Ryan and Emily are there every step of the way! They help when I ask for it and I would recommend them for all types of training from the basics to the advanced.

Ryan and Emily are simply fantastic. We have two French Bulldogs — one of whom is highly reactive — and we knew we needed professional support. We chose the 10-day board and train, and I’ll admit, I was super hesitant at first. I’ve never boarded any dog I’ve owned and hated the thought of doing it. But after meeting Ryan, seeing his facility, and visiting his home where the dogs stay, I felt completely at ease.

The transformation in both our dogs and us as owners is ongoing and has allowed us so much more peace of mind. The board and train gave us a strong foundation, and the continued group classes and in-home private sessions have helped us build consistency and confidence. Ryan and Emily are not only deeply skilled trainers, they are thoughtful, attentive, and genuinely invested in the well-being of the dogs and their humans.

They’ve given us tools, practices to enhance the wellbeing of our fur-babies (and ourselves). I can’t recommend them highly enough. We are so fortunate to have them in our community.

We had such a good experience with Ryan and will definitely be hiring him for additional training!

Our 1 year old Pomeranian is very strong-willed, and the in-home training made a huge difference for us. We’ve seen a big improvement in her behavior and manners.

The training techniques were clear, practical, and easy to continue using on our own.

Highly recommend Sit Means Sit to anyone looking for effective dog training!

Captain loves training with Ryan. I got him a year ago as a rescue and primarily needed help with leash pulling. After working with another trainer with no results, I found Sit Means Sit through a neighbor. Captain took to Ryan right away and helped me understand how to lead and work with Captain. After 3 secessions we have vastly improved leash pulling and overall obedience and confidence for Captain. We are looking forward to more skills through group training! 10/10 recommend!

Ryan and Emily do a fantastic job training to the individual dog’s personality and then teaching us how to follow through with the training. It is up to the owner to regularly train at home to strengthen those learned practices. The group training are great for interactions where there are a lot of dogs. Highly recommend!

I have used Sit Means Sit Dog training over the last 8 years and I couldn’t be more happy with the training my dogs and I have received! Ryan & Emily are fantastic to work with no matter the dog you have or the issues your dog may be working through, they are the epitome of caring about their clients! Not only are they both fantastic dog trainers, they provide a phenomenal boarding and training experience as well.

After a bad experience with a previous trainer, I got my puppy into sit means sit. I can’t tell you how much my pup has improved with his obedience! Definitely recommend this place to everyone! Emily and Ryan are awesome

I’ve been meaning to leave a review sooner but, life has been crazy to say the least! Ryan helped train our girl Kaia. We adopted her from the ARL and she had a few things to work on. Ryan is very thorough and professional with his work. After our few lessons with Ryan and working on training Kaia at home we noticed such a positive difference in Kaia. We have yet to attend the group classes on the weekend! Thank you Ryan!

We adopted our Ava girl 5 months ago, out of Texas at 2.5 years old. She was found on the streets and her background is unknown. We signed her up for training because she got aggressive when we had visitors at our house and even bit a friend of mine once. Since starting training she has made SO much progress. She’s more welcoming to guests and is giving them kisses rather than growls. We are thankful for Ryan and Emily and all the work they do!

I recently had the pleasure of working with Emily, a highly skilled dog trainer at Sit Means Sit. I cannot express enough how impressed I am with her expertise and dedication to helping dogs and their owners.

We initially sought training for our 10-week-old puppy after noticing some reactivity to unfamiliar dogs and for help with kennel training. From the moment I reached out to Sit Means Sit, Emily made the entire process smooth and enjoyable. Her professionalism and passion for her work were evident from our very first interaction. She took the time to understand my dog’s specific needs and tailored a training program that addressed both her behavioral challenges and obedience training.

Sit Means Sit is fortunate to have Emily as part of their team. Her passion, knowledge, and ability to connect with dogs and their people make her an outstanding dog trainer. I wholeheartedly recommend Emily and Sit Means Sit to anyone seeking professional and effective dog training.

Ryan and Emily have been amazing to work with! Not only are they well knowledgeable dog trainers but they are great listeners, willing to help out with the unique needs of your dog. My cocker spaniel puppy was having a lot of issues with biting/nipping, getting on furniture, begging, not listening, destructive behaviors like chewing carpet, etc. The normal “wild puppy” they warn you about. It was a great initial experience with a free intro session where Ryan actually came to our house to meet Juniper to get to know her and understand what we were looking for. We had a few private sessions, group classes, and we boarded her a few times in between. Juniper loves Ryan and Emily and is always so excited to see them! What we have learned has helped so much with Juniper’s listening skills and confidence. We are able to communicate and understand each other on a level I don’t think we’d be at if I wouldn’t have took her to Sit Means Sit. She has become an all around better dog. Of course we still have work to do but that’s on me to consistently implement what we have learned. Highly suggest working with Ryan and Emily for any dog training needs. They truly care!

Sit Means Sit has done absolutely wonders for my german shepherd Delta. They build group lessons around the dogs who sign up for that lesson so you actually get to work towards your goals with your dog, instead of the standard basic training lessons. The environment is fun, accepting, and nice to be in. The trainers I’ve talked too actually take the time to listen to the owners and take in all factors instead of dismissing what the owners say. Both Emily and Ryan do a great job explaining things and answering ALL of my questions even when they may be silly, they never made me feel stupid for asking questions and explaining things for me more than once. Highly recommend at the very least reaching out for any problems anyone may have with their dogs or even if you just want to do extra training or refreshers. Worth every penny, you get what you put into it and more some.

The trainers are wonderful and very knowledgeable. Super willing to give any time and attention for your dog.

We love our Sit Means Sit Des Moines team! Ryan and Emily are knowledgeable, helpful, and caring. They are genuinely excited to see us each time we show up, and our dog loves them. The progress that we’ve been able to make has been outstanding. I can’t recommend Sit Means Sit enough!

I love that after training your dog (and you) you can attend group classes to keep practicing what you and your dog have learned. Emily is awesome.