I am a balanced Dog trainer. I have been working with Dogs my entire life. I have been training professionally for about 11 years.
My skills include
Obedience
Off leash training
Agility
Retriever
Search and rescue
Drug detection
Bomb detection
Service animals
And much more
27 customer reviews
Kelly lucia
Dog Training
Derek and his crew were absolutely amazing with my very stubborn cane Corso.. They went over and beyond with him… I did a 6 week board and train and don't regret it at all…He came home a new dog… Highly recommend his services and professionalism. . And his prices were reasonable and absolutely worth every penny… More...
Ketura B
Dog Training
Derek is awesome. He board & trained my dog for a week. He treated her like his own dog and took great care of her. They went over basic commands and he showed me how to keep her from pulling on a leash. She’s a nervous dog and he knew how to be patient with her. I will most definitely let my dog stay with him next time I’m out of town. More...
Michele
Dog Training
Derek Hart is highly experienced dog trainer who is easy to work with. He was prompt to every appointment and flexible when we had to change times. My dog progressed to a better behaved dog which makes our lives easier and happier. More...
Ewa Litwinko
I am very pleased with the 6 week board and train session that I just finished with Derek. The price is very fair and my dog was very stubborn leaving home and the changes are amazing. He is very knowledgeable and personable to deal with. He will answer any and all questions that you have no matter how small they may seem to you. I highly recommend him. More...
Barbara Tulley
Dog Training
First meeting was cordial and informative. I felt that my dog would be well trained and well treated in their hands.
Lezlie Desmond
Dog Training
Review on Derek and Kaitlyn: It is a pleasure to send this review. Derek did a fantastic job with our two golden retrievers. He was informative with many suggestions, showed us what we needed to do to control their behavior, and was easy going with them in all ways. Kaitlyn also provided much in the way of training with these two boys. Derek brought many ideas for us to pursue. He always showed up on time and helped us when we needed it. I cannot say enough excellent comments about Derek and Kaitlyn with their dog training techniques. More...
Kiersten Peccerillo
Dog Training
Really had a wonderful experience with Derrick and his associate. They are very patient and truly know what they are doing. Our dogs learn something with each visit. We've learned a lot around diffusing situations that can potentially develop with resource guarding and rough playing. The dogs love them. Would highly recommend for dog training on any level!! More...
Al Coney
Dog Training
Having a Cane Corso, and it was so relieving to have somebody with such patience and such experience training my dog Derek was amazing. He treated my Cane Corso like it was one of his own pets. I’ve never met a trainer that kept in touch and made sure that I knew every step of the way what was going on with With my dog who is also part of my family. Came Corso are hard dogs to train and Derrick made. It seem very easy and always made me a whale to change and everything that was going on with my dog. He was a great trainer and I would tell anybody that I know to let him train your dog. More...
Johanna Cram
Dog Training
He is very helpful and doing an excellent job with our puppy.
Heaven
Dog Training
Paws Elite Training is the best! The trainer(s) are knowledgeable, patient, and of course professional. Helped take my stubborn overly dominant Terrier mix relax and get more comfortable with us giving her commands and actually following them. Highly recommend, as the price point is great especially compared to other trainers, and they truly commit to working with you and your pet. More...
Keely Ouellette
Dog Training
Derek is incredible!!! I noticed a BIG difference after just one introductory session. I cannot sing his praises enough. Seriously. Such a pleasure to work with! 10/10 easy! More...
Sarah
I sent my dog here for a 3 week board and train while I was away for business. She already had the basics but I wanted to get her more advanced. When I got her back she was able to pass the CGC and the CGCA. When comparing prices with other trainers this was one of the fairest prices I could find. He did an amazing job with my dog and I would highly recommend Paws Elite Training to anyone. More...
Mary &Danny Marr
Dog Training
Excellent. We worked with Derek training our puppy for 6 sections and it was a great experience for her and us. We would highly recommend him for all dog training.
Matthew Carabina
Dog Training
Derek is great to work with, he’s extremely knowledgeable and very personable. He immediately bonded with my Lab. She has made great progress in a very short time. We both look forward to our sessions with Derek. He’s provided me with the knowledge I needed to help me successfully train her. I highly recommend him More...
Fred Squires
Dog Training
Derek at Paws Elite was a pleasure to work with.
His kind and professional training was very important in the development of our puppies.
He was always attentive to our needs , was always available for questions, and gave us great insights to our dogs behavior.
I highly recommend Derek and will go back to him with any further training needs.
More...
Jamie Moraniec
Dog Training
If you’re looking for a dog trainer/therapist (or therapist for yourself hahaha).. look no further. Derek goes above and beyond and works his magic to bring out the best in your dog! He is more than just a trainer.. he cares so much about the dog he is working with and the dog parents! He brings such passion & drive with his lessons and tailors them specific to your dog. Long story short.. my doxie mix Benson had been acting off for a few months which aligned with my change in career and new work hours. After a few vet visits and normal lab results.. we all figured it was depression and I hired Derek! (Unknowingly… Benson was actually sick with some kind of rare illness. And we sadly lost him July 31st.. in which Derek was apart of everything up until Bensons last few hours still trying to help!) But In Bensons last few months I swear Derek helped us all live his last days to the fullest. He gained weight that he had previously lost… was eating & drinking great & even started playing again. His anxiety diminished and he was running around having the time of his life up until the day before he passed. Because of Derek being so gifted at what he does, I believe Benson and I were able to have the best last month together. Stop what you’re doing and hire him. He’ll be the first trainer I call when we decide to adopt another fur baby. Thanks for everything Derek. We will stay in touch. - Jamie and Sam More...
