An obedient puppy receiving expert puppy training from DTE.

Professional

Puppy Training

Dog Training Elite

Request Free Assessment

Request Free Assessment

Our Puppy Training Could Help:
Leash and potty training
Food guarding and begging
Destructive chewing and digging
Stealing food, clothing, or other objects
Barking, howling and whining
Aggression and anxiety
Jumping and hyperactivity

Dog Training Elite

Expert Puppy Trainers

Bringing home a new puppy is exciting, but it also comes with challenges like chewing and accidents. The most common mistake new owners make is underestimating the knowledge, commitment, and effort needed to train a new puppy.

Once a puppy begins to grow, its energy can quickly feel unmanageable. It’s all too common that a well-meaning and loving family takes on a puppy lacking the knowledge and skills to train correctly. This often results in overwhelmed owners rehoming or taking these puppies to local shelters, feeling the puppy’s disposition is bad or simply that they are not cut out to be dog owners.

At Dog Training Elite, we focus on building that bond through effective training to foster trust and communication. Our experienced puppy trainers use proven methods to help you and your puppy succeed together.

See Training Packages
A little puppy sitting in grass, contact Dog Training Elite today.

Puppy Essentials Webinar

Free 70-Minute video

$45 Value

See Packages

Our trusted puppy class is now available "on-demand" from the comfort of your home! This webinar video is designed for owners of puppies age 8-16 weeks old, and will be accessible to you for free after completing the form below or with the purchase of one of our puppy packages!

Access Webinar

Our webinar includes education on the following topics:
  • Introducing a new puppy to your home
  • Health & well-being
  • Veterinary care & vaccines
  • Nurturing a good temperament
  • Scruffing & calming signals (e.g. dog yoga)
  • Basic Treat Obedience Including: Come, sit, loose-leash walking, and down
  • Puppy Corrections (Stop biting, digging, jumping, etc.)
  • Crate Training / Housebreaking
  • Socialization Tips
  • Environmental Hazards
  • Puppy Enrichment
  • Caring for Your Puppy
Three puppies receiving expert training from Dog Training Elite.

The Importance of Puppy Training


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Almost everyone and everything a puppy will encounter will be brand new, which can be exciting. However, puppies may not know how to respond positively and safely to new experiences without proper training. That's why Dog Training Elite believes in starting puppy training as soon as possible, so you and your pup can bond and start your adventures on the right foot!

Training the DTE way provides puppies and owners with a nurturing environment where they can learn to communicate and trust each other. Puppies have an innate desire to please, so training can be fun and even easy! Of course, it can be daunting to try and figure out how to make puppies understand concepts like potty training or commands like sit and stay on your own. That's where puppy training comes in.

Keeping a puppy safe should be the number one priority of new dog owners. By working with puppy trainers in, new puppy owners can learn how to teach their pup both basic and complex obedience skills effectively. Training a pup to be home alone, walk on a leash, wait on the threshold, and avoid consuming non-edible objects will help keep them safe when out of sight.

