Testimonials

I recently had the pleasure of enrolling my dog in training sessions at Sit Means Sit. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was welcoming and professional.

Not only did my dog learn essential commands like sit, place, and heel, but Josh also provided valuable advice on behavior management and socialization. His dedication and patience were truly appreciated. Josh made the one on one training sessions at the end of each lesson easy to understand and stress free.

Overall I would highly recommend Sit Means Sit. Thank you for everything you guys do!

-Emma Q.

I contacted Sit Means Sit Madison for help with my littermate shepherd mixes (70lb adults) and I could not be more impressed with the staff, their attention and care toward me and my dogs, and their knowledge and professionalism. I am thrilled with the results after four weekly private training sessions (teaching me just as much if not more than the dogs). I highly recommend SMS!

-Lacey H.

My dog Pepe and I loved our trainer, Jada. Jada is very knowledgeable and sweet and I’m glad she was our trainer. The other staff are awesome, too, and so is the facility and program. We learned a lot but we look forward to learning more during group classes.

-Danielle R.

Already could see a positive difference in our dogs behavior after 1 training! Loved the positive approach they use with the dogs! Looking forward to our next sessions!

-Heather M.

Took our 7 month old Bernedoodle, Penny, to Sit Means Seat and have been very pleased with the experience. Brenna, our trainer, was amazing. She clearly had a bond with Penny, and Penny was always happy (and tired) when we took her home. We will be bringing her back to classes to ensure that her training sticks (so far, so good!). It is pricey, but we have tried the group classes and found them to be social time, not training time.

-Mattie I.

We recently adopted our pup from DCHS and in the 3 day sessions she has become a completely different dog. We are so happy with her success can’t wait to see her in the year to come

-Adriane D.

My very nervous boy Simon has benefitted greatly from Sit Means Sit. He is more confident on leash; and doing his commands. We will be joining the group classes as well to continue his progress.

-Gena R.

Although, it was a workout for both of us I called parents training and dog because. I was exhausted just in a good way now we can continue what we learned at home also I found how smart our baby is!

-Rodney P.

Working with the team at Sit Means Sit has been a game changer for my husband, me, and our German Shepherd. All of the trainers really have a passion for dogs, they know their stuff, and are always happy (truly happy) to help! They are “trainers for life” and that’s exactly how they make us feel. They train us how to use an e-collar but also make sure we know this is just one tool of many in the toolbox for dog training. We are grateful for everyone at SMS as they help us navigate the journey with our GSD.

-Shelly K.

Training with Sit Means Sit Madison has been very helpful to us in establishing boundaries for our dog, with the goal of ensuring her safety and ours. In private lessons we focused on training to address our dog getting into the dishwasher and garbage upon opportunity, recall for safety, walking on leash without pulling, listening and attention….and what developed was the relationship with our dog where she began to look to us BEFORE acting, and reduced her natural impulsivity.

In group class, I cannot say enough about the value of the trainers’ ability to understand and work with a diverse variety of dog breeds, personality types, and behaviors. I have witnessed different dogs in class with behaviors ranging from reactive, shy, agitated, withdrawn, vocal, submissive, and/or anxious – that have become more calm, confident, trusting, and happy.

It isn’t magic – it’s good work. Sit Means Sit stands out as a straightforward, consistent, and disciplined training approach that serves to strengthen the bond between people and their dog.

-Dawn D.

Brenna was amazing not only with our pup, but also in teaching us (humans) the tools necessary to continue working with our dog! We started seeing improvements with our very anxious dog after just a couple lessons. We were very happy with the skill, patience and knowledge she had and are excited to continue working on what we’ve learned.

-Klara B.

We have been so pleased with the training and the guidance we were given. Besides the main training classes we were given tips and advice specific to our dogs needs. We highly recommend Sit Means Sit.

-Christine B.

Brenna, Mike, and Josh did wonders with my dog. My puppy struggled with a lot of anxiety beforehand and through the training confidence was built. I was both surprised and impressed to see my dog interacting with people over Christmas gatherings!

-Amy C.

Gamora is our 5 year old corgi, for the first three years of her life she was the best behaved dog, she was friendly to every dog and would never bark at them. It took one bad experience with another dog for her to become reactive even when walking on a leash. We tried every trick in the books and tried to train her ourselves to try to help with the reactivity (mainly when walking on a leash) but with no success. Every time we went out on walks we had to be highly aware of our surroundings to make sure to avoid people with dogs so she wouldn’t bark at them, we would be super embarrassed if she did bark at anyone because once she started there was little we could do to gain control of her. After researching dog trainers we ended up consulting with SMS and we couldn’t be any more happier to have gone through training with them. They listened to all of our questions and reassured us that while Gamora might never be her old self again as she is only a dog, they would work with us to give us the tools to help her regain trust in us and show us how to get her to listen to us. She completed her training but we could see the results since day one. We are no longer terrified of taking her out on walks and it has definitely improved our relationship with her. We are forever grateful with the sit means sit team, they are professionals in what they do and will listen and answer every single question you have. Thank you Brenna, Josh and Jada for helping Gamora during her training with SMS!

-Stacy A.

Sit Means Sit and their trainers are some of the most wonderful people to work with. They listen and make sure they are hitting everything that the owners want help with. Every time we went in, the first thing they did was welcome us with big smiles and talk us through everything they did that day. And when I say “they”, I mean absolutely EVERYONE working that day. Especially the trainers Josh, Brenna, and Jada. So friendly and charming. Extremely outgoing and personable as well! They definitely care about what the dogs need as well as what the owners need. They had no problem walking us through what we were doing wrong, and then helping us fix what we were doing wrong. Taking us step by step. After their rundown, they ALWAYS followed up with asking if there was anything else that we wanted help with before working with us one on one. I honestly couldn’t have picked a better place to help us. Thank you all SO MUCH and my husband and I wish you all the biggest successes!!

-Sureyya H.

We have been so pleased with the training and the guidance we were given. Besides the main training classes we were given tips and advice specific to our dogs needs. We highly recommend Sit Means Sit.

-Cristine B.

I LOVE the SMS team! My 3 year old st. bernard, Penny, completed the 3 day doggy day camp program in January and we have been attending all the group classes for the last month and a half. Not only is Penny learning incredible obedience, she is becoming so much more confident and so am I as her handler. When I take her collar off the charger and turn it on, she runs right up to me excited for me to put in on! Brenna led Penny through day camp and helped me get way more comfortable with how I train Penny at home. She is so helpful with answering my questions and giving me creative solutions for any roadblocks I hit. I am excited for Friday morning group classes with Brenna. Mike is also super helpful and runs an excellent evening group class. He is amazing at finding “holes” in our training providing all kinds of new challenges.

-Savannah P.

We sent our dogs to sit means sit for their 1 on 1 training program. We were blown away by the progress our pups made in a short time. Our trainers Josh and Jada were awesome with our dogs. They both quickly picked up on the pups unique personalities and motivations. When we attended our training sessions with our dogs, and our trainers did great reviewing what they’d worked on throughout the day, and where we’ll need to continue to practice. They were patient with us as we adjusted to a new mentality for training and reward. During training days, it was fun to get report cards for each dog to see how they’re progressing. We would recommend SMS to others looking for general obedience training.

-Samantha M.

We took our 5 month old Doberman puppy to Sit Means Sit Madison for puppy/obedience training, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. They absolutely transformed him! We also have lifetime group classes included with our package which we are looking forward to attending! 10/10 recommend this location for your dog training needs.

-Alana S.

I brought my two dogs to sit means sit, each with their own behavioral issues. One dog jumping on counters and guests and the other struggling with strangers. Brenna and Gina did an amazing job with both dogs and showed us how truly capable our pups are. After the three day program we are obviously expected to continue the training but we feel more capable as we were given the tools and foundation we needed to make progress. Our pups place very nicely now while we’re eating meals or someone comes to the door. This is something I never thought would happen!

_Hannah J.

Sit means Sit training helped my rescue dog gain the confidence she needed to feel safe in public scenarios. Her new found confidence is a game changer for our lifestyle because we can enjoy more outdoor events with her feeling excited instead of anxious. I get compliments often about how she walks on leash in our neighborhood. Thank you sit means sit!

-Nickee H.

Have you ever heard of a trusted, off-leash husky? Bet not, at least not until today! Sit Means Sit was the best choice ever! I’ve taken both my huskies there! I get so many compliments on my girls, not only their beauty, but how well behaved they are. I’ve sent my friends to SMS too, one with a male husky and one with a female German/husky. The staff at the madison branch are the best, they really get to know you, your dogs, and the best tactics to use. I will forever train my dogs, now and future, with SMS.

-Ashley S.

