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Classical Conditioning

Metro Detroit Classical Conditioning Dog Trainers

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A dog walking on a leash after finishing a classical conditioning dog training in Metro Detroit, MI.

Dog Training Techniques

Classical Conditioning Dog Training in Metro Detroit, MI

Classical conditioning is a learning process also known as the Pavlovian method or respondent conditioning. Discovered by Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov, classical conditioning involves developing automatic reflexes to specific conditions. This leads to creating behaviors.

Pavlov is considered to be the father of “classical conditioning.” As a matter of fact, he originally tested his theory using dogs. In an experiment, Pavlov observed dogs began to salivate not just when they received food, but when the people associated with feeding them arrived. Pavlov began to ring a bell when the dogs were presented with food. Over time, the dogs learned to associate the sound of the bell ringing with food. Their mouths would salivate whenever the bell rang.

Dog Training Elite Southeast Michigan dog training techniques are based on classical conditioning dog training in Metro Detroit, MI to help your dog achieve deep-rooted obedience. Working with a Dog Training Elite Southeast Michigan trainer , your dog will become conditioned and develop those “automatic reflexes” to commands such as sit, down, heel, break, and more.

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Dog Training Elite Southeast Michigan

Training With An E-Collar

Dog Training Elite Southeast Michigan NEVER uses punishments like shock collars to train dogs out of bad behavior. Dog Training Elite in Metro Detroit, MI does make use of an electronic collar. The use of an electronic collar is vastly different in two main ways.

The electric collar does not shock your dog. Instead, it generates a gentle electronic pulse, similar to the tug of a leash.
The electronic collar is never used to punish a dog. It is used to simply gain the attention of a dog and help them focus on the task at hand.
Other dog trainers use harsh static collars or spray collars which have been shown to be less effective.
A dog owner playing with his german shepard, learn more about our Metro Detroit classical conditioning dog trainers.

Metro Detroit Classical Conditioning Dog Trainers

Positive Reinforcement Vs. Punishment

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Traditional dog training methods rely on punishment for errors and “low value” rewards, such as praise or petting, when a dog performs a desired behavior. Dog Training Elite Southeast Michigan never resorts to punishing a dog to make them unlearn bad behavior.

Using punishment as a tool can actually backfire. For example: punishing a dog for going to the bathroom inside a house won’t teach them to go outside instead. Often, the dog only understands that the mess makes their owner mad. Instead of going outside, the dog is likely to continue to make messes indoors - but where the owner can’t find them.

Research shows that focusing on positive reinforcement when a desired behavior occurs and not worrying about correcting bad behavior in dogs is more effective and has longer-lasting results. The difference between a dog who has been exposed to dog training techniques used to obey out of fear vs. a dog who learns to obey through a positive, loving bond with their owner is huge.

Positive reinforcement works with dogs because they are inherently eager to please. Rewarding your dog for good behavior as you work with a Dog Training Elite in Metro Detroit, MI trainer to help your dog be more obedient will help you create a deep, loving relationship with your dog built on trust.

Additional Obedience Training Info

Dog Training Elite Southeast Michigan - Positive Reinforcement Dog Training in Metro Detroit, MI

Positive Reinforcement Training

Dog Training Elite Southeast Michigan - Puppy Obedience Training in Metro Detroit, MI. DTE

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Off Leash Training

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Agility Through Basic Obedience Training

A women playing with her service dog in Metro Detroit, MI.

The Dog Training Elite Southeast Michigan Difference


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Dog Training Elite in Metro Detroit, MI uses modern dog training techniques and methods focused on positive reinforcement and bonding you and your dog. Dog Training Elite Southeast Michigan trainers never resort to punishment to help dogs unlearn behaviors.

Through a combination of commands and an electronic collar, dogs learn to follow commands at once. Dog Training Elite Southeast Michigan’s method of focusing on positive behavior reinforcement nurtures a dog's loving and naturally obedient nature.

After proper conditioning and working with Dog Training Elite in Metro Detroit, MI, when you say “sit,” your dog will automatically sit without thinking about it. The unique techniques of Dog Training Elite Southeast Michigan ensure training is a success no matter what your dog’s behavior.

Get started training your dog today. Find a trainer near you and schedule a free in-home consultation!

