An image of a happy pitbull - contact Dog Training Elite for your pitbull training in Pittsburgh, PA.
Dog Training Elite

Pitbull Dog Training in Pittsburgh, PA

Request Free Assessment

Request Free Assessment

Our Pitbull Training Could Help:
Jumping on people
Destructive chewing
Excessive barking
Separation anxiety
Leash pulling
Territorial behavior
Stubbornness

Pitbull Training in Pittsburgh, PA

At Dog Training Elite, we can tailor our training method to work with any dog breed. We also understand that some dog breeds may require more training in some areas than others. Generally, all dogs share qualities of loyalty, intelligence, and compassion—regardless of what breed they are. Additionally, some breeds may have traits that require more attention and training than others.

For example, dogs within the pit bull family might possess some qualities that need training and correction that aren't an issue with other dog breeds. Whatever the case and dog breed you have, the trainers at Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh can create a breed–specific training plan to help you and your dog. Request a free in–home assessment and start your Pittsburgh Pitbull puppy and adult training today!

See Training Packages
A well-trained pitbull - contact Dog Training Elite today for Pittsburgh pitbull puppy and adult training.

What is a Pitbull?


Read More
Read Less

A pitbull is not just one breed of dog but a collection of breeds created by crossing bulldogs and terriers. The common dog breeds that fall under the “pitbull” umbrella are:

  • American Pitbull Terrier
  • American Staffordshire Terrier
  • American Bulldog
  • English Bull Terrier

At one time, pitbulls were prized family dogs, nicknamed "nanny dogs" for their attention and care around children. Unfortunately, they were also bred for cruel and inhumane "sports" like bear–baiting and dog fighting for many years. Because of that history, their breeds have been considered aggressive and intimidating. However, pitbull owners know their dogs are highly affectionate and loyal, and this stigma is outdated and harmful.

