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While dogs are man's best friend, that relationship didn't develop overnight. Creating a strong bond with a dog takes time, patience and lots of training. Dog obedience training is one of the best ways to deepen the bond between dog and owner.
Training a new dog takes a lot of time and effort but the payoff is well worth it. Some dogs may require more training than others due to breed type, past trauma, or just plain stubbornness. However, all dogs can become loyal, friendly and well behaved through dog obedience training with Dog Training Elite Cincinnati’s programs, including in-home training!
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Not all training packages may be available at our Dog Training Elite Cincinnati location, please reference our pricing page for complete information on services offered.
In-Home Training
Dog Training Elite Cincinnati has specialized training courses for both puppies and older dogs. For in-home training, dog trainers will observe dog breed, size, temperament and any other factors that will influence training.
Working with the dog and dog owner directly in an owner’s home, dog trainers will develop a personalized training plan for basic commands like sit, stay, come, heel, etc.; as well as to address any unique issues such as anxiety, aggression, fear and so on. Once a dog is trained, owners can sign their dogs up for group classes with more in-depth training.
Starting with in-home training is an unmatched service that provides dogs and dog owners with the opportunity to work together. Not only does in-home dog obedience training free dogs from the distractions of a group class, but ensuring a dog is learning from both their owner and a trainer will help owners and dogs strengthen their bond. Dogs that learn only from trainers may be inclined to disobey when the trainer is not around. Equally sharing the task of training between dog and dog owner leads to the development of trust and deepening love.
Trainers from Dog Training Elite Cincinnati seek to not only help train dogs, but empower owners so they can continue training their dogs in years to come. This includes sharing tips and tricks (treats are always a good thing!), as well as pointing out personality traits and behavior issues dog owners should focus on.
The Dog Training Elite Cincinnati Difference
There are numerous dog obedience training methods out there, which can be broken down into three main theories: traditional, modern and balanced.
- Traditional training typically relies on punishment for errors, and “low value” rewards such as praise or petting when a dog performs a desired behavior. In recent years traditional training has fallen out of favor.
- Modern training, which is more science-based, focuses more on positive reinforcement when a desired behavior occurs and doesn’t worry about correcting bad behavior. This training method has many benefits, including faster learning for dogs, less stress and anxiety for dogs, ability to teach more complex behaviors, and of course, a better experience for dog owners and trainers.
- Balanced training theory, while it sounds like the best of both worlds, still incorporates the use of punishment as a training tool.
Dog Training Elite Cincinnati uses modern training methods focused on positive reinforcement and bonding between dog and dog owner. Dog Training Elite Cincinnati never resorts to the use of punishment to help dogs unlearn bad behavior. The difference becomes clear when comparing a dog that is trained out of anxiety and intimidation vs a dog who truly desires to please from the inside out.
The Dog Training Elite Cincinnati training theory is mostly based around classical conditioning, also known as the Pavlovian method or respondent conditioning. This includes developing conditioned or automatic reflexes to commands. In its simplest form (after proper conditioning), when an owner says "sit," their dog automatically sits without thinking about it.
Through a combination of commands and an electronic collar, dogs learn to follow commands at once. The electronic collar is not a shock collar; it is a gentle electronic pulse, similar to the tug of a leash, used to get the dog’s attention. Other dog trainers use harsh static collars or spray collars which have been shown to be less effective. Dog Training Elite Cincinnati’s method of focusing on positive behavior reinforcement nurtures a dog's loving and naturally obedient nature.
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.
Start Your Obedience Training Journey
Dog Training Elite Cincinnati knows the prospect of starting dog obedience training can sound daunting. But with our knowledge trainers and proven, gentle method, you and your pet can conquer obedience training without using any harsh shock collars or demanding training.
Dogs and dog owners can bond and work together to have a successful, enjoyable training process. Contact Dog Training Elite Cincinnati today to start your dog obedience training!
Obedience Training FAQs
What age can a dog start obedience training?
The earlier, the better. Puppies are welcome! That being said, old dogs truly can learn new tricks - there is no reason an older dog can’t learn basic commands.
What issues will obedience training address?
Besides basic commands like sit, stay, heel, etc., dog obedience training can address issues such as chewing, whining or barking, jumping to greet others, and begging for food.