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You and your canine companion really can have it all. See how easy it can be to become a member of the elite pup society by requesting a free consultation today!

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Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Kevin Leahy
    Oct. 13, 2026
    Haley was phenomenal in working with my rescue Husky/Lab mix, Sage. The program and the ecollar training helped lay a very strong foundation for her developed and her temperament gets compliments everywhere we go. The cost of rescuing the dog and getting private training with Elite was less than many people pay just to get a pup from the breeder.
  • Sandra Campbell
    Oct. 2, 2026
    Hailey did an excellent job training my dog Sam. She was patient and very easy to understand her directions. She helped us learn how to handle our dog Sam so our handling of our dog easy for us. Thank you very much Hailey
  • Elise Johnson
    Oct. 1, 2026
    Hailey has been working with us since we brought our Havanese puppy home at 8 weeks old. She has been wonderful! In addition to having a new puppy, my husband has Alzheimer’s. Hailey has been a god send helping me navigate my situation with warmth and understanding. My veterinarian told me our puppy is the best behaved Havanese he has ever met.
  • Janelle Bross
    Sep. 30, 2026
    I am the principal at Lake Shore High. Hailey and the whole team at Dog Training Elite were so wonderful to work with. Hailey was such a pro at training our therapy dog, Tully. By the time the test came around, Tully was able to easily pass the test and provide such a wonderful service to our students. He is so well behaved and so loved in our school. Thank you to Hailey and the whole team at Dog Training Elite! We literally couldn’t have done it without you!
  • Zoe Gore
    Sep. 29, 2026
    I had an amazing experience working with Steve. His training sessions showed me how to help my nervous dog feel more confident. He tailored each day to whatever issues I was having and showed me many fun ways to work with my pups. Alpha & Omega are definitely going to miss seeing Steve every week! We’re excited for group classes!
  • Abbey Pierce
    Sep. 15, 2026
    Haley was awesome with my new puppy. She was always flexible and accommodating with scheduling, and my dog’s behavior has improved a lot. I’m very excited for him to be off leash trained and impressed with how quickly Haley was able to work with him. Colby says thank you!
  • Hayley Beckmann
    Sep. 13, 2026
    Cannot recommend this team enough Hailey has been amazing and is great at teaching especially how to teach through the stubborn :)
  • Leslie Delaney
    Sep. 13, 2026
    Dog Training Elite Southeast Michigan was the best investment I made in my puppy. Steve Dennison was our trainer and he was amazing. His patience, calm manner, and connection helped Milo, who is incredibly sweet but incredibly energetic, really transform into a happy, sweet, and very well behaved dog. I see the 180 transformation in him every day, but especially when we're around other people and dogs, whether it be at a store, downtown, or in the wonderful group training classes that are offered. He is still hesitant with people, but he no longer runs or tries to hide behind me when in public. If you're looking for a trainer for your dog, Dog Training Elite Southeast Michigan is the only trainer in the area that I would recommend.
  • Eldon Laroche
    Sep. 10, 2026
    Wow I can't say enough good things about this company. I checked out several companies and we definitely chose the right one. Hailey our Trainor is great and is a joy to work with in training. She is extremely knowledgeable about dogs and has an answer to any problem. If you need a dog Trainor please call Dte.
  • Devon Fralick
    Aug. 27, 2026
    My two standard poodles were alone with us through Covid, and did not like other people or dogs, to the point it was a problem. If friends came to the house we had to crate them; if any friend walked into the crate room they barked ferociously. Now, we are at a point in life where we need in-home care—uh oh! Once we hired Hailey from Elite Dog Training, our concerns were steadily allayed as she worked with both us and our dogs. Hailey’s innate understanding of dogs (and people) enables her to solve some tough behavioral situations. Further, Hailey’s calm, friendly demeanor makes her a joy to work with. She is both professional and personable, a rare combination in anyone. We highly recommend her!
  • Richard Weingartner
    Jul. 28, 2026
    Hailey was superb! She helped use learn how to help transform our puppy from being unruly and at times defiant to a little gentleman! Her scheduling flexibility and accommodations made the whole training process easy to manage. Our final session taking our puppy on our customized kayak was the icing on the cake! Now that we “graduated”, looking forward to joining some of the group times to reinforce what we’ve learned. Thanks, Hailey!
  • amber haataja
    Jul. 21, 2026