We have been a Sit Means Sit Madison client for about 9 years. We first took our Belgian Malinois, GIbbs, because he was kid and dog reactive. The great staff at Sit Means Sit taught us how to handle him to ensure he and everyone else stayed safe. When we got our second Belgian Malinois, Ryker, we knew we wanted to enroll in puppy class and then private lessons even though we were not having behavioral issues with him. We wanted to make sure we correctly sensitized Ryker to various experiences to avoid problems later on. The Sit Means Sit staff customized our training to teach him good obedience and focus despite distractions. We love the lifetime group classes included in our initial training fees. That lets us regularly work Ryker around other dogs, people and distraction or keep his training sharp. Staff are always willing to help us “clean up” anything that needs improvement. We highly recommend Mike Wheeler and his talented and caring team.

-Delora N.

I went in for a free consult and left feeling confident this was the right approach for what I want to be able to do with my dog. We like being outdoors for hikes and chilling with friends and want him to be calm and engaged with us. The staff were great at explaining the training approach and training me on how to work with my pup and read his behavior. Within 3 weeks we had a great foundation to keep working towards our goals.

-Katie K.

Rosie has a BIG personality and came from a not so great background. SMS gave us the tools to work on her reactivity, lack of confidence and general fearfulness!

-Emily R.

Sit means sit has helped me gain so much confidence in training my dog Doc. The training staff has been extremely helpful from helping with my dogs reactivity to helping me introduce a new puppy to him. I recommend all my friends with dogs to them because of the great work they do!

-Erica S.

We brought our corgi Carl here after trying other training and we felt like we finally got through to him. He’s much better at listening and acknowledging us. Sit means sit trained us just as much as him so we feel equipped to move forward with him and see what else he can do!

-Morgan B.

My rescues Lizzy and Cody needed training so they could enjoy their life. I would not have two Go Team Therapy Dogs without Sit Means Sit. Thank you.

-Joan H.

Sit Means Sit in Madison, WI is an amazing dog training facility that will help change your life and your pet’s life for the better. We began going to Sit Means Sit in early 2021, when our first puppy needed some extra training as she is a high energy dog that would constantly pull on the leash among many other bad habits. Through their day camps, group classes, and incredible team, we two well trained dogs that help make life easier. We get compliments on how well behaved our dogs are in public and at home and its all thanks to Sit Means Sit. This is truly a great place that will help train your dogs!

-Hanna V.

Fantastic experience. We have a highly, highly energetic 2 year old Wheaton Terrier (Tilly!). During our consultation, Greg took the time to understand our specific goals we had for Tilly’s training. He walked thru the training technique and schedule, being sure to answer any questions or concerns we had.

We scheduled three, full day trainings – spread over 3 weeks so that we would have practice time in between each lesson. We would drop Tilly off in the AM, pick her up in the afternoon. When we arrived back at the facility, my husband and I had an hour with the trainer and Tilly to walk through what they went over in the day. We also got a “Report Card” after each lesson that highlighted how it went. Super helpful.

Brenna trained Tilly on the 1st and 3rd day and Jada trained Tilly on the 2nd day. Each were fantastic and couldn’t have been more helpful and knowledgeable. They walked through the training collar process, commands and walking habits. They helped Tilly go from pulling on her harness to complete loose leash walking, how to get into her “Place”, how to heal, and how to stay focused while around other distractions (dogs, cars, people, etc).

Facilities were clean, well managed. Highly recommend Sit Means Sit, Brenna, Jada and Greg!

-Demri M.

I got my dog when she was eight months old from the Humane Society. She had so many bad habits, and Sit Means Sit really helped her become a well behaved dog. They personalized every training session, and was very invested in each and every dog.

-Lisa L.

We loved SIt Means Sit. They gave us the confidence to be able to handle our reactive dog Dodge. We especially loved working with Brenna. We will recommend to anyone looking for training!

-Jessica N.

What a great experience! From the initial greeting (Greg) to the full day trainings with Brenna. Our dog is well trained and our family is too! The communication, the text help, the app, the collar…. I cannot recommend SitMeansSit and especially, Brenna, enough!!!

-Mary W.

I have two dogs who went through the Sit Means Sit training program together (very stressful but worth every second). We had a whole host of issues that needed to be addressed for each dog. Everything from teaching my older dog (3 years old) to have confidence and work on her anxiety to my younger (11 months old) dog exhibiting some serious recourse guarding behaviors. I have to say initially I was very worried about e collar training because of all the horror stories I’ve heard from friends, family, and other research that I had done but I felt like my life had been ripped away from me and I was not able to give my dogs the support and structure they needed. My initial consult was with Greg who listened and engaged me in some critical conversations about where my dogs were at behavioral wise he helped me put to rest any of my hesitations about training with an e collar and the benefits that come with it. I interviewed several dog training programs and none of them made me feel as secure and confident in their programs as Greg did.

The real stars of the show are Brenna and Josh who were my girls dedicated trainers. Not only did they help give me the tools I needed to better improve my dogs lives but they were able to do so in a way that made it fun for all of us. Brenna and Josh talked through countless issues, concerns, and strategies with me during my three week training sessions. They are truly some of the nicest people I have ever met and even talked me through a few melt downs. I saw a review earlier that stated “the work is far from over” and I couldn’t agree more the first three weeks showed me that not only is there a light at the end of the tunnel but the community that Sit Means Sit has cultivated encourages continues education. The group classes offered at the end of the three week individual training will be a way for my dogs and I to continue to learn and grow together.

If you are looking for a dog training program that is going to make your life, and most importantly, your dogs life better look no further.

And just one more thank you to Brenna and Josh! You two did amazing work and I am so thankful and so are my girls!

-Mackenzie S.C.

OMG Brenna and Mike have been AMAZING helping Echo get some better manners! I’d been struggling with Echo’s reactivity out and about and especially around guests at home.

I had been using positive reinforcement methods, and made some progress, but after 2 years of training was still struggling with basic things like having anybody in my home while Echo was there. I was a bit anxious about the e-collar being a negative experience, but it has been such an amazing additional tool for our training to help Echo refocus on me when food / toys / leash pressure just don’t cut it, and he really seems to appreciate the help (and is able to enjoy the food and play after refocusing)! I loved that they encouraged me to still use the food and toys as reinforcement (which many places that train with e-collars did not allow or encourage). After 4 private lessons, Echo was a champ on our 4-day camping trip in northern WI and the UP, and stayed chill and on his bed 90% of the time, which made the whole experience so much more enjoyable for us all!!! On top of that, I recently had a house guest for 10 days (which was a terrifying prospect, but also an excellent training opportunity!). At first, Echo was a crazy barking mess whenever my guest was anything besides sitting still. With Brenna’s help, by the end of the visit, Echo was snoozing on his bet while my guest made me dinner!!!

While Echo has made some amazing progress in the last month since we started with Sit Means Sit, there is still plenty of work to do, and I love the support that Sit Means Sit and Brenna are continuing to provide now that we’ve “graduated,” with continuing education classes and answering all my questions promptly and thoroughly while also cheering us on!

I would absolutely recommend Sit Means Sit for anyone struggling with their dog’s training or who want to take their training to the next level.

– Anu & Echo

The training space is safe, welcoming and clean, and an hour-long class is the perfect amount of class time, especially for in the evening, after the workday. We feel the 5 private sessions, plus the good quality collar & remote, a cot for “place”, and the ability to contact our trainer outside of class make the cost of the class a good value. Big shout-out Brenna for being an excellent trainer!! She was always in good spirits, always on time, and gave each of us great 1:1 attention. We appreciated how she encouraged us to train with Sugar throughout the week, but didn’t chastise us if we couldn’t train as much as we wanted to because, life happens! We also appreciated how she checked our goals throughout the 5-week program, to ensure we were on track with what we wanted to accomplish in training. She also concluded each class with a short list of “homework” for next week, which was helpful. Brenna was very respectful of Sugar, and I feel she would give the same amount of love and care for every dog that comes to her for training. We would definitely take a training class from Brenna again, and would recommend her as a trainer to anyone we know.

-J. Barakat

When we adopted our rescue Daleigh we knew right away we would need some guidance and proper training to get her to a point of being able to socialize and interact with other people and other dogs in a calm manner. Being a Malinois/Shepherd mix she has lots of playful energy. We took her to SMS for a consult and met with Greg and we knew that was where she needed to be for training. Brenna and Jada both were amazing trainers to work with and I feel like we have a good foundation to keep building on with Daleigh. I love the fact that we have a lifetime membership with them for group classes and that we can call, text anytime with questions or concerns. I highly recommend SMS.

-Angela W.

