The Best Dog Trainer in Austin

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Austin Dog Training Experts

Sit Means Sit Dog Training provides professional dog training in Austin and surrounding Texas areas.

Are you tired of…

… feeling like your dog walks you instead of the other way around?

… trying to tire out your four-legged furball that’s full of energy? 

… missing out on the many beautiful dog-friendly spaces Austin has to offer?

We get it, and we’re here to help.

At Sit Means Sit Austin, we help you to achieve control of your dog on and off leash while still allowing your dog to “be a dog”! 

Sit Means Sit Dog Training Austin provides advanced obedience training that results in happy, confident and obedient dogs as well as happy, confident and satisfied owners. Unlike other trainers, we equip you to continue your dog’s learning even after they leave our facility. We teach “training as you live” to help you maintain the obedience and skills they learn with our experts.

Our results speak for themselves, we’ve trained 10,000+ dogs in 12 years, with over 300 five-star reviews.

You can stop worrying about:

  • Leash pulling
  • Jumping
  • Poor recall
  • Unruly/hyper behavior
  • Barking
  • Nipping, Biting, Chewing
  • Aggression
  • Separation Anxiety
  • Resource Guarding

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About Sit Means Sit Dog Training

Dog Training Programs

Any Dog Any Age Any Problem

Day Camp Training

Day Camp Training

Like the idea of having a professional initially train your dog and you do some of the training yourself so you become a more experienced pet parent? That is what the Day Camp training is about! This is our most popular option and the one where we find the most consistent long-term success.

This is a 3,4, or 6 day all-day training program (normally over a 2 to 4-week period) where a professional trainer will train your dog throughout the day at the training facility around lots of dogs and other distractions. 

Drop off your dog in the morning and pick him up at the end of the day, where the trainer will instruct you on how to work with your dog for the next few days.

Spend the time between sessions reinforcing what you and your dog learned. Then drop him off again the following Day Camp day.

In addition to a professional trainer training your dog, you will also receive a private lesson at the end of each day, plus a membership for group classes to continue to reinforce the training.

Interested in learning more? Check out our Day In the Life of a Day Camp Dog video!

Ready to see if day camp is a fit for you and your furry friend? Give us a call at 512-348-7833 to determine what day camp option works best for you, or schedule a consultation here!

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Private Lessons

Private Lesson programs are designed for the family that wants to be directly involved and personally responsible for the success of their dog’s training. In this option, you meet with a trainer for hour-long one-on-one sessions, in a variety of locations such as our training center, parks, and almost any location where you want to help with your dog’s behavior in that situation.

The trainer will teach you how to train your dog, and how to specifically address the things that are important to you. Our lessons are customized to help ensure you can meet your specific and unique goals.

We call this “Lifestyle Training” where we help you incorporate the training of your dog into your day-to-day life.

All of our furry friends are different, so give us a call at 512-348-7833 to determine what private train option works best for you, or schedule a consultation here!

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Early Learners Puppy Class

Puppy Kindergarten

Puppy Kindergarten is an exciting program designed to get dog owners and their puppies off to a great start. Over a 4 week period, we focus on the fundamentals of owning and training a puppy. Some of the things we teach include engagement, socialization, crate training, sitting, recall, and walking. This program is meant for puppies 8-16 weeks in age and is limited to 6 puppies per class.

Our 2023-2024 winter/spring sessions are now bookable! Click here for the schedule and to sign up!

To learn more about the curriculum, and requirements, click here.

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Puppy Management Lesson

Puppy Management Lesson

This lesson is designed for puppies between 8 weeks and 6 months of age. Our puppy training lessons are focused on addressing some of the most frustrating, challenging issues with new puppies and help you and your puppy get off to a great start. Classes are for single puppies and are $150. We cover things such as potty training, crate training, introducing your puppy to a leash, dealing with chewing and biting, and answering questions you might have.

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Group Classes

Group Classes

After your Private Lessons or Day Camp Training Program, enjoy ongoing training, help and challenges with Group Classes! They offer our clients the opportunity for structured socialization and the ability to practice and reinforce obedience.

