Elite

Dog Training Services


Professional Dog Trainers in Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN

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763-342-9250


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Contact Dog Training Elite Twin Cities

Or Call to Schedule FREE In-Home Assessment

763-342-9250


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When you first brought home your dog, you most likely envisioned long walks, a game of fetch at the dog park, extended cuddle time, and an overall enjoyable life with your new best friend. This vision probably didn't include excessive barking, cat terrorizing, leash pulling, and other disobedient behaviors. Building a relationship with your pet is difficult when you have a pup who just won't listen. But don't stress - the obedient, loyal friend you dreamed of is just a few professional dog training sessions away!

No matter your dog's behavioral problems, appropriate training can eliminate disobedience and encourage a healthy dog-owner relationship.

Dog Training Elite is proud to have some of the highest rated private dog trainers near you in Minneapolis / St. Paul.

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


Platinum

$3,175

LIFETIME SUPPORT

Platinum offers advanced obedience/behavioral modification with a goal of off-leash control. Includes additional training options and offers more one-on-one and group sessions than Gold.

Training Equipment Included: E-Collar and Additional Equipment

  • In-Home Training SessionsOne-on-one & personalized 8 Sessions
  • Group Park Training Sessions 16 Sessions
  • Come
  • Heel (walk with you, loose leash no pulling)
  • Sit(next to you & off leash at a distance)
  • Place(go to bed)
  • Quiet(stop excessive barking & whining)
  • Off(furniture when desired)
  • Down(lay next to you & off leash at a distance)
  • Load Up (go into kennel, car, or dog house)
  • Manners, Safety & Boundaries
  • Calm Anxiety & Build Confidence
  • Housebreaking / Potty Training
  • STOP Jumping on People
  • STOP Mouthing & Nipping
  • STOP Chewing & Digging
  • STOP Begging & Stealing Food
  • STOP Bolting Through Doors & Running Away
  • STOP Chasing Animals, Cars & Bikes
  • STOP Reactivity (dog & human)
  • *Stay With You on a Jog or Bike Ride (off-leash)
  • *Emotional Support Dog Training(ESA)
  • *Control Aggression(dog & human)
  • *Calm Extreme Anxiety(behavioral modification)

Gold

$2,075

Training Equipment Included: E-Collar and Additional Equipment

  • In-Home Training SessionsOne-on-one & personalized 5 Sessions
  • Group Park Training Sessions 10 Sessions
  • Come
  • Heel (walk with you, loose leash no pulling)
  • Sit(next to you & off leash at a distance)
  • Place(go to bed)
  • Quiet(stop excessive barking & whining)
  • Off(furniture when desired)
  • Down(lay next to you & off leash at a distance)
  • Load Up (go into kennel, car, or dog house)
  • Manners, Safety & Boundaries
  • Calm Anxiety & Build Confidence
  • Housebreaking / Potty Training
  • STOP Jumping on People
  • STOP Mouthing & Nipping
  • STOP Chewing & Digging
  • STOP Begging & Stealing Food
  • STOP Bolting Through Doors & Running Away
  • STOP Chasing Animals, Cars & Bikes
  • STOP Reactivity (dog & human)

Silver

$1,575

Training Equipment Included: E-Collar and Additional Equipment

  • In-Home Training SessionsOne-on-one & personalized 2 Sessions
  • Group Park Training Sessions 6 Sessions
  • Come
  • Heel (walk with you, loose leash no pulling)
  • Sit(next to you & off leash at a distance)
  • Place(go to bed)
  • Quiet(stop excessive barking & whining)
  • Off(furniture when desired)
Best In-Home Dog Trainers Near Me in Minneapolis / St. Paul
Highest Rated Dog Obedience Trainers Near You in Minneapolis / St. Paul
Top Dog Trainers Near Me in Minneapolis / St. Paul
In-Home Dog Trainers Near You in Minneapolis / St. Paul

Why DIY Training So Often Fails


No dogs are truly bad. They are just dogs, trying to navigate a human world. What we consider bad behavior is a result of anxiety, fear, or misunderstanding. Dogs are eager learners and can easily be taught the appropriate behaviors to follow. For that reason, disobedience usually stems from improper training techniques.

