Sit Means Sit

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. More...

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I have a brand new amazing dog thanks to Sit Means Sit and I couldn’t be more happy with the day camp program! Stevie thanks you for working with her and I thank you for giving me a dog who listens and won’t bolt at the first sign of a bunny!!

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Our 3rd dog is a reactive personality. We needed a new way to deal with this behavior we haven't experienced before. Sit Means Sit had given us the tools and conference to proceed and grow with him. We want our 2 dog house to have 2 dogs again. More...

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Sit Means Sit has been a life saver! I have two Shiba Inu’s that are VERY stubborn but the trainers have helped us so much. We still have so much work left but after five lessons I can say that my dogs can now be off leash in certain outside areas without running away. Michelle and Tonya have been nothing but wonderful! They really work with you to help you achieve your goals and give you tips and tricks you wouldn't even think of. I won’t lie the price is expensive but worth every dollar if you are willing to put in the time. We look forward to group classes! More...

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My fiancé and I have been taking our Rottweiler puppy to class with Michelle. Not only did we see real results within the first weeks, we were so impressed by Michelle's willingness to work with some weird and abnormal behaviors our puppy displayed. Our puppy was not responding well to the first two classes (in fact, she was panicked and almost traumatized by the whole situation - she's a very sensitive dog), so Michelle okayed it to have Astrid come and stay for the day, free of charge to us. We have learned so much through this program and our dog loves coming to group class now and learning new things. We absolutely would recommend Sit Means Sit and Michelle (along with all of the staff!) to anyone looking to gain new skills in working with dogs. One of the best decisions we have made, easily! More...

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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. More...

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They have a passion for field. They are willing to customize the training based on the individual pet. We didn't get "lost" in a big group of classes.

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Incredible program with real results! Very expensive, but also very effective if you stick with the program!

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The best my dog buster was there and he i a joy now thank you you guys are the best

Reviewed on Google Maps

Fantastic place!!! My dog and I did private lessons and you definitely learn quite a bit. I knew very little in the beginning as to how to train a dog. They are very knowledgeable and I feel more confident and comfortable every time I am there. I can safely say what they teach works. More...

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Great dog training facility. Very clean and well organized and the trainers are very knowledgeable and caring. Trying to get Tiger to be a little more comfortable with us.

Reviewed on Google Maps

This place does an awesome job! My dog is happy and super well behaved and the trainers here made it happen super quick. Its well worth the money and the group classes are a blast. They are sometimes difficult to reach by phone but I have noticed an improvement lately. I'm so glad I chose them over any other trainer in town! More...

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Great facility! They also board and train so coming back after vacation, we got a dog that was amazingly behaved. Unlimited free classes included for you to work with your dog. Mike and the trainers are Amazing!

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My girlfriend and I adopted Sarabi from Aruba two months ago. As far as we know, she had been living on the streets for some time, and presumably had never had any sort of training prior to living with us. After having Sarabi for two weeks, we realized that she was having problems interacting with other dogs - particularly lunging at unfamiliar dogs on-leash, and becoming aggressive with familiar dogs off-leash. She also would pull on the leash during most of our walks, and had a general lack of obedience. After doing some research, we decided that Sit Means Sit would be a good fit for Sarabi. Since beginning training at SMS, we have seen great improvements in her reactivity towards other dogs, and her progress in terms of obedience has been wonderful. After five weeks of training with SMS, Sarabi knows how to sit, down, and place, and we've been working on middle and weave commands. She rarely pulls on the leash during walks, and we have been able to take her on walks where she rarely reacts towards other dogs. I know with continued training at SMS, Sarabi will truly be a great and we will be able to have her comfortably and confidently interact with other dogs.

If you are considering training your dog with SMS, we would absolutely recommend it. Mike and Tanya are amazingly talented and patient trainers who not only care about your dog, but care about you as a dog owner. Although the program is expensive and you do need to be committed to the training techniques, it is well worth the money and time. The one-on-one training sessions are both informative and taught in a way that sets both you and your dog up for success. The best part of training with SMS is that you dog can attend unlimited group class for the rest of its life after completing one-on-one training - proof again that SMS is fully committed to helping you train your dog!

We are looking forward to watching Sarabi improve as we continue our training with SMS. We encourage you to give them a chance (they do free consultations!). We are confident you won't be disappointed and we are forever grateful for their support and commitment to helping us train Sarabi! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

This place does an awesome job! My dog is happy and super well behaved and the trainers here made it happen super quick. Its well worth the money and the group classes are a blast. They are sometimes difficult to reach by phone but I have noticed an improvement lately. I'm so glad I chose them over any other trainer in town! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I took my 9 month old lab Sadie to Sit means Sit in December of 2017. To say Sit Means Sit is worth every penny is an understatement. Since taking Sadie to Sit Means Sit I have gained confidence in her that I never believed I would. I truly got a new dog back after the two week "masters program" training. Additionally, trainers will continue to work with you and truly listen to what you have to say. Still having minor issues with your dog? They will work with you to fix it. Your dog also receives FREE GROUP CLASS TRAINING FOR LIFE. It is a great feeling when people consistently ask where your dog was trained because she is so well behaved. Invest in your dog and take them to Sit Means Sit. More...

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We are so happy we took our dog to Sit Means Sit! Our 8 yr old husky retriever mix could not be around any other dog period. She would guard both my wife and I, food and our other 13 yr old beagle. After just working with Sit Means Sit for the 10 day class and at home with us for a week, she does not react to other dogs near as bad, almost not all. Mike and the entire team at Sit Means Sit are awesome! Looking forward to continue working with Bubbles and the team! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I went to their second level puppy training with my new Saint Bernard puppy. The class was well run and very informative. I would highly recommend them to anyone with a new dog.