Brenna was just incredible helping us with our rescue, June. We’ve had her for a couple years and she was always super leash reactive, barking at just about every dog, bike, and skateboard that she saw.

After 3 sessions at SMS, June is able to walk with us with no problem. I genuinely wouldn’t believe it if you told me she would improve this much a month ago. I can’t recommend SMS and Brenna specifically enough!

-Andrew M.

I did a LOT of research on German Shepherds prior to getting one—breeding, nutrition, training, socialization, etc. I was still totally unprepared for the nightmare of owning a needle tooth, frisky GSD pup. Thankfully, I found Mike Wheeler and Sit means sit. Not only did they coach me up, they also provided me the comfort of knowing they were truly there to support me in my training journey. My sweet Winnie is just over a year old now and she is perfect. Thank you Mike.

-Jeremy J.

Leo was a handful in a negative way until going to Sit Means Sit. Now he is quite manageable. He still acts up now and again but he is a stubborn lil fella. I think he learned many great thing at school, things we still use and work on today. Highly recommended!

-Darius B.

I’ve had such a great experience with Sit Means Sit! Paisley, my 10 year old pitbull is dog reactive and gets stressed very easily.

The staff at SMS is so professional and well-equipped to handle her. They have helped me build confidence to help her become more comfortable in many different environments. They absolutely love her and make us feel welcome as well. Her main trainer, Brenna, calls her princess Paisley and Paisley just soaks up all the love.

I’m so relieved to have found a staff that is dedicated to helping me provide her a better quality life.

-Lexi S.

SMS made such a positive impact – we hardly ever walk our dog on a leash!

-Sarah F.

Somewhere between our second and third private lesson I was able to confidently walk my crazy maligator off-leash!

-Steve M.

Our Lab just turned 2 this week. It’s been over a year since he finished his Sit Means Sit training and he is still doing fantastic. Place, heal, Come, Stay plus so much more. And Lab’s while smart are so high energy. The Training makes him a joy, not a problem. And as we have worked to off leash work, he has transitioned nicely. He also is well behaved around other dogs, a big plus. The only item we continue to work on is his OCD with balls and sticks. But hey, he’s a lab.

-Ron G.

Wonderful staff and a wonderful training program. We’ve seen a huge change in our dog since beginning SMS training. The free group classes are an awesome addition that makes keeping up with training much easier. I would highly recommend Sit Means Sit Madison if you want to train your dog well.

-Bryan B.

Had a great experience at Sit Means Sit. We have an anxious and reactive Australian Cattle Dog, and were struggling handling her properly. She was becoming highly reactive around people, and we were running out of option on how to kept the situation safe.

Sit Means Sit training course helped us understand our dogs behavior and communication better. We were able to learn how to create a calm environment for her, and keep her attention on us. We are definitely still learning, but our ability to keep our dog and other people safe changed drastically. (for the better).

-Abigail M.

Our 2 year old labradoodle just graduated from the Sit Means Sit Day Camp/Training program! We saw improvement in his behavior after just 1 week, and after the 3 week program he was a pro at the commands and behaviors. The trainers are all amazing – kind, knowledgeable, and invested in their clients. I appreciated how the trainers really worked to understand our concerns and then showed us and our dog how to work through them. We are excited to continue building our pup’s skills in the Group Classes!

-Cheyanne D

Josh and Jada were awesome training me. They also mixed in training our guy Petey. We now all pay attention to commands as instructed! Great job guys!

-Russ D.

We brought our puppy here when he was 12 weeks old. He had no behavioral issues and we wanted to keep it that way. We wanted him to be as free and happy as he could be. Our experience with our previous dog was that a dog that could feel happy, safe, and confident off leash was ideal. We do a lot of camping and hiking, so we wanted our dog to be able to roam freely, come when called, and stay by our side when needed.

Sit Means Sit was an investment in the next (hopefully) 10-15 years of our dogs life, and when we found out he would get access to classes for life it was a no brainer. With our last dog we realized every few years that we could all use a refresher on certain things like recall, etiquette, walking in heal, staying on command, etc, but we always hesitated to pay money for classes when we felt we ‘should’ be able to train him ourselves. With the training at Sit Means Sit, we enrolled him in some concentrated one-on-one training for a week and that gave him access to classes for life, which means we don’t have to wrestle with the decision of whether or not to spend more money on training. The classes are there for us whenever we decide we need them.

It is a big investment but I don’t regret it. I want my dog to be as safe and free as he can be. I see other people unable to take their dogs to the park, on a walk, to a picnic, or to other people’s houses because their dog pulls too much, eats food off the table, runs off, or doesn’t get along with other dogs. That’s not the life I want for my dog, and Sit Means Sit helped provide a strong foundation for our Very Good Dog.

-S.K.V.

Had a great experience at Sit Means Sit. We have an anxious and reactive Australian Cattle Dog, and were struggling handling her properly. She was becoming highly reactive around people, and we were running out of option on how to kept the situation safe.

Sit Means Sit training course helped us understand our dogs behavior and communication better. We were able to learn how to create a calm environment for her, and keep her attention on us. We are definitely still learning, but our ability to keep our dog and other people safe changed drastically. (for the better).

-Abigail M.

We were referred to by a friend and he sure didn’t steer us wrong. Luke was 9 months old, high strung and had even knocked me down resulting in a mild concussion the month before. The program fit into my work schedule nearby. They trained him well. I appreciated the videos for review and the training sessions when we picked him up insisting that both my husband and I demonstrate the skills they had taught this made quite an impression and we left confident this would work at home as well and we could continue the training I highly recommend them.

-Susan L.

From very reactive, to very chill and confident!! Sit Means Sit has transformed my relationship with my dog. He was once skittish and reactive and is now relaxed and eager to adventure whereever I lead him. He is eager to meet new people and dogs in a quiet engaging manner while staying at my side attentive to my direction.
Sit Means Sit was a fantastic investment for our family! ( My adult daughter is determined that her next dog will be trained at SMS as well, because she wants her next dog as well behaved as mine.)

-Tami D.

We brought our Golden Retriever puppy Mabel to Sit Means Sit when she was 7 months old. The trainer she worked with was professional, kind and patient (with Mabel and with us!). Mabel learned a lot (as did we) but if we get a new puppy I might wait until she’s a bit older as Mabel didn’t quite have the stamina for the day-long training sessions (she was always fast asleep when we came for our portion of the session!). She has retained much of what she learned and is now a very well-behaved 1 year old!

-Alisa R.

I’m very pleased with the training my young shepherd received. Brenna took the time to explain everything she did with our boy and answered any questions we had.
I would definitely recommend sit means sit as long as the owner will take the time to work with their dog. They don’t self train.

-Mary K.

We did the 3 day camp and our dog came back with the best manners!

-Renee G.

My dog had a few incidents of nipping while trying to herd people(shes an aussie) so I turned to Sit Means Sit to not only reinforce her obedience but expand on it as well as give her and I confidence when in high stress situations for her! Highly recommend!

-Kaylin S.

My pup is a little older, almost 9 years now. We went through lots of trainings as a puppy and we were doing great going to the dog park everyday from puppy to 4 years old. She got in a few tiffs at the dog park and and then became reactive because I was guarding and bracing.
We just completed our 3 week intensive and we are both more confident and in tune on walks.and around other dogs. There is still more work to do. So we have our lifetime lessons all set each week.
Our goal is for her to be off leash advanced trained! Thanks Brenna for leading the way!

-Erin T.

Sit means sit really changed the way I viewed dog training. I was having issues with my dog barking and having overall anxiety when people came over or my husband came home. He loves people but was too excited and amped up when people showed up and it made him start to get anxious about people coming.
We really needed help on the basics and the “place” command is probably the best thing ever. He’s on place when people come in and is happier there. Still occasionally a bark, but also controlled by a bark collar. He’s leaps and bounds better than he was before and I can’t thank them enough for helping us. He even completed and passed his canine good citizen test while we were training there. We haven’t attended many classes since Covid (and since I had 2 babies), but I long to go back and hope I get the chance to in the near future with my guy to attend a group class! We loved going! Definitely meet these trainers and sign your dog up! You wont be disappointed.

-Danielle S.

Sit Means Sit was an excellent investment for our dog and family! The company as a whole is incredibly organized. They know what they are doing and are very good at it. I had quite a few questions about the process and overall affect this would have on my dog, and they satisfactorily answered them all.

i really enjoyed working with our trainer, too! This is my very first dog and so I’m starting from square one. But Josh was so patient and encouraged me to not only ask questions, but made sure I was comfortable practicing the techniques before leaving to go home. If I had more concerns, all I had to do was text and he would get right back to me (unless he was working with a dog). Josh is very knowledgeable and was very kind and confident with our dog.

