FAQs

We are so impressed with Dog Training Elite and the difference they have made with Maple! She has made such amazing progress. She can now walk nicely on a leash without pulling, goes to her place when we ask and stays there until we release her, and she waits at the door until we tell her it’s okay to go. Most importantly, she actually comes when we call her—something she wasn’t doing before! Maple is such a well-behaved and happy dog now, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. Dog Training Elite did an amazing job, and we would absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for a great dog trainer!

Camping has always been fun for us, and a big part of our retirement. That is except for one issue….our Australian Labradoodle, Maddie. Disruptive would be a considerable understatement. She barks, lunges, jumps at any dog or person who walks by our campsite. I was at a point where I was loosing my joy for camping because all my energy was being used up by constantly trying to contain Maddie. One day while camping we met a nice couple who had the cutest seven month old doodle, who looked exactly like our Maddie. The difference being that their dog was well behaved. Long story short, they handed us a business card for Dog Training Elite, where we enrolled Maddie as soon as we got home. Maddie did her work as well as Brian and I. Two weeks of intensive training. We saw improvement every day; especially her ability to contain her over abundance of energy. She graduated from her training. It wasn’t until our first group class in the park with many other dogs right next to her, that my tears started flowing. There was Maddie, calmly sitting by my side, walking along a path with twenty dogs she had never met. Doing a down command…walking a weave between all the other dogs. No barking, no lunging….this was my new Maddie. I was such a happy and proud momma. I don’t know whose world has changed more, ours or Maddie’s. What I can tell you is life is good and we owe our new peace to the wonderful trainers at dog Training Elite. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Everyone was professional, committed, and wonderful to work with. My 4 month old bordoodle is now well behaved and fun to be with. Great place!

Dog Training Elite has been one of the greatest investments we could have made with our Golden Retriever Ellie. Ellie was the most challenging puppy my wife and I have ever experienced. Our goal was to have a sweet companion that could go with us on our outings to farmers markets, breweries, and hikes. Ellie was overreactive around strangers and dogs, ignored simple commands, and was high risk for ingesting sticks and rocks which prevented her from being included in our adventures. Kristi is an amazing trainer and person that gave us the tools and training to enable us to exceed our training goals. We were at first intimidated of the thought of an e-collar, but Kristi quickly educated us by showing us how it doesn’t hurt and explains the significance of safety from far greater dangers of disobedience. She gave us a toolbox of commands for every situation and introduced them in a way that built on an easy to follow curriculum. Kristi was so patient, motivating, and caring to transform Ellie into the sweetest and well mannered dog anywhere we go now without losing any of her playful, loving, and happy personality. Jeremy also does a fantastic job in the weekly group classes that are included in our plan. He gives great advice and creates a safe simulation for everyday situations we find ourselves in so we are educated on how to best handle Ellie as encounters new experiences. We appreciate he holds owners and dogs accountable to create a safe environment for learning. We truly feel blessed to have found Dog Training Elite. Strangers consistently compliment how polite our little girl is and we recommend Kristi and Jeremy to everyone.

We cannot recommend Dog Training Elite highly enough! When we first started training, we loved our golden retriever Ellie dearly, but it often felt like we weren't speaking the same language. She was energetic, curious, and eager to explore every sight, sound, smell, and dog she encountered. What Dog Training Elite gave us wasn't just obedience training—it gave us a way to communicate with Ellie and help her understand what we were asking of her. Thanks to Kristi's incredible guidance, patience, and expertise, Ellie has transformed into a confident, well-adjusted dog that we can truly take anywhere. We can now bring her to places like the farmer's market, where she stays calmly by our side despite all the distractions around her. Loud noises, other dogs, exciting smells, crowds—things that once would have completely captured her attention no longer overwhelm her. She has learned how to remain focused and composed in new environments. What I appreciate most is that Ellie is still 100% Ellie. Dog Training Elite didn't take away her personality; it helped her learn how to navigate the world without overreacting to it. She's still our lovable, goofy, silly golden retriever who makes us laugh every day. The difference is that now she has the skills and confidence to handle situations calmly and appropriately. The training didn't stop after the initial program, either. Every Saturday, we attend classes led by Jeremy, and those sessions continue to strengthen and reinforce the behaviors we've worked so hard to build. The ongoing support from the entire team has been invaluable and has helped make these behaviors a lasting part of Ellie's life. Kristi taught Ellie, but just as importantly, she taught us. Looking back, I realize that successful dog training is really about learning a shared language between you and your dog. Dog Training Elite helped us build that language, and it has completely changed our relationship with Ellie for the better. We are incredibly grateful for everything Kristi, Jeremy, and the Dog Training Elite team have done for our family. The confidence, freedom, and joy they've helped create for both us and Ellie are truly priceless. We will forever be thankful.

Hey any one that is looking for a dog training facility this is the place to go.These trainers are amazing.If I could give a 10 star rating I would.