We have three types of group classes – transitional (beginner), advanced, and specialty.

Canine Fitness & Physical Conditioning Speciality Class

Specialty Classes

Our dog training school is proud to offer Specialty Classes that are open to clients who’ve completed our Sit Means Sit obedience training and graduated to group class. These specialty dog training classes are fun introductions to various specialty training that you can see if you and your dog enjoy!

Classes include Introductions to Agility, Tricks, and Nose Work.

Private Lessons

Refresher Memberships

After your full program is complete, enroll in one of our membership programs to maintain and advance your dog’s obedience. These memberships are a great alternative to dog daycares, parks, and bars as they offer your dog “structured socialization” and you an opportunity to work on your training skills!

We offer two types of memberships:

  • The Good Dog Club – an unlimited group class membership
  • Advanced Paws – a single private or day train a month + unlimited group class.

Click here to learn more.

Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Certification

Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Certification

Prepare your dog for the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) test in one of our Training Programs and/or come in for testing to receive your Canine Good Citizen (GCG)!

According to the AKC website, “The CGC Program is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. The Canine Good Citizen Program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club.

What is a CGC Test from the AKCMany dog owners choose Canine Good Citizen training as the first step in training their dogs. The Canine Good Citizen Program lays the foundation for other AKC activities such as obedience, agility, tracking, and performance events. As you work with your dog to teach the CGC skills, you’ll discover the many benefits and joys of training your dog. Training will enhance the bond between you and your dog. Dogs who have a solid obedience education are a joy to live with-they respond well to household routines, have good manners in the presence of people and other dogs, and they fully enjoy the company of the owner who took the time to provide training, intellectual stimulation, and a high-quality life. We sincerely hope that CGC will be only a beginning for you and your dog and that after passing the CGC test, you’ll continue training in obedience, agility, tracking, or performance events.”

Read more from the AKC website

If you are a Sit Means Sit client, then you know that our dogs are expected to easily pass the Canine Good Citizen test. So why not have your dog get the recognition she deserves! Canine good citizen testing will be offered to clients at a rate of $20 per dog and non-clients for $25:

  • Test is given only once per quarter
  • For Sit Means Sit clients, a prep group class will be given for the test prior to the test. Please see the group calendar.
    (if you are a Sit Means Sit client – get to group to practice)
  • Certificate and testing materials sent through the American Kennel Club (AKC)
  • You must register in advance by completing the form below

Schedule Your CGC Test

Or email us or call us at 512-348-7833 for more information.

FAQs

Get answers to some of our most commonly asked questions:

Our training programs vary considerably from dog to dog and depending on your training goals and your lifestyle. They vary both in the structure and layout of our programs, as well as in the cost and duration of the training.
Each of our training programs is custom-tailored to your specific needs. To build you the right training package, we evaluate factors such as your dog’s age, temperament, previous training, your lifestyle, as well as your desired goals. What will work for one dog and owner won’t necessarily fit well with another. Because of these factors, we offer a free consultation as an opportunity to meet with your family and your dog to gain insight into the unique circumstances that affect your dog’s training.

The unique Sit Means Sit training model uses Attention-Based Training to modify behaviors and teach dogs new skills and proper manners. This approach to training allows our Sit Means Sit Austin trainers to use a variety of attention-based modalities such as leashes, flat collars, food, toys, and our patented Sit Means Sit Collar.
Just as in sports and academics, no one is ever punished into excellence. We teach with a healthy level of clear guidance, direction, and enthusiastic praise. Through repetition and proper progression, excellence and proficiency are then achieved.
We are best known for our off-leash results around distractions, both on and off the owner’s property. We address many different areas of training, such as:

Housebreaking
Barking
Aggression
Basic Obedience
Leash pulling
Jumping
Chewing
Advanced Obedience

Our training is safe, and it is free of confrontation, conflict, and confusion. There is no yelling or punishment in our training progressions. The collar (as is with all other training modalities), does not train a specific skill such as “sit” or “down”. We (and you) as the trainers train the skill. The collar simply acts as a neutral attention aid, and once we have the dog’s attention, we begin shaping a skill by guiding and directing the dog. As you view our portfolio of dog training videos and pictures, we hope that you will pay close attention to the attitude of all the dogs trained by Sit Means Sit. We direct our focus on generating and maintaining a happy and relaxed attitude in all of our dogs. This is why we are committed to showcasing our training online in order to share our training options.

