An image of a german shepard with their owner - contact Dog Training Elite for your german shephard training in Murfreesboro / Spring Hill, TN.

Professional Training For

German Shepherds

Dog Training Elite Greater Nashville

Request Free Assessment


Request Free Assessment


Our German Shepherd Training Could Help:

Excessive barking
Aggression
Separation anxiety
Destructive chewing
Leash pulling
Over-protectiveness
Resource guarding

German Shepherd Training in Murfreesboro / Spring Hill, TN

German Shepherds consistently rank in the top five most popular dog breeds in America—and for good reason. German Shepherds are highly intelligent and loyal. With proper training and socialization, they are also obedient and great with other dogs and children. Not to mention, they’re beautiful!

Dog Training Elite has years of experience with German Shepherd training in Murfreesboro / Spring Hill, TN and has developed obedience programs suitable for this breed. Because of their intelligence and natural herding instincts, German Shepherds can also be trained as service dogs.

Like any intelligent dog, however, a German Shepherd without proper training can become a handful. Their intelligence can lead to stubbornness. Extensive training and socialization are key to harnessing the unique abilities of this breed and diminishing any potential destructive behaviors. Thankfully, the high intelligence of German Shepherds enables them to learn commands quickly.

With our targeted and specialized breed training programs, Dog Training Elite Greater Nashville can help any German Shepherd become an incredible companion to individuals and families.

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An image of multiple german shepherd puppies - our Murfreesboro / Spring Hill german shepherd trainers ensure you pup is ready to be the best companion possible.

German Shepherd Puppies vs. Adults


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Dog Training Elite recommends starting dog training as early as possible, soon after a puppy is ready to leave its mother. Puppies are capable of learning basic commands, and smart German Shepherd puppies do great with early training.

If you adopt an older German Shepherd, or never got around to puppy training, don’t worry! Dog Training Elite Greater Nashville offers adult dog training programs as well. A complete puppy training typically takes a few months. Adult dog training can take longer or shorter, depending on whether a dog needs to unlearn bad habits in addition to being trained.

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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!

Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Tamar Gillock
    Dec. 10, 2024
    Brad and Dog Training Elite Nashville were the absolute best thing to ever happen to my dog. Our family has a miniature Aussie and boy is he a handful! Within 3 training sessions our dog Bandit was a new man! Once we were finished with our in home session it was like Brad had given us a new dog, it was amazing. I can’t speak highly enough of Brad and his ability to work with not just dogs but their owners. I would recommend them over and over!
  • Amanda Corn
    Dec. 5, 2024
    Brad with Dog Training Elite has been FANTASTIC to work with. He is great at both dog training and training us to be confident and able to effectively train our dog outside of scheduled sessions. He has helped us be able to see and unlock our dog's potential. We thought we were doing okay on our own, but Brad has helped us take our dog's obedience to a whole new level. Highly recommend Dog Training Elite Greater Nashville.
  • Brett Hinson
    Nov. 26, 2024
    Helped out tremendously!!!! Night and day difference from day 1!! Brad has been amazing!
  • Sr. Catherine Marie, O.P.
    Nov. 24, 2024
    We have been so pleased with the work of Brad Okeson at Dog Training Elite. He has done wonders with our facility dog. Our school counselor was able to reenforce the skills taught. Our dog is now able to work effectively with the children in our school and they are responsive to him. Brad has been personable and great to work with.
  • Susan Akers
    Nov. 24, 2024
    Brad has done an amazing job with our Saint Rose School therapy dog, Cosmo. He has a gentle teaching style that works beautifully to encourage and teach Cosmo.
  • Regan Smith
    Nov. 22, 2024
    Brad is an excellent trainer. Our facility dog is pretty close to perfect!
  • Lauren Lewis
    Nov. 22, 2024
    They have done a wonderful job training our sweet Cosmo! I would highly recommend them to anyone!
  • Leissa Rich
    Nov. 21, 2024
    Brad is an excellent trainer, he was so accommodative with our schedule and AMAZING with our dog! We couldn't have been more pleased with the results shown through his training course, & would totally recommend him again and again to everyone and anyone. 🩷
  • Leslie Iorio
    Nov. 11, 2024
    Where to start: Brad Okeson is an outstanding trainer as well as a supportive listener and incredible teacher. He is all of these and also generous with his time and talent. Brad has been training our dog to be a therapy dog for our school. He assessed the puppies in our dog’s litter when they were 49 days old and chose our pup for his temperament, explaining how he was chosen. The very next week, Brad began working with our puppy, Cosmo, and me, as his owner and handler, in the environment for which Cosmo was chosen: our school. Brad has faithfully, continually, and patiently addressed issues, explained our puppy’s behavior, determined goals and helped us to reach them. Brad’s demeanor is pleasant and his style is gentle and firm - Cosmo adores him. He is delightful to learn from and watch in action. Cosmo is now eight months old and he is beloved by students and faculty alike. Cosmo’s behavior is so obedient, loving, and gentle that some of my colleagues have arranged to hire Brad to work with their own dogs in their homes. I cannot adequately express the admiration and gratitude I feel for Brad Okeson but I highly recommend him to you as you consider training for your pup.
  • Randi Pentzer
    Nov. 12, 2024
    Brad is the best!!! He is so attuned and amazing at his job. He made all of our dog dreams come true as he personalized our experience down to every detail. Everything little thing I wanted to change and work on, he made happen, happily and easily. I’m so thankful I went with elite before anyone else. I truly don’t know where else I would have gotten this wonderful experience with the best results.
  • Alvin Devendorf
    Nov. 12, 2024
    Brad was a pleasure to work with and very patient with our stubborn beagle. Our beagle had food aggression issues. Brad help us understand the reason for the behavior and how to best deal with it.
  • Laura Minguela
    Oct. 21, 2024
    Very reliable! I wouldn't look anywhere else for dog training.
  • Victoria
    Oct. 18, 2024
    Brad is great. If you need your dogs trained in the Nashville area give him a call!
  • Raymond Lombardi
    Oct. 18, 2024
    Brad has an incredible way with dogs. He’s patient, knowledgeable, and does a great job at making every session productive and enjoyable. Highly recommend him to anyone looking to get better at communicating with their dog and see real progress along the way!
  • Chris Lombardi
    Oct. 17, 2024
    Brad is phenomenal at communicating with dogs and has a unique ability to make training both effective and enjoyable for both dogs and their owners. If you’re looking for a trainer who truly cares and delivers real results, I can’t recommend Brad highly enough!
  • Jesse Davis
    Sep. 12, 2024
    My 3.5 yr. old lab mix, Oreo, was becoming more reactive and territorial over time. He was our first dog (Covid dog), and we hadn’t properly socialized him or taken him places. It gradually grew to the point where we were having to put him up when guests came over and run outside to get him when anyone pulled up. His unpredictable behavior made me extremely anxious! I knew we had to do something, so I looked up dog trainers. The first thing that drew me to Elite was the free in-home evaluation and positive reviews … some related to reactivity and aggression. I met Brad and felt very comfortable with him. He was knowledgeable and extremely thorough when asking questions about history and behavior. He genuinely wanted to know what was going on with my dog and how to help him. Oreo responded well to Brad immediately. Brad was always right on time and even stayed a little longer at times to work on something we’d mention. The in-home sessions were so helpful, and he showed us what to do between visits. We are now in the stage of doing group classes, which I was very nervous about. My alpha male, reactive, unsocialized dog just attended his first group class and did amazing! I was/am shocked at how quickly he has progressed. At home, we are still figuring out guest interaction and logistics, but I have confidence knowing that on the leash I can control him in most any situation. With a bit more time and practice, I think we’ll be able to control him just using voice commands. He already responds to all of his voice commands off leach under normal circumstances. I can’t recommend Elite enough for most any issue. I honestly wasn’t sure if it would work or work well enough to be worth the cost for our dog, but it definitely has been. I realize now how wrong we went about things … we had not given him boundaries or taught him how to behave in a way he could understand. Just like with kids, I actually think he likes his boundaries and feels safe when they are in place. I’m excited for Oreo’s future and continued learning.
  • Gary Okeson
    Aug. 20, 2024
    I highly recommend Dog Training Elite. My trainer was Brad. He was very knowledgeable and patient with our dog. Great results.
  • Hayley Preston
    Jun. 1, 2024
    Dog Training Elite is absolutely the BEST. I have had dogs my entire life and never seen a dog more wild than our Flair. She is a strong black lab & has so much energy we had lost control. We could not even walk her around the block due to jumping, pulling and running. My parents nicknamed her "the wrecking ball." After being knocked down and having my elbow dislocated, I decided to get help. I'm so thankful to have found Brad. He came to our home for a consultation and then began coming on Friday mornings for training. Brad is so knowledgable, patient, caring, and kind. He is definitely the kind of person you would want training your dog. He also taught my daughter and I how to work with and support all the new behaviors Flair was learning. I was amazed at how quick she responded to training. After a few weeks she listens, follows directions, does not jump on furniture or people. Flair even walks on a leash like a champ. This morning we moved from walking in the neighborhood to Lowes. She is doing better than I ever expected and it is all because of Brad. We are so thankful to Dog Training Elite for helping us enjoy every moment with our sweet girl. Flair even got her first pup cup today as a reward for doing such a great job!
  • Cha Sloan
    Jun. 2, 2024
    We just finished our in-home classes. Brad is a great trainer. He's serious about his work but he also makes it fun. He's patient, he listens, and he cares. It's amazing what he can do with our stubborn dog, Willow, in such a short period. My husband and I have learned so much from him and we are extremely grateful. I'm happy that Jackie has joined him. She's lovely and a great trainer as well.
  • Shaelyn Alexander
    Jun. 1, 2024
    Brad is an exceptional dog trainer who transformed our Australian shepherd into the best-behaved boy both at home and in public. His expertise and effective training methods worked wonders, and we saw remarkable improvements in our dog's behavior in a short period. Brad's approach is professional, compassionate, and tailored to our dog's unique needs. We're so impressed with the results that we've already planned to have him train our new puppy, Keeko. We highly recommend Brad to anyone looking for a skilled and reliable dog trainer!
A dog owner with his German Shepherd - get your professional german shepherd training in Murfreesboro / Spring Hill, TN with Dog Training Elite today.