Get Your Free Assessment

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

  • lori wilson
    Nov. 10, 2025
    Vince from Pittsburgh Elite Dog Training is an amazing dog trainer. He is so patient, kind and knowledgeable of dog behaviors. Our journey of owning a service dog started a little over 2 years ago when a doctor suggested to my daughter that a service dog might be very helpful to her. She decided she wanted a Doberman Pincher. We never owned this breed and definitely needed help. Vince spent a long time explaining the process of obedience training and service dog training. Vince came to our house weekly and spent time with our dog and my daughter training not only the dog but my daughter to be a handler. After weeks of home training they were ready to introduce distractions and group training. Our experience with Vince will forever hold a special place in my heart. His training enabled my daughter to have her service dog and life a full life. Rowe went to College with Keria full time at 1year old, she is fully off leash and made a trip to Disney with us. Rowe and my daughter now work a full time job and they are both happy and thriving. Thankyou Vince, we could not have done it with out you.
  • Candace Shoenberger
    Nov. 2, 2025
    We have had a really good experience with Vince! Our puppy was a little shy at first and it took her a few days to get used to the e-collar. Vince was very patient and went slow with her and worked with me to be consistent with her. We are hoping to train her as a service dog and she has made so much progress!
  • Sheri Dusse
    Oct. 2, 2025
    We needed a service dog and fast. Finding a dog was easy, finding someone to provide service training was a challenge. I called Tonya at DTE-Tampa as my last chance to find someone who could help. Her first words “don’t worry, I can definitely help”. We now have a dog that helps support my husband through his challenges and is certified to be with him at all times. Tonya was patient and helped us through the process. If you need a trained or certified dog, I highly recommend you contact them.
  • Tina Fletcher
    Aug. 19, 2025
    We cannot thank Vince at Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh enough for the work he’s done with our American Bully, Rooney. When we reached out, we were desperate for answers. Rooney had become very anxious and reactive after we had kids, and we weren’t sure how to help her. Vince came in with so much expertise and a deep understanding of dog behavior. He walked us through every step of the training process and gave us the tools to help Rooney manage her anxiety. His approach not only helped Rooney become more confident and calm, but also empowered us as owners. Thanks to Vince, Rooney has made amazing progress. She listens to us more each day and handles her usual high-stress situations so much better than before. Most importantly, we now understand why she reacts the way she does, and that knowledge has made the biggest difference. We highly recommend Vince to anyone struggling with their dog’s behavior.
  • Tammy Birmingham
    Aug. 16, 2025
    Vince is a kind, patient, and phenomenal trainer. He has certified two service dogs for me, and without his expertise, I could not have had such well trained dogs.
  • Dianne Glave
    Jul. 15, 2025
    Vince did an excellent job training Marley. My dog is much improved reacting to strangers and other dogs. He now know heel, leave-it, place, down, sit, and off. My neighbors have even commented how Marley has improved with his behavior.
  • Emily Stayshich
    Jun. 17, 2025
    Vince is a great trainer. Prior to Vince, my husband and I could not take our dogs for a walk. Now, our dogs are well-behaved and walks are enjoyable. Our dogs are learning better behavior around other dogs. In the process, my husband and I learned how to be better dog owners, too. :-)
  • Amber Morris
    Jun. 17, 2025
    We had a great experience with Vince! Oakley responded very well to the techniques and I was impressed by how quickly she picked up on the training. We will continue to use the lessons that we learned from Vince, and are excited to join the group classes.
  • Margaret Sams
    Jun. 16, 2025
    Our 8-month-old Golden retriever, Henry, was energetically pulling us by the leash and reacting to every person, dog, and squirrel in view. We are not inexperienced - he is our 6th dog over the past 38 years, but we could not get his attention to slow him down! He was so excited to see our grandkids that we were afraid that he would knock them down. Vince showed us how to use an "e-collar" and worked with Henry and with us for 6 private lessons. What a difference! Henry now walks by my side and no longer jumps up on people. We have now attended two of the 12 group sessions with other dogs Vince trains, and Henry is SO much easier to control, even while walking past other dogs and all the distractions in a public park. Vince is kind, patient, and obviously loves dogs. We are so glad that we found him! AND - I have held the e-collar while the transmitter button is pushed, and I could barely feel it. It is more like a tapping - not a shock.
  • Thom Barnes-Wise
    Feb. 26, 2025
    Vince has been fantastic in training our dog. Before Vince, our dog was a well-meaning but poorly behaved 100ib doberman that pulled on leashes and jumped on passing dogs and people constantly. Since training with Vince, he has had a total transformation into a well-behaved, gentle, and thoroughly enjoyable hound. Vince's in-house sessions were thoughtful and highly effective, and his weekly group classes are enjoyable. It has been a real pleasure to watch my dog transform before my very eyes!
  • Nadiya Greaser
    Feb. 26, 2025
    Dog Training Elite was an excellent support and choice for my dog. As a first-time dog owner, Vince made training goals for our dog clear, practicable, and achievable. Our dog is a rescue, and came into our home with jumping, leash-pulling, and inattentive behavior/a hard time responding to commands. With Vince, we have eliminated leash-pulling, had significant progress with heeling, threshold training, and jumping. Our dog loved Vince, we have utilized his group training sessions and plan on training our dog for service with Dog Training Elite
  • Raffy Kramer
    Feb. 21, 2025
    Working with Vince was invaluable. It not only taught my new puppy the building blocks for a great start at a good skill set to improve upon and a solid foundation to continue the next phase of group sessions and then onto specialized training. The in-home sessions were invaluable and very convenient. Learning and training in our own environment was great. I considered other options and tried dropping him off but was unable to leave him due to his initial separation anxiety. In home training was solved that. I start the group sessions next and will follow this up with another narrative on those and the continued specialized training. I would recommend Vince and Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh.
  • Maria Gross
    Feb. 21, 2025
    I highly recommend Vince Conrad as he is top notch, knowledgeable dog trainer. “Wits end” describes me prior to hiring Vince to train my out-of-control Bichon Frise puppy, Dixie. She had very few listening skills and thought she was running our household. Now, thanks to Vince’s patience and expertise and our six in-home training sessions, Dixie is obedient and listens to me! We are looking forward to our outdoor training sessions! Thank you Vince!
  • Nicole Allen
    Feb. 4, 2025
    Vince came out for an introductory visit to meet with us and our dog, Gabriel, and to walk through the training expectations based upon Gabriel’s behavior. Over the course of six weeks, Vince worked one-on-one with our dog and with us to make sure we were doing the proper work with Gabriel. We are exceptionally impressed by Vince’s technique and the positive affect it has had on Gabriel. More importantly, my family now has the tools to continue this training Thanks Vince!
  • M K
    Dec. 28, 2024
    I have had nothing but good experiences with Dog Training Elite. Vince was SO helpful and supportive even before we began working together. He gave me great insight and knowledge as I navigated the process of picking out a puppy to be a therapy dog. We spoke quite a few times before he even met with us. With my busy schedule, traveling to training appointments could have been a major hinderance - Vince came to us! My puppy felt comfortable in her home environment as she learned new skills. At no point did Vince ever make me feel bad or embarrassed about our learning process. He was nothing but supportive every step of the way! His recommendation for training 15-20min/day was very reasonable and I felt like something we could manage. We came a long way and we continued to benefit from the group trainings after we finished the one-on-ones at home. Vince was available via email and phone all throughout the process and has made it worth every single penny. If you are on the fence, you will not regret working with DTE!
  • Lora
    Sep. 7, 2024
    I stopped Vince in South Park’s parking lot after he had just finished a training program out there and asked him a question about an issue I’m having with my new dog. He was so kind, helpful and informative. He gave me multiple suggestions on how to address the issue. He knew a lot specifics about my breed of dog and dog behavior in general. If you are looking for a good, honest person to help you with training your dog Vince is your guy!
  • Allie Creasy
    Sep. 2, 2024
    My wife and I now have our fifth German Shepherd. The first three lived between 10 and 14 years. Number four died unexpectedly at seven. That was 19 months ago. We've had our Long Hair German Shepherd, Teddy, for 18 months now. At four months Teddy completed her basic puppy training. Shortly after that we began looking for a seasoned, mature professional trainer. We found what we were looking for when Vince Conrad of Dog Training Elite came to our house to see if we were all a good fit for each other. We started our six in home training and finished up with Teddy making great progress! Both Teddy and I feel like we both had the best training! I like to think of the in home training as the class room work. We have now completed six of the 12 group training sessions with six more to come. I call the group sessions the "field work". Each session builds off the previous session. Vince is so skilled and patient. He is always firm, with a calming demeanor. When Teddy was about nine months old it was nearly impossible to take her for a walk. At 73 I need a dog that will walk with me without pulling me down the road. Last week we were out for a walk when we came to our neighbors house. They were out at the curb waiting to see Teddy. As we got to the couple I told Teddy to sit, and she did. They spent a bit of time to pet her and to make a fuss. I then told her down to which she got all the way down and stayed there calmly until I commanded her to "come". This couple are trained Greyhound rescue "parents", their son is a professional dog trainer and their daughter is a Vet. Their final comment to me carries a lot of weight. They said that Teddy's progress is remarkable. I hope my experience with Vince helps you make a decision about finding the right trainer. I can't thank Vince enough. Don Creasy Pittsburgh
  • Will Porter
    Aug. 20, 2024
    Wish I could give 10 stars. They are so awesome and amazing at what they do! Tonya was incredible and got me and my dog to exactly where we wanted with the training! Best in the area!
  • Cynthia Desjardins
    Aug. 13, 2024
    I only have good comments about my experience so far with Dog Training Elite. Not only with the knowledge and experience of Vince, but also his patience and generosity. He was able to assess and understand my dog very well and adapted the training according to her needs and behaviors. He was there when I was discouraged and ready to give up, I can’t be more grateful.
  • Ilana Diamond
    Aug. 7, 2024
    My dog Sage and I worked with Vince from Dog Training Elite Pgh and we couldn't be happier. Vince was very knowledgeable and patient providing clear guidance to me how to best help Sage learn new skills. I was amazed at how quickly Sage picked up sitting at the front door when people arrive (instead of jumping on them) and going to her place and staying for relatively long periods of time (20-30 min). I highly recommend Vince!
A happy, obedient pitbull with Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh training.

