The Best Dog Training in Elkton & New Castle

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Dog Training
Experts In Elkton & New Castle

We offer professional dog and puppy obedience training in New Castle, Newark, Christiana, Glasgow, and Bear, Delaware as well as Elkton and surrounding Maryland areas.

Sit Means Sit Dog Training Elkton-Delaware is part of the largest dog training franchise in the United States with over 140 locations. Our trainers understand that every dog is different and unique in their personality and behaviors, so we work together to form a customized training program that will fit your goals. Our programs range from basic puppy training to extended-stay board and training. We also specialize in behavioral issues such as separation anxiety, aggression, and fear/reactivity.

Let our professional dog trainers help your four-legged friend become their best self! Contact us today for a FREE Training Demonstration and Consultation!

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About Sit Means Sit Dog Training

Dog Training Classes

Any Dog Any Age Any Problem

Day Training

Day Training

Drop your dog off in the morning and pick them up after work in the evening. You’ll be amazed with how much of a difference a day makes! During Day Training we will teach your dog structure that will enhance your relationship with your pup and you’re included every step of the way! After each session, you will meet with a trainer and go over what was covered that day!

We can also focus on specific behavioral issues such as separation anxiety, fear, or aggression. The results will be a happy, confident, and well-behaved companion!

Group classes are also included with our Day Training programs in order to provide further support and practice for the dog and owner.

Ready to get started? Fill out our free consultation form today!

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Private Lessons

Private Lessons

Private lessons are designed to incorporate the owner into the training experience. You will be paired with your own personal dog trainer who will be dedicated to you and your dog’s satisfaction! Private lessons allow you to work side by side with your dog throughout their training and are great for learning skills and techniques to reinforce at home.

Private lessons are also a great option for those looking to solve specific behavioral issues such as aggression, fearfulness, or separation anxiety.

Group classes are also included with our private lessons in order to provide further support and practice for dog and owner.

Private lessons are conducted at our facility, but we also offer in-home dog training lessons! Contact us today to learn more!

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Puppy Program

Puppy Program

The first 20 weeks of your puppy’s life are crucial in establishing strong obedience and social skills to last a lifetime. Our Puppy program is specially designed for puppies 8 weeks to 15 weeks old. This program lays the foundation for our attention based training and helps puppies learn to overcome fears and learn fundamental basics. Our puppy trainers make this FUN and educational for puppies and their owners!

The Puppy Training program will focus on:

  • House-Breaking
  • Kennel Training
  • Socializing your Puppy
  • Basic Commands
  • Leash Walking
  • And so much more!

Start your new pup off on the right paw! Contact us for a free consultation.

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Group Class

Group Class

Once your dog has completed one of our individual training programs (day train program or private lessons) they can join us in group class! 

Group classes are a great way to keep your dog socialized and allow your dog to continue their training around other dogs, owners, and a variety of distractions.

We offer a variety of dates and time to accommodate the busiest schedules! Our current classes are held on the following dates and times:

  • Wednesday’s @ 7:30pm
  • Saturday’s @ 9am
  • Saturday’s @ 10:30am
  • Saturday’s @12pm
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FAQs

Get answers to some of our most commonly asked questions:

Yes! At Sit Means Sit, we send our trainers to school regularly, putting them through extensive training classes and certification programs. Investing heavily in training allows our trainers to work more effectively with your dog, and to better-tailor our approach. From basic training methods using the Sit Means Sit Collar to more advanced techniques and tools, each of our certified trainers is equipped with the practical, applied know-how necessary for helping you and your dog achieve your training goals. At Sit Means Sit, we have trained and are trusted by over 35,000 dogs nationwide.

Each of our training programs is custom tailored to the specific situation. There are a number of factors that we evaluate prior to building a training package for you such as your dog’s age, temperament, previous training, as well as the desired goals of the owner. What will work for one dog and owner, won’t necessarily fit well with another. Because of these factors, we offer a free demonstration & consultation as an opportunity to meet with your family as well as your dog to gain insight into the unique circumstances that affect your dog’s training. During the demonstration we will evaluate the factors and develop a training plan for your dog and family. From the training plan we will be able to give you an accurate idea of cost to accomplish your goals. There is no cost or obligation associated with the free demonstration.

