Testimonials

I did my fair research of dog training programs in the East Bay/Pleasanton/San Ramon area, and I chose SMS for a variety of reasons.

1. Their response time after my inquiry was next to nothing. I didn’t hear back from other training programs until at least 2 weeks later.

2. You get to talk with an SMS rep on the phone to get a more in-depth explanation and conversation of their program options for your pup. Trust me, I wouldn’t skip this step and just try to look up their options on their site. The rep calls to ask you about your lifestyle, your dog’s current behaviors, and what you’re looking for in terms of results. In this phone call method, they are able to really recommend a program suitable for YOU as a dog-parent, and your pup.

3. GOOD QUALITY dog training will never run cheap. But I remember my highest quote being upwards of $8,000. SMS does run way less than that depending on the program you choose…I found SMS specifically worth it because the “Board and Train” included a lifetime membership access to training at NO ADDITIONAL cost. So, you invest a good amount at first, but to have access to more classes moving forward for nothing more in my opinion… is an amazing investment.

4. With my Board and Train, the process was so easy! They had pick-up and drop-off super close to our home, and the teach-back lesson at the end of the program is included! The staff is amazing at what they do! I had CAITY for a majority of my communications and training with my pup during her board, and I received plenty of updates, videos, and pictures. 10/10 would recommend her for her outgoing and welcoming personality, professionalism, and patience with me and my Kenai! A HUGE shoutout also to the trainers MARCOS and FATIMA for assisting in training my pup as well!!! Shoutout to CRAIG for being my phone rep and getting me set up with my invoices and program, NANCY, and SIERRA for all their assistance in this program too! We appreciate each of you!

Kenai (GSD Mix) is our first pup whom we adopted at a shelter when she was just 4 months old. She was rescued from the streets of Central Valley and truly was the most anxious and shy dog. Prior to SMS, she really struggled with basic commands and opening up to the world around her! Since getting her back, we’ve definitely seen SUCH an improvement, and she seems like such a new pup. She’s such a baby still, but with this start – she’s on track to be such a smart fur baby.

Overall, my biggest advice with SMS is going into this understanding that dog training – especially for pups requires tons of time and patience! DO NOT expect a complete robotic change in your dog after getting them back from a Board and Train, and DO NOT expect the change to be day and night! It is an improvement that took time, patience, and consistency!!! As a dog mom, I definitely have tons of homework to do after receiving my pup back from training, and it’s up to us as their paw-rents to maintain what they learned and stay consistent with SMS’s training methods every day. We are so excited for our lifetime classes moving forward, and to meet other families in the SMS community. Thank you guys so much!

I cant say enough good things about Sit Means Sit and all the trainers at this facility!

My dog Otis was very reactive (bark, lunge, pull) towards other dogs prior to sit means sit. We did a board and train with them and his obedience improved significantly. Otis still had reactivity after the board and train but I had to learn how to work him and manage his reactivity around his triggers.

Sit means sit has done several one on one sessions with me and Otis after his board and train to continue to work on his reactivity.

Now, I can proudly say that Otis’s reactivity is much more manageable and i have the confidence to take Otis places where there will be “triggers” because the trainers have taught me the tools to manage his reactivity.

We continue to attend their group classes which have taught Otis to be neutral around other dogs. It’s also a good opportunity for Otis to make dog friends with other like-minded dog owners.

• Otis obedience has also improved significantly:
• no more leash pulling. He heels to my left when we walk and run.
• he is great off-leash!
• good “off”command
• good “place” commend
• good attention

Thanks, to sit means sit I’m living the life I had envisioned with Otis.

I would highly recommend them because they will continue to work with you to achieve the goals you want with your dog!