    We had a great experience with Dog Training Elite! We worked with Steve for behavior modification with our 3-year-old lab, Remi, who struggled with reactivity. She has made so much progress, and we are so happy with how far she has come. Steve was great to work with and explained everything in a way that was easy to understand. We learned a lot, and it's made such a difference in our day-to-day life with Remi. We are so happy with the results and would definitely recommend Dog Training Elite to anyone looking for help with their dog.
  • Denise Collop
    Jun. 15, 2026
    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Austin was amazing to work with! His guidance, patience, and expertise helped Zeke successfully become a therapy dog. He made training enjoyable and gave us the confidence and skills we needed. We highly recommend Austin to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and dedicated trainer. Thank you, Austin!
  • Isabella De Fazio
    May. 20, 2026
    Hailey is the best trainer ever! We've been working with her since my puppy was 8 weeks old, and he is the good boy he is today because of her. In just under a year, Arlo has now come everywhere with me as my service dog and has changed my life for the better.
  • Alison Burke
    May. 15, 2026
    I cannot say enough about the transformation that occurred with the training sessions we had with Hailey. Our puppy would not go outside, did not want to walk on a leash or go in the car. He was anxious and had separation anxiety! Now he is able to ride the car, go on walks and be in crowds at our son's baseball games without ant issues! We are so happy - he is just the best boy! We can't wait to see what he does next and we really could NOT have done it without all of the support and guidance from Hailey.
  • Julie Braman
    May. 14, 2026
    I got my dog Theo on April 2nd and from day one, he was a lot – in the most lovable way possible. Adorable, affectionate, and quick to learn new things, but he kept jumping our fence and running away. After the 7th incident, I was referred to Hailey at Dog Training Elite Southeast Michigan, and we had our consultation on April 21st. We paid for the training course the same day because we were blown away by how knowledgeable she was and knew we would benefit from her coming to our house to train him. After that, we scheduled training appointments every week at a time that worked best for me and my husband, and training began on April 30th. We have seen Hailey for training three times now, and by the third training (today, 5/14/26), it's like I have not a different dog, but a way better version of the dog I knew Theo could be. When I got Theo, he ran away constantly, had a very intense prey drive around my two cats (to the point where we had to keep them in our bedroom), jumped up on people upon meeting them, and had a few accidents in the hallway. We've had him a month and a half now, and he's received training from Hailey for about three weeks. Now, Theo doesn't run away, he runs around outside freely (I bought him a dog run, but don't even have to use it anymore), he coexists peacefully with my two cats (who we no longer have to keep in our bedroom) – he can even sit next to them on the couch – and he now knows the terms "place," "break," "sit," and "come." We were actually considering paying a company to install a higher fence and we were talking about installing doors in between our mud room and den so the cats could live in peace. After training with Hailey three times, we no longer need to hire someone else for those home repairs (thank goodness, since it probably would cost us around $21K). Thanks to Hailey, we got training for roughly 10% of that cost. We would highly recommend Hailey to anyone who thinks their dog might be "just a little too much." Three sessions and she gave us our home back – cats included. You will not regret it.
  • domenic guadagnino
    May. 13, 2026
    Duke is an 8-year-old stubborn Ridgeback. Hailey was our trainer and was Amazing With Duke. Highly recommend
  • Noah Dorfman
    Apr. 27, 2026
    Hailey has been amazing helping us learn to work with our young dog. I could not recommend this training method enough. Having off leash control has been life changing for us and our family.
  • Michelle Landry
    Apr. 27, 2026
    Hailey is amazing. Our beagle went from wild and insane to actually trained and polite. The e-collar really makes all of the difference too. Training a beagle puppy (7 months old) is not easy, and Hailey truly made it all possible. We plan on continuing with more training. I highly recommend her, even with the most difficult dogs. She’s so smart and confident and I instantly trusted her knowledge.
  • Erin Concas
    Apr. 24, 2026
    We were looking for a psychiatric service dog for our special needs teen From the initial phone consultation to ongoing text support, the team has been helpful and professional throughout. They guided us in selecting the right puppy, and training began in the first week, which made a big difference. Our dog is always excited to see Hailey who comes to our house and meets us in public settings for training- and she’s doing great in group classes. Overall, a very positive experience—I’d recommend this company, especially Austin and Hailey.