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Service Dog Training Near You
What makes a dog a service dog? Who can have a service dog, and why? We answer all these questions and more, as well as explain what sets Dog Training Elite Lowcountry apart from any other dog training service.
Not all training packages may be available at our Dog Training Elite Lowcountry location, please reference our pricing page for complete information on services offered.
Service Dog Training FAQs
What makes a dog a service dog?
Service dogs are dogs that have been specially trained to assist their handler or owner with specific tasks. Dog Training Elite Lowcountry trains dogs to assist people with epilepsy, diabetes, PTSD, autism, and various mental illnesses.
Who are service dogs for?
Service dogs are for any individual dealing with a disability that lowers their quality of life. For example, someone who suffers from epilepsy may avoid going out in public due to a fear of falling or other consequences related to seizures. This may inhibit their independence and sense of well-being.
In addition to improving the lives of individuals, service dogs can bring a sense of security to families, such as families with autistic children. Children with autism can often feel isolated and a service dog becomes a 24/7 companion to share experiences with, connect with and love. They can also help children reintegrate into society and connect with others.
Families who have children with autism experience a decrease in stress as they are more able to engage socially in public settings and experience less anxiety at home. A service dog increases safety and has a calming presence that can minimize emotional outbursts, allowing the family to feel more secure and a child with autism to better participate in family activities.
Service dogs are for all individuals or families that are experiencing a decrease in quality of life due to disability.
What kind of training does a service dog need?
Service dog training begins with puppies. Dog Training Elite Lowcountry’s service puppy training program works with breeders to adopt puppies that are fully obedience trained by six months and are ready to undergo extensive socialization and additional training to ensure they are well-suited for service and therapy needs.
Then, Dog Training Elite Lowcountry places puppies with families or individuals. Further specialized service training takes place alongside the new handler. It generally takes 1-2 years for a service dog to become fully trained.
Service dog training focuses on two main areas: public access behaviors, and how to “do work or perform tasks” that assist with a disability.
Public access behaviors refer to how a service dog acts in public - well-trained service dogs remain calm in public situations and in turn help their handlers to stay calm, and are attuned to any other handler needs.
As for “do work or perform tasks,” the ADA requires that service dogs be trained to take a specific action when needed to assist the person with a disability.
For example, to assist handlers with PTSD, Dog Training Elite Lowcountry trains dogs to de-escalate anxiety, wake handlers experiencing night terrors, and so on.
Do service dogs require special certification?
The ADA does not require special certification for service animals. State and local government agencies, businesses and non-profit organizations may not require documentation, such as proof that the animal has been certified, trained or licensed as a service animal, as a condition for entry. Mandatory registration of service animals in the city of residence is also not permissible under the ADA.
However, service animals are not exempt from local animal control or public health requirements, such as vaccinations, or local dog licensing and registration requirements.
Why should I train my service dog with Dog Training Elite Lowcountry?
Dog Training Elite Lowcountry sets itself apart from other dog training methods by focusing on positive reinforcement with a personalized, in-home approach. This method empowers owners and handlers to be an integral part of the process for sustained dog obedience and service training. For service dogs especially, it is important that handlers be present and involved every step of the way.
The positive reinforcement approach, also referred to as “Classical Conditioning” or the “Pavlovian” model has shown to be more effective with longer lasting results than any other training method.
Dog Training Elite Lowcountry does not use punishments or shock collars to break bad habits. Instead, Dog Training Elite Lowcountry pairs positive reinforcement training with a vibration electronic collar. An electronic collar is not a shock collar and does not harm the dog. It is used to gain the dog’s attention, similar to a tug on a leash. It is never used as a punishment for bad behavior.
Another unique aspect of training with Dog Training Elite Lowcountry is that while most dog training programs train dogs at their own facilities, Dog Training Elite Lowcountry specializes in in-home training, customizing training to the dog, its owners and its environment for long-lasting success.
Positive Reinforcement Training
Training takes time, commitment and balance and Dog Training Elite Lowcountry is there every step of the way. With Dog Training Elite Lowcountry, dogs will learn the highest level of obedience, even in the face of the toughest level of distractions. The positive-reinforcement method focuses on encouraging good behavior through ongoing praise, creating a dog that wants to please from the inside out and creating deep-rooted, sustained obedience as well as a strong bond between dog and owner.
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 20 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.
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!