Sit Means Sit uses a variety of training methods and tools to achieve the goals of the customer and their dog.

The Sit Means Sit mission:

Revolutionizing the quality of life with happy, obedient, and confident dogs.

With this mission in-mind, we customize our training approach to meet with our customer’s personality as well as what will result in the best possible training experience for both dog and owner. As you view our portfolio of dog training videos, we hope that you will pay close attention to the attitude of all the dogs trained by Sit Means Sit. We pride ourselves on being able to maintain a happy and relaxed attitude in our dogs

Sit Means Sit specializes in a diversified approach to dog training. We use an attention-based dog training system developed by Founder and CEO, Fred Hassen. This approach utilizes a variety of training tools to enable our trainers to gain the dog’s attention even in distracting situations. One of the tools that we use often in our training program is our customized Sit Means Sit Collar (remote electronic dog training collar). The reason we choose to utilize technology in our training is obvious when you understand the advantages that technology allows us.

Firstly, Sit Means Sit firmly believes in safe dog training. The technology we employ is 100% safe for dogs and humans. The Sit Means Sit Collar uses state of the art digital technology to control the output from the collar to prevent it from harming your dog. The technology that is utilized in the construction of our collar is similar technology to “electronic muscle stimulators” and “TENS” units. You may be familiar with the use of these devices in the medical field (they are very common in the Chiropractic and Physical Therapy fields) or perhaps you’ve seen devices advertised on TV as “electronic muscle massagers”. These devices essentially use low-level, adjustable electronic stimulation to creating muscle contractions. In the medical field, they are used as tools to help alleviate pain, promote blood circulation and encourage healing.

In the dog training field, specifically Sit Means Sit, remote dog training collars are used as a tool to provide a remote controlled cue. The cue is designed to neither cause pain nor to disrupt the dog’s emotional state, but rather to function as an adjustable “tap”. The approach used by Sit Means Sit trainers is to treat the “tap” from the collar as a cue for the dog to pay attention. This is no different than tapping a person on the shoulder to gain their attention. The goal of tapping them on the shoulder is not to hurt them or cause emotional distress, but rather to let them know that you want to communicate something to them.

The “tap” delivered from the Sit Means Sit Collar is a highly adjustable sensation that can be set to levels that are often imperceptible to people. Obviously this adjustability is necessary because some dogs are sensitive, while others are quite tough. There is no way to determine what levels your dog will respond to until you begin to train them with a collar. Another reason why the collars are so adjustable is because distractions from the environment are never consistent. Relate this to training with a treat. How many times will that treat work perfectly indoors, but fails to maintain your dog’s attention when a cat is running by. Sit Means Sit has found that dogs can be taught to pay attention around extreme distractions very effectively.

During the fundamental Sit Means Sit training, the dogs and handlers are taught how to condition their dog to the collar in a constructive and positive manner. By adjusting the level of the collar appropriately for the dog and the situation, as well as linking the tap from the collar with an item of high value, we can effectively teach the dog that the “tap” from the collar is related to something of value. This approach to fundamentals allows for a smooth transition into distraction training and off leash control through attention to command.

You can relate the advantages that a Sit Means Sit Collar can provide you in dog training with the advantages that a state-of-the-art smartphone provides you. Cell phones these days are no longer just phones, but mini-computers with built-in cameras, internet access and applications. These tools enhance our communication with others, allow for a diversified means of gathering and sharing information as well it’s just flat out cool what can be done with them, provided you have the knowledge. You can still choose to use you old-fashioned wall-mount telephone in your kitchen if you like, but now you’re restricted to the the length of the cord, and it’s not exactly easy to send photos to your in-laws using that wall-mount phone. Effectively limiting what you can do while you’re talking on the phone. There’s nothing wrong with doing things that way, it’s just limiting. This same relationship can also be said of using a leash to train your dog. It’s just limiting. With a smartphone you can do it all from the convenience of wherever you want.

Building on the premise of safety, the use of a remote controlled cue allows for greater freedom of communication, and in turn more efficient training through the enhancement of near-instantaneous timing. Being able to re-direct your dog’s energy or attention while he is at a distance from you greatly enhances the reliability you can achieve in a short period of time. It’s also allows for you to communicate with your dog without confrontation from yelling. Also, the uniqueness of the Sit Means Sit approach stands head and shoulders above other technology-based dog training systems because of our ability to establish a neutral communication system allowing for unprecedented problem solving abilities, and through our enhanced communication skills a truly politically correct training approach. We invite you to view our training first-hand by contacting us for a free demonstration and get a sneak peak into our proven process.

