Chuck Stella of Elite K-911 trains, boards and grooms area canines.Photo courtesy of Elite K-911

NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio — There is a saying among dog trainers that there are no bad dogs, only bad dog parents.

Dogs, regardless of breed, need consistency and require an investment of time and money.

Can one teach an old dog new tricks? Absolutely, according to North Ridgeville dog training and grooming business Elite K-911.

Owner Chuck Stella has been an enthusiastic advocate for canine care since 2008, when he decided to change careers and go into dog training and grooming full time after working in dog rescue for years.

And Elite K-911 is more than just a training facility. It is a full-service destination for dog lovers.

The expansive campus offers courses in everything from puppy foundations to advanced obedience training, plus exciting specialties like agility, nose work and even dock diving.

Stella said he and his team are all about strengthening the bond between dogs and their humans through engaging, purposeful training.

Elite K-911 also provides professional grooming services, ranging from quick nail trims to full spa-style makeovers, along with de-shedding treatments and hypoallergenic care.

And when it comes to boarding, their four-legged guests enjoy spacious, comfortable kennels and attentive, personalized service.

Stella was a professional contractor before getting into the dog care business. He was a dog lover and often volunteered — as he does to this day — in dog rescue efforts throughout the area.

One day, he found himself building an addition for a local dog trainer and decided that he wanted to trade in his hammer and nails for some wagging tails.

“So, I made a deal with this guy about him teaching me the art of dog training. and he agreed,” Stella explained.

“I went out on my own after a year of being under his wing and started Elite K-911. It was like an old-fashioned apprenticeship, for lack of a better term.

“When we would work construction jobs, oftentimes we would work downtown, and it seemed like I was always picking up stray dogs and bringing them home, but I didn’t know what to do with them,” Stella continued.

“I didn’t know how to train them. I really didn’t know much about behavior, and a lot of them had aggression issues and I had to deal with for that.

But once he learned how to deal with aggression and how to “repair a dog” mentally as well as physically, it became his full-time job.

He even met his wife, Heather, who also volunteered in rescue operations. She now works at the canine facility, alongside nearly 20 employees that include groomers, trainers, operations and support staff.

Stella reminisced about one particularly aggressive dog that was roaming around downtown Cleveland.

No one seemed to be able to catch her, but Stella finally did, and he actually ended up taking her home with him.

He named her Venus, and he said she became one of the very best therapy dogs he ever had. Venus did therapy work throughout area schools, hospitals and nursing homes.

And, just like people, Stella said one of the most important things anyone can teach a dog is the ability to calmly socialize.

He said every dog should learn several basic skills, whether through a trainer or a good pet parent, such as staying in a yard, not jumping on people, curbing excessive barking and the basics of come, sit and stay.

“Like kids, many pet owners spoil them and don’t set solid, consistent boundaries,” he said.

“Dogs are dogs, regardless of how domesticated we make them. They are animals, and they’ll do whatever animal instinct takes over, and that’s usually predatory behavior.

“Chasing the mailman or chasing off other dogs, chasing squirrels — those are all natural things for a dog to do.

“Your job as the human is to guide the dog into what’s appropriate behavior for society and how we live,” Stella added.

“With our dogs, some folks tend to just let them do whatever. But nowadays, we take our dogs places and we expect more from them.

“They need to know how to act when around other people, and especially when they are around other dogs, such as at the park.”

His organization provides private training, group training and puppy training. They also offer advanced training for dogs ready to train with distractions — this program focuses on precision and control.

Skills include off-leash heeling, directional commands and executing sit, down and place from a distance. This training builds reliability in real-world situations.

Elite K-911 offers 10 specialized classes to challenge and engage active dogs.

Sport training programs such as confidence building, agility, mantrailing and dock diving provide mental and physical enrichment for dogs.

Stella stressed that his group does not provide police officer K-9 training.

And what does Stella love about his job? He gets to play with puppies every day.

“I certainly enjoy the puppies when they do come in, but it’s really about fixing problems,” he explained.

“Generally, people come in and say, ‘My dog’s crazy.’ But it’s generally the human that has the problem, so once we show the human how the dog responds to the proper information, it’s a light bulb going off in the human’s head, and that’s a satisfying moment.

“When the light bulb goes off and the dog realizes that somebody finally understands what they are thinking, where the dog looks at him and goes, ‘Finally, somebody knows what it is that I have been trying to tell you’,” Stella said.

“It’s gratifying to connect the human and the dog together, and I have to say it’s probably the most satisfying thing.”

Stella said he still does rescues here and there, and continues to find foster homes for some dogs that come into his care. He recently adopted out two German shepherds after they went through his complete training.

He also stressed that the type of breed of a given dog is going to somewhat affect its proclivities and activity levels.

A German shepherd, for example, needs a lot of exercise, stimulation and attention, so learn about the dog before making that 10-year-plus commitment.

A good way to get started if one is thinking about getting a dog, or did so recently, is to join him for his Pack Walks and Dog Socials.

Stella explained that Pack Walks and Dog Socials are key to enhancing a dog’s social skills and overall well-being.

These events provide structured opportunities for dogs to interact with others, practice positive behaviors and build confidence in various settings.

By participating, dogs learn to navigate social environments, improving their manners and strengthening their relationship with their owners.

Pack Walks are each Wednesday evening and Saturday morning. These walks are open to everyone — no appointment necessary, and the first walk is free.

After that, a $10 fee is charged, which is donated to local rescues.

Pack Walks offer the ideal setting for practicing good behavior in a calm, controlled environment with guidance from experienced trainers.

Whether you’re new to group walks or looking to refine your dog’s social skills, these weekly events are designed so that all dogs can benefit.

Read more from the Sun Sentinel.