The Sit Means Sit collar is a micro stim modality that is very similar to the micro stim units used in the medical and athletic fields. These micro stim units essentially use low-level, adjustable electronic stimulation to create a muscle contraction. In the medical field, they are used as aids to help alleviate pain, promote blood circulation and induce healing. For our SMS collar, an adjustable micro stim signal is manually sent from a remote, which translates into a “tap” delivered to the Sit Means Sit Collar. This tap starts at such a low level that it is often imperceptive to people. This signal from the Sit Means Sit collar is also adjustable in the same way that your voice is, and is completely controlled by you, the handler.

Sit Means Sit uses an attention-based dog training model developed by Founder and CEO, Fred Hassen. This approach utilizes a variety of training modalities that enable our trainers to gain the dog’s attention, even in some of the most distracting environments. The Sit Means Sit Collar allows us to use this medical technology in a way that is counterintuitive to the old school “correction /compulsion” approach. The “tap” is the cornerstone of teaching attention both in close and long distant proximity, as well as in distracting environments. Our ability to generate consistent quality levels of attention allows us to provide the dog a quicker learning path than any other training model.

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 get their attention. The goal of tapping them on the shoulder is not to surprise or intimidate them, but rather to let them know that you want to communicate something to them. Adjustability in the tap levels is necessary because while some dogs are “tuned in,” so to speak, others can be less so. There is no way to determine what levels your dog will respond to until we begin to interact and teach them with our collar. The versatility of the collar’s long-range capacity, the weather and waterproof tolerances, and micro stim levels allow a “training effect” to move into areas of high distraction and new environments. The integration of our collar will also significantly shorten the time period spent training, simply because a major challenge in teaching has always been about gaining and maintaining the dog’s attention.

Training with the Sit Means Sit collar implements the same principles of any learning program that uses a variety of teaching aids. Reinforcement, in any and every form, is a required component for proficiency and a necessary part of your dog’s life. Even after they are trained, it will still be necessary to maintain your rules and boundaries both in and out of the home.

The good news is that with proper progression and thorough training, your dog will become increasingly more reliable. This translates into more freedom for the dog and less stress for the owner. Proofing your dog to be reliable without the use of the Sit Means Sit dog training collar 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 your training and reinforcing your rules consistently, over a long enough period of time, will define your dog’s level of reliability in every case.

We advise all our clients to implement the use of the Sit Means Sit collar consistently and without hesitation for 90 days post-program completion. Our focus at this juncture is on generating the smallest deviation between commands given and commands executed. Translation: if you are having to repeat your command 5-7 times, it’s not because your dog can’t hear you, it’s because he doesn’t understand the skill in that particular working arena and current level of drive. The answer to solving this scenario is to go back to basics and ensure you are following the protocols for progression.

Sit Means Sit Austin offers different types of training models with a variety of programs within each model. Each program is tweaked to the specific needs of your dog, your family, and your circumstances.

We offer:

  • Day Camp Day Training Programs
  • Private Lessons
  • Group Classes
  • Puppy Training / Housebreaking

Your success is ensured with our results-oriented year-round support, including lifetime phone consulting. This means we truly are your dog’s lifelong trainers!

Day train programs are a lot like traditional board & trains, yet have a few key differences.

The first difference – You!

Day train programs and meant to be immersive like a board & train, but they include you, the owner, as an integral part of the training.
During a day train, you will drop off your dog at one of our facilities, where a professional trainer will work with them throughout the day. At the end of the day, we will have a private lesson with you so we can transfer everything your dog has learned and you can continue the process at home.

