Get back the dog you know is in there.
A certified trainer does the work, sends you video report cards twice a week, then teaches your whole family how to keep it going. Reward-based training, 15+ years in Connecticut.
60-second quiz · Free phone consult · Free Meet & Greet day
- 15+ YearsTraining Connecticut dogs
- Certified TrainerOwner-led, not a franchise
- Great Day CTAs seen on TV
- No Shock. No Prong.Reward-based, vet-recommended
Which program fits your dog?
Answer a few quick questions and get the program we'd recommend on the phone, with the price and what's included.
Same questions we ask on every call, in about a minute.
- Your best-fit program, the price, and what's included
- Other ways to train your dog if you'd rather go a different route
- No email needed to see your result
You love your dog.
But right now, they're running the house.
Every walk is a workout
Your shoulder's sore, your dog's having the time of their life, and you dread picking up the leash.
Guests get mugged at the door
Doorbell rings, and it's jumping, barking, and chaos until everybody sits down. Sometimes after.
Lunging and barking at everything
Other dogs, people, bikes. It's embarrassing, it's scary, and it's getting worse, not better.
You've already tried everything
YouTube, treats, a group class. It works in the kitchen and falls apart the second real life shows up.
Training that holds up when real life shows up.
Plenty of trainers can get a dog to sit in a quiet room. We build the kind of training that still works at the front door, on the walk, and six months from now.
Reward-based. No shock, no prong.
Positive reinforcement, the method the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recommends. Your dog learns what to do, not just what to avoid, so it lasts.
You see the progress twice a week.
Video report cards of Ivan working your dog through each exercise, narrated so you know exactly what to look for and how to build on it at home.
The training comes home with you.
A written homework guide and handover lessons in your own home, so your dog listens to the whole family, not just the trainer. That's what makes it stick.
One trainer who reads your dog.
Ivan sees every behavior case in person before anyone picks a program. Plans are built around your dog, not pulled off a shelf.
What your dog actually learns
Every program is built from four skill modules. Your dog gets the ones they need, in the order they need them.
Connecticut trusts Elite.
"Blake's level of obedience is awesome… 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."
Nichole S. · Board & Train and boarding · drives from Maryland"We sent our two golden retrievers for a board and train program, and the results exceeded our expectations… We're amazed at how well they listen now, even in distracting environments."
Claire K.Board & Train, two dogs"No more jumping on you. No more pulling on the leash… all the puppy things that were not fun, are gone."
Patty & MaplePuppy training"Nellie has been struggling with counter surfing and jumping. After just one lesson we already started to see a difference."
Jessica M.In-Home LessonsWatch our Great Day Connecticut feature.
See how we work with real dogs in real situations, and why Connecticut families trust Elite with theirs.
Ivan Rios, Certified Dog Trainer
"Dogs can't tell you what's wrong. After more than 15 years, I've gotten pretty good at hearing it anyway."
Ivan reads the dog before he touches a leash. In his words, 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.
He sees every behavior case in person, builds every plan himself, and lives with five dogs of his own. So yes, he gets it.
- 15+ years training dogs
- Certified Dog Trainer
- Featured on Great Day Connecticut
- Five dogs at home
We do the heavy lifting.
Your dog lives and trains with us at our Glastonbury facility. Daily sessions with a pro, supervised pack play in between, and you're never wondering how it's going.
Foundation
No prior training2 Week Basic Obedience
Puppies are little sponges right now. We build the whole foundation while it's easy: name, recall, sit, down, stays, leash manners, crate and house training.
Jumpstart 5-Week Split
Training that grows with your dog. Three weeks now, then two more a couple of months later, right when the teenage phase tests everything they learned. Done by 14 months.
3 Week Basic Obedience
Older dogs come with habits. Some we keep, some we redirect. The extra week is what makes the new ones actually stick.
Advanced
Already has the basics3 Week Advanced Obedience
Your dog knows the basics. This is where it becomes truly dependable, even with distractions around. Sharper recall, stays, heel, and polite greetings.
4 Week Advanced Obedience
Bigger, stronger, or higher-energy dogs need their training bulletproof. The extra week is what gets you there. This is the program for the dog you want to trust off-leash.
Behavior
Starts with an in-home consult4 Week Rehab
Our most intensive program. A full obedience foundation plus focused work on your dog's specific triggers, always at their pace. Real, lasting improvement, not a magic fix.
3 Week Custom
Outgrown the basics but not a rehab case? There's no set curriculum here. Ivan builds it around exactly what your dog needs after seeing them in person.
Your dog comes home with a system, not just a trained dog.
Training only counts if it survives the car ride home. Every board & train sends your dog back with three things that make sure it does.
Video report cards, twice a week
Ivan on camera with your dog, walking through every exercise step by step: what to look for, what good looks like, and how to move it forward. Built from your dog's own sessions, never recycled.
Your written homework guide
Every skill your dog learned, in the order we taught it, explained the way we explained it to you. So when it's 9 pm on a Tuesday and you can't remember how we built the stay, it's on page three.
