Atlanta's Best Dog Training Services

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Atlanta Dog Training Experts

Sit Means Sit Atlanta provides professional dog training in Atlanta, Douglasville, Alpharetta, and the surrounding Metro areas.

At Sit Means Sit Atlanta, we work hard to create the perfect training plan for your dog to become more confident, obedient, and polite. Whether you want to be more involved in your dog’s training or want our trainers to take care of it all, we have a training plan for you!

Our dog and puppy training classes will help you get the most out of your relationship with your dog. We take all ages, from young puppies to older dogs, and train all types of behavior issues, from minor obedience issues to severe aggressive behaviors.

We would love to meet you and your furry family member! Swing by our Atlanta dog training facility for your free consultation today!

For more information on our training programs, check out our program descriptions below. For more information, contact us!

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About Sit Means Sit Dog Training

Dog Training Programs

Any Dog Any Age Any Problem

Day Training Program

Day Training Program

Our Day Train Program is excellent for busy pet parents that want to give their dogs the best life possible but find their schedules to be too busy to dedicate hours a day to training. We work with dogs every day that are extremely hyper, struggle with attention issues due to reactive behaviors, are fearful of new people, and so much more. The Day Train program has all the benefits of a traditional Board and Train, except Fido gets to come home with you every night! All you’ll need to do is drop your dog off at our Sit Means Sit Training Facility first thing in the morning. During the day, your pup will not only receive one-on-one direction from our expert trainers, but you will receive a private lesson each evening when you pick them up to make sure that you and Fido are on the same page!

Program Includes:

  • Full Days Of Training with our Dog Training Experts
  • Evening Private Lessons
  • Access To Follow-Up Lessons (at Trainers discretion)
  • Access to monthly Pack Walks for your dog’s LIFE
  • Consulting Via Phone/Email For Fido’s LIFE
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Immersion Board and Train.

Board & Train

Have you always wanted a dog that everyone could enjoy? One that consistently responds to the commands of your entire family, regardless of distractions and can go anywhere with you! Now imagine having the work done for you to attain that super dog.

Our Sit Means Sit Atlanta immersion graduates enjoy these benefits and more by having their dog trained by a certified professional trainer, all while they are busy at work or enjoying a long overdue vacation.

The board & train immersion program is perfect for the busy individual or active family who wants to be involved with their dog’s training but simply lacks the time to dedicate to the initial instruction and training. Your dog will come home happy and under control, listening to your every command, even with real-world distractions, and you, the owner, will learn how to maintain your dog’s new skill set with our “Leadership Transfer” lessons.

Do you want more information on creating the super dog of your dreams? It all starts with a Free Consultation.

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Private Lessons.

Hybrid Private Lessons

Our Hybrid Private Lessons are the perfect pairing for owners that enjoy training their dogs. We get the ball rolling by having Fido spend a full day at our facility to work with our team of Professional Dog Trainers to lay the foundation of training. Then we coach you on how to take the reins in your Follow Up Private Lessons. This will allow you to build a better bond with your dog and take pride in your pup’s progress that you helped achieve. We will give you the tools and guidance to teach your best friend high obedience, resulting in a healthier, happier pup.

Program Includes:

  • One full Day of Training at our Facility with our Dog Training Experts
  • Three Private Lessons
  • Access to Follow Up Lessons (at Trainers discretion)
  • Access to Monthly Pack Walks for your canine’s LIFE
  • Consulting Via Phone/Email for Fido’s LIFE

Get started today by calling us for your FREE consultation.

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Puppy Academy

Puppy Academy

As a new pet parent, you want the best for your puppy and their future, but sometimes it can be hard to know what all they need. Maybe you’re concerned about biting, leash chewing, potty training, or crate training? No matter the concern, we are here to help!

Our fantastic Puppy Camp starts when puppies are between 8-14 weeks of age. We begin with Private Lessons with the family to work on basic puppy behavior and setting your new pooch up for success with potty training, crate training, and biting. Then when your puppy is old enough, they are enrolled in a Day Train Program where they get to learn “Big Dog Obedience” from our team of Dog Training Professionals. Then we work with you so you can continue the training and have continued results!

