Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh

11/03/2024

Attend the Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show, March 8-17 to find everything you need to make your home more beautiful and livable. Stop by the Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh booth 154 to learn how we can help you resolve your dog's behavioral issues. See you there!

11/03/2024

Tess is such a media hound. She is included at the end of this KDKA segment on the Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show.

The big event runs through next weekend!

11/03/2024

Hope to see you at the Pittsburgh Home & Garden Show, March 8-17 at the David Lawrence Convention Center. Tess and I will welcome you at Booth 154.

27/10/2023

Ralphie Bean taking a few days of R&R at the beach before returning to training.

27/10/2023

11/09/2023

Congratulations to Olivia and Dipper for completing the in-home training. Every good engineer needs a smart sidekick.

11/09/2023

Lynn and Dakoda show off his PLACE at Twin Lakes Park. When you have a 10 month old dog that nearly outweighs you, he better be obedient. Brains and handsome, he's got it all!

11/09/2023

What a difference a year makes! Mark and Zeus show what commitment, practice, and patience can achieve. Great work guys!

01/09/2023

Alex and service dog candidate, Rudzik, demonstrate off-leash HEEL, and PLACE from a distance on an elevated object. Very proud of what they have accomplished only one week after learning HEEL and within one hour of learning PLACE from a distance. Today was Rudzik's first attempt at off-leash HEEL, at PLACING from a distance, and at PLACING on an elevated platform. Love the teamwork these two show!

21/08/2023

Many thanks to Omar Brooks, Glory, and the Brooks-Malesic family for all their help and support at the Little Italy Days Festival in Bloomfield. Please visit https://www.pavetpets.org/ to see how you can help them provide new hope to veterans/first responders through wellness groups and emotional support/service dog partnerships.

21/08/2023

My extroverted pup as the last day of a 4 day festival progressed. "I can't meet one more person!"

21/08/2023

Very proud of my dog. After 3.5 long days at the Little Italy Day Festival, doing a "million" tricks and demos, and being nearly exhausted, she will still stay where I place her even with loud music, people/dogs walking by and videobombing dog lovers.

21/08/2023

Love the reactions that Tess gets from people as they pass by her. Many say "My dog would never do that!" but it very likely would with some professional training.

21/08/2023

The unexpected hazards encountered when you have a bird dog off-leash at a festival. No parrots were injured......

14/07/2023

Up where they walk, up where they run
Up where they stay all day in the sun
Wanderin' free, wish I could be
Part of that world

Cranberry Community Days. See Dog Training Elite's Tess in Booth 256 and the Little Mermaid ([email protected]) in Booth 249.

09/07/2023

Hope to see you at Cranberry Township (CTCC) Community Days on July 13-15, 2023 https://www.flipsnack.com/a5997786aed/2023-ctcc-community-days.html. The free event boasts carnival rides and games, over 250 vendor and food booths, live music, and fireworks. Tess and I will be in Booth 256. We look forward to discussing your dog training issues.

09/07/2023

Thanks to Heather Abraham and the production crew at KDKA for having Tess and me on TALK PITTSBURGH to discuss "Keeping your dog calm during a fireworks display" https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/video/helpful-hints-on-keeping-your-dog-calm-during-fireworks/ I hope the segment was helpful to those of you with dogs that are afraid of fireworks. While the segment focused on managing your dog's anxiety, the ultimate cure for this and many other dog behaviors, including dog and human reactivity, is training. Please contact a professional trainer if you require assistance.

27/06/2023

How to Help a Dog that is Afraid of Fireworks

Nearly 50% of dogs are frightened by fireworks. Many will try anything to escape the unpredictable noise and flashes of light, resulting in more dogs being lost around the 4th of July than any other time during the year. Only about half of those lost dogs, even those which are micro-chipped, are reunited with their owners. So, it is important to have a plan to keep your dog safe.

