Request a Free Assessment
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 Pittsburgh apart from any other dog training service.
Not all training packages may be available at our Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh’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 Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh?
Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh does not use punishments or shock collars to break bad habits. Instead, Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh is that while most dog training programs train dogs at their own facilities, Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh is there every step of the way. With Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh, 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!
I stopped Vince in South Park’s parking lot after he had just finished a training program out there and asked him a question about an issue I’m having with my new dog. He was so kind, helpful and informative. He gave me multiple suggestions on how to address the issue. He knew a lot specifics about my breed of dog and dog behavior in general. If you are looking for a good, honest person to help you with training your dog Vince is your guy!— Lora
Posted September 7th 2024
My wife and I now have our fifth German Shepherd. The first three lived between 10 and 14 years. Number four died unexpectedly at seven. That was 19 months ago. We've had our Long Hair German Shepherd, Teddy, for 18 months now. At four months Teddy completed her basic puppy training. Shortly after that we began looking for a seasoned, mature professional trainer. We found what we were looking for when Vince Conrad of Dog Training Elite came to our house to see if we were all a good fit for each other. We started our six in home training and finished up with Teddy making great progress! Both Teddy and I feel like we both had the best training! I like to think of the in home training as the class room work. We have now completed six of the 12 group training sessions with six more to come. I call the group sessions the "field work". Each session builds off the previous session. Vince is so skilled and patient. He is always firm, with a calming demeanor. When Teddy was about nine months old it was nearly impossible to take her for a walk. At 73 I need a dog that will walk with me without pulling me down the road. Last week we were out for a walk when we came to our neighbors house. They were out at the curb waiting to see Teddy. As we got to the couple I told Teddy to sit, and she did. They spent a bit of time to pet her and to make a fuss. I then told her down to which she got all the way down and stayed there calmly until I commanded her to "come". This couple are trained Greyhound rescue "parents", their son is a professional dog trainer and their daughter is a Vet. Their final comment to me carries a lot of weight. They said that Teddy's progress is remarkable. I hope my experience with Vince helps you make a decision about finding the right trainer. I can't thank Vince enough. Don Creasy Pittsburgh— Allie Creasy
Posted September 2nd 2024
Wish I could give 10 stars. They are so awesome and amazing at what they do! Tonya was incredible and got me and my dog to exactly where we wanted with the training! Best in the area!— Will Porter
Posted August 20th 2024
I only have good comments about my experience so far with Dog Training Elite. Not only with the knowledge and experience of Vince, but also his patience and generosity. He was able to assess and understand my dog very well and adapted the training according to her needs and behaviors. He was there when I was discouraged and ready to give up, I can’t be more grateful.— Cynthia Desjardins
Posted August 13th 2024
My dog Sage and I worked with Vince from Dog Training Elite Pgh and we couldn't be happier. Vince was very knowledgeable and patient providing clear guidance to me how to best help Sage learn new skills. I was amazed at how quickly Sage picked up sitting at the front door when people arrive (instead of jumping on them) and going to her place and staying for relatively long periods of time (20-30 min). I highly recommend Vince!— Ilana Diamond
Posted August 7th 2024
Vince has helped my dog Fig and I with so much training. Before training, my dog was reactive with so many things including kids, other dogs, neighbors and more. Not only has he hep me with her reactivity that has improved way more than I could have, the communication between my dog and I is stronger! She understands what I’m asking of her, she walks better with me, and she listens better. We go hiking off leash, camping, and so much. I feel more comfortable taking her places that I couldn’t before. I’m so glad I can take her with me more without the anxiety of how she is going to react. Vince is a great trainer who is patient calm and diligent!— Jinnelle Little
Posted June 30th 2024
Nick and I reached out to Vince to help with our 4 year old German Shepard, Rosa, with reactivity issues, leash training, and to help boost her self obedience. We knew the moment we met with Vince he was going to be super helpful to our family. He took the time and patience to explain all the ins and outs of this journey. He never was watching the clock during our training sessions, was great in making suggestions to get the biggest bang for our buck during sessions, and captured this awesome photo of us on Rosa’s last in house training session. We still have group sessions available to us that we are very excited to start with Vince and the other clients/dogs that he works with. We are grateful for his services and see the improvements in our pup!— Kayla Burzio
Posted June 17th 2024
I knew training would be very important for my very energetic Aussie. Vince from Dog Training Elite has been the perfect person to train us! Liam had several issues causing him to not be able to enjoy life to the fullest. However these last few weeks with Vince he has progressed to a more confident and happy pup. I can't wait to see where he goes from here! Thanks so much for the help.— Rebecca Gillenwater
Posted June 17th 2024
I am so glad we found Vince. We've had other dogs over the years, but never sought out a trainer. And never could bring our dogs out much to public events or handle them well on walks.I always felt a little inadequate as a dog owner. Lots of love, but little discipline. We wanted a smaller dog this time, thinking she would be easier to control for a 70-something couple. This time we decided to seek help from a trainer. Vince has essentially given us the skills, the techniques, the patience, and the understanding of consistency to make all our lives better...including Olive. Vince is gentle, knowledgeable, and a very good teacher. He has made the training process seem so easy and the results are often instant (and lasting as long as you practice, practice, practice). Olive is a happy, well-behaved, loving dog (2-years old in September). I had a dream for years of having a "therapy" dog to take into healthcare facilities. We are now confident that Olive will be able to fulfill my dream and that she will continue to build her confidence without stress or frustration. Vince made this all possible. He is the best!!— Judith Gusky