I called Kristi the day after we got our Golden Retriever puppy. For the first year, we did some intensive service dog training, which was equal parts dog training and owner training. This included several public access visits to places like Costco and Menards. The result: I have the absolute best dog I've ever owned, and I can take her anywhere with confidence. Kristi and Jeremy taught me how to be a "dog whisperer" to my dog's behavioral nuances, and to correct the unwanted stuff effectively. I have such a special bond with this dog because we've done the work together and have mutual trust. She knows that obedience gets her a seat under the table with us at a nice restaurant, a shop around Home Goods (her favorite), or hotel stays with us. Yes - this is possible for a 2 year old Golden! We still attend weekly group classes, and appreciate the ongoing support and training. The investment we made with Dog Training Elite is worth every penny for our Penny!

I cannot say enough good things about DTE. The staff is amazing and are so good with the dogs. Larry loved going and we saw improvement after the first day. They are so knowledgeable and want you and your dog to have success after the training. If you are serious about getting your dog some help don’t look any farther.

JoJo was a handful of unlimited energy and his cattle dog instincts fueled the fire. He is no longer the goodest naughty boy, he is just the Goodest Boy. The best part is how much bigger his world can be now! His human sister was excited he was able to join her hanging out at the salon while she got her hair done. Is there work to continue, always! But now I have confidence we can go in public and show off our new manners. JoJo has received so many compliments on his behavior, even after the first week of camp. So worth it!

It is incredible the difference that I see in our 2 Great Danes after their time at Dog Training Elite. Jasper was a jealous bully and I didn’t feel comfortable at all taking him anywhere. And Kronk was just very excited and chatty boy. But now Jasper listens and checks in and I can take him out with confidence. And Kronk is a still a happy guy but he doesn’t overwhelm you with his excitement anymore. They’re both just little gentlemen now. And knowing that we can go to the group classes and ask DTE for advice still is very reassuring.

Dog training Elite review My wife and I rescued a small dog after her previous dog (Abby) passed away. He (Charlie) was a cute dog, but young (about 1 year old) and very rambunctious. Charlie had no boundaries or manners; he would walk all over you and jump on you the second you walked into the house. We knew he needed professional training, so we took him to Dog Training Elite. To be honest, we were a little skeptical of the E-collar procedure at first. However, after attending the training sessions, we started seeing real results. Charlie has come such a long way because Amber and Maddie did a wonderful job with him. Charlie now has great manners and follows his commands, all thanks to the team at Dog Training Elite. Hats off to Christie, Jeremy, and their trainers, Amber and Maddie, for doing such a great job with Charlie. Thank you!

Kristi and her team are all amazing and have so much compassion for what they do! They helped my husband and I learn how to train our dog Bowie so we could be more confident taking him out in public. He went from being so wild and terrified to being such a good listener! I highly recommend bringing your dog here for any training whether it's for service animals or just general obedience training.

I would highly recommend Dog Training Elite Springfield to anyone looking for honest, straightforward help with their furry friend. Jeremy and Kristi are going to tell it to you straight and actively try to be part of the solution/end goal.

My wife and I entered our boys into the 2 week program with DTE. We have 4 Great Danes and our oldest boys have stopped getting along, it got so bad that our 3 year old, Jasper, attacked our 4 year old, Kronk. They are both about 150lbs each and very hard to control but they are our children, so we came to DTE as a long shot to hopefully keep our family together! It is currently the end of week 1 of our 2 week training and our boys were in the same room today! Jasper tried to be mean to Kronk but within seconds my wife was able to get him under control and refocused on her. This is an absolute testament to the work the DTE team does with them during the day because on day 1 Jasper was so strong, big and determined that it took 2 trainers to even try to control him, by day 2 it only took 1 trainer, by day 3 Jasper was walking and not pulling on the leash at all! A 90 year old grandma could have walked him on day 3!!! Kristi, Jeremy and the rest of the team at DTE are amazing and clearly know the minds of dogs! They are knowledgeable, caring but keep good calm boundaries, and really know how to teach the dogs what to do and how to listen! It’s been amazing to watch and to be a part of and I can’t wait to see how week 2 goes!! So before you give up your baby, go talk to Kristi and let her and her team help your pup understand how to have manners! They gave us our family back! It’s worth it!

We are so thankful to the team at DTE Springfield for their expertise in helping our dog, Brody (and us!), during his two-week training camp. Two weeks ago, Brody was uncontrollable on our neighborhood walks, barking at every dog or person we passed. Not only was it embarrassing, but we felt guilty watching his world shrink to the confines of our house. We were also unable to have company over without keeping him secured in another room—hardly ideal for people who enjoy hosting. I eventually stopped taking him on walks altogether for fear of his “outbursts,” which is when I decided to look into local trainers. The glowing reviews are what sold us on DTE Springfield, and I am so glad we chose them. Kristi, Jeremy, Amber, and Madi were welcoming and thorough when educating my husband and me on each day’s progress. We left every evening with clear instructions on how to practice our goals at home. By the end of the two-week camp, I was able to take Brody to his first group class of about 20 dogs. Even in a busy park with ample distractions, I couldn’t believe it—my dog was silent and controllable for the entire hour. He stayed focused on me and the training he was putting into practice in the "real world." I left that first group experience feeling like I finally have my life back with my dog. Thank you again to the DTE Springfield team. They are upfront, encouraging, and they truly believe in you and your dog if you’re willing to do the work.