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

  • Simona Monnati
    Dec. 30, 2025
    Jess, the trainer assigned to me is superb both in knowledge and manners. She has been listening carefully to the issues I wanted to solve. After only one week of work I can see a great improvement. I recommend her to anybody interested in training. Nero (my dog - a big fluffy German Shepard) loves her… I can tell he is eager to start classes! Thank you Jess for your knowledge and dedication ! Simona
  • Suzanna Gallehugh
    Dec. 30, 2025
    I worked with Michael, and he was great with my dog Oliver, who is a terrier mix. Michael was very patient and showed me exactly what to do when trying new commands with Oliver and then made sure I was doing everything correctly on my own. He also encouraged me to text him with any questions or issues that came up in between our one-on-one sessions and responded promptly. Oliver was always excited to see him for our sessions, and I now have a much calmer, less anxious, and happy dog!!
  • Blair Dowdy
    Dec. 30, 2025
    Gray and Denise with Dog Training Elite Hill Country are amazing! Their communication was clear and timely, making the entire process stress-free. The training sessions were highly effective—my dog showed noticeable improvement after just a few visits. They are incredibly helpful, offering practical tips and ongoing support that made me feel confident in continuing the training at home. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for professional, caring, and results-driven dog training!
  • Denise Buchli
    Dec. 12, 2025
    Purchased the package where the trainer came to my house for one on one training for me and my dog. The staff provides great communication and ease of scheduling. The trainers are very patient and you can tell they have a love for dogs and use tools for assistance, not punishment. I cannot say enough about how gentle they are when training!!! We have now finished our 8th training session and I am very happy with our progress! Family members who have not been around since training has started said they can really tell a difference in my dog’s behaviors!!! This photo is after training- he is exhausted!
  • Laura Chase
    Dec. 30, 2025
    The one-on-one training for both me and my dog was so successful. Our trainer took the time to work through any issues we had and took a very personalized approach. The group classes with the other dogs was super beneficial as well. I couldn’t recommend them more!
  • Joshua Scranton
    Dec. 30, 2025
    Very professional and kind! They were very helpful with any and all questions I had about my dogs training and/or what each behavior he was showing meant! I would recommend Dog Training Elite Kentuckiana to anyone who needs or wants to have their dog trained!
  • Dan C
    Dec. 29, 2025
    Jess is so helpful and wonderful to work with. She is incredibly knowledgeable and puts my wife and I at ease every time we have a session. Highly recommend her to anyone who is looking for guidance and confidence that you are raising your puppy correctly.
  • Emily Cooke
    Dec. 29, 2025
    We started our four month old husky in the obedience training program and have nothing but great things to say about Angela, Sharon and the DTE team! Any question we had about training or the process was answered thoroughly and thoughtfully. The individual in-home training sessions were incredibly helpful to us and our puppy—Angela was positive, patient and tailored each season to get the most out of our puppy without overwhelming him. We’re so grateful to the DTE team for the progress we’ve seen so far and are looking forward to group classes!
  • Felicia Carrington Wilburn
    Dec. 29, 2025
    A well trained dog is a joy to live with. Our dog trainer Laydon H. was a pleasure to work with. Day 1 she had our dog Juliette a French bulldog under her control. She immediately reinforced positive behavior. She gave clear commands and was patient with us, the dog owners and our dog. More importantly she listened to our needs. She gave us a helpful tip on what snacks to feed our sensitive stomach French bulldog. Julieete enjoys her snacks now! Thank you Laydon was giving us the tools to have a well behaved and calm dog! During this Elite training experience we also met Kayla F. who was also a good dog trainer. Before starting the lesson she ensured we didn’t have any questions from the week before. She also reviewed the previous weeks training with our dog Juliette, which I thought was very helpful. We met trainer Patrick once during public training with our dog. He was knowledgeable and very patient with Juliette. He gave her praise when needed and even offered some solutions to a few questions we had. Elite trainers are the best of the best! My husband and I thank you all for what you have done for our family. Juliette is a complete joy now in our home. We feel confident we can continue her training with the tools you gave us! Thank you Elite!
  • Keith Harrison
    Dec. 27, 2025
    Jaime has been fantastic with my dog. He explains the reasons behind my dog’s behavior and how to go about redirecting him to the desired response. Jaime has a true gift with dogs.
  • Claire Butrimowicz
    Nov. 1, 2024
    Matt was SO helpful and a great teacher. He explained why with all the commands and showed me how to use the pinch collar which Marvin was very receptive to. It was a game changer and very little pressure needed for him. We made a good re-start today and I’m looking forward to the remaining lessons as well as many follow up group lessons!
  • Riley Doherty
    Dec. 26, 2025
    All of the trainers we have worked with have been great and the group classes have been great for our dog Bear. Marshall has gone above and beyond working with Bear and recommending the best places for our lessons so we can get the most out of them. Would highly recommend Marshall and all of the other trainers we have worked with!
  • Sandra Nolin
    Dec. 24, 2025
    My niece has a 110 lb. Chesapeake Bay Retriever (Benji) that at the beginning of training was out of control aggressive. In our first evaluation meeting with Marshall, I was so impressed that I told the gal at the office that we would wait for an opening in his schedule rather than opt for another trainer. Marshall's consistency, understanding of what our family requires, and his ability to work with many different types of dogs is amazing. I have a 68 lb Leopard Catahoula (Gracie) that we needed Benji to play nice with. Marshal, with expertise, patience and grace showed us how to make this happen. He always puts safety first. He has also agreed to give us some tips on integrating a third dog that regularly visits, a 25 lb. Mini Poodle, Yorkie, Shih Tzu designer dog (Ewok). I simply can't say enough about Marshall's level of professionalism, his calmness in handling not only the dogs, but the owners as well. He has given my niece so much more of a sense of confidence in herself and her ability to manage her dog. I'll try to post some pics later.
  • Donald Vervaecke
    Dec. 23, 2025
    They are the nicest and most sincere people I have ever met. Chuck and Kat are so good at training owners and their dogs! Thank you all for helping me have a better relationship with my dog .
  • Adam Jarvis
    Dec. 23, 2025
    Phenomenal experience. Reina has been a world class trainer not only for my Malinois but for me as well. We are both progressing at a pace I believe is perfect for us. Great company, great program!
  • Dominique Boucher
    Dec. 23, 2025
    Kayla was amazing! She was so personable, knowledgeable, and she really took the time to make sure we understood all the information and commands being given! Best of all she was so good with my dog!! (Given my dog is a nervous nelly) I highly recommend if you can schedule with her you do so!
  • Lindsey Drake
    Dec. 23, 2025
    Brennan is an incredible teacher. We appreciate the knowledge and multiple approaches to training us and our dog. We highly recommend him to anyone !
  • Taylor Leigh
    Dec. 23, 2025
    Top 3 things I loved: 1) Knowledgeable and patient instruction from the trainer, 2) Reliable and empathetic support that put us at ease, 3) Experienced and effective training methods that helped improve our dog's behavior. We highly recommend Dog Training Elite Greater Nashville! We absolutely loved Brad our trainer!
  • MELISSA FORESTAL
    Dec. 22, 2025
    Laydon was great. Very comfortable to work with and my dog really liked her!!
  • Elba Aviles
    Dec. 22, 2025
    Today, I was expecting Laydon, again. But Kurtis showed up. Kurtis had a laid back approach about dealing with dogs. He wasn't being stupid about Shortie. He was aware that Shortie could bite him. (I too thought, Shortie could bite someone). I felt I could understand his way of dealing with dogs. Anyway, I will work on this for my and Shortie's mental health.
A puppy trainers giving a puppy positive affirmation during an in-home training session.