I saw such a drastic change in the behavior of our dog, especially after the second training session. I really feel like my dog and I are speaking the same language now.

Lastly, I’m very grateful for the lifetime group classes that I can attend as often as I like! The trainers at Sit Means Sit encouraged me to attend so that I can build my confidence and knowledge when working with my dog, which is so valuable!! I will definitely be recommending this service to my friends.

-Carissa B.

After 4 years of struggling with pulling on leash while walking and growing leash aggression to other dogs and people on walks, walking my dog is a joy again. Within one day after our first training session, my dog and I had a most enjoyable walk! No pulling! And when we encountered other dogs (which would normally result in barking and lunging by my dog), my dog kept his focus on me. SMS gave us the tools to build on our new skillsets and ensure enjoyable walks to come. Very excited to build on these new skills by taking advantage of the group classes. Josh and Jada (Our trainers) were wonderful and so helpful and reassuring. So glad we “did”! Thank you!!

-Jennifer F.

Brenna was an amazing trainer! She was so helpful with my dog who was reactive to new people and was easily overstimulated. She even checked on me outside of the training sessions to make sure everything was going well. There is a night and say difference after using Sit Means Sit and Brenna. I’m so thankful!

-Dana C.

Sit Means Sit is amazing! 5 stars! I never imagined that after only a day with them, our Pup Apollo would have learned so much and he did! It was like day and night. Jada and Josh were so patient and kind with not only our dog but our family as we all learned proper ways of training. We are so excited to see what’s ahead for Apollo! Thanks Jada and Josh!

-Kara V.

Jada was wonderful to work with and made such an impact on my 2.5 year old English Mastiff’s behavior right away on day one. There has been a dramatic improvement in obedience and respect and our lives are becoming easier each day, leaving more time for bonding and fun rather than frustration. My dog is more confident, trusting, and we can now enjoy walks together rather than him pulling me every which way. I highly recommend Jada and the Sit Means Sit program as a whole! It has truly been a life changing experience for both my dog and I.

-Wendy G.

Signing our dog up for Sit means Sit has been absolutely life changing for us. Josh is wonderful and we saw huge improvements with our dog after the first training session. We now know how to handle our leash pulling, jumping, and overly excited pup. Our only regret is we didn’t do this sooner.

-K. Kauppinen

Sit Means Sit Madison is great for beginner puppy classes and one-on-one training. They teach skills and commands that serve as valuable knowledge for both the owner and their dog. Having our dog work with owner Mike Wheeler made training so much easier. Mike has given us a lot of great tips and examples that have been extremely helpful.

Our 2 year old yellow lab had become increasingly reactive on leash toward other dogs and some people. Michelle explained everything thoroughly during the initial consultation. We chose a day and train package so that Charlie could work 1:1 with the trainers for 4 sessions. We worked most with Michelle, Tanya and Courtney, but all of the staff were friendly, answered countless questions, and patiently taught us how to train Charlie. After working with SMS for only 3 months, Charlie is like a new dog. Walks are enjoyable now and he is a happier dog!

Sit Means Sit Dog Training changed my life! I love my dogs so much but no matter how hard I tried they would never listen and could definitely never be off a leash at all anywhere! After my dog Domino got trained from Sit Means Sit he is a completely different dog when it comes to listening and paying attention! I recently just bought a collar for my other dog and now both of my dogs can play in our yard with no leash! And they are perfect angels on every walk! You won’t find a training collar like theirs anywhere! I highly recommend Sit Means Sit for any dog.

We had a fantastic experience with 1:1 sessions for our 4 month old golden retriever, Dotti. She is exceeding all expectations, and we are both having fun with her training. We look forward to continuing with the group sessions and refining her new skills! After 4 lessons she can walk in a heel off leash, hold a sit until released, come and sit in front of us even with distractions, and stay in ‘place’ on a cot for all of dinner. We highly recommend Sit Means Sit!

We got our first dog this past May, a rescue who was about 7 months old. After we adopted Rio we began to notice that he was a little reactive toward other dogs when on leash and would not respond to us in any way when trying to calm him on our walks. He was also having a tough time breaking focus and listening to commands once he was keyed in on something (squirrels, birds, rabbits, you name it). We have relatives who had used Sit Means Sit with their dogs who also dealt with similar issues, so a few months later after a consultation meeting we decided to go for it. After day one, we could already tell we made the right decision with Sit Means Sit. We saw improvements that very day and he kept improving with each visit. He gets genuinely excited when we get to the building, loves his trainers (Courtney is who we’ve worked with primarily and she’s wonderful), and has made huge strides with this training program. The key, as the trainers will tell you, is to keep it consistent at home and be diligent in practicing what they’ve shown you. That way it really starts to sink in for both you and your pup so you get the most out of the training. We are so excited we’re able to take him for walks without him pulling us in all directions after every animal he sees, and he is so happy knowing he’s making us happy – it’s a win-win. Thank you Sit Means Sit for helping us feel confident with our sassy, independent pup. He has learned so much and is so eager to please now that he knows what is expected of him. This program is definitely worth the investment.

Sit means sit has changed our lives and we are only 2/3 days in! Aspen is our 1 year old German Shepard/Lab mix. Before SMS she was a little trouble maker and now we have a well-behaved sweetheart. At first I was nervous about the e-collar because she can be a little shy and timid with new things at first but she adjusted to it quickly. All the trainers she’s worked with have been wonderful. She’s becoming more and more confident everyday! I can’t wait for summer to bring her with us everywhere possible 🙂

As a past owner of an Old English Bulldog, We knew we wanted another one for our family. Many bully breeds can be headstrong. When Kiki was a whopping 14 lbs., she let us know we would need help with her. Mike and Jayson have been around enough dogs to know what tools we would need to help her fit into our family. Sit Means Sit is a lifelong commitment to you and your dog, unlike many other training programs which are only just a 6 to 8 week crash course in basics.

People always comment on how well behaved Kiki is, which has given us the opportunity to mention Sit Means Sit to others.

When out with her, we have seen other dog owners walking their dogs and sometimes ask our self who is walking who…. It looks like the dog is walking them instead of them walking their dog.

We don’t have that issue with Kiki after signing up with Sit Means Sit. Kiki walks awesome off leash and even on leash with our young kids.

Mike and his crew at Sit Means Sit has been nothing but amazing. We started about 1 year ago with our reactive dog, Burton, who was both people and dog reactive. He is a very nervous dog and is afraid of everything. We had a hard time taking him on walks because he was so scared of all the noises outside, people would be walking and he would bark/lunge at them, and moving wildlife was not allowed to be within a 1 mile radius of him. After many failed attempts to train him ourselves, we turned to Sit Means Sit. They taught us patience, how to train with the e-collar appropriately, and how to safely put Burton in situations he is uncomfortable in then teach him how to get through those situations. We are now able to take him for off leash walks down our streets, take him camping, kayaking, and to community festivities with a lot of people around. It has been nice to see Sit Means Sit grow and change over the last year. Separating reactive and non-reactive classes allowing the reactive dogs to work closer than ever with other reactive dogs to work through their issues. They are about to double their training space, which everyone in the Sit Means Sit family cannot wait for. This training is not for the person who expects to have a few private lessons at Mounds, and have a super obedient dog after a couple weeks. There is no such thing. It is for the dog owners who are willing to put in the time and energy it takes to train their dog on a daily basis, even if that means 5-10 minutes, and for the owners who want to have a trainer & facility to train in available to them for the life of their dog. We were so pleased with the training, we immediately enrolled our new puppy, Porter, in Sit Means Sit this past January. Unlike other dog trainers we have researched, Sit Means Sit is the only company that provides unlimited group classes for the life of the dog, and a lifetime warranty on the collars and remotes even if your dog chews it into many pieces. Ultimately, I love the freedom that we can give our dogs out in public, knowing that if they make a poor decision, we have a tool we know how to use to keep them safe.

We LOVE Sit Means Sit!! The owner and trainers truly care about your dog, and you! We have been to other trainers and training facilities, but Mike won us over with his personality and ability to connect immediately with our dog.

SMS has an indoor facility where classes are conducted all year long, and you can attend as many group classes as you want with no extra cost. I like that the training is for the LIFE of your dog, not just for the length of the class and then you pay again for the next series of classes.

Our dog is a very well balanced and loves ALL the trainers. They are truly a professional group of people. There are many knockoff trainers, but none compare to the current SMS Staff. Thank you Mike, Katie, Jason & Audra! YOU ROCK!!

I can’t say enough good things about Sit Means Sit. I’m a fairly small woman with 3 large labs. Sit Means Sit gave me the tools and confidence to always feel in control when walking or working with my dogs. They are incredibly supportive and are always there to answer any questions at any point during the training. Truly a wonderful experience working with them!