Also, Otis loves all the trainers he gets so excited to see them and you can tell they truly love working with dogs

Sit Means Sit was amazing to our little fur baby Appa! His trainer Marcos and the rest of the team at Sit Means Sit helped us reach our training goals with the Board and Train package. I love that they offer lifetime lessons with the B&T because it ensures we keep consistent with Appa’s training. Appa is almost 3 years old and was super stubborn, but we know that he’s smart – too smart for his own good – so we finally decided to look into training! We looked around at different options and decided to go with Sit Means Sit because of their training methods, how the facility looks, and how professional the team and trainers are. They have social media platforms that allowed me to gauge whether I liked how they trained dogs and how they handle them. I loved that they were easy to communicate with every day while Appa was away, and also very informative during the initial start of the process. I would definitely recommend Sit Means Sit to anyone that needs to train their dog, whether it’s a young puppy or adult dog, they will make sure to give you the best training possible.

Thank you Sit Means Sit Modesto team for everything! Appa is super happy and misses everyone on your team already!

We sent our almost 2 year old labradoodle Archer to Sit Means Sit recently. We had tried other training methods and were at our wits end with his out of control behavior. Happy to report, Sit Mean Sit was a success story for our dog! Archer listens to commands now and I’m even able to keep him off leash around other dogs during the training maintenance classes. Thank you to the fabulous trainer Caity for her hard work with Archer! We were very happy with the results.

Sit Means Sit has been great for us! We started taking our German shepherd there and immediately noticed a difference. When we are driving to the facility for training our dog gets super excited because he loves being there. Sit Means Sit has turned our crazy, wild puppy into a wonderful, well behaved family member. We started with the board and train and have continued the with the weekly training program. The great thing is they teach you how to better work with/train your dog.

I am so glad I found Sit Means Sit when I needed training for my rescue pit. She was just a baby when I got her and with my work schedule I needed help with her behavior. I went with the two week in-house training and it has done wonders. They were very attentive and sent me videos during the training process.

I also use the boarding service for both of my dogs when I’m out of town and I have never had an issue. My dogs love being there & I know they are safe I am very appreciative for all the help that they have been. I have recommended Sit Means Sit to several people and I will continue to do so.

Our Australian Shepherd named Kenai loves SMS. He loves Selena and Caity and the rest of the staff. He gets excited when he knows he’s going to see them. He has been trained very well. We feel great knowing he is happy and safe each time he is being boarded for any length of time. Thank you Sit Means Sit!

Sit Means Sit has provided stellar customer services for my dog. The training has been elite they are incredibly patient with her and she absolutely loves everyone there. We had to schedule boarding at the very last minute due to a family emergency and they responded right away and accommodated us the day of literally An hour before they closed. Our family and Fur baby are forever grateful for this staff at sit means it I take her there for all of her needs: training, grooming, puppy day care, and boarding. Special shout out to Selena and Marco For loving My Fur baby the way that I do they always give her hugs which is why she loves them so much.Thank you for all that you do love Vintricia and Indica

Sit Means Sit Dog Training in Modesto was hands down the best decision my husband and I made for our 8 month old Golden Retriever (Mei).

Our household can be very hectic with 3 younger kiddos and full-time working parents. Needless to say, the training we were providing her at home was inconsistent and ineffective. It was becoming difficult.

I researched several board and training programs and stumbled across Sit Means Sit. Selena gave me a thorough consultation and explained different training options. We decided on the 2-week board and train program. Marcos was her main trainer. He gave me daily updates on Mei and sent videos of her progression and wow! What a difference 2 weeks has made.

She no longer pulls on the leash, doesn’t jump on people, is able to stay in her place for as long as I need her, doesn’t jump on my furniture, and her re-call is amazing even with all the distractions of our kids.

Thank you to everyone at Sit Means Sit in Modesto. We will definitely be bringing Mei for group sessions!

Signed Callie up for their 2 week boarding school and let me tell you it was the best decision we made! Sit means sit clearly cares about the dogs and reaching their full potential! Callie’s trainer Caity was awesome! And very patient when it came to catching me up to speed with Callie!

I am very impressed with how professional and skilled the Sit Means Sit staff are. My standard poodle puppy, Whitty, has shown noticeable behavioral improvements since signing up for the boot camp and subsequent group classes. We have been working closely with Caity who is an expert dog trainer and very knowledgeable about what she does. The energy she brings to every lesson is truly impressive and her love for animals is very evident.

