Service Dog Breeds


The Best Service Dogs for Veterans & PTSD in Murfreesboro / Spring Hill

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Service Dog Breeds

Service dogs are crucial in assisting individuals with various disabilities and conditions, providing them with support, independence, and companionship. These highly trained dogs can perform specific tasks tailored to the needs of their handlers. We've created this brief guide to review breeds that make great service dogs, who can benefit from a service dog and the training that will help these pups meet their handler's needs. Take the first step towards a better future with a trained service dog by contacting Dog Training Elite Greater Nashville today!

Dog Training Elite offers professional training of service dogs for veterans in Murfreesboro / Spring Hill.

Popular Breeds for Service Dogs

While most dogs can be trained to become service dogs, regardless of breed, a few breeds lead the pack in popularity due to their personalities and inherent traits. Here are a few of the most popular service dog breeds.


Labrador retrievers are among the most sought-after breeds to be service dogs for PTSD in Murfreesboro / Spring Hill due to their intelligence, versatility, and friendly nature. They excel in various roles, including guide dogs for individuals with visual impairments, service dogs for individuals with mobility issues, and service dogs for veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Labradors are highly trainable and possess a strong desire to please, making them ideal candidates for service work.

Golden retrievers are known for their gentle and patient nature, making them excellent service dog candidates. Their calm temperament, intelligence, and willingness to learn contribute to their success in roles such as mobility assistance, therapy dogs, and service dogs for veterans. Their ability to provide emotional support and comfort makes them particularly well-suited for individuals with PTSD or other mental health conditions.

German shepherds possess a remarkable combination of strength, intelligence, and loyalty, making them an excellent choice as a service dog for veterans. Their versatility allows them to excel in various roles, including mobility assistance, search and rescue, and service dogs for individuals with psychiatric or neurological conditions. With their keen sense of observation and natural protective instincts, German Shepherds can provide physical and emotional support to their handlers.

Poodles are renowned for their intelligence, trainability, and hypoallergenic coats, making them popular for service dog training, especially for individuals with allergies. They excel in roles such as mobility assistance, diabetic alert dogs, and medical alert dogs.

An adorable golden doodle service pup trained by Dog Training Elite Greater Nashville, ready to help their owner throughout the day!

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.


Dog Training Elite Greater Nashville is the top company near you that uses professional positive dog training methods.
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.

See Our Pricing

Dog Training Elite trained service dogs for veterans can help them with PTSD and so much more.

Who Are Service Dogs For?

Service dogs offer invaluable support and assistance to individuals facing various challenges. Service dogs are sought after by individuals with conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mobility limitations, visual or hearing impairments, autism spectrum disorders, anxiety disorders, and more. Service dogs can help provide security, independence, and emotional well-being regardless of the specific condition. If you seek a loyal and capable partner to enhance your daily life, a service dog for PTSD in Murfreesboro / Spring Hill can make a remarkable difference.

Training a service dog for disablities like autism, is a Dog Training Elite specialty.

Service Dog Training

Service dogs undergo extensive and specialized training to perform their essential tasks and assist individuals with disabilities. The training process involves a combination of obedience training, task training, and public access training.

  • Obedience Training

    This training focuses on teaching a dog basic commands, such as sit, stay, heel, and come, as well as proper leash manners and socialization skills.

  • Task Training

    Task training tailors to the specific needs of the individual. It involves teaching the dog to perform tasks that mitigate the person's disability, such as retrieving items, opening doors, or providing deep pressure therapy.

  • Public Access Training

    This type of training is crucial to ensure the dog remains calm, well-behaved, and non-disruptive in various public settings. This training includes exposure to different environments, distractions, and social interactions to provide a dog that can confidently navigate public spaces.

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!