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Dog Trainers & Staff

Professional trainers. Attentive friendly staff.

Matt Strong

Matt StrongHEAD TRAINER / OWNER

As far back as I can remember I was helping my Dad train his German Short Haired Pointers in Ft. Lauderdale Florida. We raised quail to assist with training of the dogs. I have fond memories of my Dad letting me show our dog Buddy during a competition in the Smoky Mountains. Since that time I’ve owned numerous dogs and breeds. My wife and I love dogs so much we hobby breed German Shepherds.

My wife Tracey and I bought a dog kennel in Bel Air, MD where we offer overnight boarding. We see so many dogs with behavioral issues come to our kennel and we really wanted to help owners and dogs live their best life with each other.

 I was working a corporate job in the energy/technology sector. I was going through security at the Atlanta airport and literally ran into Fred Hassen and Alfredo Rivera, the Founders of Sit Means Sit. After doing some research I realized these guys were the best of the best. My boss called and said they were eliminating my position. That day we decided to jump in with both feet and open our Sit Means Sit dog training franchise. I completed training and certification through Sit Means Sit with Fred Hassen the CEO and Founder.

Dan Strong

Dan StrongDirector of Sales

I came to work at Sit Means Sit after months of discussions with my brother Matthew. We would have long conversations as his journey was about to begin. We had worked together many years in the mortgage business and always desired to work together again. Life has its way of aligning the stars. My wife and I were about to have our youngest child Dutton. God saw fit to bring Dutton 6 weeks early.

This started the chain of events of my wife taking an extended leave from her job at Belk. We wanted to be closer to family and my brother Matthew offered me the opportunity to work with him at Sit Means Sit. I made the leap and started commuting from NC to Maryland every week. Finally after over 15 years my brother and I were reunited and working together in a business we both love. My love for dogs and my family makes every day so rewarding. We have an amazing team and do everything we can for our clients and employees.

Melissa MortonManaging Director

Melissa joined the Sit Means Sit team after 15 years with big brands like Target and Under Armour, where she developed skills centered around people, processes, systems and technology. Melissa began her journey as a client, training her rambunctious puppy Ezra, and was inspired by the energy, transformation and impact she experienced while training. Melissa is committed to the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of the client journey, supporting our amazing team members and optimizing our business.

Tori Gorham

Tori GorhamOperations Manager

Tori has supreme experience in management and customer relations makes her an extremely valuable part of our team! She has always had a love and passion for dogs and her own fur baby Cam is a graduate of our training program as well! Tori seeks to see every dog owner find success with our programs and is happy to help every step of the way!

Amanda MoffettOffice Coordinator

Amanda brings over a decade of experience in customer service, coupled with more than eight years in management roles. With a lifelong love for animals and a history of owning dogs, Amanda’s passion for all creatures, great and small shines through in her work. She excels in customer service, finding fulfillment in assisting our clients in achieving their goals with their beloved pups. Amanda’s dedication to both our clients and their furry companions ensures that every interaction is met with care, expertise, and a commitment to excellence.

Toni Mcullough

Toni MculloughOffice Support

Toni was a previous client at Sit Means Sit before joining. Toni has 2 dogs a goldencavapoo and yorkiepoo. Toni has been in the customer service world for many years, and enjoys being able to help every step of the way!

Ashley PilkingtonOffice Support

Ashley worked in customer service for over 15 years and wanted a more rewarding career. Dutchess is Ashley’s first lab; she grew up with only rottweilers. No one in the family wanted to be around Dutchess before she was trained at Sit Means Sit, but now everyone loves her and seeing the amazing progress she’s made!