Handover lessons in your home
The first one the day your dog comes home, then a follow-up 7–10 days later. Ninety minutes to two hours each, hands-on, in the rooms and on the streets where it has to work.
Not sure which one fits? The quiz will tell you, or the free call will.
Training in your home, on your walks.
We don't run group classes, and our lessons happen at your place on purpose. Your kitchen, your street, your front door. That's where it has to work.
In-Home Private Lessons
One-on-one coaching, about an hour each, built around your dog and your goals. You're in the driver's seat, so the skills land straight in your daily life.
Day Training
About three hours of hands-on training with a pro, the rest of the day socializing with the pack, and home in their own bed every night. Simple homework at pickup.
Combo: 4 Lessons + 4 Day Trainings
Bonding and confidence with Ivan at home, supported socialization with the pack here. Working both sides at once does something neither does alone.
Reactive Dog In-Home Lessons
We come to you and coach you through the exact moments where reactivity shows up: your walks, your front door.
From first call to a different dog.
Free consult call
Tell us what's going on. We'll point you to the right program, honestly, even if that's not us.
Free Meet & Greet
Your dog spends a day with us so we both know it's a fit. Behavior cases start with an in-home consult instead.
Training + report cards
Daily training with a pro. Twice a week you get a narrated video of exactly what your dog is learning.
Handover at home
We teach you everything in your own home, with your homework guide and the videos to lean on, then follow up so it sticks for the long haul.
Let's talk about your dog.
A real trainer calls you back the same day, usually within the hour. No script, no hard sell. We'll ask what's going on, tell you honestly which program fits, and you decide.
- Free, no-pressure consult call
- Free Meet & Greet day before you commit
- Fully refundable if training hasn't started
- Video report cards, a homework guide, and handover lessons with every board & train
We ask about your dog, your goals, and what you've already tried. You get a straight answer on which program fits and what it costs. If it's a behavior case, we'll set up Ivan's in-home visit. If we're not the right fit, we'll tell you that too.
Request your free consult
We'll call you back the same day.
🔒 Your info stays with us. Never sold, never shared.
Daycare & boarding, run by trainers.
Structured play, real rest, and a team that reads dogs for a living. Every new dog starts with a free Meet & Greet day.
Daycare
Monday to Friday, drop-off and pickup 7:30am to 5:30pm. Packs bring it as low as $36 a day.
Overnight Boarding
Their own space, daytime play, and the same team they already know.
The Founding Pack
Lifetime daycare memberships, locked at a yearly rate that never goes up. Ask us on your call.
Questions we hear a lot.
Do you use shock or prong collars?
No. We're a positive-reinforcement facility. We reward the behaviors we want, which is what leading veterinary and behavior organizations recommend. It works, and it protects your dog's confidence and your bond.
Can you guarantee my dog will be fixed?
No honest trainer can promise a magic fix. What we promise is a structured, science-backed plan, real progress you can see, and the tools for your family to keep it going.
Will my dog forget everything when they come home?
That's exactly what the take-home system is for: video report cards of Ivan working your dog through each exercise, a written homework guide of everything they learned, and handover lessons in your own home. We teach you where the training actually has to work.
Board & train or lessons?
Board & train is best when you want us to do the heavy lifting. Lessons are best if you want to be hands-on and can practice daily. Plenty of families do both. We'll help you pick on the call.
Why do you cost more than some trainers I've found?
Some of the cheaper options get there with shock or prong collars. What you're comparing is a reward-based program with twice-weekly video report cards, handover lessons in your home, and a plan built for your dog. Ask any trainer what happens after pickup. That's usually where the difference shows.
What if the full program isn't in the budget right now?
Start smaller. A single in-home lesson or a daycare day gets your dog in the building and gets you a feel for how we work. Lessons and day training packs move you in the same direction, at your pace.
What if my dog has aggression issues?
We work with fear-based reactivity and general reactivity: barking, lunging, and losing it on leash or at the window. It starts with an in-home consult so Ivan sees it himself. We don't take people aggression or dog aggression cases. If that's what you're dealing with, or your dog's needs are beyond what we handle, we'll be straight with you and refer you to a trusted specialist so your dog gets the right kind of help.
Why does a behavior case need a paid consult?
Because with reactivity or fear, anyone who quotes you a program over the phone is guessing. Ivan comes to your home, sees your dog in person, and gives you homework that day. The full fee comes off whatever program you choose, and the credit lasts six months.
What if I need to cancel?
You're refundable as long as training hasn't started. For board & train we just need a week's notice. Inside a week there's a $250 fee so we can fill the spot.
Do you require vaccine records?
Yes. Current distemper, Bordetella, and rabies, plus registration in your town. Puppies need their full series of three distemper shots along with rabies and Bordetella. It keeps every dog in the building safe, including yours.
Where are you, and how far do you travel?
Our facility is at 278 Oakwood Drive in Glastonbury. In-home lessons cover Connecticut, plus New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. Travel is built into the out-of-state price, and those lessons usually run every other week.
Your dog isn't broken.
Let's talk.
We keep our programs small so every dog gets real attention. Grab your free consult call and let's figure out what your dog needs.