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Service Dog Breeds
Service dogs are crucial in assisting individuals with various disabilities and conditions, providing them with support, independence, and companionship. These highly trained dogs can perform specific tasks tailored to the needs of their handlers. We've created this brief guide to review breeds that make great service dogs, who can benefit from a service dog and the training that will help these pups meet their handler's needs. Take the first step towards a better future with a trained service dog by contacting Dog Training Elite Orlando today!
Popular Breeds for Service Dogs
While most dogs can be trained to become service dogs, regardless of breed, a few breeds lead the pack in popularity due to their personalities and inherent traits. Here are a few of the most popular service dog breeds.
Labrador Retrievers
Labrador retrievers are among the most sought-after breeds to be service dogs for PTSD in Orlando due to their intelligence, versatility, and friendly nature. They excel in various roles, including guide dogs for individuals with visual impairments, service dogs for individuals with mobility issues, and service dogs for veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Labradors are highly trainable and possess a strong desire to please, making them ideal candidates for service work.
Golden Retrievers
Golden retrievers are known for their gentle and patient nature, making them excellent service dog candidates. Their calm temperament, intelligence, and willingness to learn contribute to their success in roles such as mobility assistance, therapy dogs, and service dogs for veterans. Their ability to provide emotional support and comfort makes them particularly well-suited for individuals with PTSD or other mental health conditions.
German Shepherds
German shepherds possess a remarkable combination of strength, intelligence, and loyalty, making them an excellent choice as a service dog for veterans. Their versatility allows them to excel in various roles, including mobility assistance, search and rescue, and service dogs for individuals with psychiatric or neurological conditions. With their keen sense of observation and natural protective instincts, German Shepherds can provide physical and emotional support to their handlers.
Poodles
Poodles are renowned for their intelligence, trainability, and hypoallergenic coats, making them popular for service dog training, especially for individuals with allergies. They excel in roles such as mobility assistance, diabetic alert dogs, and medical alert dogs.
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.
Who Are Service Dogs For?
Service dogs offer invaluable support and assistance to individuals facing various challenges. Service dogs are sought after by individuals with conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mobility limitations, visual or hearing impairments, autism spectrum disorders, anxiety disorders, and more. Service dogs can help provide security, independence, and emotional well-being regardless of the specific condition. If you seek a loyal and capable partner to enhance your daily life, a service dog for PTSD in Orlando can make a remarkable difference.
Service Dog Training
Service dogs undergo extensive and specialized training to perform their essential tasks and assist individuals with disabilities. The training process involves a combination of obedience training, task training, and public access training.
- Obedience Training
This training focuses on teaching a dog basic commands, such as sit, stay, heel, and come, as well as proper leash manners and socialization skills.
- Task Training
Task training tailors to the specific needs of the individual. It involves teaching the dog to perform tasks that mitigate the person's disability, such as retrieving items, opening doors, or providing deep pressure therapy.
- Public Access Training
This type of training is crucial to ensure the dog remains calm, well-behaved, and non-disruptive in various public settings. This training includes exposure to different environments, distractions, and social interactions to provide a dog that can confidently navigate public spaces.
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!
