PTSD Service Dog

Excellent! Trainers were very attentive

When we picked up our Aussie, he was doing a obstacle course like it was nothing. He is learning so much and so am I. Can't wait to see what happens next week.

I have learned so much! The individualized training plan and attention have made all the difference. Last but not least, you gain access to a wonderful community of people for lifelong learning and support.

Elijah gives clear instructions as we progressed thru therapy dog test items. Makes specific recommendations for homework based on Oakleys responses and my handling. Great teacher and clearly loves animals

Austin is a great dog trainer to work with.

I highly recommend this training for your dog. We had Taylor work with me and my daughter's dog. He is knowledgeable and pleasant to work with. Even though my daughter is skilled in training dogs and had already trained our dog for agility tricks and service work, we wanted to find another effective approach to help tweak some minor obedience issues. Taylor's approach and methods are solid and work well. Be willing to learn and work with your dog as Taylor shows you a better way to manage and teach your dog effectively. It makes life with your dog soooo much more enjoyable and easier and will improve your relationship with your dog forever.

Elijah did a wonderful job. Very knowledgeable

I am still traing for 11 sessions in group training at dog parks with Danielle. Danielle is WONDERFUL!!! We had 5 sessions of one on one and she was patient, kind, and thorough. I would definitely recommend her as trainer at Dog Training Elite Rhode Island. I am looking forward to the rest of our (Tucker and my) experience over the next 11 weeks. Soon, Tucker will be a therapy dog and go for his testing. This is an update on my original post: For personal health reasons, I had to take a year off from Tucker's training. I was nervous that Tucker would forget last year's work and Danielle reassured me he would not; he certainly did not. We restarted our traing in April and Tucker really did remember his lessons. Yes, we went over everything before we re-joined and he is doing well. As with any dog, the toughest part is the group traing with other dogs. It is an essential part because it helps them focus and stay on task. When her gets off task, the trainers are VERY helpful and we continue. He's coming along well. There was an additional trainer added while we were away and her name is Shelby. She and Danielle work together well and have the same firm, but loving and caring way with all breeds. I am, as is Tucker, thrilled to be back and he is right back in line to where we were. You cannot find a better training program and I want everyone to know about Elite Dog Training!!! You will not be disappointed!!!

Loved our first meeting with Deidre!

I also want to give a huge shoutout to Kaitlin at Elite Dog Training Knoxville. She recently started joining our training sessions, and she has been absolutely wonderful. One moment that really stood out to me was during a training session at Market Square in downtown Knoxville. Another dog unexpectedly ran up to my dog and made him uncomfortable. Before the situation could escalate, Caitlin reacted immediately. Her reflexes were incredibly quick, and she stepped in right away to create space and make sure both dogs were safe. It was very impressive to watch and showed just how attentive and aware she is of her surroundings at all times. Not only is Kaitlin knowledgeable and professional, but she is also genuinely kind and caring. She takes the time to help both dogs and owners feel comfortable and confident throughout the training process. I am so grateful for everything Kaitlin and Rhett have done for my dog and me. Their dedication, knowledge, and support have made such a positive difference, and I cannot thank them enough. If you’re considering dog training, you’re in excellent hands with this team.

I can’t recommend Rhett at Elite Dog Training Knoxville enough! I’ve been working with him since my second session, and he has been absolutely amazing throughout the entire process. Rhett is incredibly knowledgeable and supportive. He takes the time to explain not only what to do, but why it works, and he’s given me so many helpful tips and tricks to keep my dog well-behaved both during training and at home. Every session, I learn something new about my dog and how to communicate with him more effectively. The biggest transformation has been in my dog’s behavior and confidence. He went from being a complete brat to becoming a smart, well-mannered boy. Rhett does an excellent job of coaching and correcting whenever either the owner or the dog makes a mistake, which is something I really appreciate. He holds both you and your dog accountable, and that consistency makes all the difference. If you’re looking for a trainer who genuinely cares, knows what he’s doing, and gets results, Rhett is the person to work with. Thank you for helping my dog and me become a better team!

My experience with Puppy training has been fantastic! Holly has been so patient and sweet to Tilly, it’s been a wonderful experience! Both Tilly and myself are learning a ton of good habits! Holly trained us again today and she was patient and kind with Tilly. She is such a positive influence, it makes the training seem effortless! I highly recommend her as a trainer! Holly trained Tilly today. It was great. She reinforced things we’ve been working on and taught us a few new commands. Things are really going well and I couldn’t be happier!