I’m going to be really honest here, because this comes from the heart. After a really bad experience with dog training in the past, I had pretty much given up. I sent my dog Nitro off to a trainer and it failed—and that kind of disappointment sticks with you. On top of that, hearing all the stereotypes about Huskies even mixed breed being “untrainable” got in my head, and I truly started to believe maybe it just wasn’t possible. Then I got my Pomsky, Nova. I’m so bonded to him and him me, and something in me said to try again… even though I was scared of wasting time, money, and trust on another failed experience. That’s when I found Dog Training Elite (DTE)… and everything changed. As you all know facebook seems to listen… their page came across my feed. Jeremy, Kristi, and their team didn’t just train my dog—they believed in us when I was struggling to believe in myself. They supported me, encouraged me, and even cried with me through the tough moments. When I felt like Nova wasn’t going to get it, they didn’t give up on us. They pushed us through. They made my little velcro gremlin fur ball into an unbelievable independent confident well mannered little obedient dog. Now we are a still a work in progress as people, we are never perfect in life but I’m telling you for my 6 month old “sassy pants” to completely flip like he did in just 2weeks I can’t wait to see how much more he’s going to change and grow and learn in next weeks to come and our journey from here on out 😭❣️🐾🐾 we will be working towards him becoming a service dog . And somehow… they made what felt impossible, possible. If you have a dog that you think is “too much,” or someone has told you there’s no chance—please don’t give up. Pick up the phone and call Dog Training Elite. They don’t just train dogs… they change  lives. Forever grateful ❤️

We have an almost three year old mini Aussie doodle, Bindi. She was a sweet, smart dog with lots of energy and love. We had a hard time training her at home so it was difficult taking her all the places we wanted to take her - from simple walks down the street, patio cafes, etc. she pulled so hard on her leash she choked herself, got super anxious about anything she saw or heard - was ready to bark or run after it, etc. We tried a lot of things but nothing really worked. I started researching formal training and landed with Dog Elite. We met to learn more about training and signed up Bindi for the next session. That was Feb-Mar. She’s a very different dog now and we are better owners. We appreciated the videos to help reinforce training for us and Bindi. We’ve attended the Saturday morning trainings and continue to learn more. Bindi loves kids and people in general but would jump on the and get overly excited. She still gets excited to meet people, but is calmer and doesn’t jump on anyone. She does not react to every sight and sound in every situation, which is better for all of us. We are able to take her more places because she follows commands so well and knows how to behave. Bindi is much more relaxed (and so are we) and we enjoy her so much more - from shorter outings like a walk on a trail to a brewery visit to long road trips - it’s all easier, more relaxed and more fun for all of us. We still have more training to do but it’s about one month after her initial training so we feel fantastic about the progress. We are so grateful for the transformation and look forward to continuing learning and training Bindi with Dog Elite’s help. They patiently meet your dog and you where you are and help you understand why you need to handle behaviors and situations in certain way. We highly recommend their services!

DTE has greatly increased the quality of our dog's life and ours. Kristie really understands the minds of reactive dogs and how to get through to and teach them. Our previously timid, reactive, 10 year old large dog has become more confident, well-behaved and friendly in just a few sessions with DTE so far! No more incessant barking at everything and nervousness. No more cowering fear of things new to her. We are able to take her out now on lead confidently. Her world and ours are now expanding and becoming larger, calmer and happier. We are in early training currently and the change is just amazing already. Getting ready to move into group lessons and are very excited for the next phase. We are sorry we didn't contact DTE sooner!!

I love everyone at DTE. They have been working with my puppy since he was about 4 months old and Sargeant is doing amazing. Our next step is to get him trained as a service dog. Thank you to everyone at DTE

We’ve had an outstanding experience with Elite Dog Training in Springfield. We started with Charli as a puppy and continued all the way through service dog training, and the results have been incredible. Kristi and Jeremy set very high expectations—not just for the dogs, but for the owners as well—and that’s exactly what makes their program so effective. They are knowledgeable, consistent, and truly committed to producing well-trained, confident dogs. Yes, the training is an investment, but it’s absolutely worth it. Having a dog that is well-behaved, reliable, and able to go anywhere with us is honestly priceless. We still attend group classes regularly to keep Charli’s skills sharp, which says a lot about the ongoing support and value they provide. Highly recommend to anyone serious about properly training their dog.