We had a very positive experience with the Sit Means Sit dog training program. We worked with Adam and our 5 month old rescue has absorbed and learned commands and skills that will keep him safe and happy for a lifetime. We are beginning our group classes and are anticipating Randall learning and growing even more. I highly recommend this business to train your dog.

We’ve been bringing Shadow to Sit Means Sit since he was a baby. He loves the trainers and they love him. I always know he is in the best hands with them. They are extremely knowledgeable and professional. I highly recommend Sit Means Sit!

I rescued my pitbull from the Contra Costa County shelter in January 2020. Being a pitbull and coming from a shelter he had some behavior issues that I needed to address. I spoke to three or four different trainers and was most impressed by Sit Means Sit. They were very professional and answered all of my questions. They were never put off by my dog being a pitbull. They believed he could one day be a good dog. He went first to Catiy for someone on one training. She said that he was doing excellent with the training and I could see a difference right away at home. I enjoy that they make the training very simple so I am able to reinforce it at home which with a stubborn pitbull is necessary. The Group classes were where he was able to really flourish. In the beginning I had trouble keeping him on his place board. Within less than a year he has a completely different dog and no longer jumped off his place bored at other dogs. Caity and the staff at Sit Means Sit were very willing to work with him to make this possible. I am so grateful to all of them for helping me turn a scared, aggressive, shelter dog into the loving, calm, boy that I have today.

The value of their training is excellent. Caity & Adam have taken one on one time with me & my pup to execute how to enhance training. It’s great because not only is my dog learning, but so am I. Any questions I have I can call & Nancy always picks up the phone or calls me back promptly. A big bonus are the lifetime classes. One of my favorites was taking a group class at a local brewery. Love the people here & what progress I have been experiencing this far!

We’ve been lifetime members of Sit Means Sit for almost 2 years and we LOVE it here! We have an Australian shepherd with anxiety and she did the 2 week board and train. Trainer Caity has been working with our dog Oakley since she was 4 months olds and we love her to pieces! We are currently doing private day train sessions with our mini Australian shepherd and that is working out great! The staff is super friendly and very knowledgeable. Adam, the owner is passionate about his business and it shows. We highly recommend the lifetime membership.

I can’t recommend Sit Means Sit enough. The staff listens to your needs for training your pup and gives great advise. From the first lesson we saw immediate improvement with our pup. We have also seen the same great results with other pups in our classes. With Sit Means Sit’s training we are achieving our goal to have a very well mannered dog that will be welcomed everywhere.

Personal lessons, Show and Tell and lots of practice. Very positive instruction in a nice location. My dog has had three lessons and WE have learned so much already.

Great training! I like the trainers and the atmosphere is great. Highly recommend!

Adam, Elora and their staff are super helpful and knowledgeable. Their facility is always clean and organized. Their passion for animals is evident and I trust them 100%

Completely changed the relationship between my dog Toby and our family. We can take him anywhere now without worry or stress. He even listens to the kid’s commands. Toby has finally become the member of the family we had all wanted from the first day we rescued him.

Sit Means Sit has been a life-changer for us. We had our two black labs trained here and we have had nothing but compliments. We don’t need leashes on them, they can go run around on our acreage without supervision and come as soon as we call. Best decision we could have made for them!

Sit Means Sit is absolutely the best dog training company there is. Other dog training methods don’t even come close. I know I’ve tried them all.

I trained my super high energy American Pit Bull Terrier with the Sit Means Sit system and I don’t even need a leash anymore. I get compliments daily on how awesome and incredibly well behaved my dog is. Now I can take my dog with me almost everywhere I go. I know I couldn’t have done it without Sit Means Sit!

After we adopted a rescue dog, we quickly realized that we needed to get him trained. He was still a puppy and we were having no luck getting him to listen or obey. He was hyper and skittish. We selected Sit Means Sit and were very impressed with their method and results. As it turns out, Bodi is deaf and has anxiety. So Adam had a challenge on his hands and Bodi’s transformation was remarkable! As it turned out, three years later we needed training help again when Bodi started balking at getting groomed. He became aggressive with our groomer and nothing she, or we, did helped. We contacted Adam, and they solved the problem! Jessica is a great trainer and groomer on staff and she took it slow and made it palatable for him. Now he loves Jessica! In addition, they’ve made it very convenient to get him groomed every few weeks with Jessica. We highly recommend Sit Means Sit!