SMS has done an amazing job! I am still in awe of how far my Lulu has come in the short 10 days that SMS had her. At only 5 months, she’s an amazingly well behaved dog. It’s more than learning basic commands, it’s teaching humans and dogs to control your energy, emotions and reactions. Lulu already knew the basics, but SMS fine tunes it and then some! For being a first time puppy mom, SMS makes me look like a pro out in my neighborhood. The trainers are patient, knowledgeable and always wanting to lend a helping hand. Lulu and I have learned so much, we look forward to what the future with SMS has to offer.

Nitro started at Sit Means Sit about 7 back ago and already made a huge turnover with his behavior. He no longer gets aggressive at people or cars and responds to any command instantly. It’s crazy how far he’s come and we couldn’t be more proud of him thanks to sit means sit!

I am speechless when it comes to Sit Means Sit. Tanya is absolutely wonderful and I can’t thank the whole SMS team enough. I have a very reactive Australian Shepherd, both to people and other dogs. We have tried nearly EVERYTHING. We took her to puppy classes when she was young, and we took her to a “bully” class, but nothing had ever gotten through to her until Sit Means Sit. They truly do not give up on you or your dog. I was ready to give up on my pup’s social skills and I am so glad I didn’t. I could not be happier with the results we are getting, and we haven’t even finished the training. The group classes for life is just the cherry on top. If you’re thinking about taking your dog here, 100% go for it. I am so thankful for this opportunity. It is truly worth every penny! Thank you SMS for giving Koda a chance at a better life.

Amazing trainers, amazing staff, the results I’ve seen from all different behavior problems has been incredible. I’ve seen nervous timid dogs become more confident, aggressive dogs become friendly, and just all around, well balanced, happy dogs and owners.

My experience with Sit Means Sit has been an excellent one. My dog suffers from both people and dog aggression, but after working with Sit Means Sit and the wonderful trainer, Tanya, my pup has shown tremendous improvements. My only regret was not signing up sooner! Would recommend 100%.

SMS has been incredibly helpful with our dog, Roxy. We’ve been going consistently for over a year and our family and friends have all been amazed at the progress we’ve made. Highly recommend!

AMAZING to say the least. I’m SHOCKED to see any bad reviews about Sit Means Sit. It takes a village and if you aren’t committed to helping your animal then you cannot blame a trainer. We have a 1 year old German Shepherd that was uncontrollable – walking was almost impossible – some food aggression – Kennel aggression at times – mouthy and it made me nervous for my children. We had no idea how to correct his negative behaviors. Jack has improved tremendously. We have done 5 private lessons and are going to do a few more. we have mainly worked with Michelle & Mike for a lesson as well and they are so great to work with! They go off your needs and so much gets done in the 1 hour private session. The shock collar that is included is way better than the one we got off amazon. No it does not hurt your dog, it gets their attention. If you are seeking a trainer go NO FURTHER. Sit Means Sit is the place to go!!!! We are SO pleased! Thank you guys!

Fantastic experience with SMS Madison! I have three Pomsky pups (Pomeranian/Husky) who are three of the best but also the most challenging pups I’ve ever owned. I tried training them for months with limited and inconsistent success. They would feed off each other’s excitement that would lead to chaos. I couldn’t walk them without them getting overly excited about other dogs on the trail or pulling so hard my back would hurt for hours. After time with Kate and her colleagues, my three pups are a dream to walk! They are so much better behaved. And while I thought our time with SMS meant training for my pups, I soon realized it was also training for me! I am much calmer and confident. Great experience for all of us!

My family and I adopted a 1yr old rescue German Shepherd mix in September of 2020. We were recommended to Sit Means Sit by Sierra Delta, a National Not for Profit organization helping all veterans with various types of dog therapies.

We began our training curriculum on November 17th and everyone associated with Sit Means Sit has been phenomenal both to my wife and I and to our new family member Loki.

Loki, is thriving in our family of 6 and we could not be more satisfied with the service and care that we have received from Sit Means Sit here in Madison, WI.

We are grateful to Sit Means Sit and to Sierra Delta for helping us maximize the relationship with our boy Loki!

We highly recommend Sit Means Sit to anyone with a dog in their family!!

My dog Milo and I have been members of the Sit Means Sit family for about 9 months or so. I originally went there for his barking issue in the house, what I received was not only help with that, but a whole different set of skills that has greatly improved and changed our lives. Milo now knows more commands, is less nervous, more focused, more responsive, and much happier. Every dog is a work in progress so we go to the training classes every week. We are both excited to go class where we are greeted by friends and the Sit Means Sit staff and we learn even more new helpful tricks and commands. The staff there are some of the greatest people I know. Just kind, caring and genuinely want to help you and your dog become better! They have changed how I am as a handler and how he is as a companion. I never thought I would be doing the things I am doing with him now. I will always recommend Sit Means Sit to anyone that would like a partnership with their animal, sharper obedience skills and a lifetime doggie support system. Thank you guys again for being there to support the canines in this area and their obsessive owners like me! .   

We got our first dog this past May, a rescue who was about 7 months old. After we adopted Rio we began to notice that he was a little reactive toward other dogs when on leash and would not respond to us in any way when trying to calm him on our walks. He was also having a tough time breaking focus and listening to commands once he was keyed in on something (squirrels, birds, rabbits, you name it). We have relatives who had used Sit Means Sit with their dogs who also dealt with similar issues, so a few months later after a consultation meeting we decided to go for it. After day one, we could already tell we made the right decision with Sit Means Sit. We saw improvements that very day and he kept improving with each visit. He gets genuinely excited when we get to the building, loves the trainers (Courtney is who we’ve worked with primarily and she’s wonderful), and has made huge strides with this training program. The key, as the trainers will tell you, is to keep it consistent at home and be diligent in practicing what they’ve shown you. That way it really starts to sink in for both you and your pup so you get the most out of the training. We are so excited we’re able to take him for walks without him pulling us in all directions after every animal he sees, and he is so happy knowing he’s making us happy – it’s a win-win. Thank you Sit Means Sit for helping us feel confident with our sassy, independent pup. He has learned so much and is so eager to please now that he knows what is expected of him. This program is definitely worth the investment.

The staff and training at Sit Means Sit really helped our dog, Tucker, with listening on and off the leash! We have more trust in him now, and he really is a better dog because of the training! The staff, and Tanya specifically were so helpful and answered all of our questions and concerns before and during the training. If you are hesitant about going to Sit Means Sit I would say do it, it really is life changing!

My 3 year old beagle is a rescue and hadn’t been trained at all before I got her a few months ago. She was quite the trouble maker and used her adorable floppy ears to get away with anything. Sit Means Sit has given myself and Stevie the training we needed to keep her out of trouble! Thank you all for being so amazing! We are both excited to see what she can do when she listens!

I rescued my little dog, Lady, about a month after moving to Madison in hopes of companionship and helping me meet other people. As a 4 month old puppy she had already sat at the shelter for over a month because she was very high anxiety and required a lot of love and attention. When I first brought her home she was scared of EVERYTHING. Certain flooring, elevators, traffic, loud noises, etc., Overtime she overcame her fear of the elevator and other small things, but I could not get her to walk on a leash without pulling and do other important things. I suffer with my own anxiety and we would almost make each other more anxious. I knew it was time for a professional and Sit Means Sit has changed both of our lives. After just 1 session she was done pulling on the leash, she trusts me so much more, and we are so much happier. She has now completed all 3 sessions. I’m forever grateful!

We used Sit Means Sit for both of our dogs who have issues with reactivity towards various different triggers. We’ve tried other trainers before and didn’t see much improvement until going to SMS. One of our dogs can be dog, people and bike reactive. Through the help of SMS, we are able to take her out in public to various places and enjoy her company. She can now go to the bike store, wait patiently as we purchased a bike, make friends with the employees and is now trained to run alongside the bike. Awhile back, she would of tried to herd the bike and would get anxious in a store setting. With our second dog, he was rescued after being stray. SMS has provided us with the tools necessary to help him learn how to navigate his new lifestyle. With hard work and determination at home, in addition to the coaching and training SMS provides, you will develop the skills you need to help your dog become everything they are capable of. We also can’t say enough about how helpful and dedicated the staff are! They truly care about each dog that comes into their facility. My dogs have never bonded with their trainers as much as they have at SMS.

