The Best Dog Trainers In Tampa

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Tampa Dog Training Experts

Proudly providing professional dog training in Tampa and surrounding Florida areas.

Is your pooch driving you nuts? We can help. We train all dogs, no matter their age, size, or breed.

Through our free consultation, Sit Means Sit Dog Training Tampa will create a custom program to fit each dog and owner’s goals. From aggression issues to puppy training…we have you covered!

Read below to learn more about the puppy and dog obedience training programs and classes we conduct in the Tampa, FL area. If you have any questions or would like a free training evaluation, feel free to contact us today!

Contact us today at (813) 505-1337 to schedule a FREE Dog Training Evaluation!

Free Training Evaluation

About Sit Means Sit Dog Training
2023 Best of the Bay Dog Training Finalist

2023 Best of the Bay Winner

We are proud to announce being selected as Creative Loafing's Best of the Bay Best Doggy Day Care Winner!

2023 Best of the Bay Dog Training Finalist

2023 Best of the Bay Finalist

We are proud to announce that we are a finalist in Creative Loafing's Best of the Bay for Dog Training!

2022 Best of the Bay Dog Training Finalist

2022 Best of the Bay Winner

We are proud to announce being selected as Creative Loafing's Best of the Bay Dog Training Winner!

2021 Best of the Bay Dog Training Finalist

2021 Best of the Bay Finalist

We are proud to announce that we are a finalist in Creative Loafing's Best of the Bay for Dog Training!

2020 Best of the Bay Dog Training Winner

2020 Best of the Bay Winner

We are proud to announce being selected as Creative Loafing's Best of the Bay Dog Training winner!

Dog Training Programs

Any Dog Any Age Any Problem

Board & Train.

Board & Train

Our Board and Train Memberships are one of our most popular programs. This is where your dog stays with us overnight and gives our team of trainers the most opportunity to help instill understanding in your dog. A big reason why these programs are so successful is all the hard work is done for you!

This allows you and your dog to get to more freedom and happiness faster! The key to success is the TRANSFER OF LEADERSHIP back to you, the owner. We teach you what we do so you can continue to train your dog once they are back home.

Free Training Evaluation 
Entertainment.

Day Train

Our various Day Train Programs are matched for the family and individual that enjoys participating in the vast majority of your dog’s training. Drop your dog off at our facility for an entire day where we will train your dog, teaching your pet his new behaviors with a great foundation and repetition allowing the experienced trainers to get things started.

On pick up, you will have a private lesson with your trainer and your dog. These lessons are personally tailored around your lifestyle and needs with your dog.

Free Training Evaluation 
Private Dog Training.

Private Lessons

Our private training programs provide one-on-one personal training with you and your dog.  This program is fully customizable and will lay the foundation for the results that you want for your dog.

Our trainers will work around your busy schedule by offering evening and weekend appointments. With the help of our professional dog trainers, private lessons will give you the tools that you need to train your dog from start to finish.

Free Training Evaluation 
Board & Tune.

Board & Tune

There are perks to being a Sit Means Sit Family member. We offer boarding exclusively to our clients. Go on vacation with the peace of mind that your dog is with people they already know & trust. We will also tune up their training during their stay.

Free Training Evaluation 
Lunch & Learn

Lunch & Learn

If you are a Veterinarian, Vet Tech, Groomer, Boarder, Doggy Day Care staff member, or any pet professional, Sit Means Sit offers an educational lunch and learn program where we will provide lunch and introduce you and your staff to our company and our proven dog training method.

Our experienced dog trainers will cover topics such as the importance of obedience training, how to handle dog behavior problems, and bite prevention. We will even show off some fun dog tricks!

Free Training Evaluation 
Seminars.

Seminars

We offer seminars covering a wide variety of topics including the importance of dog training, understanding dog body language, bite prevention, traveling with your pet, or family planning. If your trade show, event, post office, homeowners association, or company is looking for more education on any of these topics or a new topic of your own, please contact us to schedule your seminar today!

Free Training Evaluation 
Canine Good Citizen Certifications

Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Certifications

We are AKC Certified Evaluators offering certifications in Canine Good Citizen for our clients! Becoming CGC certified has many advantages, including:

  • Prerequisite for therapy dog training
  • Great step towards advanced training such as agility and rally
  • Required by some insurance companies for dogs living in apartments and condos
Free Training Evaluation 

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 cutting edge approach to dog training and behavioral modifcation. Our training approach encompasses a number of different training tools and approaches depending on the unique circumstances presented by our clients and their animals. At the core of the Sit Means Sit method is Attention-Based Training. This broad approach to training allows Sit Means Sit trainers to use a variety of attention based tools (leashes, collars, food, toys and notably our Sit Means Sit Collar) to achieve the goal of attention to command around distractions to suit the situation.

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 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 number 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 number two.

