Customer Reviews

We said YES! .. To keeping the dog. Our family acquired a high energy Australian shepherd into our already crazy home with two toddlers. We felt overwhelmed and defeated with the puppy’s resource guarding and reactivity issues when we brought him home. We were on the verge of rehoming him but sit means sit went above and beyond ensuring that we had all the skills that we needed to work with him. Now he’s almost 9 months old and he’s turning into a “good dog”. Thank you!
-Kristina E.

We decided on Sit Means Sit because our dog was very reactive to other animals. We did a three week day train program with Josh, and after the first session she had significant improvement on not only reactivity but focus and increased obedience skills. Josh was always helpful and during the dedicated time to work under supervision he always gave us tips and pointed out the little things that we did as owners that were more counterproductive or reinforced the behavior we did not want our dog to do. The owner Mike had also given us an extra training session to work on exposure to other dogs working around her before transitional classes. Everyone was incredibly helpful and positive. Our dog was previously surrendered to a shelter for her reactivity and negative response to other training sessions with her previous owners,but seeing her happy to work on training and go to her program really shows how their positive approach can make all the difference. Training is done in a controlled way and helps build confidence in the dog and owner. No question is a silly question when trying to help your dog be better in their journey and the trainers are always happy to answer them in sessions or if they pop up while working outside of them. Would highly recommend for animal reactive dogs, especially since they are one of the very few places I have found in my search for training that does not throw the dog in the middle of a dog park or other high stress and uncontrolled situations.
-Shae P.

After reading the excellent reviews we decided to try this training program. I truly thought if there was one dog who would not be helped, it would be ours. There was a noticeable difference even after the first training session. Both trainers, Josh and Brenna, have been wonderful with our dog and in helping our family learn how to work with our dog. Worth every penny!!
-Julia A.

We just finished our 3 week training with our dog and are highly impressed. We took our 1 1/2 year old dog to Sit Means Sit to work on his reactivity. Our dog learned way more than just working on his reactivity! We now know how to manage his reactivity and get his attention back to us. Mike the owner was very knowledgeable and set up a perfect training plan for our dog. Our trainer Josh was also very knowledgeable and helped us tremendously. We could tell how much Josh cares about helping the owners and the dogs. I would highly recommend Sit Means Sit to anyone looking for dog training. We can’t wait to start going to group classes to keep learning and working around other dogs.
Malori K.

We enrolled our two dogs, Annie, a stubborn labradoodle, and Zahn, a very reserved shepherd, in for training with Sit Means Sit. Witnessing the positive changes they guided our dogs through was remarkable. Josh and Breanna turned what used to be a frustrating training process into a truly enjoyable experience for both us and our furry companions. It has definitely been worth it!
-Kalie M.

Amazing experience with one on one training. From day one with our consultation with Mike our pet’s needs were assessed and respected. Brenna was our main trainer through our 4 weeks of one on one. She is fantastic and super knowledgeable. We have a blue heeler puppy and I have been so impressed with her progress through the training as well as my education around animal instinct and behavior. Our pup tends to be reactive and had major confidence issues. This team is great at making the training easy to hear, digest and implement. I am so impressed and can’t recommend Sit Means Sit enough. And most of all our fur baby is happy, adjusted and learning to be well socialized. The work is on me now. We can’t wait to see the long term results.
-Chris P.

Sit Means Sit was new territory for us, but the team of Mike & Brenna & Josh made it SO very user friendly & comfortable & enjoyable…they were all EXCELLENT with our dog, & very well versed. Furthermore, they all made the classes practical & real-life, which we very much appreciate. Looking forward to further classes with Sit Means Sit…their program proves to be a win-win for dog owners & beloved pups as well! 🙂
-Julie W.

First off, our experience as clients, which was really good. Throughout the process we felt listened to and our concerns were heard and thoughtfully addressed. This sounds very basic, but when done well it is invaluable. During the training we were given homework and exercises which really helped us get trained (and yes we needed it too!). Our questions were always addressed in each session. Both me and my wife felt really happy with the training session.

Secondly I want to address what our dog Mitch got out of the training. Our dog Mitch is a GSD/Aus Shepard mix. He struggled mostly with anxiety and kind of just in general hyperness that presented mostly when on walks but also just kind of in general. His walking has improved at least a million times over. Even after just the first week we noticed his walking and his demeanor during walks get much better. He is so much more relaxed and comfortable now that he can see another dog and walk past it without getting worked up. Three weeks in and it has just continued to improve. I am so happy to watch him just sniff and walk without getting so worked up.

The last thing I want to mention is the training collars. I have to admit this was something that I had no experience with and it did give me some reservations. In our initial discussion we talked about the collars and how they are used which really helped. Overall I was just concerned how Mitch would react to having and using the collars. After three weeks of daily work I can say that he never once has cared even the slightest bit about wearing the collar, which I was so happy to see.

We worked with: Mike (initial discussion), Brenna and Josh (training) and I would not hesitate to recommend working with any of them, they were all excellent.

My wife and I want to thank you so much for helping us get trained up to do this. Mitch also wants to thank all of you, even Josh who made him work so hard 🙂 .