Colby and Baeleigh have done an excellent job Training both my dog and me! I’m very pleased!!— Emily Gibbons
Posted October 11th 2024
I got a puppy earlier this year and immediately searched for a trainer. I made an appointment and a week later met Colby for a consultation. She was knowledgeable, kind, and professional. Almost 6 months later my puppy is exceptionally well trained and on her way to being a service dog. I’m so thankful for this company and their support. Highly recommend!— tyler sciarrino
Posted October 11th 2024
This company has helped us turn our Airdale around from a terrified, aggressive canine to a well-behaved pooch. Colby and Bayleigh have been fantastic to us! Bayleigh often leads the group sessions and our individual sessions are mostly with Colby. They spend most of their time teaching us how to build our dog's confidence and obedience so she can live a happier life.— Delirious Davies
Posted October 5th 2024
We appreciate the instructors from Dog Training Elite Lowcountry.. Both trainers Baeliegh and Colby were very knowledgeable and helpful to us. Each lesson built on previous ones & helped our puppy improve. Even more than thst they provided helpful information on care & ideas to improve our pet’s daily life. Thanks! 🐶— P HAHN
Posted September 11th 2024
We’ve had the best experience with training for our puppy. Bayleigh is amazing & we love working with her & this company!— Megan Sanders
Posted September 9th 2024
We have had an amazing experience from the trainers to the staff, our goldendoodle has taken to the training and their methodology so well. We love they come to our home and meet out in the community to gove that variety. I cant recommend them enough if you are looking for dog training!!!— Erika Richardson
Posted September 4th 2024
We joined the program several months ago with Baliegh and Colby. They have done wonders with our 4 young and wild Staffy/Pitt mixes. We were at our wits end and debating splitting up our 4 litter mates when we made the choice to seek help. Now we have 4 girls that are happy, confident, and on the way to being well behaved pups that I knew they could be. The girls have helped shape and mold our babies lives for the better and we are so grateful.— Cecilia Houge
Posted August 30th 2024
There are so many things that need to be said. First off, our family has 4 littermayes who are all being trained together by Bayleigh and Colby. These trainer have hands down made this process significantly less stressful than expected. Top notch communication, and simple to follow instructions make this journey unbelievable. If you need assistance with your pets, and are at a point where you need a helping hand, I recommend you give this company a call. You won't be disappointed, we weren't. They also offer working dog training, for both emotional and service dogs. If you have the need, they'll step right in an create a successful path for you and your animals.— Tony Houge
Posted August 30th 2024
Give Colby a raise…the way she handles each lesson and how detailed she is with teaching a new command is amazing. I 100% RECOMMEND her.— Kato Junior
Posted August 22nd 2024
Colby is literally the best Highly would recommend her as your trainer.— Teja
Posted August 22nd 2024
I’ve been working with Colby and have seen amazing results with my dog. She’s gained so much confidence and over come hurdles of anxiety. She’s taught me how to properly control the dog and manage reactivity. Overall just an awesome experience and a great investment for our fur baby!— Melissa Moyer
Posted August 3rd 2024
The DTE team worked with my reactive german shepherd and I. They were extremely patient, helpful, and willing to adapt to our needs. They helped both my dog and myself gain the confidence we needed to continue our training, and they gave us the tools and knowledge I needed to redefine my dog and I's relationship. They also were very accommodating with scheduling. Would definitely recommend!— Bailey Davidson
Posted July 26th 2024
We have worked with Dog Training Elite for six lessons so far and one group lesson with our new rescue dog who is now about 11 months old. Their training and recommendations have made a huge difference in his behavior. He is far less reactive ( in fact, little to no reaction now to most triggers) with other dogs, deer, geese, squirrels, etc. Bayleigh has been our primary trainer but we also have worked with Colby for our initial lesson. Both of them are knowledgeable and patient, not only with our dog but also with us. We highly recommend Dog Training Elite!— Carolyn Viall
Posted July 17th 2024
Colby is an absolute amazing trainer to work with. I learn so much about what I’m doing wrong and how to improve handling Taco! Great person and company.— Scott Weinmann
Posted July 16th 2024
Dog Training Elite made a massive difference for our golden retriever Chance. When we first rescued Chance we were terrified that his poor behavior would last forever. Bailey and the team at Dog Training Elite were extremely helpful and gave us lot of practical feedback. The individual sessions coupled with the group classes gave us things to practice while exposing Chance to real world situations. We can’t recommend Bailey and Dog Training Elite enough, we are extremely pleased with Chance’s progress!— Brendan Duball
Posted June 29th 2024
Training with the owner Steve has been great! Second session and we are working on heel. He was able to stay in a Place for the entirety of a surgery so I've been very impressed. Our puppy is being trained as a service dog, and he loves going everywhere. He's always on his best behavior. The trainers are doing an excellent job of training us how to help him be successful long-term. All of us enjoy the training sessions and learning new skills Since adding Colby to his training team, he has been able to practice place and other skills with another dog in public places which has been awesome. Before he would get distracted with others bc we don't have friends or family with dogs for him to interact with. Her caring, loving approach and knowledge makes Colby one of his favorite people in the world.— Heather C
Posted March 22nd 2024
We have been very impressed with Dog Training Elite! Colby has worked wonders with our Springer Spaniel puppy!— Cameron Bongiorno
Posted June 18th 2024
We have a German Shepherd and we are extremely pleased with the training program and the trainers.You can rely on them to meet the specific needs. We LOVE our trainer Colby. We have seen so much progress and success with Bailey. Also they offer continuous support even after their training is complete. In case of any issues that arise later that you might need help with. They are worth every penny . Thank you guys so much !— A “Coralline” Blais
Posted June 15th 2024
We have been working with Colby and she has been a life changer for Annie’s development and socialization. The company’s training program has helped us learn how to better meet our fur baby’s needs. There was a point before we began working with them that we had considered whether it was best for our family to re-home her which we have never considered doing before. Since we have started training and introducing her to difficult training situations she has become a more patient with loving and socially acceptable behavior. Colby has certainly impacted the dynamics in our home and we couldn’t be more grateful! Oh and Annie absolutely loves it when her buddy Colby comes for training! If you need dog training, please consider Steve, Colby and team at Dog Training Elite Lowcountry! Annie and the Vinson Family— Teri Vinson
Posted June 14th 2024
We have had a fantastic experience with our trainer Colby! She has been extremely kind and patient training our family and our pup, Linus. One of the things I appreciate also is her punctuality and keeping us on track so that we use the time we have scheduled efficiently. Linus is responding well to their methodology and we are so excited to see how much more he will learn. We are so looking forward to having the opportunity to take him on more family outings and sharing those life experiences with him.— Brenton Dameron
Posted June 4th 2024