Great training and excellent trainer. In home training Malancy was very knowledgeable, personable, and has a passion for training. She made us feel at ease and was able to train us as well without making us feel dumb. If you want a trainer, she's the best.
— Richard Colvin
Posted January 6th 2024
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Malancy was our trainer and she was wonderful! She was calm and patient with our very young, energetic and head strong boxer dog! She was extremely knowledgable and confident in her abilities. She gave me the confidence to know that my dog was not untrainable. I have seen tremendous improvement in my dog. My dog is listens and respects me now and doesn’t try to rule the house anymore. I loved our experience! Thank you Malancy!
— Andrea Bumbalough
Posted December 21st 2023
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Malancy (our trainer) is fantastic!! She really understands my GSD and within minutes of meeting us was able to assess our dynamics and relationship. Sofia WAS very reactive and we didn't gave good experiences leash walking or participating in canine/human activities. Working with Malancy has been a game changer for us. Sofia and I participated in a human/canine obstacle course race and she did not react one time to dog teams we passed during the race or even getting to the start line. I highly recommend Malancy to help improve the relationship you have with your K9!!!!
— Active RN
Posted November 11th 2023
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ELITE - 5 STARS - Working with Malancy has been a blessing.I was at my wits end. One of my four canines began acting out in an aggressive behavior toward another one. They could no longer be in the same room. Since working with Elite the tension has lessened, they can now be in the same room or outside, together, and with each session I learn something new on how to continue to be a happy canine family. Malancy practices really easy, practical, and life lessons training. Highly recommend if training is needed.
— Sharon Smotherman
Posted November 2nd 2023
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When your puppy goes from the size of a baked potato to the size of a small bear in a single year its easy to miss some critical training! Our trainer Malancy got us back on course and really helped me through some frustrating behaviors while never wasting time on things I wasn't worried about. I appreciated that she didn't come into our training with her own idea about how Herman should behave, but listened to what things were important to me. No shaming me into keeping him off the furniture or the silly "alpha" rhetoric that's all over the internet. Just simple, executable commands that all build upon each other to help your dog understand exactly what you need from him. He didn't learn any silly tricks but rather improved significantly on his manners. Additionally, she helped us work through the difficulties of training one dog in a two dog household and tailored the training to include both dogs where possible. She was super flexible with scheduling and incredibly patient with my giant, lazy boy.
— Jessica Merrill
Posted November 2nd 2023
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So happy to have found Dog Training Elite for our 11 month old Pyredoodle, Sophie! Gracie, Sophie’s trainer (and I suppose ours as well 😊) is fantastic! She is patient and consistent whenever we have a lesson. We always looked forward to the in home lessons with Gracie and now look forward to the off site ones as well. Sophie is becoming (and continues to become) a well mannered pup thanks to Gracie!! Shout out to Brad and Malancey as well, Dog Training Elite is AWESOME!!
— Diane Williams
Posted October 5th 2023
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Malancy (our trainer) is fantastic. We have gone from a wild boxer puppy (10 months), named Kash, to an easily controllable one year old in a few short weeks, with her help. The progress on a weekly basis is unbelievable. I come away from each session completely shocked at what our puppy is learning and the control that Malancy is teaching my wife and I to have with him. An added bonus is it really seems like Kash is enjoying being trained. I highly recommend this program to anyone who has a four legged friend that needs help with manners. The difference is night and day and we certainly have not regretted this decision.
— Brandon Clemmons
Posted August 24th 2023
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Malancy with Dog Training Elite has been my savior! Before working with her my schnoodle Luna was extremely stubborn and even though she knew basic commands, she refused to listen. I specifically chose DTE for behavioral training, and I am so happy I did. Not only does Luna LOVE malancy, I finally feel like she loves me too! This training program has made our relationship so much better. She’s learned discernment around other dogs, walks and heels perfect on a leash, listens to all basic commands and it has even helped her stay calmer alone when I leave her to go to work. I can’t thank DTE and Malancy enough. Now that she’s fully training I feel comfortable getting her a playmate and I will once again work with Malancy when puppy comes home. :)
— Krys Nicole
Posted August 17th 2023
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Malancy was an amazing trainer, her energy and passion was infectious! Tess loved every minute of her training and I couldn’t be happier with the results! Thank you to Dog Training Elite.
— Craig Anderson
Posted June 27th 2023
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We are so pleased we chose your company for training. Malancy is so good at her job that we were fortunate to get her. We’ve come to love her and what isn’t to love. Our puppy has learned from the best of the best. We’re gonna miss her. This is the best training in this area.
— Tom Gaumer
Posted June 7th 2023
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These guys deliver! After a few sessions, I was able to take my dog on a walk without fearing she’d be aggressive to others. Malancy and Brad are super!
