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Meet Ivan

The Guy Who Reads Dogs for a Living

Dogs can’t tell you what’s wrong. After more than 15 years, I’ve gotten pretty good at hearing it anyway.

My name is Ivan Rios. I’m a Certified Dog Trainer and the owner and training director of Elite Training Centers in Glastonbury. You might have caught us on Great Day Connecticut.

Most of the families I meet have already tried the videos, the fancy treats, and the advice from the guy at the dog park. They come to me when none of it stuck.

Here’s what I do differently. I don’t start with commands. I start by watching your dog, because the behavior you’re fighting is usually your dog answering a question nobody noticed it was asking. Fix that, and the commands get a whole lot easier.

I’ve got five dogs of my own. Two are retired at home, a chocolate lab and an Aussie mix. Three still work the floor with me every day: an English golden, a lab/Pyrenees mix, and a mini goldendoodle. They keep me honest.

Book a consult. I’ll come to your home, meet your family, watch your dog, and tell you exactly what’s going on and what it’ll take to fix it. No fluff, no guesswork.

Ivan Rios, CDT
Owner & Training Director

I met Ivan in May 2022. He was matched with my 4 month old puppy Zuko for training. I had the best experience not only with Ivan, but Zuko with Ivan. He came back to me after 2 weeks a more independent, trained puppy! I have since booked boarding with Ivan several times for when I go out of town, and have and always will, recommend him to others. I know Zuko is well cared for and having the time of his life with other dogs. Ivan stays in touch, he’s accomodating, and Zuko loves him! I’m very happy we found him and Elite Training!

Melissa K.

We needed a dog trainer for our 8 month old Great Pyrenees/ Newfoundland mix who proved way too stubborn for us to train (with our very limited knowledge). So thankful I picked Ivan to work with us and our stubborn boy. Each training session we had made us feel not only confident but left our pup in much better shape. We saw improvements immediately after each session. Ivan took his time with us to answer all questions we had and even answered our phone calls and spent time talking to us outside of training sessions when we needed some guidance. My fiancé and I have always said that with Ivan it feels like a friend coming to the house. He is easy to talk to and a miracle worker with some incredible knowledge about all things dogs. It’s a no brainer to pick Ivan. He provides us with homework sheets and report cards so training once he leaves is a breeze.

Ashlee F.

We have been very happy with both the daycare and boarding at Elite Training. Ivan is knowledgeable about dog behavior, understanding of dogs at different stages of their development, and clearly a lover of dogs! Our dog has been able to be successful in daycare due to Ivan’s schedule throughout the day which provides structure, as well as the supervision of play and interaction. Our dog can’t wait to get there in the morning and whines in the car when we leave…that says it all!

Heather Vigeant

Elite training is the most professional, skilled, and compassionate training program there is. We have had both our puppies work with Ivan and his team and the results have been outstanding. Ivan is a great leader and teacher and he has helped our dogs as well as us train the right way.

Raj Parikh

I think my words of appreciation would be an understatement. The care that my dog Blake received/receives from Ivan, Jen, and Blake’s new cousins at Elite Training has been and is so rewarding. Blake’s level of obedience is awesome. Ivan, from the day you walked in my place I received nothing but trust, compassion and empathy. Jen instilled the same. Never once when I needed the team were they unavailable. I look forward to Blake coming back all the way from Maryland, which we did about three times already. I don’t think I will trust anyone else with my Blake’s care and training. To our new family Ivan, Jen and your team — thanks a million times over.

Nichole Sicard

We can’t say enough good things about Elite Training! We sent our two golden retrievers (4 year old and 8 month old) for a board and train program, and the results exceeded our expectations. Throughout their stay, we received multiple training videos that kept us updated on their progress, as well as detailed report cards twice a week. It was so reassuring to see how well they were cared for by the team and how much progress they were making.

The follow-up in-home training sessions with Ivan have been fantastic. He is incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and thorough in ensuring we understand how to maintain training at home. Our boys came back not only happier but so much better behaved. We’re amazed at how well they listen now, even in distracting environments.

Elite Training truly goes above and beyond. Their professionalism, communication, and genuine care for our dogs made all the difference. Highly recommend to anyone looking for top quality training!

Claire Kennedy

Ivan has been great with our dog Nellie. Nellie has been struggling with counter surfing and jumping. After just one lesson we already started to see a difference. We signed up for the in home training and it’s been so convenient for us as busy dog parents and nurses. Nellie gets so excited to work with Ivan. He has so much knowledge about dogs and my husband and I have learned a ton. We were also able to reach him via text whenever we had questions. We were extremely happy we chose Ivan.

Jessica Mooney

Training You, To Train Your Dog

Address
Elite Training Centers
278 Oakwood Drive 
Glastonbury, CT 06033
Contact Us
Enrollment@EliteTrainingCenters.net

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