Anxiety and Aggression Dog Training
One of the most difficult, necessary, and rewarding behaviors to correct in a dog is anxiety and aggression. Anxiety and aggression is a behavior that can be learned, genetic, or innate. When a dog feels threatened, the two natural responses will be fight or flight. Most dogs will attempt to put as much distance between themselves and the threat; if the threat remains they will then turn to aggression or submit. Other dogs are overly confident pack leaders and will turn first to aggression. Both of these reactions stem from anxiety and can be fixed with a balanced positive dog training approach.
Meet Our Trainers
at Dog Training Elite!
John Mestas
Owner / Trainer
Experience: 35+ years
Dog Training Elite was founded by John Mestas, who has over 35 years of dog training experience. Arrow Kennels and Dog Training Elite was named after John's first obedience trial dog, a golden retriever named Arrow.
John Mestas is a professional and experienced dog seminar instructor. He is the Owner and Training Director of Dog Training Elite dog training facility in Utah. He has served on the boards of Utah Valley Kennel Club, Great Salt Lake Retriever Club and Northern Utah Retriever Club. He has also worked with guide dog puppies, for the blind, in San Rafael, California.
He has trained with excellent trainers such as Bill Totten, President, Professional Retriever Trainers Association.
He has worked with and coached members of the Utah Task Force 1 Search and Rescue Team and coached various police department canine. He has coached and trained many dogs and their owners to Junior, Senior and Master Hunter titles. John also trained dogs and their owners in Companion Dog Excellence and Utility Dog titles, including seven high in trial.
John has donated his time to those with special needs in training their service dogs.
John has judged American Kennel Club (AKC) field trial events in the open, amateur, qualifying and derby. He has donated his time to train dogs for special needs children and offers free seminars for boys and girls at Juvenile Detention centers.
Dog Training Elite Behavior Modification Process
Dog Training Elite behavior modification process is highly personalized: we work to empower owners as they work alongside our professional your local area trainers to build confidence and understanding in their dogs. We work with owners in their home to slowly retrain a dog’s reactions to stressful situations and then work to integrate them back into the community.
We will first meet the dog in a free in-home assessment to gain an understanding of the reasons for the aggression, anxiety or fears. We will assess triggers and build a personalized training program for each unique dog and targeting their specific behavior. For anxious dogs, our trainers will work alongside owners to build confidence.
For overly aggressive dog training we will help owners establish a pack leader position in the home. We will work to desensitize a dog to their biggest triggers and anxiety and when the dog has reached a safe baseline obedience level in these situations we then introduce them to our class settings. A muzzle is required for class settings to ensure the safety of all dog as these classroom settings are designed to integrate the dog back into social settings successfully.
The Elite DOG TRAINING FRANCHISE
Become a DTE Certified Dog Trainer in a franchise primed for success.
With today's demand for capable, experienced and balanced dog training options (combined with powerful franchise support and marketing systems) -- Dog Training Elite owners are primed for long term stability and success!
- Low franchise fees
- Low Ad Fund & Royalties
- No Local Competition or Restrictions
- No real estate footprint
- Streamlined Management Software
- Intense Theory Training
- Up-front & On-Going Business Training
- Powerful Full Scale Local Marketing
- Growth At Your Own Pace
- High Demand Market
Our Balanced Theory
We base our training around the "Classical Conditioning" model (aka "Pavlovian" or "respondent conditioning"). This includes developing conditioned or automatic reflexes to commands. In it's simplest form (after proper conditioning) -- when the owner says 'sit', dog automatically sits without thinking about it. Our unique techniques ensure our program is a success no matter the 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 household.Simplified & Customized
We plan training around owner's schedule and require only 15 min/day follow-up practice.
Continued Training
Additional programs / group sessions offered after in-home training.Lifetime Investment
We follow-up & are invested in owner's success long-term.Satisfaction Ratings
Our high client satisfaction rating sets us apart from competitors.