After years of doing board & trains ourselves, we’ve learned that including owners in the process is critical to enduring results because it builds trust and a strong emotional bond between you and your dog. Moreover, learning basic training skills will help you maintain and advance your dog’s behavior even after your program is over.

The second difference – affordability!

Though immersive like a board & train, a day train is substantially cheaper; sometimes even 50% so. We’re able to do this by training your dog on the fundamentals ourselves, training you on how to maintain those skills, and giving you support as you hone in on what you want to achieve. This process of building trust between us, you, and your dog leads to better outcomes and more affordable rates.

We offer a lifetime training support guarantee for the life of your dog. What this means is that you can call, email, or text us to receive training guidance and support as you solve previous and new problems. We will even guide you on advancing your dog!

Ideally, we resolve most of the issues in our program, however, we know that situations change, and we want to make sure we are there for you.

Managing behavior can be lonely, so you can consider us your trainer resource for life!

Yes! We offer both paypal credit and affirm to make training more affordable.

Paypal credit is offered through Paypal and will break your training cost into 6 monthly payments with no interest. Terms and conditions apply.

Affirm is a flexible installment option that will break your training cost into your preferred length. There can be interest depending on your borrower profile. Terms and conditions apply.

You can learn more about our payment options here.

We have free parking located around our building at both of our locations for any visitors.

Can't Find Your Question?

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(512)-348-7833 Contact Us

Trainers & Staff

Professional trainers. Attentive friendly staff.

Chirag & Tara Shah

Chirag & Tara ShahCo-Owners

We became the proud owners of Sit Means Sit Austin in 2022. Our love for dogs began with our own experiences fostering and adopting from local shelters. We currently have a sweet Pitbull mix named Dino who is full of curiosity and teaches us something new every day!

Chirag has always been an entrepreneur, running his own startup in the past and also working in tech as a product manager, where his main goal was to understand what makes good experiences for customers and then find ways to make them even better and more efficient through the use of technology.

Tara is a linguist and a former teacher to students of all ages; she has taught children as young as 2 years old, all the way to adults over 70!

We are new to dog training ourselves but have learned so much by being part of the Sit Means Sit family. We are excited to share everything we and the experienced trainers at Sit Means Sit know with you so that you and your dog can forge a loving bond and continue to strengthen it each day!

Ismael CavazosGeneral Manager

Born and raised in Houston, I’ve lived in Austin since 1993. I graduated from the University of Texas in 2000 with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts with a concentration in printmaking and conceptual art. As a young boy, my first pet was a German Shepherd and throughout my life I’ve always had a furry companion.

Currently, my fiancé and I have a turtle, two hens, a rooster and four dogs! I jumped at the opportunity to join the Sit Means Sit family in 2024 and it has been an honor to continue in this unique 15,000 year old co-evolution legacy of fostering the bond between the humans and dogs of Austin.

Gerardo “Gerry” Sanchez

Gerardo “Gerry” SanchezSenior Trainer

The thing I love the most about dog training is getting the chance to improve the life of both owners and dogs by helping them communicate better with each other. Working at Sit Means Sit has helped me evolve as a trainer. It has taught me how to work with very different dogs and different behaviors. But the thing that I love the most is that it has allowed me to help dogs and their owners more than I could’ve imagined.

I’ve been an animal lover, but more particularly a dog lover, for my entire life. I didn’t really know much about dog behavior or training up until about 2017. I did an exchange to another country and it changed my entire life, my way of viewing things, and my goals in life. I realized that dogs meant so much more for me than I thought. That’s when I decided to pursue a career that allowed me to be more than just a dog owner. When I got back home, I started a dog sitting business and soon realized that I didn’t know as much about dogs as I had thought, so I decided to go to dog training school. I spent three months training where I trained my personal dog Luna and simultaneously I trained Rico, a rescue dog. Those three months showed me how dogs can be so much more than just a pet, they can become a best friend. The bond I created with Rico was so amazing, I ended up adopting him.

