. Kylo is listening and now the kittens even come out because they know they can play without being bothered. The hugest difference is that my sister whom was attacked by a Great Dane almost 2 years ago couldn't come to my house because Kylo would jump and be too energetic for her. She has since come to the house and been on a walk with us and she couldn't believe the change that she saw. We have a long road ahead of us but I would recommend Dog Elite and Colin to anyone who will listen to me sing their praises. I know that if we put in the work I will see a change as has been proven in the last week. This program is changing my life and Kylo's for the better and I look forward to learning even more.

Very friendly staff and service was great! Sessions are going well we’re very pleased.

Nick and Bry with DTE we’re so wonderful with our dog Apollo. He is a high energy dog that required much more training than we could offer and they were able to provide that. They were professional, polite and took care with both us and our dog to ensure we felt comfortable and confident with their training. Thank you so much! Would highly recommend them to anyone!

Nick and dog training elite were tremendous helps with our 7 month old puppy who needed some fine tuning and correction. Nick offers wonderful guidance and tools to provide more structure and leadership for your dog! Would highly recommend! :)

Nick and Bryanna at DTE are incredible to work with and have improved the partnership between my dog and I. The training is top notch. I highly recommend working with DTE if you are looking for dog training.

We have 2 vizslas and worked with Nick and Bry in Vegas. They were so helpful in helping us get our two girls back on track. They were professional, polite, and understanding when we would get frustrated. Definitely recommend anyone looking for dog training to work with them!

Excellent company! Nick helped train our puppy to do basic commands. He taught my entire family (and puppy) to be patient and consistent. It worked! We’ve hired him again to teach more advanced skills. Nick has been very flexible with our busy schedules. I highly recommend this company.

Nick and Bryanna have a very special gift with Dogs. I highly recommend using their services as they use care and love while training And it Shows immediately

Dog Training Elite + the owners Nick and Bryanna were AMAZING. My dogs used to misbehave and would not listen to us well and we had just about had it… we found DTE through word of mouth and couldn’t be happier with the tips & tricks they taught our pups. Thank you guys! Would highly recommend to anyone with a furry companion!

Nick is a really good dog trainer! He loves what he does!

I had the pleasure of working with Nick and would highly recommend using Dog Training Elite for any dog training needs. He is a caring business owner who has a talent for understanding and communicating with dogs.