Reactive and Aggressive Dog Training - Albuquerque

At Sit Means Sit, we believe that training dogs is the best way to build lifelong relationships. We love dogs and we love working with them. We offer many courses, including group classes, private sessions, new puppy training, puppy classes, service dog training, and more, but perhaps the most important thing we do is take dogs who are struggling with aggressive behaviors and help them find a life of confidence without the negative behavioral traits.

We have had incredible results with training dogs in every stage of life and with every kind of background. Our dog trainers have helped adult dogs with newly formed sass and young dogs with quickly forming negative habits. Our training process offers the best dog training techniques, balanced methods, and approaches that have a heavy emphasis on positive reinforcement and encouragement.

Experienced Dog Trainers & Dog Training Services

Our professional trainers strive to understand each dog that comes into their care and work to create a training program specific to each dog’s unique needs. Our dog trainers are highly trained and equipped to handle each situation with expertise and compassion. Members of our team have a variety of professional backgrounds, including working as a Veterinary Technician, a Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, and Senior Kennel Tech (ask about Jason’s newest addition, a handsome bully named Thor!). We also offer a certified Sit Means Sit trainer program, which many of our staff choose to participate in.

We understand that all dogs are different, so one approach might not work for one dog while it is perfect for another. Our team knows a dog’s prior experiences may impact their behavior.

Force isn’t a tactic we use at Sit Means Sit. We correct problems through positive reinforcement that encourages control, safety, and confidence.

Our Aggressive Dog Training Boot Camp

Sometimes, the Day Training program or Board and Train isn’t intensive enough, and even the Board and Train program isn’t cutting it. Stigmas have formed that aggression is mainly unique to mainly bully breeds. This is simply not true. Aggression Boot Camp can help to handle those extra stubborn aggressive tendencies. In this program, each dog is given personalized attention from our dog trainers. Here is what that training session series might look like for your pet.

Phase 1 – The Beginning

The first day of training session is often the hardest for dog owners. It can be difficult to hand over the care of your pet, no matter how unmanageable they’ve become, but you can rest easily knowing your dog is in the best possible place for them. Your dog’s instructor is committed to working with you both to ensure lifelong success. When not working with their trainer, your dog will be under the care of our amazing kennel techs, that all dogs love. Their well-being is our top priority.

This program starts as a series of private lessons. We reserve group training for later on and allow Day 1 to be about communication and confidence. We use a small, closed environment with a loose leash, slow movements, and a collar to give your dog a sense of control over their new circumstances. We use our deep experience to read your dog’s stress cues and move them carefully into this training phase.

Phase 2 – Dog Obedience Training

This phase is when we begin to really challenge some understandings within a dog’s personal psychology.

You have likely heard someone say, “Don’t look dogs in the eye.” While this is true for reactive dogs, your pet must be able to handle eye contact, which is why we build on this while introducing more appropriate human interaction, such as physical touch. s

We also give your dog some basic commands to master with obedience training, such as “place,” and “heel.” This win is important for the dog because it greatly boosts their confidence and keeps the training engaging.

Phase 3 – Off Leash

The next step is maintaining control of the dog’s behavior with off-leash training. Distractions (such as one or two dogs at a distance or other trainers) are added to the scene, but our expectations remain the same. This phase is all about teaching your dog how to behave in the real world.

Phase 4 – Building Social Skills & Group Training

This 4th phase continues the concepts of Phase 3 but with more intensity. They will be exposed to group training environments where other dogs and trainers are working together, so we can further evaluate their social skills. This could be a small group or a group of six dogs. It all depends on your dog’s comfort level. This phase builds on real-world scenarios your dog could encounter, such as new dogs at a veterinary clinic, a busy dog park, and more.

Phase 5 – Bring In The Dog Owners

Phase 5, brings it all together. There isn’t any muzzle or leash involved in the training because, by this point, your dog has moved beyond that need. You, the owner, are brought in to have some training of your own! By the end of the training program, you will feel comfortable with several different training techniques and commands that will allow you and your dog to thrive in any environment, whether public or private.

After your dog completes this initial training, we still provide continued support for you following your dogs graduation.

Let us help you transform them into a well-behaved dog. We are excited to meet and work with all the dogs who join our programs. Whether you’re a new puppy owner or have owned dogs in the past, we encourage you to review our list of services and programs offered here in New Mexico.