Posted June 17th 2024
Vince has been the best experience for training with loki. Loki was scared and, Vince took his time in building trust with loki. Loki has come a far way and building confidence and obedience, thanks to Vince. Vince is easy to work with and always there if you have any questions. I’m glad I found Vince for loki, it’s been a pleasure continuing to working along side a great trainer.— karie turner
Posted June 2nd 2024
Our family couldn't be happier with the results of our training sessions with Vince! It was worth every penny! Admittedly, we were nervous about e-collar training at first. Vince answered all of our questions calmly and reassuringly. Having Vince train our 18 month old lab in our home was a real game changer. He addressed challenges in real time and was always happy to work with us to customize the training to our needs. Best of all, it is clear that Vince loves his canine clients. This alone made it so easy to trust him with our puppy. His calm and confident demeanor put both our dog and his pack (our family) at ease. Vince clearly puts the client's needs first. He never seemed like he was in a hurry to leave and he was always available for questions when they occurred outside of our training time. The opportunity to continue practicing with the group sessions is another benefit that we just love. We completed our 6 sessions recently and continue to practice regularly with our dog. Already he is calmer at the door, more polite when greeting guests and his regular recall is outstanding. Additionally, his recall with distractions is noticeably improving. We live near a lake in the summer and our pup is living his best life as he can be off leash more and more. Everyone who sees him comments on what a well-behaved boy he is . I am so glad we found Dog Training Elite!— M P
Posted May 30th 2024
Super excited to get started on training with Dog Training Elite. We just had our consult and feel great and very hopeful that our Jasper is going to have every opportunity to be the best doberman ever and for us as owners to be the best owners for Jasper.— DeAnna Harris
Posted May 11th 2024
Mr Conrad is an excellent trainer he has helped my fear aggressive border collie gain confidence now our daily walks have become a lot easier and she hardly reacts to people and other dogs. Overall this was an amazing experience— Briana Lanay
Posted January 28th 2024
I have a 2 year old. Lab and I can’t say enought. About how her training from Vince at Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh has helped her and is! Vince is very knowledgeable about training with individual one on one class and group classes. Whatever you need help with your dog Vince can fix it! I have a well behaved dog now that only continues to get better as she gets older . He is reasonably priced and is always available for questions or new concerns. DTEP gets my outstanding review. Give Vince a call ! You will be very happy with his training for your dog!! Sincerely, Linda Z— Linda Zemanick
Posted December 8th 2023
Vince was always punctual and sympathetic to my concerns regarding dog training/behavior. He gave thorough explanations and was flexible with the agenda of each class, tailoring them to my priorities. Even before signing on with him, he provided an in-depth consultation and answers, with examples, to all my questions. He was encouraging, yet realistic, and openly discussed the ongoinging responsibilities of the dog owner throughout the training process. I highly recommond Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh to any owner who wants to reach the next level of dog obedience and is willing to put in the required work necessary thereof.— Czarina Grace Michka
Posted November 13th 2023
Vince is the trainer that I needed for Dakoda-my 9mth old German shepherd. I tried other trainers and didn't get results. Vince is calm and patient and works to train you, not just your dog. I live a little bit out of his usual area, but Vince went the extra miles for me, and I am so thankful he did!— Lynn Bacha Antonucci
Posted September 11th 2023
Vince is the trainer that I needed for Dakoda-my 9mth old German shepherd. I tried other trainers and didn't get results. Vince is calm and patient and works to train you, not just your dog. I live a little bit out of his usual area, but Vince went the extra miles for me, and I am so thankful he did!— Lynn Antonucci
Posted September 11th 2023
My dog Teddy is still in training. He got nearly all his one to one trainings at our home with Tonya and now he has been in 3 group sessions so far. Tonya is not just knowledgeable and experienced as a dog trainer but her best qualities are her natural love for animals, her patience and her way to make them what we considered impossible. Teddy is a 7 MO sheepadoodle puppy and gets too excited around dogs and other people. He wish to play all the time so he gets jumpy and drags us whenever he wants to be playing. Tonya has been able to teach him basic commands and has been helping us to teach him to stay quieter. If you are in the need to get professional help along with loving care with your pup, Tonya and Luis are your answer. I recommend them 100%!— Steven Padin-Aquino, P.E.
Posted July 21st 2023
Vince is a wonderful dog trainer. He met Henry and I at no cost to assess his good and bad behaviors at home. Vince’s calm, patient and kind demeanor made me confident that he would be able to train Henry and educate me every step of the way. After our first training session Henry stopped nipping “puppy biting” at my sleeves and ankles. We have since worked on learning new commands and skills together that make having a puppy more enjoyable and even fun. I would recommend Vince to anyone who is looking to have a better relationship with their dog and who is even interested in service dog training.— Taylor Koch
Posted July 6th 2023
Vince is a wonderful dog trainer. He met Henry and I at no cost to assess his good and bad behaviors at home. Vince’s calm, patient and kind demeanor made me confident that he would be able to train Henry and educate me every step of the way. After our first private training season Henry stopped nipping “puppy biting” at my sleeves and ankles. We have since worked on learning new commands and skills together that make having a puppy more enjoyable and even fun. I would recommend Vince to anyone who is looking to have a better relationship with their dog and who is even interested in service dog training.— Taylor Koch
Posted July 6th 2023