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Over the past decade there has been a rise in the number of people with Emotional Support Animals. This has caused some confusion around what it means to have a service, emotional support or therapy animal . Here, we explain briefly the differences between each of these animals, the training required for each different type, and debunk some common myths. Read on to learn the differences between each type of animal, which one might be right for you or your loved one, and how Dog Training Elite in Las Vegas can help.
Not all training packages may be available at our Dog Training Elite in Las Vegas location, please reference our pricing page for complete information on services offered.
ESA vs. Therapy vs. Service Animals: What's the Difference?
Service Animals
Service animals are animals that have been trained to assist individuals with tasks specific to their needs.
- Redirecting attention when an individual is beginning to feel overstimulated
- Reminding owners to take medication
- Waking someone who is having a nightmare
Service dogs are valued in the mental health, health care and disability community and are protected under ADA laws which allow owners to take their service dog with them everywhere they go. Dog Training Elite in Las Vegas trains dogs to serve individuals with autism, diabetes and PTSD.
Dog Training Elite in Las Vegas trains autism service dogs to benefit and assist children with autism. Autism service dogs can be trained to track their child in case of wandering and redirect a child’s behavior when they are starting to become overwhelmed.
PTSD service dogs help ground owners to reality, especially in public settings. These service dogs can also be trained to recognize signs of a panic attack and regulate emotional responses through pressure.
Diabetic service dogs can alert their owners to their low blood sugar and provide stability, safety and support.
Visit our individual web pages to understand more about the differences and benefits of autism service dogs, PTSD services dogs and diabetic service dogs.
Emotional Support Animals
Although all dog owners may feel the emotional benefits of owning a dog, the dog needs to be prescribed by a licensed mental health professional to a person with a disabling mental illness such as anxiety or depression to legally be considered an ESA. Emotional Support dogs can be of any age and any breed whereas service dogs usually begin training as puppies.
In addition to being prescribed by a mental health professional, owners may wish for their dog to undergo more specific training. If you are looking for emotional support dog training in your local area, Dog Training Elite in Las Vegas has you covered.
The professional dog trainers of Dog Training Elite in Las Vegas are experienced with training various types of therapy animals. Trainers work with a dog’s natural temperament to ensure a strong, loving bond between dog and owner. Training can be personalized to fit the needs of the owner.
It is important to note that Emotional Support Animals are meant for just that - emotional support. Dogs trained to assist with specific tasks that may be associated with a disability are service animals. Training a dog to be an Emotional Support Animal or a therapy dog is less intensive than training to be a service animal.
Therapy Animals
Therapy Animals are very similar to Emotional Support Animals, except that they are often used to bolster the mental health and wellbeing of a community, as opposed to just an individual. Therapy dogs are often seen serving in hospitals, rehabilitation or care centers with their owners.
Owners who feel their dog may be a good fit for this kind of community service can have them receive top-notch training from Dog Training Elite in Las Vegas.
The most important thing to note as a difference between Emotional Support Animals, Therapy and Service dogs, is service animals are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act which states service animals must be able to accompany their owners wherever they go. Emotional Support and Therapy animals do not have the same protections and public establishments may have their own rules about ESA and therapy dogs.
Whether you’re ready to get a new lease on life with the help of a service dog, or strengthen the existing bond with your dog, Dog Training Elite in Las Vegas has the experience and resources you need.
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!
My mini Labradoodle started service dog training at 12 weeks old. Colin has always been very patient and made accommodations of the training specifically to my dog’s personality. Eight months later, NOLA is now officially a certified service dog for my military PTSD. I am so happy with the results of her hard work and comfortable going into crowds without fear and anxiety. 100% recommended!— Danni Brooks
Posted April 13th 2024
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.— Shawn Izzo
Posted February 13th 2024
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.— JT
Posted February 7th 2024
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— Mark Gordon
Posted November 6th 2023
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.— Daniela
Posted February 7th 2024
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!— Alison Selzler
Posted January 15th 2024
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!!— Sydney Jones
Posted January 15th 2024
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.— Mike Trzeciak
Posted January 15th 2024
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.— Mark Trzeciak
Posted January 15th 2024
If you are looking for someone able to understand and help your dog change and learn good behavior, Nick is the person.— Hadhy BC
Posted January 15th 2024
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!— L Hamilton
Posted January 15th 2024
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.— Kelli Schack
Posted October 17th 2022
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.— Lisa
Posted January 15th 2024
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!— Olare Jones
Posted January 15th 2024
When we brought our 8 week old English lab pups home I knew I wanted professional help with training. Nick has gone above and beyond our expectations. We worked hard and practiced his lessons in between sessions. The girls learned quickly and are eager to please. The additional group classes have been hugely advantageous to socialize them and reinforce skills. Nick is a gold star trainer. Patient, calm, persistent. But you have to do the work if you want results! We are now considering service training. With Nick's expertise I have no doubt our dogs will make exceptional service animals. Thank you Nick!— Nikki Goodden
Posted June 25th 2023
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.— Laura Booth
Posted November 6th 2023
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.— Sarah Shah
Posted November 6th 2023
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.— Allie Stark
Posted October 27th 2023
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!— Mariah Dyer
Posted July 25th 2023
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.— Chris Schack
Posted July 24th 2023
Proud Sponsor of The Malinois Foundation
At Dog Training Elite in Las Vegas, 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 in Las Vegas 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.