Delaney Nadwairski
We hired Derek to help train our new rescue (and us!), and we could not be more happy with the outcomes! We just finished training and our boy knows more tricks, commands, and obedience than he came to us with all thanks to Derek’s help and patience! He absolutely adored Derek, he is very personable and easy to talk to as well as extremely knowledgeable. We wish we could keep our sessions for life! More...
Damien Allen
Dog Training
Derek was great, I can’t say enough about him. He was extremely friendly, knowledgeable and my fig loved him. Derek made very easy to learn and teach my dog, because of that I have a dog that is better behaved, ready to keep learning, but must of all I’d s true pleasure to walk now.
If ever I run into trouble, I know who I will turn to again.
More...
William DeLongis
Dog Training
We’ve only had 1 session so far with 5 more to go but we got a ton out of the first and already are seeing improvements in our puppy.
Vivian
Dog Training
It was a great pleasure working with him. I will for sure hire him again. He is caring to your dog and explains things throughly. Great Professional personality. 100% Thanks Derek! More...
Reply from Paws Elite Training
It was a pleasure to work woth you and such a lovable Pit.
Linda
My husky is a sweet dog but stuborn. Derek came to my home and now Buddy is much easier to live with. He goes to his spot when I am cooking or eating. Now I don't worry about tripping on him which could hurt either of us. It is also much easier for me to go for walks with him. We have a few more classes but I'm am very happy with the progress. More...
Eric
Derek is an absolute expert in dog training! Our husky was exhibiting food aggression and we were at a loss on what to do. Derek stepped in and worked his magic - the transformation in our husky's behavior has been truly remarkable. Derek is patient, kind and extremely knowledgeable. He took the time to understand our dog's unique personality and tailor his training approach accordingly. The results speak for themselves and we are so grateful for Derek's help. Five stars is not enough to rate Derek's skills and dedication! We highly recommend him to anyone in need of a top-notch dog trainer. More...
Michael Beown
Derek. I enjoyed every part of working with him. If it wasn’t for Derek I would not have my best friend. His heart is huge. He gave my now adopted American pit bull a chance. He took a dog that was on the kill list, and turned the dog round. Giving me my best friend. I can’t thank Derek enough. Derek walked me through my dogs issues and really helped me focus on how to work through them. He is always there if I have a question. Always has an answer that works. Not just for me but my dog. The best thing is. If I’m having an issue I can rely on him to help me out. If I have to rate Derek on a scale of 1 to 10. Definitely a 10. More...
Stella
Derek helped train my dog who needed some training he wasn’t friendly with others. My dog has been better since working with him. I would highly recommend Derek if you are looking for a dog trainer. More...
Mark
Derek is an amazing person as well as a dog trainer and overall animal lover. Derek trained my Husky when she was a puppy, just a few months old and had her sitting and staying on command. She’s about to turn 5 and i get compliments on how well behaved she is, especially for a Husky! More...
Flint rich
Derek was amazing! He was very knowledgeable and trained my dog perfectly.
Shanan Noel
Derek was amazing with my Husky, Miska. She is almost 2 and he has helped correct her pulling behavior when being walked as well as he has drastically improved her indoor manners. I will recommend Derek to all my friends & family with fur babies!! More...
What do you love most about your job?
I love working with Dogs helping people to understand what their 4 legged family members need and want from life.
What inspired you to start your own business?
I have been doing rehoming of dogs that were sent to shelters for some time now and decided maybe it is time to help people train their dogs so they don’t end up in the shelters to begin with.
Why should our clients choose you?
I have many years of experience and a lot of training and knowledge that can be passed on easily. I believe in a balanced approach to get to the best possible results.
Can you provide your services online or remotely? If so, please add details.
I can offer training online seamlessly. It is a great option for people to have at their disposal. It is faster and cheaper as well.
What changes have you made to keep your customers safe from Covid-19?
Online training has been a great help in this trying time. As well as social distancing while training has helped tremendously.
Basic obedience
Sit
Down
Come
Leash manners
Advance obedience
Sit/with duration
Down/with duratiuon
Focused heeling
Place
Home manners
Place training
Pen training
Counter manners
Trash manners
Clicker tricks
A multitude of tricks can be taught to your pet to keep them mentally stimulated
Scent detection
Teaching a dog to look for a certain smell can keep the dog engaged and happy. It’s a fun game to teach and work with your dog on.
AKC Canine Good Citizen
Training to make it so your pet will be able to pass the AKC CGC certification
Sit
Down
Come
Greeting people with other dogs
Not acting up when left with a new person
And not afraid of distractions