Pittsburgh Dog Training

Dog clothes. It seems these days that you can dress your dog to fit any occasion.    This sparks a question though, do dogs really need to wear clothes? I mean, they have lots of fur covering their entire body, right? Surely they are warm enough on their own.    The answer can be a…

We get lots of phone calls asking for in-home lessons. In theory these are great. It’s private instruction at your home, tailored to your needs, your dog’s behaviors and in your normal environment. So, why aren’t private lessons a good place to start for many people? First, if I shadowed you at your job for…

Our dogs love the snow and cold weather, luckily, so do I. We’re still out daily for our walks, which means I have to take extra care of their paws this time of year. Most people know that salt can be very irritating to our dogs’ paws. You’ll notice it most when they are transitioning…

Did you know that veterinary behaviorists identify the critical socialization period for puppies as 3 – 14 weeks old? The first several weeks of socialization comes with their littermates and mother, until they are sold to their new homes. Responsible breeders will not sell puppies prior to 8 – 10 weeks of age. But, not all puppies…

Downward Dog It’s not just a Yoga pose anymore. Its a new sitcom on ABC. And Copper, our talented,  “houndsome” Bloodhound is in the Pilot episode. Be sure to watch it. It will air on Wednesday, May 17 at 9:30p. If you can’t catch it live, DVR it (is that still a thing?), 0r watch…

Pittsburghers, we live in an area of the country with a high tick population and the very mild winters of the last two years mean that they are out early. Last year I pulled one off of myself after a search & rescue practice. I had the dreaded “bullseye” for months – but (thankfully) never…

The weather is supposed to be nice in the ‘Burgh this weekend. Be sure to enjoy it. But DON’T miss the Pittsburgh International Auto Show at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Check out 2017 models from all the major car manufacturers, drool over the newest luxury brands like Mercedes, Bentley and BMW, see exotics…

Finn is making great progress! Compare this video from the one below – he’s quiet, less jumpy, more focused and more relaxed. We were able to work closer to a dog than before, and his barking was nearly non-existent during his third lesson. Stay tuned for more updates!

“Finn” is a dog-reactive Pit Bull. Before training with Sit Means Sit Pittsburgh he was visually stimulated to the point of no return at distances of up to 50 yards. He had been to several trianers over the last couple of years before coming to us. Nothing helped. This is his second lesson with Sit…

Sometimes you are getting ready to go out & you see a long face on your pup.  Wouldn’t it be nice if you could bring your 4-legged companion with you?  There are lots of cool things you can do, places you can shop, and restaurants where you can bring your pet along.  Here are some events…

Overheating & Dehydration It is officially summer and with that comes heat and humidity. We often walk outside and get hit by the wall of warmth, but let’s imagine for a minute that we are wearing a full-length fur coat. As the temperatures rise, so does the chance that our furry friends can get overheated…

Geno is a 1.5 year old Golden Retriever. HIs favorite things: family walks, playing in the years, and cuddling. Training Goals for Geno: Geno had some bad manners his family wanted to correct- digging, nipping, and extreme pulling during walks. Geno loves to run around his big fenced in back year.  In fact, it could take…

  Rainbow is a 7 year old pocket Beagle. She likes: food of any kind, sleeping, playing with her friend Sigma, and rabbits. Rainbow training goals: Placing while other dogs are eating, off leash walking, and coming away from rabbits. My first interactions with Rainbow were as her trainer and owner of a doggy daycare…

Recently, our region has been hit hard by large amounts of rainfall and storms including occurrences of grey skies, harsh winds, and fallen trees.  While it is an inconvenience to be without electricity for a period of time, or to have to take an alternative route due to flash flooding, it can be much more…

Get ready, car lovers. Sit Means Sit dogs will be seeking hugs and kisses this Valentine’s day weekend at the Pittsburgh International Auto Show! Show hours are: Friday 2/13 10a – 10p | Saturday 2/14 10a – 10p Sunday 2/15 10a – 6p  |  Monday 2/16 10a – 6p