— Cathi Phillips
Posted May 30th 2023
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We were assigned Melancy to help train our pup. Very friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommend her and Dog Training Elite!!
— Lynne Gaumer
Posted May 27th 2023
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My dog is so much better! I have a husky mix with a huge running away problem but after the in home sessions in our package his recall is amazing. He’s improved so much! Our trainer Malancy is so knowledgeable about dogs and how their minds work, somehow she was able to conquer his stubbornness and showed me how to make this a forever change! Love Dog training elite and Malancy!
— Angel Durrani
Posted May 25th 2023
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I am totally satisfied and happy with the results. My dog “Jackson” was very difficult to deal with. He was always dragging me or pulling, he was combative with other dogs and just uncontrollable . However, after a few lessons we got him to sit, finally! Then lie down, then go to your place. We got him use to walking near other dogs. Now I look forward to walking him in the park, I can take him to dog park he has learned to play rather than be aggressive. Brad was very patient and did a good job teaching me how to teach Jackson.
— James Knott
Posted May 27th 2023
google
With an in-home demonstration and a full breakdown of what they offer and what you can expect from the training sessions, you can't go wrong when starting work with Dog Training Elite. Malancy has been laser-focused and firm with our dog, completely methodical as a trainer, and the progress we have seen in six weeks has been incredible. We not only have a much better-behaved dog but also a road map on how to work with him going forward. If you have a dog who's out of control or simply requires a bit of direction, Dog Training Elite's services are exactly what you need.
— Mack Elder
Posted May 27th 2023
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Our trainer was Malancy. My wife and I found her to be extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Our dog Dan loved her also, and she made a positive difference in him from day one. Dog training comes very natural to her. Thanks Malancy for everything.
— Dave Ten
Posted May 23rd 2023
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Brad from Dog Training Elite was great! My territorial dog has become much more calm! We were able to get another dog and have since added goats. We would have never been able to do that prior to training!
— Alicia Issa
Posted May 5th 2023
google
I started my dog with the basic gold package to work on obedience. Malancey has been my trainer and she has been wonderful! She has helped me learn to watch my dog for cues on his behavior and has helped my dog learn to listen and obey while still having fun. Malancey came to my home for the training (I’m unable to do group training due to my work schedule) and it has been so helpful to have training done in my home setting so that I can continue that same work during the week. She has also offered different tips and tricks, outside of basic commands that have been so helpful! I’m closing in on the end of this golds package training and I really look forward to continuing on to therapy training next. I highly recommend Dog Training Elite of Greater Nashville because I am learning so much, but also I am seeing my dog become even more of a sweet, smart, and Obedient puppy! Thank you so much Dog Training Elite!
— Abbie Tingle
Posted May 3rd 2023
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Elite dog training is simply the best ! Our golden retriever Nala is so smart and well behaved now. Malancy is a wonderful, respectful, and talented dog trainer who is always welcomed in our home. Her love and passion for training dogs is evident !
— Denise Durham
Posted April 26th 2023
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I am currently going through the training with Malancy as the trainer. My family and I have been working with her to establish the baseline for our dog Luna. She has been phenomenal in working with our dog. Teaching her the basic fundamentals of what is required to eventually become a service dog. Everyone praises how well behaved and trained Luna is. Malancy was very thoughtful, and thorough in explaining the whys and don'ts of this process. I would highly recommend and encourage anyone seeking training services to move forward with Dog Training Elite Greater Nashville!!
— Larry d
Posted April 4th 2023
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Service Dogs for Veterans & PTSDTraining with Dog Training Elite in Murfreesboro / Spring Hill

Dog Training Elite offers comprehensive service dog training programs designed to meet your unique needs. With our expertise and personalized approach, we can help your service dog develop the skills and behaviors necessary to fulfill their vital role in enhancing your daily life.

Service dogs are an invaluable resource for individuals with disabilities, providing support, independence, and companionship. Service dogs can benefit individuals with various conditions, including PTSD, mobility limitations, autism, anxiety disorders, and more. At Dog Training Elite Greater Nashville, we offer comprehensive service dog training programs to ensure your dog has the necessary skills to meet your needs. Our expertise and personalized approach will help you forge a strong bond with your service dog and confidently navigate daily life. Take the first step towards a brighter future by contacting Dog Training Elite today and discovering how a service dog can make a remarkable difference in your life.

Let Dog Training Elite take care of the service dog training so you can have support in your life while in Murfreesboro / Spring Hill.

Proud Sponsor of The Malinois Foundation

At Dog Training Elite Greater Nashville, 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 Greater Nashville 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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