Craig has helped me to train my 8 month old Heavapoo. She now gets in her create and I can leave her there while I go out. I live in a Condo so barking could be a problem. She now responds to quiet. Could not have done this without help. Highly recommend Dog training Elite.— Sharron Robinson
Posted September 26th 2024
Maria is amazing. Great company, they take pride in their work. Maria is very friendly and is working so well with my tiny chihuahua puppy. So thankful for her care. Bianca Heap— Bianca Heap
Posted September 20th 2024
Dog Elite Training have been a lifesaver for us and our puppy German shepherd. The trainers Cheyenne and Maria are so good with her and she is learning at lightening speed thanks to them. Chelsie goes beyond to accommodate our busy schedule. Run don’t walk to sign on with Dog Elite!— Robin Zander
Posted September 20th 2024
I can’t say enough wonderful things about Dog Training Elite! Millie is my first puppy + they have taught me everything I need to do to be the best Dog Mom and Millie has learned so much from them! Thank you Dog Training Elite + for loving Millie the way you do - we’re so grateful for y’all!!— Chloe Nelson
Posted September 16th 2024
Craig and his team are amazing!! He trained my Yorker, night and day difference!! Highly recommend to anyone who needs dog training!! Five star ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ all day long!!— Shawnie Whitaker
Posted September 15th 2024
I have never been so impressed by a dog training company before these guys. When I first started thinking about a service dog, I had no idea what it would be like. As I met staff (Chelsea, Cheyanne, Maria, and the rest of the crew) they listened to my needs and gave their hearts beyond my expectations. All my hopes were fulfilled and then some., Dog Training Elite Orlando has been nothing but by my side this whole year during the training process with my now Service dog, Raven”. I can say that I have been truly blessed ❤️ Thank you all! You are the best in my book, 😊👍— Sean Meskimen
Posted September 15th 2024
I cannot say enough about Dog Training Elite Orlando! One month ago we had a 3 month old puppy who was biting everything, jumping on everything (furniture, counters, people) and was only interested in chewing on our blankets, socks, shoes, and couch, and was completely uninterested in his toys. One month and 4 in-home training sessions later and we have THE happiest, most well-behaved boy who loves his toys AND loves training! Cheyenne and Maria have both been amazing and the results speak for themselves. Best decision we ever made! If I could give more than 5 stars I would.— Lindsay Escue
Posted September 14th 2024
This company is by far the greatest I have ever come across during my 15 years of owning dogs. Maria was my trainer for my dog Cairo, she is always on time and is very knowledgeable. I’ve never had any issues with her not showing up or feeling like my money was wasted on any of the training days. The company is very flexible with options depending on what you need and that’s helped me out greatly due to my work schedule. We just finished the advanced obedience training and will be moving on to the service dog training soon. My dog has made vast improvements since I started this program and I am very excited to start the next phase of his training.— Allison Norona
Posted September 14th 2024
When I contacted Dod Training Elite I was desperate because my baby Neo was so crazy. He would jump on people, bark at everything and everyone, walk on two paws pulling on his leash, hide when it was time to get him in his crate and so many other things. As soon as the first class we did with Maria we noticed a huge change on Neo. He immediately started listening to us and with each class things got better and better. One thing I was hesitating at first was using the training collar because I was scared it would hurt Neo. Maria was so helpful to explain how it worked and without the collar I don’t think we would have been able to train him. Besides Maria everyone else is so helpful and friendly. They always answer all my questions and communicate in the best way possible. A huge plus is the group classes on Saturdays because that’s extra training Neo gets with other dogs and the classes are so well organized. I highly recommend them!— mercedes reyes
Posted September 14th 2024
Maria was our trainer and did amazing with our dog Lambeau. He now listens to all the commands we’ve worked on and can go back on taking walks as a family. Look forward to our future vacations with our pup and all thanks to Maria and Elite Dog Training! We highly highly recommend it’s life changing!— Randall Birchmier
Posted September 12th 2024
We are so unbelievably happy we went through with dog training with Dog Training Elite. One of our dogs had some scary reactivity issues that had us considering rehoming him and the other was a puppy with no manners. Today we have two dogs who are able to stay on their place and focus on us when new people come into our house. Barely even a bark!! Craig is an amazing dog trainer who brings such a calm energy to us and our dogs when we start to get stressed out. Within 5 weeks of Craig coming to our house, our dogs are completely different. We were also really impressed with that lack of a sales pitch Craig gave us on our first meeting. We looked into a few different training facilities and Craig felt the most upfront with what he recommended (not like he was looking for more money) which was a nice change of pace. We can’t recommend Craig and this company as a whole more, worth every penny.— Cameron Lathan
