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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 Colorado Springs apart from any other dog training service.
Not all training packages may be available at our Dog Training Elite Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs’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 Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs?
Dog Training Elite Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs does not use punishments or shock collars to break bad habits. Instead, Dog Training Elite Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs is that while most dog training programs train dogs at their own facilities, Dog Training Elite Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs is there every step of the way. With Dog Training Elite Colorado Springs, 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!
Highly recommend Caroline at Dog Training Elite Colorado Springs. Our dog had become very reactive and aggressive at door knocks and doorbell rings. We needed 100% in-home training sessions to correct this behavior. Caroline was excellent and showed us how to re-train our dog within several sessions. He loved working with her and got excited at every one of her visits. She's amazing!— Laurie Carroll
Posted August 27th 2024
Dog Training Elite Colorado Springs has been absolutely amazing in helping us get our Goldendoodles therapy trained and certified. From day one, their expertise and dedication have shone through. The trainers at Dog Training Elite have gone above and beyond in ensuring that our Goldendoodles are well-prepared to provide therapy. We've been incredibly impressed by their commitment to excellence. One of the standout aspects of our experience with Dog Training Elite is their dedication to real-world training scenarios. Working in parks and businesses has proven to be a brilliant approach. It has helped our Goldendoodles become acclimated to various environments, people, and distractions. This kind of practical training is precisely what our dogs needed to excel as therapy dogs. The trainers at Dog Training Elite Colorado Springs are not only knowledgeable but also genuinely caring and patient with the dogs. They have created a positive and nurturing environment, which has been instrumental in our dogs' growth and development. We couldn't be more pleased with our experience at Dog Training Elite. They have exceeded our expectations in every way, and we are now more confident than ever in our Goldendoodles' ability to serve as therapy dogs. Thank you, Dog Training Elite Colorado Springs, for your exceptional training and support. We wholeheartedly recommend their services to anyone looking for top-notch dog training and certification. Our Goldendoodles are now ready to make a real difference in the lives of those they'll be helping.— Andrea Manuszak
Posted October 23rd 2023
There are hardly enough words to say how terrific our experience has been with CS Dog Training Elite. The entire staff is wonderful, but a special shout out to Lucas and Caroline! They have gone above and beyond anything I could have expected, and their patience and encouragement have been invaluable in giving Murphy and me a completely enjoyable and successful training experience. Murphy passed his service dog certification test yesterday, a testament to this incredible training program and the people who run it. We look forward to continuing attending group classes for "brush-ups" and to stay connected to this wonderful organization. A huge thank you from Murphy and me!— Janet Morris
Posted August 16th 2023
Amazing company! they have been superb and kind! they were able to help train my husky rescue who is my service dog in training! Lucas and Caroline have always gone above and beyond with every step! they are more than willing to answer a silly question even after hours. they have truly shaped my life and my dogs! they are so amazing and truly life changing!— Carrie Monroe
Posted July 29th 2023
Used to be that if my little terrier mix saw a dog anywhere on the block , he would totally lose his mind. now he can be comfortably next to another dog. Awesome results! He's like a totally different dog.— Merrilee Williams
Posted July 24th 2023
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Posted March 20th 2023
Speaking with Lucas today was absolutely awesome! I got all my questions answered in regards of how to go about the process with a service animal. It was a lot of information but very straightforward, which I really liked. The bubbly personality, politeness, and just how awesome the demo went today, I would recommend 100%. I'll definitely be doing business with them. :) Thanks again guys!— Audrey Escobedo
Posted January 19th 2023
We have been training our two goldendoodle puppies to be therapy dogs with Dig Training Elite. They have been amazing and very helpful every step of the way.— Andrea Manuszak
Posted January 7th 2023
Carlos and Trinity have taken our dog, who was half trained, and changed her program to be more disciplined and organized. Since being in their program, she has learned to smell and alert to seizures, behave well in public areas, and do several other tasks (retrieve thing off the ground, anxiety interruption tasks, etc). I can’t recommend them enough.— Hannah Burgo
Posted June 4th 2022
Carlos and Trinity are professional, caring and very knowledgeable. I feel they trained me as a handler as much as they did Anubis in his skills. I hate to see them go, but life moves us around for a reason. Anubis went from a gangly puppy that wouldn’t even sit on command, to an attentive hard working service dog who has become a major asset and my best friend. He continues to astound me by learning new skills with eagerness and with such excitement. I could have never gotten him trough all his training without Elite! Thank you and best to you all as you move to new adventures.— Doc
Posted August 10th 2022
Both Carlos and Trinity are excellent trainers. The last 5 weeks has transformed a bit of an out of control dog into knowing his basic manners! I can't wait to join the weekend group and continue practicing with him.— Markham Performance
Posted May 27th 2022
Who says you can’t teach old dogs new tricks? Our 9 and 10 year old dogs were having difficulty adjusting after an out of state move, we had issues with constant barking, dangerous jumping and a general lack of following directions. This training changed our day to day life in such an impactful way I can’t recommend Carlos and Trinity highly enough!— Rhiannon Billman
Posted April 3rd 2022
The results and dedication of Dog Training Elite Colorado Springs exceed all of my expectations.— linda smith
Posted January 6th 2022
We have nothing but a great experience with this training company since my daughter has received Ocean in December 2020. The staff is helpful and makes you feel like family. Training a dog is hard work, but my daughter with epilepsy and anxiety has been able to train with the help of Elite!! I HIGHLY recommend this company!!!— Dara Lightle
Posted March 11th 2021
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