Christian Ramos

Christian RamosSenior Trainer

I never had pets as a kid because I have 7 siblings so that would’ve been crazy! Instead, I took on the life of a student athlete. I went to college in Colorado to study and play football, studying always being first. With almost a 4.0 GPA and a real chance of becoming a professional football player, life seemed too good to be true. After a senior year career ending knee injury and a weird turn of events, I found myself with a brand new Husky German Shepard puppy and nothing but time.

She helped me cope with my injury and I grew this obsession with teaching her everything I could! We did everything together, learned to walk together, slept together and learned together. We swam in the strongest rivers, hiked in blizzards and explored the Rocky Mountains in the summer. Thanks to Luna, I realized my life was just getting started and on top of the highest mountain in Durango I promised her I would give her the best life possible! I immersed myself in ways to train your dog and she kept impressing me with how well she retained the training. She loved training and it caused me to want to advance my training skills further.

After I returned home, she lost a little of that structure and we hit a ceiling in our training. For around a year, I tried several techniques and I wasn’t sure what to do with her and a full time job wasn’t helping. Then COVID happened and the country shut down. I was furloughed and found myself quarantined with my girlfriend and my dog for months. I was able to reignite Luna’s passion to work with me but I knew I had to take it a step further. I loved her so much that I decided I would make a career out of it. I was hired with Sit Means Sit with self taught knowledge and trial and error with Luna.   Every one of my coworkers is either a doggy whisperer or a doggy scientist, but a dog training behavioral professional I think is the correct term. I have always been hungry for knowledge and love how much I have learned from all of them already. Luna’s training is getting exponentially better and my knowledge of dogs is as well! I love helping dogs reach their best potential and live their best lives. I love showing owners how to best help their fur child and seeing that bond grow. I am excited to see where this new and exciting chapter in my life goes!
Micah Hopkins

Micah HopkinsSenior Trainer

I’ve been an animal lover for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I was involved in 4-H, loved going to horse camp, and fawned over all my friends’ pets as well as my own. My family owned 2 dogs who were very loved but very untrained. When I was 16, I applied for a job at a dog boarding and daycare facility where I worked for 3 years before working at a second one closer to home.

With all that exposure to hundreds of different dogs, I gained experience with all types of dog temperaments, from ranch dog to lap dog, hyperactive to geriatric… I was responsible for their care and safety and often put in charge of making and monitoring play groups. Experience alone taught me a lot, but I still found myself experimenting frequently to figure out how to interact and communicate with the dogs. I became increasingly interested in learning about dog behavior and working with dogs long term.

I ended up adopting a puppy in December of 2016, and I was determined to raise her to be the best dog ever. I wanted to go above and beyond with my new kid, Hollie, teaching her to be well-behaved in public, reliable off-leash, and maybe even become a therapy dog or get involved in dog sports. I tried to teach her good habits at home and signed us up for some classes, including rally and agility. However, I felt like we just couldn’t advance past a certain point; my dog was just too distracted and she didn’t listen to me at all off leash. I talked to multiple trainers and searched many resources trying to learn all I could about dog training and the different methods out there, which is how I discovered Sit Means Sit.

I started out as a client but applied for a job as soon as I heard they were hiring. Since then, I have made so much progress with Hollie. I get to include her in a growing number of activities in my life because we’ve learned how to communicate with each other better and succeed in training where I couldn’t before. I’m so proud of her, and that’s a wonderful feeling that I want to help all dog owners experience. The Sit Means Sit family is dedicated to being the best at what they do, even if it means going the extra mile or trying something brand new. I’m proud to be part of a team that is so committed to helping people and their dogs have a happy relationship by building up their confidence and trust in each other.

Trisha Davision

Trisha DavisonTrainer

Trisha Davison has been surrounded by animals practically since birth, always having at least one dog and cat in the family. Early on she had a big fascination with horses and by the age of 12 her family rescued two Arabian horses that needed rehabilitation, both physically and mentally. One of the horses, Buddy, became her main focus, he was afraid of his own shadow and spooked at twigs on the ground!

