Reactive & Aggressive Dog Training, Pittsburgh

At Sit Means Sit, we are here to provide the professional (and fun!) help that you are looking for with your dog’s aggressive behaviors. We offer one-on-one training designed specifically for aggressive behavior, tailoring them to your unique dog and ensuring that you have a well-behaved dog when the training is completed. We guarantee a wonderful experience training and working on dog behavior and building a better relationship between dog owners and their pups in the Pittsburgh area.

We are proud to offer a free consultation for owners of aggressive dogs, allowing us to determine the best dog training approach and methods for your situation. Every dog is unique, and we want to assure dog owners there is hope for their aggressive or reactive dog. We will pair you with an amazing trainer to change canine behavior in your new puppy or dog and give you a well-behaved dog when it is over. Our goal is to help owners learn how to better help their pets navigate difficult situations effectively. A professional dog trainer does not have a magic wand, and we want to educate the family of an aggressive or reactive dog on how to safely train their dog.

Our Approach

When your family is worried about any common signs of leash reactivity or aggressive tendencies in your puppy or older dog, looking for top-notch training can be the key that you need. Aggression and reactivity issues can affect any dog of any breed or age. We will spend several weeks with your dog, training basic dog obedience and ensuring that we address separation anxiety, barrier frustration, food aggression, biting, jumping, barking, and other issues that may come up. Using proven training methods, we will develop a solid program for the reactive dog training journey. Our professional training program will help change your dog’s behavior with proven training methods and can give you tools and guidance to manage your dog in the Pittsburgh area.

While each human will need to work with a professional dog trainer to support them with a helpful dog training program that is good for them, an example of our training in Pittsburgh may include:

Phase 1

During the first day of your aggressive dog training course, a trainer will work on learning about your dog while identifying his or her triggers and problems that you or other trainers may have seen in your aggressive dog or puppy. We will assess what kind of training plan to build for your pup, whether it is based on fear or fearful behaviors, reactivity issues, or aggression. Your dog may stay an entire day for training so that our trainers can take the time and care needed to build trust with your dog. This will ensure your dog’s well-being, making sure they are stress-free. The main goal on this first day is to focus on gaining eye contact with the trainer and setting down a foundation for behavior modification. We will not use force to handle any of the behaviors; we will focus more on leadership, communication, loving care, and attention to help make sure that you have a well-behaved dog who is trained and can listen to the family.

Phase 2

Depending on the behaviors that need to be handled and the dog’s behavior at the time, we are going to progress from the first day. Sometimes, the dog may be able to go without a muzzle, and other times, it will stay on. We will start to work on some of the basic obedience commands, boundaries, and leadership that dogs need to learn to follow the owner using proven training methods. This will form the foundation from which our trainers can build confidence for your dog. Training dogs to be attentive around other dogs, animals, puppies, etc., will help you get on the path to a more fun and fulfilling life with your aggressive dog.

Phase 3

As your dog progresses, we may start to work on some long-leash training that may include walks and more basic obedience training. The primary goal here is to work on recall for your dog. A professional dog trainer will continue to build the relationship and will work to train your dog to get along well here as we slowly progress through training. The owner, other trainers, and other dogs will be introduced at a distance to see how your dog does over the duration of training. The goal will be for your dog to stay calm and under control and for your confidence to improve as a handler. Pittsburgh is a very dog-friendly town, and we want your dog to be the best dog once training is done.

Phase 4

As the owner and dog learn the language of training, the trainer can increase the level of distraction during training to help your dog or puppy benefit from class. We want to teach your dog to pay attention to the trainers rather than all of the other distractions along the way. Our goal here is to get the dog to stay focused and to continue improving obedience skills, too. Our knowledgeable and professional trainers will support the owner’s and dog’s skills during home training as the owner’s understanding of training improves.

Phase 5

As the program continues, we will continue to increase your knowledge and understanding of your dog’s triggers, aggression, and anxiety through behavior modification during training sessions. We can work with you in additional home training classes and some of the unique situations your dog may have in different environments. If a group class will help your dog’s progress, we may explain why that will increase your skills and manage aggression and safety on the leash while keeping your dog calm. We can take dogs on walks and monitor their behaviors as well, helping them to gain confidence, no matter who else is around.

Additional services, like group classes, may be available to you after your have completed your initial training plan. Once you’ve decided to be training with Sit Means Sit Pittsburgh, you will be on track to making your dog the best dog he or she can be. You will become more confident and glad that you helped your dog progress through training. A trained dog is a happy dog!

At Sit Means Sit Pittsburgh, we are proud to work with your dog and can’t wait to begin training to provide them with what they need to have the best life. Whether you are dealing with an aggressive dog, you want to start therapy dog training, or you just want a well-trained pup, we are here to help handle some of the behaviors that can be causing issues for you and will give you a well-behaved dog when it is all done. This is not service dog training. It is dog training for owners and dogs who want an amazing, fun life together.

Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.