What can you do to help your dog during a fireworks display
• If you can, STAY HOME. Dogs are safer at home than at social gatherings, and dogs that are left home are less anxious if you are home to divert their attention when the fireworks start.
• Make sure your pup gets lots of physical and mental exercise before a fireworks display. If your dog is healthy, give it some extra physical exercise. Tired dogs are generally calmer. Just as importantly, provide extra mental stimulation in the form of games, toys, puzzles, and training. Fifteen to thirty minutes of mental stimulation can be just as tiring for a dog as a long walk.
• Make sure that doors, windows, and other escape routes are closed. A frighted dog will easily tear through a screen. A terrified dog may jump through a window or chew through a door to escape. If your dog is reactive, it is important to be with your dog when the fireworks begin so you can reassure and protect it.
• Create a quiet and safe place for your dog to be during the firework display. Set up an area away from the doors and windows, preferably on the interior of the house or the basement, so that the noise Is muted. Turn on some soothing music to mute the sounds of the fireworks and to calm your dog. Pull the drapes to dampen bright flashes from the fireworks. Make the area very comforting and attractive by adding their favorite blanket, toys, and treats. A chewy toy or a Kong filled with treats and dog peanut butter are good choices to divert their attention and calm them.
• When the fireworks start, stay calm and try not to deviate much from your normal activities. If you are anxious about your dog’s reaction to fireworks, they will sense that anxiety and will become more reactive.
• Instead, try to divert your dog’s attention by playing tug, fetch, or another favorite activity. You can also provide them with some favorite treats. DO NOT give your dog the impression that you also think that fireworks are scary by hugging it tightly or coddling it in any other way, or you may reinforce the behavior that you are trying to eliminate.
• When you take your dog outside anytime the week of July 4th, always have your dog on a leash so that it cannot escape if it is startled by unexpected fireworks. The leash also ensures that your dog won’t run to or pick up hot sparklers or fireworks that happen to drop near you. Make sure that your dog has an ID and a dog license on their collar so it can be easily returned If it does escape. Ideally, your dog should be microchipped and registered. If they are not chipped, consider having them chipped and registered to enhance their outdoor safety in the future.

Try an anxiety shirt - Anxiety vests or “Thunder Shirts” work on the same principle as swaddling a baby or using a weighted blanket. The increased pressure reduces stress by releasing endorphins that promote a sense of well-being and calmness. To be effective, the anxiety shirt must be sized properly. A loose fitting shirt will not be effective. Anxiety shirts don’t work for all dogs, but there is evidence that they are effective for many dogs. It should be noted that while anxiety shirts may help you manage your dog’s anxiety caused by fireworks, they do not address the underlying cause of the dog’s anxiety.

Increasing your dog’s confidence and desensitizing it to firework noises - Training and desensitization are the best means of addressing the root cause of your dog’s anxiety. So, start early to prepare your dog for future firework events and other loud noises. Obedience training is an excellent means of increasing your dog’s confidence so it is more likely to look to you for reassurance that it is safe and is less likely to feel the need to react or escape. As your dog gains confidence, the training should include gradual desensitization to increasingly loud noises. Playing recordings of calming music with fireworks interspersed while you are rewarding your dog with some fun games or its favorite treats can help your dog associate fireworks with pleasurable things

A study conducted by the University of Bern’s Companion Animal Behavior Group in Switzerland showed that in-home counterconditioning was one of the most effective means of alleviating a dog’s stress. Seventy percent of the dogs whose owner’s played with them and gave them treats during fireworks were less frightened than dogs that did not receive counterconditioning. Counterconditioning was more effective than using music to drown out the firework noise, using diffusers and herbal products, and using anxiety vests. It was particularly effective in preventing young dogs from developing a fear of firework noises.

Desensitization can require weeks, so start now so your pup is better prepared for the next holiday/event that is celebrated with fireworks. An experienced trainer can provide the insight and experience necessary for optimum success.

23/06/2023

Tess "rocking it" at the Washington County Rib and Music Festival. Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth to visit with us.

17/06/2023

Please join Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh on Saturday June 24 for the Peters Township Community Day festivities. The event will be held for the first time at Rolling HIlls Park rather than Peterswood Park. It will feature food, music, raffles, plenty of activities for the kids, and a firework finale. Please schedule a stop at Booth 36. Tess and I look forward to meeting our community neighbors and to hearing about your dogs.

17/06/2023

VetPets of Southwestern PA is a wonderful non-profit that provides funding to help veterans and first responders adopt dogs and develop them into emotional support, service, and therapy companions. They combine the canine teamwork with Warrior Wellness Groups to heal the invisible scars their members have developed over years of service to this country and their communities.
Please join Dog Training Elite at their 2nd Annual Drone Golf Ball Service Dog Fundraiser (https://www.pavetpets.org/charitydronegolfevent) at Lone Pine Country Club on Saturday, July 22, 2023 from 11:30 until 3:30. The day will be jam packed full of activities including lunch; music; raffles; games of chance; face painting, mini putt and other activities for kid;, therapy dogs; and of course, the golf ball drop .
To learn more about the mission of this organization and how to help them, please visit https://www.pavetpets.org/.