Program Includes:

  • Multiple Private Lessons before formal Training
  • Full Days of Training at the Facility with our Dog Training Experts
  • Evening Private Lessons
  • Access to Follow Up Lessons (at Trainers discretion)
  • Access to Monthly Pack Walks for your pup’s LIFE
  • Consulting Via Phone/Email for Fido’s LIFE
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AKC Canine Good Citizen

AKC Canine Good Citizen

The Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification is a two-part course offered by the American Kennel Club. It is awarded to any dog that can master ten basic skills exhibiting good manners both in and out of the home. As an official CGC Evaluator, we will test your dog’s ability to master these skills and award them the certification on behalf of the AKC.

Some benefits of the AKC Canine Good Citizen certification are:

  • It serves as a prerequisite for many therapy dog certifications
  • All dogs are eligible, even if they are not a purebred dog
  • Potential discount on your homeowner’s insurance policies
  • Appealing to rental communities when applying to become a resident
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AKC Trick Dog

AKC Trick Dog

Have you spent time teaching your dog some awesome tricks? It is time to get a ribbon for that! We are Evaluators for the AKC Trick Dog Program. We happily conduct the test for you to prove how cool your dog is! The AKC Trick Dog Program is open to all purebred and mixed breeds.

The 5 AKC Trick Titles you and your dog can earn:

  • AKC Novice Trick Dog (TKN): Your dog performs 10 skills from the Novice list. (see the link to “Application” below for lists of skills). If a dog has a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certificate or title on record at AKC, it can do 5 Novice tricks (CGC + 5) to earn the Novice title. See the list of tricks here.
  • AKC Intermediate Trick Dog (TKI): Your dog must have the Novice title, plus perform 10 Intermediate tricks. See the list of tricks here.
  • AKC Advanced Trick Dog (TKA):  Your dog must have the Intermediate title, plus perform 10 tricks from the Advanced list. See the list of tricks here.
  • AKC Trick Dog Performer (TKP): In this title, handlers perform a short routine with at least 10 tricks and at least 3 tricks using props. See the requirements here.
  • AKC Trick Dog Elite Performer (TKE): In the highest level of Trick Dog, the Elite Performers perform a routine that has a story/script. At least 5 props are used. See the requirements here.
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Doggie Day Care

Doggie Daycare

*For Clients Only

Doggie Day Care is a great way to ensure that your dog gets to have fun while you are busy! This is offered for our clients only, ensuring that your dog learns and plays with dogs with the same temperament as them! We offer Daycare Wednesday-Saturday. Bring Fido in for a day with his favorite trainers!

Benefits of Doggie Daycare:

  • Provides regular exercise to maintain a healthy weight
  • Relieves boredom, separation anxiety, and destructive behavior at home
  • Improves socialization with dogs and people
  • Enhances quality of life
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Lunch and Learn Programs.

Lunch and Learn Programs

Do you work for a veterinary clinic, groomer, or boarding kennel? Do you and your staff love working with dogs and learning new training methods? Come to Sit Means Sit Atlanta and participate in our Lunch and Learn Program. Lunch is on us!

Our professionally trained staff will teach you tips and tricks for dog training. We will also cover bite prevention and canine behavioral problems.

We believe positive, attention-reward-based training is the best training method for dogs and owners. We would love to introduce ourselves and our dogs while we share the latest scientifically proven methods while providing some fun entertainment!

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Seminars.

Seminars

A calm, obedient dog is a happy dog! We love sharing our knowledge of reward-based dog training and would love to have the opportunity to talk to your group.

Our staff will meet with your group, training club, or pet store to discuss various training topics.

We will cover our reward-based training program and why we think positive reinforcement is one of the most effective methods. We will also review using remote training collars for motivation, retrieving, basic & advanced obedience, bite prevention in schools, and general dog tricks.

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Small Group Classes.

Small Pack Walks

Sit Means Sit Atlanta’s small pack walks are designed for families who want to be involved with their dog’s training and want to benefit from group socialization.

Pack walks allow you and your dog to work around other dogs and people as a follow-up to our training programs. It is important that your dog can function and follow commands in a busy, distracting environment.

Our pack walks are still kept small enough, so you and your dog get one-on-one attention from our trainers without getting lost in a large group.

Your dog will still be able to learn around distractions, but they won’t be overwhelmed by a large group of people and dogs.

