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The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service dog as “a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.” Disabilities include mental or physical impairments that affect an individual’s ability to perform one or more major life activities (walking, seeing, etc.). Service dogs are trained to guide and assist such individuals so that they can lead happier, healthier lives.
Because service dogs play such a key role in the life of disabled individuals, they are protected by the law. Places of residence, employment, and commercial facilities cannot discriminate against disabled individuals with service animals. If you are wondering how to get a service dog, you can either purchase a fully trained dog or purchase a service puppy and train it.
Is A Service Dog The Same As A Therapy Dog?
Many types of working dogs increase the quality of life for their handlers. The three main categories of working dogs are service animal, therapy animal, and emotional support animal. Each category covers different areas of support and different levels of protection under the law.
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Service Animal
As mentioned above, service animals assist individuals with disabilities. Depending on the person’s needs, the service animal learns how to perform certain tasks. Guide dogs, for example, help blind individuals safely navigate their environment. Seizure response dogs respond to their handlers when the individual is having a seizure. Service animals are highly trained and specialized, and they are also offered the most protection under the law compared to therapy or emotional support animals.
Dogs are not the only kinds of service animals - miniature horses, pigs, and monkeys are often trained to support individuals with disabilities!
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Therapy Animal
Therapy dogs provide comfort and improve the mental well-being of individuals in hospitals, hospice care, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, and more. These dogs must have a friendly, calm demeanor and be comfortable when handled by strangers. Therapy dogs are not trained to perform specific tasks, but they must be obedient and well-mannered. Therapy animals are permitted in some areas where pets are not, but they have fewer protections than service animals. All therapy dogs must be certified before they can offer their services to the community.
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Emotional Support Animal
Emotional support dogs relieve loneliness, anxiety, depression, and other symptoms of mental health disorders. They provide comfort to their handlers, but they are not trained to perform specific tasks. Most emotional support animals are sensitive to the emotional changes of their handler and will stay close by at all times. Emotional support animals are not protected by the ADA, but residential buildings must permit emotional support animals.
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.
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 15 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.
clas·si·cal con·di·tion·ing PSYCHOLOGY noun A learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired; a response that is at first elicited by the second stimulus and is eventually elicited by the first stimulus alone.
What Can Service Dogs Do?
Perform Tasks
Service dogs are a great help to disabled individuals thanks to their incredible ability to perform highly specialized tasks, like opening doors, switching lights on and off, assisting with balance and stability, guiding, pulling wheelchairs, answering phones and making calls, finding objects or places, unloading and loading items, clearing rooms, finding help, and many more. Service dogs improve the lives of disabled individuals by increasing their autonomy.
Alert Handlers
Individuals with certain diseases and disorders can benefit from a highly trained service dog. Dogs have an incredible sense of smell and they can detect the chemical changes associated with oncoming seizures and increases in blood pressure. Alert service dogs alert their handler to these situations to prevent a life-threatening emergency. Alert dogs also help those with extreme allergies detect potential allergens in food.
Assist in Emergency
Disabled or epileptic individuals are more prone to emergencies than the average person. Service dogs are trained to alert their handler to a potential emergency, and alert surrounding individuals to an active emergency. Service dogs can also call for help on pre-programmed phones.
Support Mental Well Being
Service dogs trained to assist handlers with severe anxiety or depression will perform specific tasks that reduce the potential for panic attacks or self-harm attempts. Such tasks include deep-pressure therapy, tactile stimulation, alerting, clearing rooms, blocking strangers from approaching, and more. Service dogs trained to assist those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have greatly improved the lives of many veterans .
Service dogs also make a big impact on the lives of children with autism. Children with autism are often prone to meltdowns, have trouble communicating, and are quick to run off or become easily lost. Service dogs prevent and mediate all of these behaviors to provide a higher quality of life for children with autism and their families.