It took a few years of learning and practicing horse psychology but by the time she was 14 she was entering barrel races and extreme trail trials, testing the relationship she had built with Buddy. Pulling tarps, opening and closing gates on horseback, even riding bridle-less with ease. And by the time she was 16, Trisha was involved with her local 4-H group, showing rabbits and taking photographs.

When she was 18 she got a job working in the boarding department of a veterinary clinic. There she was surrounded by knowledge about pet health, dog and cat nutrition, medication, and after surgery care. She also used that environment to help her own dog, a pit bull named Kanoe, that came to her dog aggressive. Gradually transitioning Kanoe from just walking with other employee dogs to being in daycare, and after a short time she even made doggy friends.

During her years there she saw a lot of dogs and owners stressed about going to the vet or even boarding, because the owners had a hard time getting their dog in the car to leave since the dog knew every time they get in the car it’s to the dreaded doctor they go. Or sometimes the dogs would pull their owner everywhere, into the car, into the office, into aggressive dogs in the waiting room. Neither owner nor dog was having fun on these trips, she recognized it didn’t have to be that way. It is possible to have a stronger bond with your dog through building confidence and obedience, be it during a vet trip, out hiking, at the park, or going to a coffee shop, you should enjoy your dog as much your dog enjoys you. That is what led Trisha to Sit Means Sit, she found a place where owners recognize they can have a better relationship with their dogs and are active in learning more, and bettering themselves and their dogs.

Madison AlexanderTrainer

Working with and training dogs is the career I’ve always dreamed of doing. During my junior year in college, I completed an internship with the San Antonio Zoo. Throughout that internship, I got to participate in many training sessions with many amazing exotic animals. It was then that I realized training animals was what I wanted to pursue a career in after I graduated.

During my senior year of college, I took an animal behavior psychology class (mainly directed towards dog training) and everything I learned was fascinating. While I was in college, I worked as a vet assistant at a local animal clinic and was constantly handling dogs and speaking to clients.  

After I graduated from college, I rescued the sweetest pitbull puppy who I named Winnie. She made me grow the biggest heart for pitties and inspired me to start fostering pitbulls frequently through a nonprofit organization that I was employed through in San Antonio. I worked incredibly hard to teach all my fosters basic manners and to help them learn to trust people, considering several of them had been found as strays.

Sit Means Sit provided me with the opportunity to begin my career in something in which I am extremely passionate about. My favorite part of the training process is helping owners understand how training their dogs basic commands can be used to shape their dog’s behavior. I am so excited to be a part of the Sit Means Sit family in Austin and I’m looking forward to working with you and your precious fur babies!

Colby PattonTrainer

Hey there! I’m Colby, and I’m on a mission to help you and your family build an unbreakable bond with your furry friend. I’ve always been a huge dog enthusiast, and I’ve discovered a way to merge my love for dogs with my passion for easing stress and trying my best to do what I can to help others with life’s problems.

A Journey from the Texas Hill Country to Trade Shows

My journey began in the breathtaking Texas hill country, where I developed a deep connection with nature and animals. From there, I ventured into the world of pet supplies, traveling to trade shows all over the U.S. and Canada. These experiences allowed me to understand the diverse needs of pet owners and strengthened my commitment to making a positive impact.

Fusing Love for Dogs and Humans

I’m not just a dog trainer; I’m the proverbial UNtier of knots. I’ve found a way to alleviate stress and help you overcome challenges, all while strengthening the bond between you and your dog. I believe that a well-behaved dog can bring immense joy to your family and become a cherished member.

Austin: Where Amazing Pet Experiences Begin

Today, I’m based in the vibrant city of Austin, ready to share my expertise and passion with fellow dog lovers. My goal is to help as many people as possible, here in central Texas, create an extraordinary life experience with their family pets. If you’re ready to turn your dog into a well-behaved, cherished family member, I’m here to guide you.

Unlocking Your Dog’s Full Potential

Working with me means embracing a fun and professional approach to dog training. My background, combined with my deep love for both dogs and humans, makes me the perfect partner to help you achieve your dream of a harmonious pet-parent relationship.