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FAQs

Get answers to some of our most commonly asked questions:

Each of our training programs is custom tailored to the specific situation. There are a number of factors that we evaluate prior to building a training package for you such as your dog’s age, temperament, previous training, as well as the desired goals of the owner. What will work for one dog and owner, won’t necessarily fit well with another. Because of these factors, we offer a free demonstration & consultation as an opportunity to meet with your family as well as your dog to gain insight into the unique circumstances that affect your dog’s training. During the demonstration we will evaluate the factors and develop a training plan for your dog and family. From the training plan we will be able to give you an accurate idea of cost to accomplish your goals. There is no cost or obligation associated with the free demonstration.

Sit Means Sit uses a variety of training methods and tools to achieve the goals of the customer and their dog.

The Sit Means Sit mission:

Revolutionizing the quality of life with happy, obedient, and confident dogs.

With this mission in-mind, we customize our training approach to meet with our customer's personality as well as what will result in the best possible training experience for both dog and owner. As you view our portfolio of dog training videos, we hope that you will pay close attention to the attitude of all the dogs trained by Sit Means Sit. We pride ourselves on being able to maintain a happy and relaxed attitude in our dogs.

Sit Means Sit specializes in a diversified approach to dog training. We use an attention-based dog training system developed by Founder and CEO, Fred Hassen. This approach utilizes a variety of training tools to enable our trainers to gain the dog’s attention even in distracting situations. One of the tools that we use often in our training program is our customized Sit Means Sit Collar (remote electronic dog training collar). The reason we choose to utilize technology in our training is obvious when you understand the advantages that technology allows us.

Firstly, Sit Means Sit firmly believes in safe dog training. The technology we employ is 100% safe for dogs and humans. The Sit Means Sit Collar uses state of the art digital technology to control the output from the collar to prevent it from harming your dog. The technology that is utilized in the construction of our collar is similar technology to “electronic muscle stimulators” and “TENS” units. You may be familiar with the use of these devices in the medical field (they are very common in the Chiropractic and Physical Therapy fields) or perhaps you’ve seen devices advertised on TV as “electronic muscle massagers”. These devices essentially use low-level, adjustable electronic stimulation to creating muscle contractions. In the medical field, they are used as tools to help alleviate pain, promote blood circulation and encourage healing.

In the dog training field, specifically Sit Means Sit, remote dog training collars are used as a tool to provide a remote controlled cue. The cue is designed to neither cause pain nor to disrupt the dog’s emotional state, but rather to function as an adjustable “tap”. The approach used by Sit Means Sit trainers is to treat the “tap” from the collar as a cue for the dog to pay attention. This is no different than tapping a person on the shoulder to gain their attention. The goal of tapping them on the shoulder is not to hurt them or cause emotional distress, but rather to let them know that you want to communicate something to them.

The “tap” delivered from the Sit Means Sit Collar is a highly adjustable sensation that can be set to levels that are often imperceptible to people. Obviously this adjustability is necessary because some dogs are sensitive, while others are quite tough. There is no way to determine what levels your dog will respond to until you begin to train them with a collar. Another reason why the collars are so adjustable is because distractions from the environment are never consistent. Relate this to training with a treat. How many times will that treat work perfectly indoors, but fails to maintain your dog’s attention when a cat is running by. Sit Means Sit has found that dogs can be taught to pay attention around extreme distractions very effectively.

During the fundamental Sit Means Sit training, the dogs and handlers are taught how to condition their dog to the collar in a constructive and positive manner. By adjusting the level of the collar appropriately for the dog and the situation, as well as linking the tap from the collar with an item of high value, we can effectively teach the dog that the “tap” from the collar is related to something of value. This approach to fundamentals allows for a smooth transition into distraction training and off leash control through attention to command.

You can relate the advantages that a Sit Means Sit Collar can provide you in dog training with the advantages that a state-of-the-art smartphone provides you. Cell phones these days are no longer just phones, but mini-computers with built-in cameras, internet access and applications. These tools enhance our communication with others, allow for a diversified means of gathering and sharing information as well it’s just flat out cool what can be done with them, provided you have the knowledge. You can still choose to use you old-fashioned wall-mount telephone in your kitchen if you like, but now you’re restricted to the the length of the cord, and it’s not exactly easy to send photos to your in-laws using that wall-mount phone. Effectively limiting what you can do while you’re talking on the phone. There’s nothing wrong with doing things that way, it’s just limiting. This same relationship can also be said of using a leash to train your dog. It’s just limiting. With a smartphone you can do it all from the convenience of wherever you want.