We have loved working with Brennan. He has a passion for dog training and a wealth of knowledge. Our dog is always excited to see him. We have been impressed with how quickly she has learned from him. Brennan shows great patient with teaching us. We would recommend him to any of our friends!

Here’s a polished version that incorporates your additional feedback about Larissa’s work with your family and her approach to e-collar training: Our experience with Dog Training Elite was excellent from start to finish. Larissa was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in Nala’s success. She took the time to understand our long-term goal of helping Nala progress toward becoming a psychiatric service dog and tailored the training to her specific needs, temperament, and learning style. The instruction was clear and easy for our family to follow, making practice at home highly effective. One of the biggest improvements was teaching Nala to focus on us and look to us for direction rather than making her own decisions. Larissa helped us establish consistent leadership so Nala understands that we are the ones in control, not the other way around. After just three sessions, we saw major improvements in her obedience, engagement, focus, and responsiveness. By the end of the program, Nala was reliably following commands at home and in distracting public environments while maintaining much better attention on her handlers. Larissa was also incredibly patient in teaching us, as owners, how to properly train and communicate with Nala. She took the time to explain the purpose and correct use of the e-collar as a training tool, emphasizing that it is meant to reinforce communication and consistency rather than punishment. She even offered to speak with any member of our household to ensure everyone understood the training methods and the importance of using the e-collar correctly and consistently. What impressed us most was the focus on building the handler-dog relationship that is essential for a future psychiatric service dog. Nala learned to check in with us more consistently, remain calm around distractions, and respond confidently to direction. Daily walks became more structured and enjoyable, unwanted behaviors decreased significantly, and we felt much more confident handling her in a variety of situations. We are grateful for the skills, leadership techniques, and confidence Larissa helped us develop, and we highly recommend Dog Training Elite to anyone seeking professional, high-quality dog training.

First day of dog training with Josh was so effective, I already feel more confident controlling my girl! Thanks, Josh. Second training today was amazing, I wish I had done this before now. Josh is wonderful! Today we trained with Elijah, also wonderful. I highly recommend Dog Training Elite.

We were having quite a tough time managing our girl Wednesday before we found dog training elite. She was very reactive on leash, had a habit of jumping fences and we had to make major adjustments to the way we lived our lives just to keep her and others safe. We’re only halfway through the program and the difference is already night and day. Walks are actually enjoyable now, her escape artist tendencies have stopped, and we have real peace of mind when we take her anywhere with us. It sounds dramatic but it genuinely has been life-changing. Yes, the price can be daunting at first, but it has been well worth it. Jeff and Meggie are wonderful people who are damn good at their jobs! Cannot recommend them enough!

10/10. So appreciate Meggie & Dog Training Elite. So enjoyable to work with!!

Hunter came out to help us assess how to help our new puppy learn not to chase our smallest cat. He was patient and gave very helpful advice. He felt like we had everything else well in hand as far as his puppy training goes so he just told us to be in touch if we wanted to sign up for any of their services down the road. He was such a knowledgeable kind person 10/10 🙂

I always appreciate when people share the same enthusiasm for the things I love. From the moment I called to inquire I was met was so much excitement and care. When my trainer arrived she was also happy and excited to work with me and my pup. I felt like I was drowning in the first time puppy owner unknowns.. and you know the biting 😩. She kindly gave me some easy steps to follow. I feel empowered to train. Thank you Deidre, you saved me from future emotional meltdowns haha! I look forward to seeing my Nala girl progress ! ❤️

I was at my wit’s end with my rescue pup, Finnegan , a 75 pound bully mix who was terrified of everything. I could barely get him to leave the bedroom and he was a nightmare on leash. I was in over my head and in tears every time I tried to walk him. From the moment Finnegan met Aaron, everything began to change for him. Finn sensed he could trust well before I did. Kim, Ryan, Aaron and the entire team at Dog Training Elite Suncoast are simply amazing. They’re patient, professional, and truly know how to bring out the best in a dog. They’ve changed Finnegan’s life — and mine. He’s gone from being afraid of his own shadow to becoming an increasingly confident, happy pup. I continue to see improvements every single day. The group lessons pull everything together and give me the tools and confidence I need to be what Finn needs. Finn is finally coming into his own. He even watched thunder and lightning calmly from the couch the tonight. I couldn’t be more grateful to the crew at Suncoast. 100000% recommend