In-Home German Shepherd Training

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Dog Training Elite offers specialized in-home German Shepherd training for both owners and dogs of any age. Working with a German Shepherd and the owner directly in the home allows dog trainers to create personalized training plans for individual dogs, as well as address any unique needs or issues.

Once a dog has completed in-home training, they can take group classes for more in-depth training - Dog Training Elite Greater Nashville offers both puppy and adult dog group classes.

Beginning training in the home also helps owners bond with their dogs so when the dog trainer leaves, no progress is lost.

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German Shepherd Training Tips

German Shepherds are loyal and intelligent dogs that require a thoughtful approach to training. They are eager learners, but they also need structure and clear guidance to reach their full potential.

Here are some essential training tips for German Shepherds.

Dogs, and especially German Shepherds, do best with consistency. Always make sure to use the same verbal and/or physical cues during training to avoid any confusion. Also, be consistent about rules - establish at the beginning, for example, whether or not your dog is allowed on the couch. Then, don’t change the rule under any circumstances.
German Shepherds are an energetic breed - if you don’t have a yard for your dog to play in, that’s fine, but make sure your German Shepherd gets daily exercise through walking, hiking, etc. An energetic dog with little to no exercise can become a destructive, disobedient dog.

Since German Shepherds are historically trained as working dogs, they thrive on being busy. Training is a great way to give German Shepherds the mental and physical stimulation they need.

Dog Training Elite has developed training programs for puppies and adult dogs based on positive reinforcement. Our Murfreesboro / Spring Hill German Shepherd trainers are dedicated to protecting your pets mental and physical health while ensuring the best possible results.

A group of dogs being trained by the expert team at Dog Training Elite Greater Nashville.
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An adorable German Shepherd with their owner - Dog Training Elite is your go-to choice for Murfreesboro / Spring Hill german shepherd trainers.

Your Expert German Shepherd Trainers in Murfreesboro / Spring Hill, TN

The Dog Training Elite Difference

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Dog Training Elite uses modern training methods focused on positive reinforcement and bonding between dog and dog owner. Dog Training Elite never resorts to the use of punishment to help dogs unlearn bad behavior. The difference becomes clear when comparing a dog that is trained out of anxiety and intimidation vs a dog who truly desires to please from the inside out.

The Dog Training Elite training theory is mostly based around classical conditioning, also known as the Pavlovian method or respondent conditioning. This includes developing conditioned or automatic reflexes to commands. In its simplest form (after proper conditioning), when an owner says "sit," their dog automatically sits without thinking about it.

Through a combination of commands and an electronic collar, dogs learn to follow commands at once. The electronic collar is not a shock collar; it is a gentle electronic pulse, similar to the tug of a leash, used to get the dog’s attention. Other dog trainers use harsh static collars or spray collars which have been shown to be less effective. Dog Training Elite’s method of focusing on positive behavior reinforcement nurtures a dog's loving and naturally obedient nature.

Ready to turn your dog into a loyal and loving companion? Contact Dog Training Elite today for professional German Shepherd training in Murfreesboro / Spring Hill, TN!