Two and a half years ago, we adopted Zayne. Zayne gradually began exhibiting signs of reactivity towards other dogs, people, vehicles, etc.. It was very difficult to take Zayne for walks & car rides, leave him out when the post carrier came & even have friends/family over to the house, in fear that Zayne would lunge, bark or become aggressive. After two years of unsuccessful home trainings and misleading information from other trainers, I decided to take the plunge and call SMS and I could not be more impressed. We are currently 3 lessons in and Zayne’s entire demeanor has changed. Zayne has become more confident within himself, relying on me and my judgement to give him commands. I can take Zayne for long walks at a heel, have him place on miscellaneous objects, and have Zayne socialize with other dogs/people without fear of reactivity.

I cannot say enough great things about SMS and our trainer, Courtney. Courtney comes to every lesson with great enthusiasm and new challenges/strategies, pushing me and Zayne at a comfortable pace. Every lesson is individually tailored to meet the needs of the owner and the dog. I urge everyone to stop hesitating and call SMS to get your lessons scheduled. I look forward to finishing out our lessons & seeing what Courtney have planned for us next!

We officially have a Certified Good Boy ! We are beyond happy with our experiences at Sit Means Sit Madison! We had Molly for the majority of our private sessions & Sam for one! Everyone was so patient and kind with our nervous dog and tailored our training lessons to the goals we came in with and areas of improvement they saw for Porter. We still cannot believe the improvements we have seen over the time of our lessons. We can’t wait to continue to work on our new tricks and using the new tips and tools we , as dog owners , have learned from Sit Means Sit ! THANK YOU !

The staff here is amazing, helping motivate me and my dogs! The facility is so organized and well-kept, I love the professional atmosphere. This team definitely knows what they’re doing!

Sit Means Sit is great training for your dog. You will LOVE the off leash freedom!

We went through 5 training sessions with our 4-1/2month old English mastiff.

Both my husband and I were a little nervous going into it. The trainers always made sure we were comfortable with what was going on and explained things extremely well. Our pup loves going there and we get complaints wherever we may be on how well behaved our pup is. Our pup is so confident in herself after going through training!

I would highly recommend bringing your pup to sit means sit. They are awesome and work so well with the pups and owners!

We took our 5 month old rescue dog Lacy to Sit means Sit in Madison. The best dog training experience we have ever had. They were super informative and listen to our needs and then the results were even better than we expected. To all the trainers and staff at Sit means Sit great work! First class experience all the way.

I’m pretty sure that if I hadn’t found Sit Means Sit, my dog would have very possibly needed to be re-homed or euthanized. She was reactive around all dogs and would just go nuts biting at the air, lunging, and making the worst sounds. She truly sounded like cujo. I was trying all sorts of training techniques and was getting no where. I tried a positive only trainer (and paid a lot) and they were great! …for other dogs. Nothing I was doing phased my dog and I was getting to my wits end. My friends all thought I had a viscous dog based on how she acted around dogs even though she’s so sweet! I finally decided to try Sit Means Sit even though it was more expensive than I original planned on spending for training. It was basically my last ditch effort before looking into other permanent options. Within 10 minutes of my free consultation, Mike Wheeler had my dog sitting directly next to his dog and she was quiet and had her full attention on him. I signed up for 4 private lessons 9 months ago and once the private lessons were done, I attended the group classes that come with every package twice a week and plan to do so for the rest of Guada’s life (the classes are for the life of the dog). She has gone from an insane, out of control dog, to the dog that everyone compliments and can’t believe how obedient she is. After 9 months of training, I will be the first person to admit she is still not perfect (still a big spaz). If a dog comes out very unexpectedly at close range, she will still have a difficult time staying calm, but if there is a dog outside of 50 feet that we have time to prepare for, she can stay within her threshold most of the time, no problem. Also, even the unexpected dogs will only make her lose her composure for about 20 seconds, vs. the 5-20 minutes I had to endure before Sit Means Sit. She also has tons of dog buddies now! That was definitely something I never thought was possible before! Because we finally got her to the point of being able to be around dogs without losing it, we figured out that matching her temperament and doing a proper introduction was all we needed to find dog friends! Something I NEVER would have dared doing while I thought she was aggressive. I seriously can’t recommend this training program enough. I’ve recommended it to so many people and will continue to do so.

We started sit means sit about 2.5 months ago. We rescued a pitty mix with a large personality. We wanted to have more control over him. We are happy to say that the change we have seen in Duncan is unbelievable. We now can take him more places, have people over, and go on walks without being drug down the street. It has been such an amazing experience and he is just getting better and better as time goes on. We are so thankful for the trainers at sit means sit and look forward to continuing our group classes to make him the best he can be! Sit Means Sit is highly recommended!

I’m not sure if my review can do Sit Means Sit justice, but here goes nothing! Life changing, kind, understanding, and knowledgeable are the first few words that come to mind. When my dog started to have behavior problems I didn’t know what to do, I was embarrassed. There is so much stigma around “aggressive” dogs. Then I found Sit means sit and let me tell you, they are amazing! Not only has my dog gotten better with his reactivity towards other dogs, but he is way more attentive and listens to me the first time. Whenever we go in for a class they always ask how he is doing. At Sit Means Sit you can tell they truly care about you and your furry baby and that is one of the many reasons why I love it there. If anyone is looking to train their puppy or dog for any reason please please consider Sit Means Sit. It’s better to do it right the first time, and you will not regret it!!

Sit Means Sit is an amazing dog training place! We saw a night and day difference in our 1 year old American bulldog from just one day of training! Molly and the other trainers are absolutely amazing! Our dog went from pulling on his leash on walks and jumping on everyone to great them to walking nice on a leash and learning new manners on how to great people ! Highly recommended !!

After the 3-day doggy day camp with Sit Means Sit, our golden retriever is now heeling on walks, greeting people without jumping, acting calmly around other dogs, and much more. Our sweet boy has made SO much progress! We are so thankful.

We took our 2 year old German Shepherd to Sit Means Sit and we have absolutely loved it! The main concerns we had were leash aggression and pulling. I love to run with my shepherd and it was really difficult to do this with pulling on the leash. After a few day/train sessions we saw massive improvements. I used to use a prong collar to walk him and now after SMS I can use a regular leather collar without pulling.

The entire staff is incredible. They were professional, friendly, understanding and flexible. I knew my dog was in good hands when he was there! I also loved that the staff took videos so I could watch how he was being trained/what he learned that day. I can’t say enough positive things about trainer Courtney as well. She was patient with my dog AND with me, and always encouraged us!

I personally was very hesitant about the e-collars but after learning about them and watching the staff train my dog I became more confident.

Definitely worth the money and the time. This was an investment for life! We highly recommend!

Sit Means Sit has helped us with our German Shepherd puppy and we are so grateful. Our boy had been biting, pulling all of us around when walking, chewing on everything he could get in his mouth, and started getting aggressive. The way the daycamp training at Sit Means Sit has transformed our stubborn puppy is absolutely amazing.

They helped all of us be able to walk our now 83 lb German Shepherd puppy with a loss leash heal. We have learned how to teach and issue him commands that he is able to follow. They have helped our stubborn puppy learn to obey and his behavior is no longer aggressive.

The staff at Sit Means Sit are all friendly, extremely knowledgeable, and they are always willing to help us with our struggles. I can’t wait to expand on our skills with our puppy in the group classes. When we add to our family with a new puppy again Sit Means Sit will be helping us train them.

I am speechless when it comes to Sit Means Sit. Tanya is absolutely wonderful and I can’t thank the whole SMS team enough. I have a very reactive Australian Shepherd, both to people and other dogs. We have tried nearly EVERYTHING. We took her to puppy classes when she was young, and we took her to a “bully” class, but nothing had ever gotten through to her until Sit Means Sit. They truly do not give up on you or your dog. I was ready to give up on my pup’s social skills and I am so glad I didn’t. I could not be happier with the results we are getting, and we haven’t even finished the training. The group classes for life is just the cherry on top. If you’re thinking about taking your dog here, 100% go for it. I am so thankful for this opportunity. It is truly worth every penny! Thank you SMS for giving Koda a chance at a better life.

Overall, our experience with Sit Means Sit was fantastic! We brought our year old Mini Aussie in who was struggling with walking on a leash, barking uncontrollably, and had some behavior issues we wanted addressed. Throughout his doggie day camp program, we saw progress made after his first visit, and it only improved from there! All of the trainers we worked with were fantastic, and have continued to offer support after the completion of our training experience.

I would also note that the work you put in at home is just as, if not, more important than the training your dog gets at Sit Means Sit. You cannot sit on the sidelines and expect the trainers to do all of the work. It is a team effort requiring consistent practice outside of class. Not only will this maximize the effectiveness of your training, but it will also be good practice for the positive habits needed in the future for you and your dog to continue progressing in training.

We are so glad we found Sit Means Sit, and continue to be impressed with how amazing our experience was!

