An image of a german shepard with their owner - contact Dog Training Elite for your german shephard training.

Professional Training For

German Shepherds

Dog Training Elite

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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

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 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 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 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 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

  • Paul Armitage
    Mar. 26, 2026
    I have used Dog Training elite for 3 of my dogs, most recently my 7 month old Cane Corso. Paul did a great job training her and giving me great tips to keep her in check and to keep her improving. She is still very much a work in progress, but she has come very far in 8 weeks. Paul met us at my office and was flexible with training dates. Mary trained my other Cane Corso and took an extremely stubborn dog(she was already 2 1/2 and had some bad habits) and taught her to listen and now she is rarely on leash and I can take her pretty much anywhere. Mary also trained my wife's service dog and she is a rock star.
  • Christian
    Mar. 26, 2026
    Chuck and his team are outstanding. I would highly recommend!
  • Tammy Clevenger
    Mar. 26, 2026
    Would 100% recommend Vince for dog training! I live an hour from where he is located but he worked with finding times for training and was flexible. He is knowledgeable about dogs, behavior, and training. My dog started training a little older than is typical and I was worried she wouldn’t be successful but I saw significant improvement after just the first session.
  • Alex Strong
    Mar. 25, 2026
    Dog Training Elite has been a huge blessing for myself, my wife, and our two pups, Asher and Jaxson. Asher has always had aggression issues and Jaxson has always been scared of his own shadow. These training sessions have showed us that Jaxson is dependent on Asher and that Asher feels like he has to protect Jaxson. Today, we have much more control over Asher and can finally trust to bring him into public settings. He is even letting people approach Jaxson without issue! Jaxson is so much more brave, and is comfortable being around people and other dogs. The best part is, we get to continue going to group sessions every Saturday, and can contact Dog Training Elite any time our pups need extra help. Asher and Jaxson will continue to grow! Thank you Tina and Lily for all you have done for our family! God bless!
  • Monica Rolen
    Mar. 25, 2026
    Raina was very strategic with our dog. She was also engaged with us the entire time.
  • Jennifer Gosch
    Mar. 25, 2026
    Josh has been great coaching me in training my dog. Fern will be volunteering as a therapy dog at the Indy airport USO lounge soon, and Josh was a big part of helping her get there.
  • Sammie Jo
    Feb. 25, 2026
    Today we met Alisa at the mall and it was a very valuable experience!!! We worked on all the components of the Public Access Test We achieved things we couldn’t have without Alisa’s expertise and confidence building techniques. If you’re on the fence about their services, go for it, you will be so happy you did. Renee is an AMAZING trainer She has brought Sammie Jo to a new level and we couldn’t be more grateful
  • Sammie Jo
    Feb. 25, 2026
    Today we met Alisa at the mall and it was a very valuable experience!!! We worked on all the components of the Public Access Test We achieved things we couldn’t have without Alisa’s expertise and confidence building techniques. If you’re on the fence about their services, go for it, you will be so happy you did. Renee is an AMAZING trainer She has brought Sammie Jo to a new level and we couldn’t be more grateful
  • Brook Hanson
    Mar. 25, 2026
    Carrie with Dog Training Elite West Michigan is amazing! I highly recommend her. When we adopted our dog, Charlie, from the humane society, she was so afraid that she was hiding under a table and wouldn't even look at us. She has been afraid of everyone that comes into the house and we have not been able to take her anywhere with us as she was too afraid to get out of the car and was afraid of everything around her. We finished our last private lesson today with Carrie and Charlie has come so far. We went to Lowes last week and out into town today. Charlie did so well. Initially, she was a little anxious, but when put to work, she listened and focused on us and was able to successfully get through the lessons in public with confidence. That was huge! We are so excited!!! At first, I was a bit concerned about the E-collar, afraid it would make our afraid/anxious dog worse, but it did not. We tested the collar on ourselves before putting it on the dog. It gets your attention, but it is not harmful. The E-collar was a great tool in training Charlie and she learned so quickly. She never showed any signs of fear or of being hurt by the collar. I am so amazed and pleased by Charlie's progress as well as all we have learned about handling Charlie under the direction of Carrie. Group classes weren't even imaginable previously, now we are ready to take Charlie and are looking forward to them. Charlie's progress is truly amazing. She is now in a state that I previously only dreamt about. The training has seemed to also create a much tighter bond and connection between us and Charlie, which is so wonderful. Carrie is wonderful to work with. She is very professional and has been very patient with us and Charlie. She is great at communicating and answering all our questions. She has wonderful, upbeat energy and we looked forward to our weekly classes with her. She has a lot of knowledge and is very talented with dogs. I will always be grateful to Carrie for helping us get a confident, well trained dog that can go places with us.