Let’s Connect

If you’re eager to discover the joy of a well-behaved and happy family pet, reach out to me. I’m excited to embark on this adventure with you and help you bring out the best in your furry friend.

Ashley PattonTrainer

Hey there, fellow dog enthusiasts! I’m Ashley, and you could say my love for animals started with Norman, the cool cat I adopted back in 2009. But it was in 2015 that I truly fell head over paws for dogs when I brought home Kenji, a spunky Akita Lab puppy who was just 4 weeks old.

Kenji, my furry sidekick, was more than just a pet; he became my inspiration. Together, we embarked on a journey of discovery. From mastering the art of conquering stairs to taking on the playground slide, every little success was a boost for both of us. He excelled in local training programs and even earned the prestigious title of “Canine Good Citizen.”

Our training adventure unveiled a world of potential for dogs and their human companions, sparking a passion within me to help shape dogs into the best versions of themselves. To me, well-mannered dogs are just as important as well-mannered humans.

My journey continued as a proud owner of a “big” dog, teaching me valuable insights into dog behavior. I spent years working in a doggy daycare, furthering my understanding of our canine friends.

Then, in 2022, fate delivered Ollie, a beautiful 6-year-old Australian Shepherd Great Pyrenees, into my life. Ollie, with his unique behavioral challenges, inspired me to dive deeper into the world of dog behavior.

This path led me to Sit Means Sit, a place where I could explore new ways to make Ollie’s life better. Becoming a dog trainer was the most incredible decision I made, not just for Ollie, but for all the wonderful dogs and their loving families out there. So here I am, ready to help your furry friends live their best lives possible. Let’s embark on this tail-wagging journey together! 🐾

Francisco (Paco) Aceves Diaz

As a child, I was captivated by the TV show “The Dog Whisperer” introduced to me by my dad. Witnessing Cesar Millan’s mastery in handling dogs with behavioral issues sparked a lifelong passion within me. Growing up in Mexico, I cultivated a love for animals, which led me to work as a pig farmer upon returning to the U.S. for several years. Despite my success in this field, my heart yearned to fulfill my childhood dream of working with dogs.

Upon relocating to Austin, I seized the opportunity to pursue my passion by joining a dog daycare. Within months, I rose to the role of manager, where I discovered my knack for assisting clients with their canine companions. Offering impromptu training sessions on leash manners and door etiquette brought me immense joy and satisfaction.

Motivated by my experiences and driven by a deep commitment to make a positive impact, I embarked on the journey to become a dog trainer. This further fueled my determination to assist dogs and their owners in navigating behavior challenges.

Today, I am dedicated to empowering both dogs and their humans to build harmonious relationships through effective training techniques and compassionate guidance. My mission is to enrich the lives of countless furry friends and their families.

David BluesteinSales Consultant

I have always been someone with animals in mind. I have had multiple dogs throughout my whole life along with 10 fish tanks with hundreds of different fish, so to say my life revolves around my pets would be a bit of an understatement.

Growing up I always wanted to be in a position to help people/ animals, so what could be a better fit than dog training! As far as what I do for the company, I am one of the many voices of our office as well as a consultant for new clients, where I help find the right fit as far as training goes. I am so thrilled to be a part of such a fantastic team with so many driven trainers!

Vivian Sapp

Vivian SappOffice Manager

Hi, I’m Vivian! I have been with Sit Means Sit Dog Training since 2012. The thing I love most about my job is belonging to an amazing work family and of course our amazing clients. I love to travel and spend time with  family. I have always been an animal lover and always will be. Now you can put a face with the voice you are always chatting with.

Kayla Perez

Kayla PerezOffice Manager

I’ve been part of the Sit Means Sit family since 2016 and it’s one of the most rewarding jobs I’ve had, and I don’t even train the dogs! As part of the office team, I am one of the first people you will talk to when you reach out to us, and I get to hear all the reasons why people are searching for training. From people who just adopted a new pup to folks who are about to be kicked out of their apartments due to their dog’s aggressive behaviors. I have heard it all, and the best part of this job is talking to those same people 2 or 3 months later and hearing how much their lives have changed and how they can finally enjoy their dogs.