Kasey Jean

Kasey JeanLocation Manager

Kasey joined Sit Means Sit as a client first when she brought her 2 year old boxer Adonis in to help with his insecurity. Having trained racehorses for over a decade, working with the trainers of Sit Means Sit renewed her love of training animals. And having found success with her own dogs Adonis and Marvel, she wants to help others build the same confident relationship with their dogs. She can now do things with Adonis she didn’t think we’re possible and wants other to experience the same

Kim BrubakerDog Trainer

Kim has a rich background in wildlife conservation and education, Kim brings a unique perspective to the Sit Means Sit team. Before joining us, she dedicated her efforts to working with sanctuaries, focusing on the conservation and education of exotic carnivores such as great white sharks, crocodiles, and tigers. Her passion for wildlife extends to her personal life, where she spends her free time with her two beloved pups, Princess, a 7-year-old pittie mix, and Odin, a 3-year-old husky mix.Kim and her furry companions share a love for adventure, often found hiking and exploring the great outdoors together.

She understands that each dog is unique, with their own personalities and struggles. Kim’s dedication lies in helping both dogs and their owners build confident, secure relationships, ensuring that every pup receives the love and care they deserve. With her wealth of experience and unwavering commitment to canine companionship, Kim is an invaluable asset to our team, enriching the lives of dogs and their owners alike.

Grace Williams

Grace WilliamsLead Trainer

Grace started with Sit Means Sit as a client! Her dog Toby was struggling with separation anxiety and reactivity towards other dogs. Through the training process, they created an even stronger bond, which allowed Toby to become a happier, more confident! Seeing the positive changes in Toby, Grace became passionate about helping other dogs, and their owners overcome similar struggles. She is always working to be a better trainer through self-study and learning from other trainers. When Grace and Toby are not working towards a Canine Good Citizen title, they have a lot of fun learning new tricks and exploring new places! We are so lucky to have Grace as part of the team!

Courtnie Fisher

Courtnie FisherTrainer

Courtnie joined the Sit Means Sit family as a client. She came to us for help with Elliott’s dog and people reactivity. Through her experience, she transformed her relationship with Elliott into a strong bond of trust. Being able to do things she never imagined, Courtnie is driven to help clients achieve the same goals with their pups, resulting in happy, confident, and obedient dogs!

Heather MendalaTrainer

Heather has experience over the past 15 years working in different areas of the animal care field really helped peek her interest in dog training and expand her passion for working with dogs. Heather is currently working with her dog Evelyn to better help build her overall confidence, attention, and focus, as well as leash manners while on walks. They are excited to go through this journey together and enjoy helping other families in need!

Quinn HoltTrainer

Quinn started with Sit Means Sit as a client to help with her dog, Bagel! They came to us for help with basic obedience, a stronger recall, and social manners around other dogs. With this foundation, Bagel is now a Canine Good Citizen and, on her way, to becoming a great service dog. Quinn is passionate about helping people with dogs of all training needs become even better companions.

Service Areas

We proudly serve the following areas in Elkton & New Castle.

Counties

  • New Castle County

Cities

  • New Castle, DE
  • Newark, DE
  • Christiana, DE
  • Glasgow, DE
  • Bear, DE
  • Elkton, MD

Zip Codes

  • 19702
  • 19711
  • 19713
  • 19720
  • 21902
  • 21914
  • 21921

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Sit Means Sit has 157 locations across the US and Canada.

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Dog Training Videos

Check out a few videos to see our dog trainers at work!

Protection Training

Heel Up and Down The Stairs

Gambit – One Year Old Havanese

Sit Means Sit Commercial

Dog Owners Reviews

We love customers and their dogs. They love us.

Victoria K.

My husband and I adopted a young shelter dog, picked up as a stray. She is about a year and a half and had never lived in a home. Lily needed to learn manners, obedience and structure in order to live in peace and harmony. Sit Means Sit staff, Grace and Courtney, took charge and…

Christine S.

I was amazed with the results even after the very first class! Our pup is so much better than we expected after only 3 lessons. We look forward to continuing on with the group classes that are included to get the most out of the program, and see even more improvement with our pup! Shout…

Jennifer K.

Great experience at Sit Means Sit with our two bull terriers. They were patient with our stubborn bull-headed dogs. They lay a good framework and give you the tools but the owner must do most of the training at home. They do give good support and the graduate lessons are great to continue the work…

Elisa C.

I have a Belgian Malinois which is an active, strong-willed breed. I am so thankful for the training at Sit Means Sit. My dog is doing amazing. She is like one of those TV dogs now. And it’s fantastic to have the opportunity to continue practicing with the group classes after the private sessions. She…