  • Jody Smith
    Mar. 25, 2026
    Justin was down to earth, very patient and knowledgeable. I look forward to having an obedient dog!
  • Jamison Hebert
    Mar. 25, 2026
    We are incredibly happy with the training we received from Dog Training Elite Los Angeles. Humphrey, our newly-adopted senior dog, was being aggressive toward, and biting certain people. We were at a loss as the situation felt uncontrollable. Our trainer, Clayton, was patient, kind, and firm, giving me insight, guidance, and, more importantly, confidence as an owner and trainer. Humphrey, the trained dog, now listens and defers to me in such a powerful way, making our bond as human and canine incredibly strong. We love our Humphrey so much, and we now have the confidence, eagerness, and willingness to move forward introducing him to our family, friends, and neighbors. We can highly recommend Dog Training Elite Los Angeles if you are struggling with a dog at home.
  • Sue Smith
    Mar. 25, 2026
    Matt had a clear idea of how to best train my deaf dog. He spent a great deal of time explaining how she would be trained.
  • Paige Miller
    Mar. 25, 2026
    Gus has been training with Red, Raina, and the Dog Training Elite team since he was 9 weeks old. We could not be happier with the puppy training Gus has received, and we are looking forward to starting group classes soon. He has transformed from a crazy, often frustrating puppy to a companionable and trustworthy friend in just a few short months with their help. He’s ready to keep learning and growing under their steady and gentle training.
  • Jackie Krause
    Mar. 25, 2026
    Thank you Elite! Murphy is making such good progress and I know he will become the Best Boy ever.Thank you for your steady encouragement.
  • NO NAME
    Mar. 25, 2026
    Fantastic experience with Scott and Jen! Helping us take back the control of our middle aged dogs at our own home where the behaviors are seen naturally. No boarding or over charging, honest and fair estimates. And giving you and your dog their full attention at every session, moving at the pace you are comfortable with. It’s never too late to teach your old dogs new tricks with their help!
  • Kristen Lockert
    Mar. 24, 2026
    We have worked with Red for the past few months and can see such a beautiful change in our dog. He is less nervous and listens so much better. Red is very thorough and patient with us as we learn the commands. We love working with Red! He has made us love our dog!!
  • Randy Rubinstein
    Mar. 24, 2026
    Blaize is great. She is so patient with Lucy. We are leaning a lot from her.
  • Randy Rubinstein
    Mar. 24, 2026
    Blaize is great. She is so patient with Lucy. We are leaning a lot from her.
  • Danielle Silver
    Mar. 24, 2026
    I can’t say enough great things about Vince at Dog Training Elite! Over the course of our six sessions, I’ve seen a huge improvement not only in Scottie’s behavior, but also in my own confidence as a dog owner. Before working with Vince, Scottie was very dog reactive and difficult to walk on a leash, which made everyday outings stressful. Thanks to Vince’s guidance and training approach, Scottie has made incredible progress - walks are now much more controlled and enjoyable, and his reactivity has improved significantly. Since Scottie is now two, Vince helped us break his stubborn patterns. What really stood out to me was how available and supportive Vince was throughout the entire process. Anytime I had questions or was unsure how to handle a specific behavior, he was quick to respond and always took the time to talk things through. He provided practical, effective strategies that made a real difference, especially in tougher situations. Thanks to Vince’s expertise, Scottie is more well-behaved, and I feel much more confident handling different scenarios. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely caring dog training support!
  • Pamela Aizad
    Oct. 14, 2025
    These trainers are amazing!! They know their stuff!!They love dogs!! Megsi was amazing today with task teaching!!
A dog owner with his German Shepherd - get your professional german shepherd training 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 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.

Additional Breeds We Train

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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 stimulation they need.

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

Your Expert German Shepherd Trainers

The Dog Training Elite Difference

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Dog Training Elite uses modern training methods focused on balance 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 training methods 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!