Our son told us about his experience at SMS and suggested we try it with Tove, our German Shepherd puppy. She learned commands easily but was very reactive around dogs and people she didn’t know. I had high expectations given the cost. I have not been disappointed. Sam has done an amazing job! She showed us how an e-collar can be helpful if used correctly. Tove is excited when it’s time to go to class. She is more calm overall since she learned how to stay focused in new situations. Sam knew when to be patient and when to introduce new distractions. She has trained Tove around several other dogs which has helped a lot. Sam has also made suggestions for how we can continue to make progress at home and encourages us to contact her with questions. I would definitely recommend the training at SMS.

My puppy King was a nightmare before Sit Means Sit. He barked non-stop and was really difficult to manage. Our trainer, Sam, worked miracles and got King to such a great place! I couldn’t be happier — worth every penny!

SMS has done a great job with our 10 month old Auggie. We tried obedience classes but nothing seemed to work for her. Instructors Ria, Brenna and Maggie are fantastic. We can now enjoy our walks with Auggie rather than making it a chore. Its money well spent on this training. We look forward to further training with SMS.

Our 1 year old terrier mix, Luna, shown some behaviors that made it difficult to walk her around the neighborhood because of her reactivity of other dogs and pulling on the leash. We tried other dog training programs and even a private trainer for a few months and we didn’t notice any difference. She was still exhibiting the same behaviors with multiple times of doing the training that was shown for us to do. We heard about Sit Means Sit from a friend that recommended it and we are so glad we got Luna into the schooling program. We notice a huge difference on the first day! Our trainer, Molly, was very friendly, knowledgeable, and answered all our questions with great tools for us to use for Luna to be successful. We didn’t feel judged that we were having some troubles with our dog (which we have felt at other dog training programs). We learned so much as dog owners and had a great experience! Thank you Sit Means Sit!

We had a great experience with all the trainers, kind and informative. Since we are a first time dog owner, we and our Goldendoodle needed training. I felt like we could freely ask questions and get continued support once our initial classes were over. We would highly recommend Sit Means Sit to anyone looking for a great training program. A big thank you to Maggie!!

Awesome place for dog training. They have a great team and the owners are very involved. Anyone will definitely help with any questions. They are more than willing to help you and your dog work through any issues and your goals.

I highly recommend signing up. With the lifelong access to group classes, you can always improve yourself and your dog to help build a better more rewarding life.

I can only say wonderful things about Mike and his team at Sit Means Sit. Everyone is so helpful and works as a team together and with their clients. If I ever have a question or problem with my dogs they give me lots of advice and tools to resolve an issue. I go twice a week with my two German Shepherds and I can honestly say that Sit Means Sit is part of my family.
I started my first GSD at 7 months and quickly realized how amazing this system really is, it truly works. When I got my second GSD there wasn’t a doubt in my mind about starting his training right away. I brought him in for a consult at 8 weeks and began lessons at 9 weeks. I now have two confident and obedient GSD’s because of this program.
People stop me daily to tell me how amazing my dogs are. I always try to explain that Sit Means Sit is the real hero. No, I don’t have two naturally super obedient puppies, it takes hard work and dedication. Sit Means Sit has given me to tools and confidence I need to be a knowledgeable dog owner. It is because of my experiences that I believe Sit Means Sit is the best training system out there for people who want to have a better relationship with their fur baby.
Go for a free consult and demonstration and you will see right away the potential your dog has to be fantastic. Sit Means Sit’s purpose is to feel confident with your dog off leash and to build a lifetime relationship with your dog and your trainers.

We are big fans of SMS and our trainer Maggie! Our 5-month-old wild child, Nancy, continues to rapidly progress into a well-behaved little lady. She’s gone from an out of control wigglebutt to a pup who really wants to be a good girl. She has become calmer and has so much more self-control! Maggie taught us with clarity and patience how to lovingly and consistently help Nancy follow commands. She’s a better dog and will only continue to learn as she grows into an adult dog. Maggie is a natural with dogs and knows her stuff! Nancy was always very happy to see her! I’d highly recommend SMS–and Maggie. It’s worth the time and money!

My 5 month old puppy Ollie and I had a wonderful experience working with the SMS team! Everyone was very helpful, friendly, and focused on tailoring to our training goals and needs. Ollie and I have a much stronger bond as I feel more confident taking him out to new places, meeting new pals, and enjoying the outdoors. We both gained a lot of knowledge and safe habits by completing the 3 day doggy day camp program. 🐶

We are so excited that Cana will be able “to do life with us” now, Sit means Sit has equipped us as a family to redirect Cana from her natural reaction (to bark at other dogs) to focus on us and the directions we give her. She is able to “heel” like a rockstar and is so happy now that we take her for more walks. I have already recommended SMS to several friends.

Strongly recommend for any big or small dog owner, no matter what their goals are.
We have a 1.5 yr old intact male Great Dane, Maus. We tried one other training program where we went straight to a group train environment when he was about 7 months old. It was a fine class I’m sure, but getting the individual attention and help we needed was impossible. We left each session with more questions than answers. We cancelled and sought out Sit Means Sit.
I personally was scared to walk Maus anymore when he reached 10 months old – and we knew this day would come and we were prepared to get help. Not a mean or aggressive bone in his body, but at his size, his uncontrollable playful reactions in public made it impossible for me to safely take him in public.
We started with 5 private lessons, one per week. After the first, I was already prepared to take him on practice walks up and down 2 blocks! At the 3 week/3 lesson mark we were ready to take him out to Cabela’s for public practice. Once he graduated from 5 private lessons, the trainers agreed we were ready to continue in group classes, and I was walking him alone anywhere I could take him. Now we have a life long training support team that responds to texts messages with continued individual help on any questions we have. We can go to group classes for all of Maus’s life, and keep up with educating ourselves and provide structure for a growing 155 lb “puppy” that needs it. Plus, the other people and their dogs are super fun to meet and socialize with! I can’t imagine that any other program style/approach would be this successful in helping us fully enjoy our Great Dane lifestyle. Rehoming is/was never ever an option, and I hope others seek this style of training to help them fully enjoy their dog lifestyle, too 🙂

We rescued our dog Avery (Staffy) that had some less than desirable habit’s. Being a “scary” looking dog we knew we needed to find training to smooth out those habits to ensure a good fit in our family. After looking at a few places we landed on Sit Means Sit because they were so open and honest during the initial consultation. Seeing dogs that have been trained and dogs completing training while we were there was so helpful and reassuring. All the trainers seemed genuinely interested in seeing Avery succeed. Maggie was our favorite trainer…even sending us follow up texts and checking in between trainings. We highly recommend investing in this training facility and we can’t wait to keep working with them and seeing just how amazing our Avery can be.

 

Mike and his crew at Sit Means Sit has been nothing but amazing. We started about 1 year ago with our reactive dog, Burton, who was both people and dog reactive. He is a very nervous dog and is afraid of everything. We had a hard time taking him on walks because he was so scared of all the noises outside, people would be walking and he would bark/lunge at them, and moving wildlife was not allowed to be within a 1 mile radius of him. After many failed attempts to train him ourselves, we turned to Sit Means Sit. They taught us patience, how to train with the e-collar appropriately, and how to safely put Burton in situations he is uncomfortable in then teach him how to get through those situations. We are now able to take him for off leash walks down our streets, take him camping, kayaking, and to community festivities with a lot of people around. It has been nice to see Sit Means Sit grow and change over the last year. Separating reactive and non-reactive classes allowing the reactive dogs to work closer than ever with other reactive dogs to work through their issues. They are about to double their training space, which everyone in the Sit Means Sit family cannot wait for. This training is not for the person who expects to have a few private lessons at Mounds, and have a super obedient dog after a couple weeks. There is no such thing. It is for the dog owners who are willing to put in the time and energy it takes to train their dog on a daily basis, even if that means 5-10 minutes, and for the owners who want to have a trainer & facility to train in available to them for the life of their dog. We were so pleased with the training, we immediately enrolled our new puppy, Porter, in Sit Means Sit this past January. Unlike other dog trainers we have researched, Sit Means Sit is the only company that provides unlimited group classes for the life of the dog, and a lifetime warranty on the collars and remotes even if your dog chews it into many pieces. Ultimately, I love the freedom that we can give our dogs out in public, knowing that if they make a poor decision, we have a tool we know how to use to keep them safe.

Best thing we ever did for our dog! We went through two other training programs before this. She listened great in the house, but her nose would take over outside. She would not listen to any commands and had no recall. It is an investment, but well worth the money! We now have our puppy enrolled and get compliments all the time about how good our dogs are!