As autism is a spectrum disorder, each child has varying needs of assistance. Autism service dogs perform the following tasks:
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Tracking
Children with autism often wander away, and a parent’s worst fear is turning their back for just a moment and then discovering their child is gone. Autism service dogs will track the child if this ever happens. -
Tethering
This task minimizes wandering, which is common in public settings. The child is tethered to the service dog’s leash or harness, preventing him or her from wandering away. -
Behavior Interruption
Repetitive and ritualistic behaviors are typical of autistic children, as are meltdowns when the child becomes overstimulated. Autism service dogs recognize these negative behaviors and redirect the child’s attention when they start. A simple paw or nudge is all it takes to prevent a meltdown.
From physically assisting disabled individuals to reducing the symptoms of mental illness, service dogs are incredible companions. If you want to get a service dog, please contact us for more information!
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!
I can not say enough good things about Dog Training Elite San Antonio! The entire team is fabulous! I had no idea how I would go about getting a service dog for myself. They helped me with everything! They evaluated the dog we adopted and the training sessions have been amazing! They are very responsive when I call and super supportive! Love, love them! We have now enrolled another one of our dogs in some basic training. Thank goodness for y’all! 💕🥰💕—
Posted March 21st 2023
Originally came to DTE to help with leash aggression on my GSD puppy. After working with her a couple sessions, they identified that she was leash reactive, not aggressive, and her behavior is now under control between the 1:1 sessions with Hunter and Matt and the group sessions with all of the trainers (can't leave out Dom!). She has been enrolled in the personal protective training and is progressing nicely. The combination of 1:1 sessions and the group sessions at the training facility help the handlers learn proper training techniques and safety. Obedience and control of your K9 is always stressed in the protection classes and combines perfectly with the obedience training offered by DTE. I'm very happy with the knowledge, professionalism and service of the staff and look forward to working with them more in the future.— Timothy Holdener
Posted March 19th 2023
We started service dog training with DTE in January 2023. We are now in group classes with Roselle. We cannot say enough great things about DTE STL. We drive an hour and twenty minutes each direction to go to training, and it is worth every minute and mile.— Natasha Bassett
Posted March 18th 2023
We LOVE Elite! Matt was incredibly helpful at our initial meeting. He was open and transparent by what we could expect from the dog trainer's, our dog and from ourselves. Freyja, our German Shepherd, has thrived under their training. Our trainer Hunter has been amazing! She went from being terrified of being in a new space to confidently doing all the commands she has learned. Can't wait to see how much she grows and learns.— Keri Ann Hunt
Posted March 18th 2023
Dog training Elite is one of the most professional training companies I’ve seen. They trained my German Shepherd Sofia as a service dog. As a disabled combat vet, my service dog was much needed to help me with ptsd and mobility issues out in public and I could not imagine my daily life without her. Dog training elite is definitely your go to for service dogs, they will not only meet your needs and expectations but they will also exceed them!!— Kyler Witt
Posted March 15th 2023
Where to begin?!? We had taken our puppy to another training facility, but it was unfruitful. Our puppy had been attacked twice and was extremely reactive to many situations. Since starting classes with Dog Training Elite San Antonio, our puppy has done a complete turn around. She's able to walk along with other dogs she's unfamiliar with, stopped barking and reacting to strangers, is able to play with her 8 week old fur cousin, no longer jumps and bites because of her excitement/anxiety. We have no words to express our gratitude in helping us help our puppy! The entire team has been excellent, especially Adakias!!!!!— Jessica Draney
Posted March 14th 2023
Dog training elite did an amazing job with our Doberman puppy! McCall did a great job with creating a safe environment for our pup to learn and be independent. Additionally, we trained our pup with her litter mate, which was fun and challenging. We had a really great experience and would recommend this for anyone who wants to build a better relationship with their dog and become more confident with obedience.— Alicia May
Posted March 13th 2023