Are shock collars used?
No. Pain or punishment is never used in any form during training programs. A combination of positive reinforcement and an electronic collar has proven to be 100% successful. The electronic collar produces a gentle “tug” to get a dog's attention. It is not a shock collar and does not harm or alarm a pet.
Why in-home training?
In-home training is necessary because it allows trainers to focus on the particular issues of individual dogs (like terrorizing a pet cat or chasing the mailman). During in-home training sessions trainers also work side by side with owners and any other family members so the dog understands who is in control.
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!
My pup and I have had the best time working with everyone at Dog Training Elite Greater Cincinnati! Responses are always timely, at-home training and group training have been informative, and scheduling has been easy. They also go above and beyond ensuring that training, even at group class, works for me and my pup. We’re getting close to achieving a leash-less life in every scenario that we can. Pup pics included for fun— Lauren McRae
Posted October 16th 2024
The trainers were great! Worked with me for my crazy schedule and a payment plan! Very helpful. My dog is behaving and listening much better!— Shiann Massie
Posted October 12th 2024
Elite Cincinnati East was amazing! We had Alex as our trainer and he was wonderful! We bought our puppy for our daughter to eventually become a service dog for her. Alex was able to teach us the skills and work with us to train our puppy to perform the basic commands and have a strong foundation for further service dog training. Alex did more than show us how to work with our puppy; he taught us about how to read our puppy’s actions/body language and the best ways to communicate with our puppy what behavior we expect from her. Thanks to Alex we were able to figure out what was the best approach for training our puppy to get the best results. I would highly recommend Elite Cincinnati East and Alex!— Holly Gooch
Posted September 23rd 2024
My partner and I recently moved in together. My dog and her dog did not get along very well with my dog being the main aggressor. We did 5 training sessions with Alex and couldn’t be happier. We can live in peace knowing that we have the tools in hand to keep our dogs living together happy and in peace. Great program to fit a lot of different needs that your dog might have.— Shelby Looper
Posted September 11th 2024
Scott & Jen was amazing!!! We learned as much as Murphy did. We did a board & train with another dog, but liked the fact that they come to us & train in his territory. Murphy loved these guys & looked forward to Friday!! Would highly recommend these guys!!— Melissa Rees
Posted September 3rd 2024
Our trainer Alex VanWeiden was fantastic. Our lab Nellie both loved and respected him. His knowlege of dog psychology is impressive and he was able to deliver great results improving Nellie's behavior. He did this by focusing not just on our dog's actions, but also on how we interacted with her. At the beginning of our training journey, we couldn't have imagined a better outcome. Thanks Alex, for exceeding our expectations.— Peter Craig
Posted August 26th 2024
Game changer! That’s the best way I can describe our experience with Alex at Dog Training Elite. In 5 short weeks, he has made such a positive impact on our mini-bernedoodle’s behavior and how we interact with him. From the basics, to behavioral challenges, Alex has equipped us with the tools we need to have a long, healthy and happy relationship with our crazy boy, Rocky! Would highly recommend them!— Lora Brand
Posted August 22nd 2024
Our 2 year old Pitbull Waylon struggled with behavioral issues and basic commands we reach out to Scott and Jen and it was one of the best decisions we ever made, we just finished up our one on one home sessions and the difference is night and day Thank you, Scott and Jen !— Mike Donahue
Posted August 6th 2024
The trainer was very knowledgable and did a great job helping us integrate our puppy into our existing dog pack. He also did a fantastic job addressing and stoping our older dog's resource guarding and excessive barking. We highly recommend Dog Training Elite!— Caitlyn Henehan
Posted August 2nd 2024
We have had the best experience with Dog Training Elite so far! We did the Gold package, and have completed all of our in home sessions, and the difference in my dog is amazing. Alex was an absolutely wonderful trainer, and he customized each lesson to help with our specific concerns about our dog. Dog Training Elite was great with scheduling and keeping me informed about what was going on, as well as provided everything we needed to be successful. I was originally worried this would not be worth the money, but I am happy to say I feel that it was completely worth what we paid and we haven't even started our group classes yet! I look forward to continuing to work with Dog Training Elite and seeing our dog improve in her training even more.— Abby Walz