I can’t begin to explain how professional and respectful the team at Sit Means Sit are. Thank you so much for giving us the level of training and understanding to help our STUBBORN Kirby be the best sweet bulldog he can be. You all have gone out of your way to make us feel at home!

We started sit means sit about 2.5 months ago. We rescued a pitty mix with a large personality. We wanted to have more control over him. We are happy to say that the change we have seen in Duncan is unbelievable. We now can take him more places, have people over, and go on walks without being drug down the street. It has been such an amazing experience and he is just getting better and better as time goes on. We are so thankful for the trainers at sit means sit and look forward to continuing our group classes to make him the best he can be! Sit means sit is highly recommended!

I’m not sure if my review can do Sit Means Sit justice, but here goes nothing! Life changing, kind, understanding, and knowledgeable are the first few words that come to mind. When my dog started to have behavior problems I didn’t know what to do, I was embarrassed. There is so much stigma around “aggressive” dogs. Then I found Sit means sit and let me tell you, they are amazing! Not only has my dog gotten better with his reactivity towards other dogs, but he is way more attentive and listens to me the first time. Whenever we go in for a class they always ask how he is doing. At Sit Means Sit you can tell they truly care about you and your furry baby and that is one of the many reasons why I love it there. If anyone is looking to train their puppy or dog for any reason please please consider Sit Means Sit. It’s better to do it right the first time, and you will not regret it!!

My mom and I took our great danes to SMS for the day train program, and after the first session, we could already see an improvement! With such large dogs, it is important that they are well behaved in the most basic things, like walking on a leash and polite greetings. We used to use harnesses and head halters to control them, but they now easily walk on a regular leash and collar.

Even Ollie, my 160 pound monster puppy who is reactive towards other dogs (and some people) is able to go to group class with 20 other reactive dogs and be so relaxed he can take a nap. Dogs require constant work, and anyone expecting quick fix training to work should not be a dog owner, but SMS has given me the tools I need to work with Ollie for the rest of his life, and make him a happier, more well behaved animal. We can’t thank the trainers enough! They have all been so fantastic!

It’s like we went to version 2.0 of our dog, Lily. She’s a fantastic corgi mutt that had some issues with listening when distracted, specifically with regards to our cat. We could never have her off leash because she’d run away (into the street with no regard for her personal safety) and she’d pull and lunge on walks. Bikes were a complete disaster with her lunging and barking for a few minutes before and after they passed us.

We met with Michelle and she walked us through the process and we decided to do the 2-week board and train. When we picked Lily up, she was completely transformed! She listens much better, holds place, and leaves the cat alone for the most part. Since the training, she doesn’t pull when we go on walks, ignores other dogs/distractions and even bikes, and has been off leash in our front yard and neighbor’s yard. We loved our experience and Michelle and would absolutely recommend Sit Means Sit Madison to other dog owners!

This is the best place to take your dog if you need training. Our pitbull was so out of control when we got her but still an amazing dog. One lesson and she was already a changed dog. She now is doing so amazing and has become a perfect member to our family.
I love the staff and all the support they give you and your family. They are all so knowledgeable and caring and really love working with the dogs.
I just can’t say enough good things about sit means sit.
I would recommend them to anyone and everyone!!

Sit Means Sit has transformed our fearful little rescue dog Jack into a confident and much more friendly companion. He came into training with a background of fear-biting, lunging at strangers, and aggressive behavior towards other dogs ten times his size. After completing the Bachelor Program and regularly going to Group Impulse Control Class, he has shown tremendous progress. Jack has now made some doggy friends at the dog park, can walk off an on leash obediently, and can greet strangers more calmly. Sit Means Sit gave us a language to communicate with Jack, and it is amazing to see the “lightbulb go on” when he understands what we’re asking him to do, and you can tell he is proud of himself. He is more trusting, less anxious, and an overall happier dog. All of the staff have been respectful, knowledgeable, and caring. We look forward to continuing with classes and training with Sit Means Sit.

Fantastic experience with SMS Madison! I have three Pomsky pups (Pomeranian/Husky) who are three of the best but also the most challenging pups I’ve ever owned. I tried training them for months with limited and inconsistent success. They would feed off each other’s excitement that would lead to chaos. I couldn’t walk them without them getting overly excited about other dogs on the trail or pulling so hard my back would hurt for hours. After time with Kate and her colleagues, my three pups are a dream to walk! They are so much better behaved. And while I thought our time with SMS meant training for my pups, I soon realized it was also training for me! I am much calmer and confident. Great experience for all of us!

Sit Means Sit dog training has been amazing for our dog, Porter. Mike and Paige were wonderful to work with and we have a fantastic dog because of them. Highly recommended!!!

I love the SMS Facility and staff! When I moved to Madison my big boy StanLee was reactive to other dogs and I was very concerned how he would do with all the changes he would experience. Mike took the time to understand my needs, and Jade has done a tremendous job helping me communicate with StanLee and he has truly transformed into a more confident, obedient pup! I also love the group classes and they allow all members to participate while keeping the dogs engaged. Recently I boarded StanLee at SMS and the entire staff did really made me feel comfortable with leaving him and treated him with so much love and care!!!

My dog Milo and I have been members of the Sit Means Sit family for about 9 months or so. I originally went there for his barking issue in the house, what I received was not only help with that, but a whole different set of skills that has greatly improved and changed our lives. Milo now knows more commands, is less nervous, more focused, more responsive, and much happier. Every dog is a work in progress so we go to the training classes every week. We are both excited to go class where we are greeted by friends and the Sit Means Sit staff and we learn even more new helpful tricks and commands. The staff there are some of the greatest people I know. Just kind, caring and genuinely want to help you and your dog become better! They have changed how I am as a handler and how he is as a companion. I never thought I would be doing the things I am doing with him now. I will always recommend Sit Means Sit to anyone that would like a partnership with their animal, sharper obedience skills and a lifetime doggie support system. Thank you guys again for being there to support the canines in this area and their obsessive owners like me! ❤️

This place is amazing! I have a 1 1/2 year old shepherd who was reactive to basically everything that moved. I had tried two other training companies in the Madison area without seeing any progress before coming to sit means sit and it was the best decision I could have made! I did the 2 week immersion program and was very happy with the results! I have worked mostly with Audra and Mike who are both fantastic and you can tell they truly care about their clients and their dogs. We now go to group class every week and we love it! The cost may seem expensive at first compared to other companies, but you get so much more than any other place could give and it is worth every penny!

I took my German Shepherd, Roc, to Sit Means Sit for help with decreasing his aggressiveness and some additional clean-up work with obedience. I am extremely satisfied with the support and work that Mike and the rest of the team put in to make our experience a positive and successful one. Roc is a lot more calm and relaxed in crowds and close proximity of unfamiliar people now. We continue to work and build on the training and coaching but feel very comfortable know that the Sit Means Sit team is there when needed!!

I can only say wonderful things about Mike and his team at Sit Means Sit. Everyone is so helpful and works as a team together and with their clients. If I ever have a question or problem with my dogs they give me lots of advice and tools to resolve an issue. I go twice a week with my two German Shepherds and I can honestly say that Sit Means Sit is part of my family.
I started my first GSD at 7 months and quickly realized how amazing this system really is, it truly works. When I got my second GSD there wasn’t a doubt in my mind about starting his training right away. I brought him in for a consult at 8 weeks and began lessons at 9 weeks. I now have two confident and obedient GSD’s because of this program.
People stop me daily to tell me how amazing my dogs are. I always try to explain that Sit Means Sit is the real hero. No, I don’t have two naturally super obedient puppies, it takes hard work and dedication. Sit Means Sit has given me to tools and confidence I need to be a knowledgeable dog owner. It is because of my experiences that I believe Sit Means Sit is the best training system out there for people who want to have a better relationship with their fur baby.
Go for a free consult and demonstration and you will see right away the potential your dog has to be fantastic. Sit Means Sit’s purpose is to feel confident with your dog off leash and to build a lifetime relationship with your dog and your trainers.

I am speechless when it comes to Sit Means Sit. Tanya is absolutely wonderful and I can’t thank the whole SMS team enough. I have a very reactive Australian Shepherd, both to people and other dogs. We have tried nearly EVERYTHING. We took her to puppy classes when she was young, and we took her to a “bully” class, but nothing had ever gotten through to her until Sit Means Sit. They truly do not give up on you or your dog. I was ready to give up on my pup’s social skills and I am so glad I didn’t. I could not be happier with the results we are getting, and we haven’t even finished the training. The group classes for life is just the cherry on top. If you’re thinking about taking your dog here, 100% go for it. I am so thankful for this opportunity. It is truly worth every penny! Thank you SMS for giving Koda a chance at a better life.