Building on the premise of safety, the use of a remote controlled cue allows for greater freedom of communication, and in turn more efficient training through the enhancement of near-instantaneous timing. Being able to re-direct your dog’s energy or attention while he is at a distance from you greatly enhances the reliability you can achieve in a short period of time. It's also allows for you to communicate with your dog without confrontation from yelling. Also, the uniqueness of the Sit Means Sit approach stands head and shoulders above other technology-based dog training systems because of our ability to establish a neutral communication system allowing for unprecedented problem solving abilities, and through our enhanced communication skills a truly politically correct training approach. We invite you to view our training first-hand by contacting us for a free demonstration with a local trainer.

Training with a remote dog training collar like the Sit Means Sit dog training collar is really no different than training your dog with a leash or with treats. Reinforcement in any form is a required and necessary part of your dog’s life. Even after they are trained, it will still be necessary to maintain your rules and boundaries. This is really no different than we encounter with people learning to drive a car. Obtaining your driver’s license only shows that you understand the rules of the road, and have demonstrated your ability to operate a car safely. It does not guarantee that you will stop at every stop sign, and drive the speed limit all the time. Obviously there are a lot of factors that change as you drive, and some drivers are more honest than others. The bottom line however is that there are police officers responsible for maintaining the law and enforcing the rules that we have agreed to.

When looking at dog training from this standpoint, it easy to see how reinforcement of rules will be inevitable at some point. Every dog is different though, and some dogs require more or less reinforcement than others.

The good news is that proper and thorough training will result in your dog being more reliable even without training equipment or training ‘aids’ as we call them. Training your dog to be reliable without a Sit Means Sit dog training collar on is a matter of transferring attention through conditioning. There are three broad phases of training that you will encounter as you train your dog. Sticking with the your training and reinforcing your rules consistently over a long enough period of time will get your dog as reliable as they can be. The phases of training are as follows:

Phase 1: The Teaching/Control Phase ~ 6-12+ weeks

During phase one, the goal is to achieve control over your dog, teach them the rules, boundaries and desired behaviors you want. It also the time to teach the dog to pay attention and perform these commands around distractions. This phase lasts between 6-12 weeks on average, however in certain situations it may take longer to gain the reliability needed before moving on to phase two. Once your dog is capable of performing commands quickly and reliably around a variety of distractions with minimal problem solving required, then your dog and you are ready to move on to phase two.

Phase 2: The Reinforcement Phase ~ 6-12+ weeks

During phase two, the goal is to begin phasing out your training aid (remote dog training collar). In phase one, we use the dog training collar on a regular basis to regain attention and maintain our rules. Now in phase two we begin to reduce our dependence on the dog training collar and introduce consistency via variable reinforcement. You may or may not need your dog training collar, but we want to teach the dog that you are still in control even if the perception of the dog is that you are not. This phase will last between 6 – 12 weeks on average, and will require you to stick with phase two for longer than average. It’s also not uncommon as dogs mature and age to have to revert back into phase one training again for several weeks depending on how your dog’s performance and behavior is. When your dog is capable of performing commands without the need for reinforcement for approximately 6 weeks, then your dog is very likely to be reliable without their training aid present. We are ultimately looking to have your dog learn how to filter our distractions entirely. When this is achieved, your dog is much less likely to act out in an unwanted manner because of distractions.

Phase 3: The Maintenance Phase ~ Ongoing

The third and final phase of training a dog is the maintenance phase. During this phase, you will likely be using your dog training collar or other dog training aid very little as your dog is capable of ignoring distraction. The catch however is that they are still capable of distraction (they are not robots). A smart trainer recognizes this and is ready to maintain their rules, commands and boundaries at anytime. It is not uncommon to have a dog who sense the lack of maintenance and begins to revert back in their behavior. The benefit of having done your dog training properly to begin with is that regression is easily minimized and dealt with by simply jumping back into training for a short time to remind the dog of the expectations.

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Trainers & Staff

Professional trainers. Attentive friendly staff.

Gema Mays

Gema MaysOwner

Gema started training with Sit Means Sit in 2014 as a client with her dog who had extreme aggression. She was at her wits end and met a trainer in the area who wowed her with his commitment to training and his wonderful black Labrador Coal. Within a year she had joined the Sit Means Sit Team as an employee and has been hooked ever since!

Her passion for dogs and training has pushed her to compete in many AKC sports with her Labradors such as Hunt Tests, Agility, Barn Hunt, Dock Diving, Fast Cat, and Rally. Gema is an AKC Evaluator who can help you with your Canine Good Citizen Testing as well as Puppy STAR and Trick Training.