Dog Training Elite

In-Home Puppy Training

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Dog Training Elite offers comprehensive in-home training. For the first 4-6 weeks, trainers use “treat training” before moving onto more advanced puppy training. Puppies will learn the following behaviors:

  • Come, down, loose-leash walking, and down
  • Puppy corrections (Stop biting, digging, jumping, etc.)
  • Crate training/ housebreaking
  • Focus around distractions

Trainers will also help owners learn about the following:

  • Socialization tips
  • Environmental hazards
  • Positive reinforcement techniques
  • Puppy enrichment
  • Caring for your puppy
  • And more!

Training a puppy can feel overwhelming. By pairing you with a professional trainer, not only will your puppy learn quickly, but you will feel confident and empowered to continue training your puppy after the sessions are completed. Training in your own home will help you bond with your pup so even after the professional trainer leaves, you and Fido can continue to progress together.

A puppy ready to start training with Dog Training Elite.

Start Puppy Training Early

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First-time dog owners are often unsure of when to begin training their dogs. For the best results, it’s essential to start training your puppy as soon as possible. You can start socialization and basic commands as soon as you bring your new puppy home. Puppies are open to new experiences and people and learn quickly while they are young. It is beneficial to take advantage of this stage. Start with basic commands like "down," "come," and "stay." If you are searching for classes, Dog Training Elite offers puppy obedience classes.

