Commonly asked questions:

Training doesn’t end when a dog “knows” the command. Reliability is when the dog listens under pressure, distractions, and stress without needing treats to convince it. With our Keep Training Positive™ (https://www.elitek9service.com/keeptrainingpositive)system, most dogs reach reliable obedience in about 4.5 weeks.

Yes. Age affects speed, not ability. Older dogs may take a little longer to build habits, but reliability still comes down to clear communication: reward when right, correct when wrong, and repeat consistently.

At home, the environment is simple. There’s no real pressure. Dogs don’t learn commands—they learn context. To be reliable everywhere, the dog must practice the same commands under distractions, noise, movement, and pressure. That’s why we train in public, around real triggers, not just in classrooms.

Knowing isn’t the problem. Competing motivation is. If a squirrel, person, or smell is more interesting than you, the dog will choose it unless ignoring you has a consequence (positive or negative). Training teaches the dog that listening to you pays, and ignoring you doesn’t.

A fair correction doesn’t harm the dog. It protects the bond by creating clear communication and trust. A dog will not respect someone who gives rules with no follow-through. Corrections are never used to teach. They’re only applied after the dog fully understands what’s being asked. Everything we do follows our Keep Training Positive™ (https://www.elitek9service.com/keeptrainingpositive)approach

Pricing depends on how long it takes to make your dog reliable. That’s why we evaluate first. Some dogs need more accountability, some need less. We design a plan that fits your goals, schedule, and budget — not someone else’s.

Positive-only training teaches dogs what to do, but it cannot stop behaviors they already enjoy. Rewards build skills; consequences build commitment. Reliable training requires both. We always use our Keep Training Positive™ (https://www.elitek9service.com/keeptrainingpositive)approach. Where we keep training primarily positive and only use corrections when the dog chooses to ignore what it already knows. (Never using correction to teach a new command)

You correct the behavior only after you’ve taught the alternative. For example, you don’t correct jumping until the dog understands Sit or Place. Then, if the dog chooses jumping over sitting, you correct the choice and reward the correct behavior. This makes the dog responsible for its actions.

We start as early as 8–10 weeks for puppies. Training at that age focuses on lifestyle, structure, puppy confidence, and building habits that prevent bad behaviors later. You can start now with our FREE Group Class (https://www.elitek9service.com/event-info)

“No” ends unwanted behavior without teaching a new trick. It replaces “Leave It,” “No Jump,” “No Bite,” “No Bark,” etc. One universal negative marker prevents confusion and keeps training simple. Consistency with one word makes training clearer and faster.

Aggression is communication, not identity. We evaluate whether the dog is acting from fear, frustration, dominance, or learned behavior. Most can be trained. What we look for is whether the family will follow through with structure at home. It's mostly the person, not the dog.

We guarantee reliability if you follow the same rules we train with. We are responsible for the training. You are responsible for consistency at home. If everyone holds their end, results are permanent.

Yes. We offer plans that let you train now and pay monthly. We customize pricing and financing like we customize training so money doesn’t stop progress. More info here (https://www.elitek9service.com/financing)

We teach the skill with rewards, then fade the treats once the dog understands. After that, listening becomes a responsibility, not a negotiation for food. Leadership becomes the reward. The treat becomes a bonus — not payment.

Yes. We train service dogs for psychiatric needs, mobility tasks, stability support, and confidence work. Service training requires reliability first, then task work second. A dog cannot assist if it’s not calm, obedient, and confident in public. More info here (https://www.elitek9service.com/servicedogtraining)