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Franchise Opportunity Deep Dive: Dog Training Elite is a primarily mobile dog training franchise that focuses on both training processes and relationships for long-term success.
Dog Training Elite* is one of the country’s leading obedience and specialized pet training franchises. The company distinguishes itself by offering a comprehensive suite of dog-training services. “Classical conditioning” training is provided in the comfort of the pet owner’s home, catering specifically to the needs of the family and their dog. While initially focusing on basic puppy and adult dog training, the company has expanded its services to include obedience training, therapy dog and service dog training, along with lifestyle programs for people who want to include their dogs in their weddings or on adventures.
In 1976, John Mestas opened his first business, Arrow Kennels. In 1980, he took on the mantle as a professional training director at his business, offering private dog training services. By 1995, he started offering his dog training services to the public under the Dog Training Elite name.
After spending years in the dog boarding and training industry, Mestas observed a recurring issue: Dogs' training often unraveled once they returned home. This problem stemmed from the lack of owner involvement during the training process, as owners were not learning alongside their pets.
Dog Training Elite developed a unique in-home training approach that involves all family members who interact with the dog. This innovative method has led to more sustainable training outcomes while kindling the bond between people and their pets, helping them rediscover the joy of their canine companions.
Since the brand started franchising in 2015, Dog Training Elite has expanded to include more than 240 territories.
Mission: To empower owners and enhance the lives of dogs and their families by delivering high-quality, reliable and personalized obedience and specialty dog training services.
Vision: To continually grow and strengthen a national network of passionate franchisees dedicated to fostering safe, well-behaved dogs and happy households nationwide.
Candidates should contact the franchisor for more information on available markets.
Initial Costs: The estimated initial investment required to begin operation of a Dog Training Elite franchise ranges from $187,550 to $296,600. The 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) breaks these costs down as follows:
| Type of Expenditure | Min | Max |
| Initial Franchise Fee | $110,000 | $110,000 |
| Travel, Lodging, Food & Other Expenses While Training | $1,500 | $15,000 |
| Advanced Training | $13,500 | $20,000 |
| Real Estate & Improvements | $0 | $500 |
| Startup Packet | $3,000 | $5,500 |
| Launch Support | $10,500 | $11,100 |
| Additional Equipment & Mobile Device | $500 | $3,000 |
| Vehicle Wrap | $3,500 | $5,000 |
| Banners & Signs | $750 | $3,000 |
| Demo Dog & Demo Dog Equipment | $1,500 | $6,500 |
| Misc. Opening Costs | $1,500 | $10,000 |
| Insurance Premiums | $6,150 | $33,000 |
| Employee Training (Per Employee) | $3,000 | $8,500 |
| Marketing (3 Months) | $10,000 | $15,500 |
| Additional Funds (3 Months) | $22,150 | $50,000 |
Initial Franchise Fee: The initial franchise fee is $110,000 for three territories and is due in full at the time of signing the franchise agreement. Dog Training Elite offers a 10% discount on the franchise fee for the first territory purchased for veterans.
Ongoing Fees: According to the 2025 FDD, Dog Training Elite franchisees are responsible for the following ongoing payments and fees:
| Type of Fee | Amount |
| Royalty | 8% of gross sales/week |
| Brand Fund | 1% of gross sales/week |
| SEO | $500/month |
| Google AdWords | $1,500 setup fee; $2,050 - $4,025/month |
ROI Potential: According to the 2025 FDD, the 69 franchises operating for the entirety of the 2024 calendar year reported the following gross sales:
Average | Median | High | Low |
$335,005 | $277,695 | $953,352 | $40,112 |
Before launch, Dog Training Elite assists franchisees with site selection for their home office or optional commercial premises, as well as choosing and approving a qualified demo dog. Additionally, the franchisor delivers three days of hands-on, on-site grand opening support to help configure operational accounts, assist with local marketing, and guide initial day-to-day business setup.
Franchisees complete a comprehensive initial "boot camp,” covering operations, basic dog training techniques, sales and accounting.
The brand provides continuous operational guidance, including regular online and phone consultations, annual management reviews and access to a centralized brand website featuring individual franchisee business locations.
For marketing, the franchisor administers local digital campaigns like localized SEO and managed Google AdWords while developing corporate marketing materials and managing brand-wide social media profiles.
Franchisees receive access to a dedicated tech suite that includes a brand-customized CRM system, integrated document management and corporate G Suite accounts.
Dog Training Elite franchisees do not necessarily need prior dog training experience, but they must be coachable and able to pass Dog Training Elite’s boot camp program.
The business must operate at least five days per week and must be overseen by an Operating Principal. Fully passive or absentee ownership is prohibited, but owners may build teams to support growth as they scale.
Dog Training Elite does not offer any direct or indirect financing for franchisees.
“Any question that I have has been answered. There's a great training staff. They've been able to help us with the dog training aspect and also the operations. They've also always been super responsive and helped onboarding new ideas and new things.”
- Parker Fillmore, Dog Training Elite of Nashville and Knoxville, Tennessee (Read his story here)
The dog training industry was worth $2.6 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $3.9 billion by 2030. As dogs become increasingly important to families and more integrated into everyday life, dog training has become a necessity, not a luxury.
Dog Training Elite stands out by providing real-world training opportunities to address behaviors in the environments where they happen and focusing on the relationship between dogs and their owners to ensure long-term training success.
Dog Training Elite’s primary competitors are Sit Means Sit, Bark Busters and Always Faithful Dog Training.
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