Dog Training Elite Thanks Veterans with Service Dog Training Offer

Susan Hawk, lead dog trainer and operations manager with Dog Training Elite in New Mexico, knows the positive impact service dogs can have on their owners. She feels so passionate about the good service dogs can do, in fact, that one of her own dogs is currently in training to become one.

Hawk and Dog Training Elite , the 320-plus territory dog training franchise, truly believe in the healing power of service dogs, particularly for military veterans. For this reason, Dog Training Elite New Mexico decided to offer a $500 discount for its obedience and service dog training for eligible veterans residing in New Mexico until November 30, 2023.

An estimated one in five veterans suffer from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and the majority do not receive any treatment. This mental illness can often result in anxiety, depression and insomnia. Service dogs can provide comfort, along with the ability to ease both the mental and physical impairments a veteran may have received while serving our country.

“Many veterans suffer from PTSD, physical disabilities and a variety of other handicaps, and service dogs have been proven to lessen symptoms and assist in integrating veterans back into normal routines as much as possible,” explained Hawk. “Offering a deep discount on our dog training services to our veterans is how we thank those who served and sacrificed for our country.”

Service dogs are not just for veterans, however. Hawk explained how service dogs help people with a wide range of needs, whether for a disability, an illness or mental health reasons.

“If someone has a lot of anxiety, the dog can actually sense when the person is amped up and do some calming techniques to calm them down,” explained Hawk. “So if a person is tapping their foot for example, constantly making their leg go up and down, the dog can come over and interrupt that human as a way of telling them they are getting a little anxious. Sometimes the dog applies pressure to that leg with their head for comfort.”

Dogs can also be trained to recognize and disrupt other harmful behaviors or indicators of stress such as nail biting, explained Hawk, as well as use their keen sense of smell to alert a person with diabetes who might have high or low blood sugars.

Dog Training Elite stands out among other dog training brands thanks to its expertise, balanced training methods and affordable services.

While some dog training service providers have a fixed approach to training, Dog Training Elite understands that all dogs are different and a personalized, balanced approach is most effective. Hawk explained that although treats can be handy in training, the brand has a wide variety of tools in its arsenal.

Not only that, but the dog trainers are expertly trained to use these tools.

“They've been training dogs for over 40 years, and they have some of the top dog trainers working for the company,” explained Hawk. “When I initially went for training, I was being trained by the top elite dog trainers in the nation.”

Hawk looks forward to using her acquired expertise to support as many veterans as possible, along with other members of her community whose lives could be positively impacted by a service dog.