Posted September 11th 2024
I couldn’t say enough good things about Dog Training Elite North Orlando!!! Craig and Miriam are so knowledgeable and offer so many practical, effective tips!! From puppyhood to obedience training, they have been AMAZING every step of the way!!!— Ana Davis
Posted August 27th 2024
My three French Bulldogs were transformed with the professional one-on-one behavioral training of Dog Training Elite. DTE provides techniques which are easy to practice with your pups and very effective. All three of my Frenchies have mastered several essential commands in a short period of time. Most importantly to me, I can now walk all 3 of my Frenchies without them pulling me. Walks are now enjoyable and much longer since they are not pulling and getting out of breath. I highly recommend DTE for training any pup needing behavioral modification.— Kim Necrason
Posted August 23rd 2024
Dog Training Elite is amazing! Our dogs were jumping and barking. They knew a few commands but would not stay in place. We have a Border and two Labs and a lot of energy. Maria came out to our home and the first day we saw a difference! She is awesome and you can tell she loves what she is doing. Thanks Maria for the great training and kindness to our dogs.— A M
Posted July 27th 2024
We got our rescue pup from the shelter at just over a year old. DTE has been the best thing for us and our pup Bam. He’s a true gentleman now bc of his training!— Alex Antoine
Posted August 15th 2024
Dog Training Elite’s team is WONDERFUL. Finneas and I are so happy with how our training is going. My boy is on track to becoming a service dog and we have a long way to go… but I couldn’t be happier to have Craig and his team by our side during this process. THANK YOU— camila meyer
Posted August 14th 2024
Working with Dog Training Elite Orlando has been one of the investments I’ve made for my dog. Maria was incredible in her knowledge and the way she handled my pup. The instruction was clear and easy to understand and in the 5 sessions we made tremendous progress. Highly recommend DTEO, Maria, and team!— Aizaz Chaudhary
Posted August 12th 2024
HIGHLY RECOMMEND this team for all of your people training needs lol No, but seriously, they have worked magic with my Zoe and Me. What I love is that they come to your house or to public spaces to work on issues specific to you and your pups needs. Their packages also include group training classes, which are always educational and FUN. Craig and Miriam love what they do and it shows. They are patient, encouraging, and dedicated to seeing you and your pup grow together. I just can’t say enough good things. Oh and did I mention they offer service animal training also!— Jacqueline Muenzner
Posted August 8th 2024
HIGHLY RECOMMEND this team for all of your people training needs lol No, but seriously, they have worked magic with my Zoe and Me. What I love is that they come to your house or to public spaces to work on issues specific to you and your pups needs. Their packages also include group training classes, which are always educational and FUN. Craig and Miriam love what they do and it shows. They are patient, encouraging, and dedicated to seeing you and your pup grow together. I just can’t say enough good things. Oh and did I mention they offer service animal training also!— Jackie Muenzner
Posted August 8th 2024
Hands down the best dog trainers out there! They take the time to figure out your dog and you/your family to tailor the training to fit perfectly. Everytime i have had a question or concern, they have been rapidly responsive. I give them my highest recommendation. Trust me you wont be disappointed!!! ❤️❤️❤️— Helen McEvoy
Posted July 29th 2024
Service Dogs for Veterans & PTSDTraining with Dog Training Elite in Orlando
Dog Training Elite offers comprehensive service dog training programs designed to meet your unique needs. With our expertise and personalized approach, we can help your service dog develop the skills and behaviors necessary to fulfill their vital role in enhancing your daily life.
Service dogs are an invaluable resource for individuals with disabilities, providing support, independence, and companionship. Service dogs can benefit individuals with various conditions, including PTSD, mobility limitations, autism, anxiety disorders, and more. At Dog Training Elite Orlando, we offer comprehensive service dog training programs to ensure your dog has the necessary skills to meet your needs. Our expertise and personalized approach will help you forge a strong bond with your service dog and confidently navigate daily life. Take the first step towards a brighter future by contacting Dog Training Elite today and discovering how a service dog can make a remarkable difference in your life.
Proud Sponsor of The Malinois Foundation
At Dog Training Elite in Orlando, 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 in Orlando works with the Malinois Foundation to heal and empower these individuals with a specialized service animal, a partner in life, and a new best friend.