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Sit Means Sit has forever changed my approach to training. Merlin is the first dog I’ve raised on my own. With the goal of eventually having him certified as a therapy dog I jumped right into training classes. During the first year I had Merlin we tried five or six 6-week training courses with about three or four different training companies in the area, but I wasn’t really seeing the improvement and focus I was hoping for. He learned to sit, lay down, and wait just fine, but having him hold a command for any length of time was a constant struggle. After a 10 day board and train program with Tanya at Sit Means Sit (hereafter abbreviated as SMS), there were already drastic changes to Merlin’s ability to focus and listen.

I first learned about SMS when I saw their booth at the PuppyUp event in May 2017. I grabbed a card from their table after seeing on of their demonstrations. Merlin is a happy, non-reactive, young poodle, so I wasn’t sure if SMS would be the right fit since he didn’t really have any bad habits or issues that needed work. However, as a young poodle he had a lot (and I really do mean a lot) of energy. By September 2017 I felt that Merlin needed a stronger training program. I wanted this for him because I wanted to give him a healthy way to focus his energy and work it out so it didn’t become destructive energy or anxiety, so I scheduled a consultation with SMS. After the consultation I felt that I had finally found the right program and organization to continue Merlin’s training, and scheduled Merlin’s board and train.

Besides knowing how much I would miss him, I had no reservations about leaving Merlin with a SMS trainer for his program. When I went to pick him up he was still the happy, cheerful, playful puppy I knew and loved, but I could already see the improvement in his ability to listen and focus. There were also several other improvements, such as no longer needing a harness to walk him as he no longer pulled on walks. Additionally, his anxiety, which I hadn’t really realized he had until after the fact, was greatly reduced.

Merlin was then cleared to participate in the regular (non-reactive) group class, but this didn’t preclude us from participating in either. I decided to take Merlin to both group classes for multiple reasons. Participating in both classes exposes Merlin to dogs of all temperaments, age, size, etc. Sometimes both classes will work on similar areas while other times they are very different. Furthermore, the dynamics between dogs, between owners, and between the owners and their dog can be very different in each class. In both classes, though, I have seen dogs make astonishing improvements and transformations just in the four months we’ve been participating. Moreover, the sense of community and camaraderie I’ve found at SMS is so heartening. Everyone is willing to help each other, people are aware and engaged during classes, and everybody is patient and understanding of the dogs whether they’re young, excitable, nervous, or sensitive. Additionally the classes are always well supervised and regulated. I highly recommend participating in them regularly if you complete a program with SMS.

I could go on and on about the good that SMS has done for Merlin and that I’ve seen it do for other dogs. I plan to continue with their classes and to use them for all future dogs I may have. They even factored into my decision to stay in Madison as there are no similar facilities or locations within 200 miles of my hometown. In summary, I went to sit means sit with a happy, energetic puppy and after working with them for the past 4-5 months I have a happy, energetic, puppy whose focus and overall behavior has greatly improved. There are still skills for Merlin to work on, but I couldn’t be happier with the progress he’s made with this organization. More...

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My daughter brought her dog to Sit Means Sit. Before her dog came their he would walk all over her and be the boss of the house. Since his enrollment with Sit Means Sit he has the best obedience ever. I can walk into my daughters house without Bently greeting me at the door. He now waits patiently on his bed until he is released to come say Hi. The other things that impress me is he is off leash in her back yard and no longer runs off, walks nicely on leash and no longer barks at people when they walk by the house. I never imagined this would ever happen. I couldn't be more happy with the service she received from Sit Means Sit. I highly recommend them to anyone. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Sit Means Sit has changed our lives for the better! I can take my dogs anywhere and enjoy them so much more. They are well behaved around distractions and have so much more freedom to have fun and play! I highly recommend Sit Means Sit money well spent! More...

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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. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I went through training with Mike Wheeler and my little peekapoo Grace. She is now one of those little dogs that everybody can enjoy and has been a therapy dog for two years. Without the help and tutelage of Mike Wheeler I never would have been able to achieve such amazing goals. I never knew I could have the type of relationship with my dog that I learned how to have through this it means it training system. I cannot recommend sit means sit enough! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Awesome facility. I was very impressed with how caring the trainers were with the dogs. The dogs were happy and had great obedience. All the staff seem to really love their job. They really want to see you succeed with your dog. Look no further if you want real results that last. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Kate at Sit Means Sit was fantastic! We had a very unruly and energetic 3 yr old goldendoodle. We did the basic pet store trainings with zero results. Kate took her for 2 weeks and she was a completely new dog. She came back very well behaved, able to walk off leash and we could have her in the yard with us and not to worry about her running off. We can now have people over without having to worry about her jumping on everyone or barking at them. It has been amazing. We are two months post-training and it keeps getting better. It has improved the quality of our family to a huge degree. Thanks Kate!! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

My newest Rott was very excitable and started displaying some behaviors I thought would lead to aggression. I knew I needed professional help and researched trainers in the Madison area. It was obvious to me that Sit Means Sit would bring me the results I was looking for. Thanks to my trainer Mike, he showed me my dog is not aggressive but has a high prey drive, a natural instinct in dogs. Completely manageable, just requires training to outrank the instinct when the drive hits. I now enjoy a life full of activity with my dog. What I did not expect to find at Sit Means Sit was a group of people dedicated to the dog and helping people find balance with their dog beyond the classes. I have support from any trainer at any time. They are also a strong supporter of the community which is always admirable. Here's a tip. If you are uncomfortable with any part of your life involving your dog, whether in home, on a walk, or at the dog park, get some help. The stress relief from a balanced dog and balanced owner are priceless! Thanks Mike and the Sit Means Sit family!!! More...

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