It can be difficult for new dog owners to train their pets without the proper knowledge or time. Training takes more than a few sessions and treats, and it certainly does not involve punishment, yelling, or aggression. If you’re struggling with your dog’s behavior, you’re not alone. The most common mistake pet owners make is underestimating the knowledge, commitment, and effort needed to train a dog.

Proper training requires:


  • Experience and education
  • A deep understanding of dog behaviors
  • Patience and commitment
  • Knowledge of various training techniques
  • Experience with dogs of various breeds and ages
  • Ability to teach people as well as dogs
  • Detecting emotional changes in dogs (anxiety, aggression, fear)
  • Skills for training in distracting environments
  • Ability to recognize problem behaviors

The average pet owner does not have the above skills. It takes more than a deep love for doggies to know how to train them! Fortunately, professional dog trainers do have these skills. Education, certification, and experience are all marks of a well-qualified dog trainer.

When it comes to dog training, you want to find someone that you can trust. Many dog owners are reluctant to entrust their pets to a stranger. That is why it is important to find a trainer that fits you and your dog’s needs.

Pricing Programs Free Assessment

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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.

What a Professional Dog Trainer Can Do For You

Most people see dog trainers as canine teachers when they are more people teachers. Professional dog trainers teach you how to communicate with your dog. During dog training sessions, you must actively participate to learn how to establish boundaries with your dog. The dog trainer teaches you how your dog learns so that you can give him or her the right cues.

Common areas covered in dog training sessions include:

  • Obedience
    Commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “come” form the foundations of training, and most dogs learn them quickly. These cues keep your dog safe and help him or her confidently navigate the world. Once your dog has mastered obedience, more advanced training can take place.
  • Behavior
    While obedience commands are easy for every dog to learn, behavior issues are unique to each dog. Examples of behavior issues include chasing the mailman, jumping up during greetings, excessive barking, and destroying the house when left alone. These behaviors have an underlying cause that must first be addressed before the appropriate behavior can be learned.
  • Pet-Owner Relationship
    The most important part of any dog training program is the bond formed between dog and owner. Without a strong relationship, your dog simply won’t listen. A true professional will work side by side with you to ensure that your dog understands you and responds appropriately.

Pricing Programs Free Assessment

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Dog Training Elite has the best dog trainers near you in Minneapolis / St. Paul that provide professional dog training services.

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!