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

During phase number two, the goal is to begin phasing out your training aid (remote dog training collar). In phase number 1, 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 again some situations will require you to stick with phase number 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.

Megan Mckenzie.

Megan McKenzieOwner

It has been nearly 10 years since I started my career working with animals. Since then, I have had the privilege to work for and manage numerous Boarding & Daycare facilities, work as a veterinary Assistant/Technician in several animal clinics, and manage two different animal shelters.

That being said, I cannot imagine a life without animals. I have fostered so many animals that I have nearly lost count, always taking on the worst behavioral and medical cases. Out of those fosters comes my 6 dogs and 4 cats who I love to pieces. Working in shelters has helped me to realize my true passion – helping the dogs that everyone says are un-fixable. That is what I love most about Sit Means Sit– we train the un-trainable. The dogs that veterinarians, trainers, and other families have given up on.

I started my journey with Sit Means Sit as a client back in 2011. I worked for a veterinary clinic at the time and Sit Means Sit came to do a lunch and learn to tell us all about their program. Needless to say, I was absolutely blown away. I was having a particularly hard time with my Husky/Beagle mix, Sophia. She was very dominant and would bite any dog that would cross her path. Sit Means Sit helped Sophia, along with my other dogs, learn to ignore distractions and how to safely be off the leash anywhere.

I never thought in a million years that I could have a Husky/Beagle off of the leash. Fast forward several years, I had the opportunity to join the Sit Means Sit team, first as the Boarding Manager, then as a trainer at our Cleveland-Akron location in Ohio. Now as a trainer here in Tampa, I absolutely love meeting new families and their pups and becoming part of their families. I am proud to be a part of training puppies and watching them develop into balanced and obedient dogs, as well as helping the rowdy dogs gain self-control, and building confidence in the shy and more timid dogs. Here at Sit Means Sit Tampa, we aren’t just changing dogs’ lives, we’re changing families too!

Kris McKenzie Sit Means Sit Tampa.

Kris McKenzieOwner

My journey with Sit Means Sit started as a client.  After seeing one of the trainer’s dogs in action, I knew that this was the type of training that I wanted to learn with my dog!  After taking her through Sit Means Sit’s training program, keeping her focused around distractions was so much easier.  I was able to have fun with my dog.  I quickly found out how effective the Sit Means Sit training system was.

After training, I found myself attending group classes frequently and really being able to enjoy time with my dog.  I also started developing relationships with the other staff members there at the training facility.  They quickly became my Sit Means Sit Family which is one of the reasons I love this organization so much.  A short time later, I was given the chance to help run the location in Tampa, FL.  In 2016 I left the snowy cold weather in Ohio and made a new home in sunny Florida.  In 2018 the opportunity to purchase the location here in Tampa came available, and it’s been an amazing journey ever since.

Service Areas

We proudly serve the following areas in Tampa.

Cities

  • Tampa
  • New Tampa
  • Lutz
  • Land O' Lakes
  • Wesley Chapel
  • Odessa
  • Westchase
  • Town 'n' Country
  • Citrus Park
  • Cheval
  • Harbour Island
  • Brandon
  • Riverview
  • Fishhawk
  • Valrico
  • Zephyrhills
  • Apollo Beach
  • Keystone
  • New Port Richey
  • Tarpon Springs
  • Gibsonton
  • Lithia
  • Plant City
  • Apollo Beach
  • Greater Carrollwood

Don't See Your Location?

Sit Means Sit has 140+ locations across the US and Canada.

Find a Sit Means Sit Dog Trainer near you.

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Dog Training Videos

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

The Dynamic Duo of Mookey & Maya

Bailey Visits Seminole Heights Garden Center

Rooney Works On His On Leash Manners While Shopping

Hazel Learns Her Basic Skills

5 Star Reviews

We love customers and their dogs. They love us.

Ashly H.

Kris and Megan are great trainers to work with. I had just rescued my sweet girl Layla and had alot of work to do with her. They helped with training “Me” more so her lol.. I also enjoy the group classes on the weekends as well. Good way to get your dog around other dogs…

Paul D.

The training with you was a very, very rewarding experience, not only for me but also for my dog, Pearl. I learned a lot about how my body language & attitude affects her attitude as well, and results in positive results. Prior to signing up for your classes I came really close to returning my…

Kelly W.

I came to Sit Means Sit as a very frustrated owner. I had even started looking for a new home for Emma because of her accidents and extreme fear of thunderstorms. I had talked with 5 other board and train programs before I met with Megan and Paul but I knew within the first 5…

Stephanie S.

We had our 9-month-old pup, Loki, train for 10 days with Sit Means Sit and it was some of the best money we’ve ever spent. We had to suddenly relocate from Tampa to NYC and they were able to take a pup who had been walked only 5 times in his life (we just let…