I have worked with Dog Training Elite with two of my dogs. My first dog Branch who was 6 months when we started the program. Branch was very aggressive towards other dogs. Thanks to the owner Neil and his helper Chris my dog Branch is a well rounded dog who became my Service Dog. Unfortunately, Branch who is 6 yrs old now, has hurt his leg and needed to be retired so I began Training my new dog Felicia who is now enrolled with Dog Training Elite. She is only 11 months old and has past her Service Dog Test. Neil came to our home to evaluate Felicia and assisted in getting the process started. Taylor was the trainer who came to my home to continue training with me and Felicia. Taylor also met me and Felicia for our public training and made sure she was completing the task she will be providing. If there was something I needed to work on or if I had any questions Taylor was always able to provide me feedback. Taylor is very passionate and very knowledgeable with the process for continued training. Aspen was the trainer who completed the Service Dog Test and I appreciate how thorough she was at making sure Felicia was able to complete the task she will provide for me ongoing. I would recommend Dog Training Elite and have given out their information as we have traveled in our RV across country because they are wonderful at what they do. I greatly appreciate how much patience Neil and his Team have with dogs and their families. Especially, when helping us train Branch through his aggressive behaviors. As you can see in the photo Branch is able to lay down beside Felicia. Prior to Dog Training Elite working with him this would have never been possible.— Tonya Emery
Posted March 11th 2023
Worth every penny!!! The trainers here are very knowledgeable, patient, and understanding. Especially Savanna and Taylor, they have gone above and beyond to help out with our dog. In a few short weeks he has made big changes in his obedience and aggression. I am super impressed and glad to have them as our dogs trainers— Danielle Geist
Posted March 9th 2023
I actually found them by google and boy was I so happy I did. This team is just perfect and full of knowledge on dogs. We went through the Service dog program they have and I can’t begin to explain how grateful I am to now have my own service dog. Each training session was fun and my dog and I learned so much in each class. Group classes with Savanah Taylor and Aspen were insightful and inspirational because we were around others like us. Also so much fun! Service dog group training with Mark, Savanah and Taylor was perfectly designed to help accustom our dogs to so many distractions. I appreciated it. But Taylor was outstanding, knowledgeable, full of energy, kind, patient, if you get to work with her your dog will gain a friend and work with a respectful trainer! Thanks DTE!— Rachel Fameree
Posted March 9th 2023
I can’t say enough about the amazing team at Dog training elite! We signed up our two dogs for their programs and it has been worth every penny! Taylor has been amazing and incredibly helpful with our puppy Sunny In our home. Reno took on our Portuguese water dog for the 10 day training at their facility and was amazing as well! Worth it! You won’t regret it!!— Jill Clark
Posted March 9th 2023
I love Dog Training Elite! Finding them was one of the best things I could have done for me and my dog. We started with basic obedience and he did so so well. They were patient with him and us and taught us what to do and how to do it well to succeed. We are now 9 months into our service training and it's going so well too! This has taken more patience and time to learn but we're asking hard things of my dog and myself 😅 but they are very supportive and patient. I love all of their trainers and recommend them to anyone who needs help training their dog whether it's basic obedience issues or reactivity, every penny is worth having Dog Training Elite in your corner. They know their stuff.— Catherine Belnap
Posted March 1st 2023
The Ballards and their staff are amazing people! They truly have become part of our family. They have helped change two of my sons lives raising, training and loving their service dogs. I will 100% use their services for all current and future training needs and recommend anyone who wants top notch training to use them as well.—
Posted March 1st 2023
I cannot express how strongly I am recommending Dog Training Elete. They have helped me deal with some serious dog issues. Not to mention the solid foundations they have established in the fundamentals of dog training. Be assured they will be with you for the whole process of training a well behaved and well adjusted dog.— Dana Fessler
Posted February 28th 2023
We have loved working with Dog Training Elite! We started with a new pup and now have a 2 year old trained psychiatric service dog. Trevor, Colleen and their team have been so helpful and have been there to answer any questions. We would highly recommend them to anyone who needs help with a pup!— Madi
Posted February 28th 2023