When we first brought our dog home, he was 1 1/2 year old, 60 lb dog with no training. He wanted to be loved and play all the time but his form of play was a little much to handle, jumping and mouthing us and our guests. After we trained with George, he was a completely different dog. He knows when to play and listens to commands even though he is busting with love and still wants everyone's attention. We would highly recommend working with George at Dog Training Elite, Twin Cities. He is patient and loving and quickly became our dog's best friend!
— Mary Munson
Posted March 10th 2024
google
I highly recommend Dog Training Elite. Previously I had enrolled in a different training program where my dog had to drop out due to her anxiety and reactivity. I also put her through a dog training month long boot camp. Neither of these had the success which I am experiencing now with Dog Training Elite. For the first time I am able to walk her without being afraid that her reactivity and pulling will be unmanageable. George is great and also answered promptly with suggestions when I texted with training questions. I am so glad I finally found something that is working.
— Jennifer Loupe
Posted February 15th 2024
google
My dog is a different dog since George came to my house. Louie loves to be trained and he is now a wonderful puppy. I would highly recommend George!
— Kate Lundsten
Posted January 17th 2024
google
George is an amazing trainer! He is always on time, very kind & understanding, dogs worship him, & will have you seeing results with your dog almost instantly. I got my dog for my PTSD & George helped turn my 3-month-old puppy into one of the most amazing companions in the matter of 6 months. His training programs are very much worth your time, effort, & money.
— Katrina Cannady
Posted December 13th 2023
google
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Posted December 7th 2023
facebook
We worked with George and were very satisfied with this training experience. We have a 3 year old Rough Collie and were experiencing issues with leash reactivity and "Stranger Danger" in our home. Our Finley thought it was his job to control people he didn't know in our house. (These herding breeds can have a tendency to nip and herd). We can now manage this situation and have a more safe atmosphere for others. The e-collar training is fabulous if you have a dog that has impulses or a situation where "positive only training" isn't getting the results you want. Great for off-leash commands. You will not regret the decision to go forward with this training.
— Sue Schinke
Posted October 27th 2023
google
Take advantage of the free in-home assessment to see for yourself, but I highly recommend George for anyone looking for a dog trainer. I have an anxious American Bully that other trainers were not willing or able to work with, but George was able to build a great relationship with her and train both of us. He's very responsive, engaged, and specific with training feedback and epxectations, which I found was very helpful - also supportive for any/all questions that I've had. Going through training with George has significantly improved our quality of life - went from having a reactive dog that would bark anytime others entered the home to now having the skills in place to allow others to visit without it being a big event. Thanks George!
— Lisa Nelson
Posted July 30th 2023
google
My dog Nigel was very anxious, guarded, and reactive before we did training with George. Each session, George coached Nigel, but he also coached me on how to be a more assertive owner! I feel like I was given the tools I need to make sure Nigel is safe out in public. I was shocked at how quickly the reactive behavior subsided once Nigel felt more confident, and now he is a much happier dog. I’m more confident with him too. George is very knowledgeable and was able to answer any question I had, and he really listened to and abided by my training goals. I’m excited to continue with the Saturday park sessions!
— Leah Tillman
Posted May 23rd 2023
google
I thought I was hiring someone to come to my house and train my dog but really I was trained how to effectively train my dog. George was an excellent teacher and was super great with Oreo. Very flexible when I needed a reschedule and also with the lesson plan by helping with things outside of the list of commands in the contract. Would recommend to family and friends for sure. Looking forward to the group classes this summer.
— Jay Zachau
Posted April 26th 2023
google
Rosie was a reactive dog, we lived our life afraid of her becoming aggressive to those entering our home. George taught us week by week on basic commands that built upon each other. He was reliable and professional. Rosie is a different dog. The cost of individual in home training was worth every cent. Our Rosie is more confident of herself and comes by command, something we never thought could happen. We are so thankful!
— Tamara Uhde
Posted February 14th 2023
google
George has done a fantastic job with our pit bull Cleo, not only is he skilled but he is also personable. Highly recommend him to anyone seeking elite dog training.
— Zac M
Posted February 3rd 2023
google
George deserves this 5 star review! Such an all-around dog trainer and person! Helped not only train our four legged best friend but also us as owners. cleo is a pitbull who was extremely stubborn and jumped on anyone who came through the door. Cleo used to take ten minutes before calming down. Now Cleo sits and waits until she is given the okay to welcome guests. She is also reactive towards other dogs but if the help of conditioning Cleo with the collar and commands, she is a lot less reactive. He even volunteered his own dog to help equipped us with the tools to introduce our dog to others. He answered any and all questions that he had plus more. Would highly recommend!
— Madlyn McMullen
Posted February 3rd 2023
google
George was a wonderful trainer! We were out of options for our anxious, aggressive golden doodle. After working with George, we were able to take our dog to family holiday gatherings with no incident. George patiently answered all of our questions and equipped us to be better dog owners. We would highly recommend!
— Sara Veit Kaufman
Posted December 21st 2022
google
George was great and easy to work with. We have a rather aggressive shepherd mix with other dogs and we worked through some techniques that help us approaching dogs on our nightly walks. He was patient & offered a lot of tools to help us better handle those situations with confidence.
— Lucas Duppler
Posted December 5th 2022
google
We can't be happier about our decision to finally get our dog, Fulton, properly trained! Fulton is a 5 year old Olde English Bulldog that is anxious and STUBBORN! Prior to our training sessions with George, I had never been able to walk him because he pulled too much, despite using every type of harness available on Amazon! Now I can casually walk Fully without worrying he will pull or get distracted by other dogs or squirrels! My husband and I thought that Fulton was destined to be stuck in his kennel whenever people came over. His big test was on Thanksgiving when we had family over for dinner. Fulton didn't jump once and was able to be out of his kennel while our family was there! That was AMAZING!! George was very patient with us (and with Fulton!) and took the time to answer our questions and give us suggestions to target specific problem behaviors. Fulton is proof that a dog is never too old to learn new tricks! Please give George a call and see what he can do for you and your dog! The results speak for themselves.
— Julie Onken
Posted December 2nd 2022
google
George was really great to work with for the past 9 weeks! We have an Australian cattle dog with bad aggression, and I never thought we would see the change in him that we do! It’s still a work in progress but George was always so helpful and patient with him and very knowledgeable! We would recommend DTE to anyone we know! We have Far more confidence going into situations with our dog now than we did before!
— Lexi Kingsley
Posted September 10th 2022
google
George's knowledge and guidance has had an invaluable impact on my reactive dog and our family, I highly recommend Dog Training Elite to anyone struggling to manage their dog's reactive behavior. Thanks to George, we have training tools and tricks that WORK to keep my dog calm and responsive to my commands. I'm so proud of the progress my dog has made with George's excellent training. I've learned so much and I'm so grateful that I found a trainer who is patient, understanding, and sees the best in my dog.
— Kayleigh Halter
Posted August 8th 2022
google
I have seen the effectiveness of DTE Twin Cities training methods and the positive transformation in the behavior of the dogs they train. George genuinely wants each owner to have the best possible relationship with their dog so that they can experience all the fun activities and joy that dogs bring to our lives. If you would like to make your dog a bigger part of your lifestyle, I encourage you to contact DTE Twin Cities.
— Vince Conrad
Posted July 28th 2022
google
George is a fantastic trainer. He's dedicated and truly passionate about improving the bond between dogs and their owners. I highly recommend him for all of your training needs!
— craig fizer
Posted June 14th 2022
google
George is awesome and Karma is the sweetest, most well-behaved Rottweiler ever. The level of training she has is amazing!
— Valerie de Armas
Posted May 24th 2022
google