Why does Gema love Sit Means Sit so much? To her it is simple, the relationship she gets to build with her dogs. “Off leash freedoms and attention based training allow me and my dogs to live their lives to the fullest! We get to go on adventures, travel to other states and overall have a more stress free life. Training is a lifestyle and something you get to do with your dog. I’ll never regret looking back and saying I spent too much time with them.

Caitlyn Mikos

Caitlyn MikosTrainer

Caitlyn came to Sit Means Sit, utilizing our Board and Train program with her Great Pyrenees, Koda in 2020. After struggling with some extreme reactivity towards other dogs, she needed help with control, how to build trust and be confident with Koda. She gained all those things and more from working with the trainers! After Koda’s stay and meeting Gema, her grandmother was very persistent on this was the place Caitlyn needed to work and shortly after became part of the team!

Caitlyn has since added a senior Mastiff and with further experience through her passion of training added a Belgian Malinois/Border Collie mix to her pack to begin competing in AKC events such as Dock Diving, Rally, Fast Cat, Cat, and Scent Work.

Why does Caitlyn love Sit Means Sit so much? “Learning to better my relationship, have more control and attention has given all my dogs a more fulfilling life. Being able to travel, go hiking, visit festivals, and attend sports knowing I am able to live without as much stress knowing I have prepared my dogs for any outcome and can overcome the situation!

Peyton Moebs

Peyton MoebsFacility Manager

Peyton began lessons with Sit Means Sit with her Chihuahua, Bella. Bella struggled with some fear based aggression towards strangers and Sit Means Sit was her last hope. Throughout the many lessons she did with Bella, Peyton found her passion in dog training, and joined the Sit Means Sit team in 2018 after working in the Veterinary field.

Peyton has added two Chocolate Labradors to her pack and competes with them in Hunt Tests, Agility, Dock Diving, Fast Cat, Rally and Obedience competitions. She is also an AKC Evaluator who can help you with your Canine Good Citizen Testing as well as Puppy STAR and Trick Training.

Why does Peyton love Sit Means Sit so much? “The control and attention I now have over my dogs has given them a much more fulfilled life. I am now able to take them on trips, on hikes, and give them way more freedom than they had before. I’m also able to showcase my dogs’ abilities in different sports and events that they love to participate in. This would only be possible with Sit Means Sit

Jade MerrittTrainer

Noah CroweKennel Technician

Esther StephensTrainer

Service Areas

We proudly serve the following areas in Atlanta.

Counties

  • Fulton
  • Dekalb
  • Cobb
  • Douglas
  • Gwinnett
  • Paulding
  • Carroll

Cities

  • Atlanta
  • Buckhead
  • Duluth
  • Sandy Springs
  • Alpharetta
  • Johns Creek
  • Buford
  • Suwanne
  • Vinings
  • Marietta
  • Kennesaw
  • Acworth
  • Smyrna
  • Douglasville
  • Forest Park
  • Decatur
  • Snellville
  • Stone Mountain

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Sit Means Sit has 157 locations across the US and Canada.

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Dog Training Videos

Check out a few videos to see our dog trainers at work!

Jagger Offleash

Phoenix Day Train

Bruzer: 16week doodle

 

Lady: 1yr Labrador before and after

5 Star Reviews

We love customers and their dogs. They love us.

Maple

Our year-old Doberman was a pretty good girl but she lacked confidence. She didn’t like strangers and would lunge at them when they turned their backs. We knew that if this behavior continued, we’d end up having a serious bite situation on our hands. We also struggled with recall and getting her to heel properly…

Rane W. R.

I wanted to send a follow up email to let you know how Beau has progressed since his board and train sessions with you guys. If you recall Beau was the Rottweiler that was just under a year old when we brought him to you around Thanksgiving of last year (It was Cindy, daughter Olivia…

Paige M.

I have said it before but I will say it again, without you we would not have been able to keep our dog Grayce. She was a rescue and had apparently been abused. She was very aggressive towards people and tried to kill Darin when they first met. Now she is a loving dog who…

Bobbi G.

I am a returning customer to SMS. About 5 years ago, my dog Maggie had become so aggressive towards other dogs, even her own housemate dog, that something had to be done. I enrolled her in SMS’s immersion program. It worked wonders and her aggression became manageable. Maggie has since crossed over the rainbow bridge,…