Adam, his family and his staff are all amazing! My pit bull Riley absolutely loves everybody at Sit Means Sit. She has been going to training for some time now and is doing amazing! Staff is all extremely nice and get along with my dog really well! Great place to go for training or boarding!

I want to post a HUGE thanks to Adam, Craig, Kat, Jessica and the rest of the staff at the Sit Means Sit Modesto Facility! We are beyond pleased and grateful for their excellent training skills with our dog Marley!

We opted to use their board and train program and could not be happier that we did. Before we took Marley in for training, she was aggressive toward other dogs/people, horrible on her leash ( pulling ), terrible listener and so stubborn! We actually had used two other dog training programs to no avail.

I saw an ad for this facility and we thought we’d give it a try. We are so happy we did! We received videos and texts every few days showing us Marley’s progress. We knew she was in good hands because her tail was wagging in every video! We were amazed at her progress and by the time we picked her up she was an obedient, disciplined and eager to please dog! We continue to use the commands and training collar just like Jessica taught us when we picked up Marley.

Taking her outside off leash has been AWESOME. Knowing our dog is going to listen and not bolt in front of a car, or chase another dog, etc. is exactly what we wished for. We 100% recommend this facility to anyone that is looking for dog training. Thanks again!

Learned so much about training from Adam. The best money we ever spent on our dogs! Every day we get complimented on how well behaved our dogs are!

The dogs love to “work” when we are training and it’s become part of our daily routine! Thanks for all you do!

This is the best and only worthwhile place to take your dog for basic obedience, behavioral modification including aggression cases.

I adopted a 3 year old Rhodesian ridgeback who was having some leash anxiety. I already have another ridgeback in my home so trying to manage both dogs was pretty much impossible and very stressful. My pup went to a week board and train with Adam and she is doing AWESOME. He is so knowledgeable and I can’t believe how much she learned in that week. We go to the weekend group classes and are continuing to work and improve. My dog LOVES seeing Adam (she clearly ha a good time during her training!). I couldn’t recommend Adam more highly. Worth every single penny spent to have a calm well mannered dog 🙂

Last year we adopted what we thought was a young mild mannered quit lab mix dog. To our surprise she was an intelligent, strong willed, very protective, add prey driven dog. We’ve had large dogs before but this one was just too much for us to handle. We felt confident that Adam should take her for three weeks training at his home to help with the basics of dog training. When we got our dog back after three weeks she was off leash trained, which means a lot when you have a large dog who can run and stretch their legs but still be under our control. Running helps a dog release all that extra energy that. regular dog walk just can’t do. Adam has taught us how to feel confident in different situations and the training has more than paid for itself in many ways. During the three week training our dog bonded with Adan so when we went away our dog was very happy knowing she was going to her other hone with Adam and Elora to hang out (or boarded) while we were away. She never missed us…at least that’s what we think.

What they are able to do in a short amount of time is incredible! I am beyond happy with what my dog is able to do. Im able to walk with hm off leash and he listens to my commands when he struggled before. I recommend Sit Means Sit to anyone and everyone who”s looking to train their dog.

Adam and Elora are wonderful! I trust them completely with my three Labradors and they have helped us get great results. Their follow-through and knowledge are really impressive and they are always responsive when I have questions. Love the group classes and the addition of agility equipment is a lot of fun. I can’t say enough good things about Sit Means Sit east bay!

Sit Means Sit is life-changing! We enrolled both Golden’s with different issues. Chloe had developed separation anxiety. After a week with Adam and continued training, her confidence is soaring and her anxiety is almost non-existent. She’s off her doggy Prozac and a new dog!

Mango has been a leash puller and given how strong she is, it’s become an issue. After a few private classes she picked up quick our new way of walking. Now she’s walking by my side with no pulling!

And the fun we are having as we bond with the dogs is priceless!
I highly recommend Sit Means Sit and Adam!! it will be the best investment you can make for you and your dog!