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Proud Sponsor of The Malinois Foundation

At Dog Training Elite Twin Cities, 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 Twin Cities 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.

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Positive Reinforcement -
The Recommended Technique

While there are various dog training techniques, positive reinforcement is the only recommended method. Trainers that offer programs based on punishment, “alpha dog” methods, and fear should be avoided.

Dogs must be taught which behaviors to perform, not punished for doing something wrong. Our canine companions don’t understand why we are yelling at them, they just fear us. When we catch our dog doing the right behavior and award him for it, he learns which behaviors are acceptable.

At Dog Training Elite, we combine positive reinforcement techniques with a private training setting. Our in-home approach has a high success rate.

Years of training experience have taught us in-home dog training is the most effective as it offers a personalized training experience for both dog and owner.

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  • No Distractions
    Your home is where your dog feels most comfortable, and where he is most likely to exhibit problem behaviors. Jumping on guests or destroying the home when you leave are behaviors that only occur inside the home. A private dog trainer that assesses your dog in his or her home environment catch and correct these behaviors on the spot.

    The home is a calm, relaxed place for your pal. There are no other dogs or large crowds to distract him from the lesson at hand. Once your dog has learned the basics at home with a private dog trainer, his or her new skills can be practiced out in public.

  • Family Involvement
    Ingrained behavioral changes only take place when the entire family is committed to training your dog. When a trainer comes to your house, you can take advantage of the times when everyone is home and willing to participate. Once you all agree on appropriate behaviors and the associated cues, your dog can happily learn from everyone.

Dog Training Elite is the top professional dog training company with the best local dog trainers near you in Minneapolis / St. Paul.

The Private Dog Trainers in Minneapolis / St. Paul That You Can Trust


At Dog Training Elite, we understand your dog is like a family member and that you want the best for your pet. That’s why we use positive reinforcement in all of our training procedures. We never use punishment or pain techniques - training should be an enjoyable experience for your pet. Our combination of positive reinforcement, an electronic collar (not a shock collar), and including family members is a well-rounded training experience. Dog Training Elite stands behind our training programs, and we are focused on empowering owners with our established techniques.

Pricing Programs Free Assessment

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