05/06/2023

Like Ribs? Like Music? Like Dogs? Who doesn't? Join us at the Washington County Rib & Music Fest for a weekend of fun. https://washingtoncountyribandmusicfestival.com/ .

23/04/2023

Summer is just around the corner! What fun activities do you have planned with your pup?!

23/03/2023

INTRO TO TRAINING FOR OWNERS OF PUPPIES AND YOUNG DOGS -
Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh, in collaboration with Allegheny County Parks, is pleased to offer "Introduction to Training for Puppies and Young Dogs" on April 29, 2023 at the Parish Hill Facility in North Park.

This course is designed to help you develop a more fulfilling and healthier relationship with your young dog. It provides advice to make your first days together more compatible, and discusses socialization and enrichment that is critical for development of positive temperament and behavior. Communication and training tips are included to help you recognize and address obedience and behavior issues.

Profits from this course will be donated to The Malinois Foundation, a non-profit with the mission of providing service dogs to veterans, first responders, women survivors, and children with special needs.

Additional information can be obtained at https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/alleghenyparks/activity/search/detail/13716?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true

To register, please email [email protected] with your name, email address, and phone number. Payment will be collected the day of the course.

23/03/2023

Happy National Puppy Day. Spend some extra time with your puppy/dog today. That is what they need most.

13/03/2023

The most adorable visitor to my booth at the Home and Garden Show. She wandered into my booth while her parents were visiting with the vendor next door and spent 10 minutes with Tess.

06/03/2023

Does your dog have the confidence and discipline to SIT and STAY when a person passes by it? If not, we can help with this and many other obedience issues.
Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh - 724 299 1371

03/03/2023

Do you have a Christmas puppy that is becoming increasingly disobedient as it gets older? Or maybe an older dog whose behavior is beyond your training expertise. Please stop by Dog Training Elite Pittsburgh (Booth 328) at the Pittsburgh Home and Garden to discuss your specific needs and training objectives. Most behaviors can be improved considerably with good training, consistency, and a lot of affection. Hope to meet you this week!

03/03/2023

Setting-up for the Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show, March 3-12 at the David Lawrence Convention Center. Hope to see you all there!

17/02/2023

Training dogs is rewarding. Some days can be challenging but there are also days that are incredibly special. Eight month old Elsa went from being difficult for me to control on a leash to walking nicely beside her handler's wheel chair within a couple hours of leash training. She accomplished this despite the high winds and construction activity that was happening on this street. She is so attentive and willing to please. It is a joy to see her get better and better with each session. She really is a special dog!

22/12/2022

MUST LOVE DOGS!
Join our fast-growing pack here at Dog Training Elite! Our team is looking for a friendly, detail-oriented person with a passion for helping our Brand grow and ensuring our users operate to the highest potential on the systems/tools provided.

Duties & Responsibilities:
• Create and manage user accounts and permissions on various brand-wide systems, including the CRM, G-Suite, Twilio, LearningZen and DogStar DMS
• Document and communicate user account details per franchise to the billing department for accurate Tech Fee billing
• Provide support on user system issues as they arise
• Manage various pilot and Beta programs to improve systems as needed, identifying key regional participants, and gathering feedback to determine a brand-wide fit
• Plan, develop, and conduct individual and group training related to brand-wide systems
• Monitor system production to ensure compliance and quality
• Develop documents and videos for automated system procedures, manuals, and requirements
• Promote a culture of feedback and communication as we work to improve processes
• Help identify process improvements
• Help implement process changes
• Create, enhance, and improve various documents and videos on a bi-lingual scale
• Coordinate projects with other team members as needed

Salary: $44,000 with potential increase after 90-day review
Benefits:
• Medical/Dental benefits
• 10 days paid flex time (after 90-day probationary period)
• 2 paid volunteer days per calendar year
• Dog Training Services for personal dogs
• Bring your dog to work!

11/08/2022

Big and small, we train them all!

01/06/2022

Happy Pride month to all of our amazing pack members near and far!

17/01/2022

Another day, another friend! Zen was so excited to visit his buddy Kit at today!

14/01/2022

Service dog Zen had his first flight today and he killed it!

13/11/2021

Having a great time MUTTS Canine Cantina (Fort Worth, TX) with Dog Training Elite Dallas - Fort Worth ! Both of these amazing organizations have come together to raise money for The Malinois Foundation for local veterans!

12/07/2021

Some days, dog training looks just a little bit different than other days...