So thankful for Hunter and DTE! I was worried that Tater would have been deemed as an actual “aggressive” dog but a few minutes with the owner, Matt, and he knew that she did not deserve that label and she was able to be helped. Within 1 session she was already on her way to becoming more comfortable in herself as a dog and relax. Thank you Hunter and DTE!— Bree White
Posted February 25th 2023
We have been working with them to train a diabetes alert dog for the last 9 months as first time dog owners and it has been amazing! They are been there every step of the way and quick to answer questions. The staff is very knowledgeable and communicates well with us about what we need to do to have a well trained service dog and family pet. They have been there from choosing the right puppy to coming to our home for training sessions to group park classes to quickly responding to questions and concerns. They have given us the tools to train the humans and the dogs, since it takes a lot of time and consistent efforts to reach the goal of a well trained handler and dog. Would highly recommend them to anyone, whether you're wanting a well-behaved pet or a highly trained service dog.—
Posted February 25th 2023
We have been working with them to train a diabetes alert dog for the last 9 months as first time dog owners and it has been amazing! They are been there every step of the way and quick to answer questions. The staff is very knowledgeable and communicates well with us about what we need to do to have a well trained service dog and family pet. They have been there from choosing the right puppy to coming to our home for training sessions to group park classes to quickly responding to questions and concerns. They have given us the tools to train the humans and the dogs, since it takes a lot of time and consistent efforts to reach the goal of a well trained handler and dog. Would highly recommend them to anyone, whether you're wanting a well -behaved pet or a highly trained service dog.— Diana Thomas
Posted February 25th 2023
Best decision I ever made…huge changes within a few days…and continued improvement even months after starting— Salim Rezaie
Posted February 21st 2023
We worked with Ryan for our in home sessions with our two Malamutes! One malamute is 4 years old and the other is 10 months old. Ryan was awesome to work with! We’ve had a great experience and seen major changes in the behavior of both our dogs. We highly recommend Dog Training Elite. They were always on time, professional, and eager to answer any questions! We work at least 15 minutes a day with our dogs on their training. Some weeks are better than others, but it’s surprising how fast they picked everything up! The only issue that we’ve run into is that the dog collars are very inconsistent when it comes to having a thick coat like our malamutes have. We switched to longer prongs and have ordered some winged tipped prongs to see if it can make better contact with their skin. A lot of the frustration we had with our dogs behavior has completely disappeared. We can’t wait to continue working with them at group classes!— Cody Ward
Posted February 19th 2023
Proud Sponsor of The Malinois Foundation
At Dog Training Elite, 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 work's with the Malinois Foundation to heal and empower these individuals with a specialized service animal, a partner in life, and a new best friend.
How Do I Get A Service Dog?
If you are wondering how to get a service dog, there are a couple of different approaches. Some service dogs are purchased outright, fully trained. Or a compatible dog is selected and trained from an early age. Training a dog from the start is the best option, especially for those with specialized needs.
Training a dog to perform service responsibilities must start from day one. Only certain breeds are suited to service work, and breeders put a lot of time into raising puppies to be service animals. Once you have purchased a service puppy, additional training is necessary to prepare your puppy for life as a service dog. This is a complicated process that involves various steps. Dog Training Elite makes getting a service dog easier with our service dog training program .
Our talented trainers can help select puppies that are prepared for a life of service from well-respected breeders. When these puppies enter the service dog training program they are closely monitored for behavior and temperament and can be fully obedience trained by the age of six months. These puppies undergo extensive socialization and additional training to ensure they are well-suited for service and therapy needs including specialized service training alongside the new handler.
This program is ideal for handlers who want to take part in the developmental years and extensive training of their service puppy.
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Service Dog Pricing & Packages
Not all training packages may be available at our Dog Training Elite location, please reference our pricing page for complete information on services offered.