I came across Sit Means Sit while trying to find a job that I could really love and grow into. I excel at office work and I love dogs, so this was a great opportunity for me. I have two dogs of my own who both knew how to sit and some basic tricks, but I had never even considered professional dog training before. And while I am much better suited for the office position than a trainer, working with this awesome team has taught me so much and allowed me to train my own dogs into much better mannered pups. And as a mom with two young, rowdy boys running around my house, being able to control my dogs behaviors when I need to is super helpful for us.

I’m proud to be a part of this group of hard-working people who genuinely love what they do. Our little office team works super hard to be the bridge between our trainers and our clients, and it’s amazing to come to work every day and get to do a job worth doing.

Adam Gates

Adam GatesTraining Advancement Coach

Adam grew up in a rural area of Australia and spent weekends helping friends on their properties herding sheep and cattle. This was when he first learned to love and appreciate the amazing capabilities of dogs and how to work with them. From using whistles to command cattle dogs to herd, Adam became hooked on the human dog bond and his passion for helping others experience this bond was born.

After completing college Adam moved from Australia to America where he soon started working for an organization that provides daycare, boarding and training for dogs in the Austin, Texas area. Whilst working for there Adam really developed his skills in working with difficult behavioral issues such as inter-dog aggression, leash reactivity, human aggression and true separation anxiety. He quickly became the lead trainer at one of largest facilities and created a reputation of being able to rehabilitate even some of the most difficult cases.

Through his endless thirst for knowledge about dogs and the reason they behave the way they do, Adam had been able to create happy households with hundreds of clients in the Austin area. It is this reputation and passion that had led him to develop his own business with Salty Paws Dog Training where he helped impact the Florida area bringing people and dogs together in true working relationships. Ultimately this led to him finding a home with Sit Means Sit where he continues to learn and adapt to become the best trainer he can be.

Join Our Team

Interested In Becoming A Trainer

Are you interested in becoming a trainer? Do you LOVE working with dogs? Do you like teaching people and have excellent communication and customer service skills? If so, contact us and if we are hiring we might contact you so we can learn more about each other. Experience training dogs is not required but is a plus.
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Service Areas

We proudly serve the following areas in Austin.

Cities

  • Austin
  • Buda
  • Circle C
  • Bee Cave
  • Lakeway
  • Jollyville
  • Cedar Park
  • Pflugerville
  • Round Rock
  • Camp Mabry
  • West Lake Hills
  • Rollingwood
  • Barton Creek
  • Sunset Valley
  • Shady Hallow
  • Rollingwood
  • Steiner Ranch
  • Wells Branch
  • Kyle

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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!

Fun At Advanced Group Class

Three Dogs Show How They Spend Their Days During Day Camp

Canine Fitness & Physical Conditioning Speciality Class

Crazy Dog Alert

5 Star Reviews

We love customers and their dogs. They love us.

Arjay & Ash

Ash is definitely loving the experience, and I’m loving the result! He’s easier to divert back into focus when he gets distracted by other dogs or people. He’s also more responsive to commands. I definitely have MY FURfect dog

Jenny

Jenny is a loving, goofy poodle, but her manners? Yikes! She needed some help learning how to be a very well behaved young lady. Sit Means Sit Austin had Jenny for 3 weeks to teach her everything she needed to know! She learned how to walk well on a leash, not jump on people, listen…

Max

One year old Max found his forever family on the the fourth try! His new family realized he needed training though! After a week immersion training with Kelli with Austin, Max showed his new family how smart he is! It made his new family so much happier since he learned to not jump, walk on…

Paisley

Meet Paisley! Before Sit Means Sit Paisley was pretty reactive to other dogs and people. Couldn’t control herself, lunged on leash and even bit another dog. After our Immersion program with Kelli in Austin, Paisley is a different and happier dog! Paisley learned she didn’t have to react to every dog and person she saw,…