Posted July 31st 2024
Alex at Dog Training Elite Cincinnati East did an amazing job training our Colorado mountain dog. Alex was knowledgeable in training different breeds and worked with our family to train the behaviors we struggled to do on our own. I am go glad we worked with the Elite dog trainers. I also highly recommend the group classes as this helped our pup learn to follow directions not only at home but also out in the community. This was a great experience I would highly recommend them. Thank you for training us and our pup and stop the behaviors we didn’t want to see. Yay, we still have a couch!!!— Danielle Seymore
Posted July 27th 2024
We are so thankful for Scott & Jen! We were at a loss about where to even begin with training our 3 mini aussies, but they broke it down into very simple tasks each week. Having them come to our house was so helpful and also served as accountability for us (the humans) to work on the training before the next session. They have given us a strong foundation with our dogs and have helped improve our daily lives more than I can even explain. The group sessions are also so helpful for our dogs and for us. We are forever grateful! Thank you!— Alison Liddic
Posted July 17th 2024
Jen and Scott are phenomenal to work with! Jen has a great calm and firm demeanor for training and Scott is playful but also firm as well! They are a great team to help for great obedience training! We are now working onto more task training for Service Dog work and they are incredibly knowledgeable and trustworthy to help individual needs for specific service work! Additionally, Michelle is very responsive with calls, texts and emails for communication and scheduling! Highly recommend working with DTE!— Liz Burley
Posted July 16th 2024
Loved working with Alex. Feel like this company and trainer excelled at working with our dogs and helping teach us to be better trainers as well.— Dante Zompetti
Posted July 6th 2024
Alex was a great trainer! He really took the time to show me the steps to train my dog at home. My dog (11 months) is so much calmer now and I love to go on walks with him now.— Cora Merrow
Posted July 3rd 2024
Alex exceeded our expectations with training our two golden doodles. He was very knowledgeable, and patient throughout the process. We would highly recommend him to anyone given the progress we’ve seen with Sammy and Roxy.— Rebekah Manis
Posted June 30th 2024
Wonderful experience with Alex and Diane! Our dog is very well behaved thanks to Alex training us. Bunny learned a lot too! 😊— Betty Coutant
Posted June 30th 2024
Thank you to our trainer, Alex for changing our lives for the better! We moved to Cincinnati back in December, and it was quite an adjustment for our two dogs (3yr & 1yr) to live in a busy apartment community. The dogs were reactive when they saw other dogs, jumped each time we had guests over, and high-stress on walks (lots of leash pulling and inattention issues). From day 1, Alex taught us unique skills to combat these issues. Alex always went above & beyond for training classes, ensuring we never felt rushed and throughly understood the materials from class. There is no one we trust more with our dogs than Alex! I cannot say enough good things about our experience. We can now enjoy walks without being pulled & have guests over with minimal jumping. Thank you Alex & Dog Training Elite.— Emma
Posted June 30th 2024
It’s been a pleasure working with Alex! He is very intuitive and my dog warmed up to him rather quickly considering his temperament. I have a 4 year old Shiba Inu named Dai Dai and he trusted Alex enough to follow commands promptly, and he responded very well to any corrections that Alex gave him on the first day they met. Dai Dai does not like anyone or anything near his neck area, and he has the tendency to scream, but he didn’t do that with Alex! Dai Dai was excited and ready to work everyday thereafter that Alex came over. Having Alex come over and help train me and Dai Dai has been a blessing. Alex was also incredibly flexible and worked with our schedule. He is passionate about his career, and gives 200%. We couldn’t be happier with the level of care, expertise, consideration, and training we received. Thank you Alex. Breanna and Dai Dai— Breanna Bohan
Posted June 25th 2024
I have a very large beautiful Chesapeake Bay retriever who is powerful and playful – only two years old. Within a few short weeks I feel confident that have command of the dog which enables us to have a wonderful time together. Lucky is calm and attentive on the leash and very patient with our 14-year-old senior citizen dog Lily. Alex our trainer is knowledgeable explains things clearly and best of all Lucky gets very excited when it’s time for training— Molly J. Hall, MD
Posted June 16th 2024