Additional Puppy Training Info

Dog Training Elite - Puppy Crate Training. DTE

Crate Training

A well-manered puppy receiving positive reinforcement from their owner.

Puppy Trainers

The DTE Approach

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We have developed a highly successful and unique positive puppy training program empowering dog owners to train. Hence, their dog knows who to obey at all times, in all situations or environments. We offer personalized training to deal with specific issues and behaviors. We even offers customized training schedules to offer you the support you need as a dog owner.

Involvement is Key!

Most dog training programs don’t allow for the involvement of owners and families. Our trainers greatly encourage owners and their families to be involved in the training process. Why? This ensures you and your family know what’s expected, allows for continued education and means all the progress isn’t lost. Your puppy won’t come home and forget everything he’s learned.

Our puppy training program consists of two phases, early training and advanced training. Puppies as young as eight weeks can begin learning with Dog Training Elite. Our process allows us to efficiently complete in-home puppy training services at your home or within the environment where behaviors manifest - such as in the park or around other dogs in the neighborhood.

A Dog Training Elite puppy training outside.

Dog Training Elite

How Puppy Training Works

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We use a positive puppy training method paired with an electronic collar - not a shock collar. Unlike shock collars, electronic collars do not hurt or harm the pup. They are used only to obtain their attention, not to punish bad behavior. We believe in using constant praise to encourage good behavior. The difference becomes apparent when comparing a puppy trained out of fear to a puppy who truly desires to please.

Positive Reinforcement for Positive Pups

Positive reinforcement is the best option in puppy training. Punishments will only scare your dog, and fear can lead to aggression problems later in life. Our trainers use a classical conditioning program focusing on positive reinforcement of basic commands.

Dogs are eager to please. When they learn following basic commands results in affection or a treat, they will be happy to do as you ask. With patience - and the assistance of a professional puppy trainer - you'll be rewarded with a lifelong loyal pal.

We base our training around the "Classical Conditioning" model, also known as the "Pavlovian" response or "respondent conditioning." This means developing conditioned or automatic reflexes to commands, so when the owner says "sit," the dog automatically sits without thinking. Our unique technique ensures our program is a success no matter what behavior we encounter.

Contact us today to learn more about our training programs!

A group of dogs being trained by the expert team at Dog Training Elite.
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Tips on How to Bond

Training is a great way to establish a deep, loyal bond with your puppy. Outside of your training sessions, there is more you can do to strengthen your bond. Here are some more tips for how to bond with your puppy:

Your puppy may not understand the words you’re saying, but he or she will understand your tone of voice. Speaking in an excited tone of voice will get your pup excited and motivate them to do what you want them to. Speaking in a low, calm voice can help soothe and relax your puppy.
Puppies thrive on routine. A consistent schedule will help your puppy adjust to their new home, and to you and your family. A puppy’s schedule needs to include eating, playtime, puppy training, potty breaks, and nap times.
As mentioned above, playtime is an important part of your puppy’s schedule. Playing with your puppy will help strengthen your bond and stimulate their brains. Walks are an easy and great way to give your puppy much-needed exercise. Start small, walking around in your yard or driveway and gradually extending the distance around your neighborhood.
Creating boundaries in your home for your puppy helps strengthen your bond because your puppy will look to you for direction and guidance. It will also help your puppy avoid bad habits. Baby gates and playpens are a useful way to create physical boundaries.
Puppies can become overwhelmed about all the new things they’re exploring. Crate training is a perfect way to allow your puppy to have their own space where they feel safe and comfortable and help them develop some independence so they grow into a well-adjusted dog.
The most adorable way to bond with your puppy is by cuddling them! Snuggling with your pup can help him or her feel comforted and safe. The best time to get a cuddle session with your puppy is when they are sleepy. Cuddling also helps puppies get used to having their paws, belly, face, etc. handled, and can be a good time to introduce light grooming practices like brushing their fur.