Common Pit Bull Personality Traits

Read More
Read Less

Because of their tumultuous breeding past, pit bulls get a bad reputation for being mean, loud, and fierce. But if you have ever met a well–trained pit bull, you'll quickly learn that most do not possess those qualities. Below are a few common pit bull personality traits you may not know about.

  • These breeds are often easier to train than other breeds because of their loyalty and desire to please their owners.

  • Pit bulls are highly energetic and love to be active.

  • Because these dogs are usually misunderstood and consequently given up, pit bulls are the most adoptable breed in need of loving homes.

  • Pit bulls have a lifespan of 8–15 years.

  • These breeds usually don't bark a lot. However, if there is a barking problem, it's probably due to boredom or anxiety, which the trainers of Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh can address!

  • Pit bulls are highly affectionate, making them great family and service dogs.

Additional Breeds We Train

Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh - German Shepherd Training in Pittsburgh. DTE

German Shepherd

Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh - Labrador Dog Training in Pittsburgh, PA. DTE

Labrador

Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh - Goldendoodle Training in Pittsburgh, PA. Dog Training Elite

Goldendoodle

Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh - Beagle Dog Training in Pittsburgh, PA. DTE

Beagle

Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh - Doberman Training in Pittsburgh, PA. DTE

Doberman

Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh - Border Collie Training in Pittsburgh, PA. DTE

Border Collie

Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh - Golden Retriever Training in Pittsburgh, PA. DTE

Golden Retriever

Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh - French Bulldog Training in Pittsburgh, PA. DTE

French Bulldog

A group of dogs being trained by the expert team at Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh.
Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh light star icon.

Educate, Empower, Elevate, Elite

Victory Begins With Elite Education

A well-trained pitbull walking with their owner.

Pittsburgh Pitbull Puppy and Adult Training

Training for Pitbulls with Dog Training Elite

Read More
Read Less

If your pitbull is exhibiting problems with aggression, barking, or does not socialize well with other dogs or people, the trainers at Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh can help! We have years of experience addressing behavioral problems with various dog breeds. We can create a specialized training plan with you using our proven training method.

Because pitbulls are loyal and have a high desire to please, the Dog Training Elite training method works exceptionally well for them. We focus on building a positive, long–lasting relationship between dog and owner using balanced, proven training techniques.

Our training method works with any dog because we base each training on a foundation of consistency, creating a lasting bond between dog and owner. If you and your dog need Pittsburgh Pitbull puppy or adult training, find a Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh trainer near you today!