Thanks!
-Rockwell R

I would recommend Sit Means Sit expecially for a dog like mine which began showing reactivity as a puppy. We really wanted a dog that we could take with us camping, breweries, and other dog friendly places. We are not 100% there yet, but the changes in our dogs behaviour have been huge. The group classes are great for us, which are included. They expose my dog to several dogs that are also reactive. I am also able to get continued advice from the trainer (Josh). I am sure anyone reading this review knows this, but if not this training does use ecollars. I was not a big fan of this before the training. I am now 100% in agreement with this approach. The sensation I use on my dog is often so light, I am not able to feel it. It gives him a cue instantly which allows him to learn a behavior quickly. His recall is also excelent when on the collar and is becoming really good off it. We were even able to get him to come to us after he got into a scuffle with a Racoon.
Mike T.

Great opportunity to touch base with your dog with training. The trainers are great and understanding, and knowledgeable. My dog was very squeaky and loud now after training he’s doing great. He also used to pull me when I was walking him. Now I can take walks peacefully.
Beth M.

Josh was great. We have a difficult 6 year old Doberman rescue raised chained in a yard. Josh trained us and the dog. My wife is in a wheelchair and Josh went so far as using a wheelchair himself to figure out our difficulties. We have a ways to go but Josh gave us tools and advice to proceed properly.
-Peter B.

I can’t say enough good things about the owners and my trainer, Brenna. I was having a very hard time with my 2 year old American Akita when I signed up for private sessions here. I have experience with this breed and know it’s not for the faint of heart, but I was at the end of my rope and even looking into rehoming. He was becoming more dominant and aggressive as he hit maturity, and I was beginning to feel like I could not give him the environment he needed to thrive. I almost didn’t go through with our scheduled sessions because of negativity surrounding the use of E-collars on aggressive dogs. I’m so glad I decided to try it out because it has improved my relationship with my dog tremendously. I learned how to use the E-collar in a positive way, as a safe communication tool, rather than a punishment. We are not out of the woods yet, but my dog now looks to me for guidance, does what I ask of him without needing to be bribed, happily sleeps in his crate at night, is comfortable wearing a muzzle when needed, and generally seems happier and more relaxed overall. The team here has been supportive and kind to me in a very difficult time, and I would recommend them to anyone.
-Marta P.

Our corgi, Oliver, became very aggressive with me and not ever having a dog before, I was very fearful to be affectionate or near him. Brenna absolutely took me through building my confidence in controlling him and understanding how boundaries were necessary for his happiness and mine. Very pleased with the decision to join this program.
-Patti B.

My husband and I are so thankful that we found Sit Means Sit. From our initial consultation to our pups graduation day from their day train program, we were beyond impressed with our experience. We came into the day train program with just a few goals in mind to help with some issues we were having with our puppy. During our consultation, Mike made us feel so much better that these were common things they train for and that they would help us achieve our goals. We were also very thankful that we were able to see the training collar they would be using and feel it before it was used on our dog. When we dropped Ember off for his first day, we were welcomed into the building by multiple staff members and then met with our pups main trainer Josh. He explained everything they were going to do, and made sure to answer all of our questions. Josh was absolutely amazing throughout our dogs 3 training sessions he had with him. Each morning when we dropped him off, he always asked how things were going, what still needed some work, if we had any questions, and if there was anything specific that we wanted him to work on that day. We then got a report card with videos to watch before we picked him up, so that we could see how the day was going and what they worked on. In the afternoon when we picked him up, Josh first met with us to talk about the day and then took the time to show us all the things he had worked on with Ember that day. After that we got to work with our dog with Josh nearby to help with anything that came up. Being able to practice with our trainer right there was so helpful, and we were able to gain confidence so that we could continue to practice at home. By the end of the first day our dog had made so much progress and we knew we had made the right choice. By his graduation day, all of our goals had been met and our dog had even learned a few extra commands. We cannot wait to continue going to group classes with our dog, and finally bring him places with us! We could not have done it without Sit Means Sit!
-Kayla B.

Would definitely recommend Sit Means Sit! Sessions with Josh have been great in helping my dog develop confidence and shed some anxiety. He was patient, very informative, and great with my dog. The individual sessions went a long way, but our package also includes a year of group classes to keep up with training. Overall a great value!
-Matt S.

The trainers (especially Brenna) did a great job with Daisy. She learned a lot and so did I. Before she started training she was very aggressive and has really calmed down a lot.
-Phyllis G.

I brought my 7 year old dog Dallas after we had a few instances of him biting our other dogs and just not listening to us. I was worried that he was too old, that training wouldn’t work as well for him. Our trainer Josh has given us so many tools and training tips that Dallas has already become a different dog! My family has even commented that they have noticed a different, and we only had 3 training sessions. I can’t wait to see Dallas continue to improve!
-Haeleigh K.

Brenna was a great trainer, always listened to our concerns and gave great feedback. She answered any questions we had, even responding to texts over the weekend. It was a great experience for both us and our dog.
-Jon B.

We absolutely loved the training Porter received and definitely noticed a vast improvement in his behavior during his training! Would highly recommend Sit Means Sit and specific trainer Brenna!
-Steve J.

Very professional team.
-Tyson T.

Josh was wonderful with our dog, Goose, and it is evident that he cares a great deal about seeing him succeed in training! Goose has struggled with reactivity around other dogs and after working with Josh I can say for the first time in years that I do not feel nervous about seeing other dogs when we take Goose outside for walks. Josh was very patient with us and provided good instructions on how to continue working with Goose outside of the training facility. We are looking forward to continuing to work with Josh and the rest of the team in group classes going forward!
-Jackie S.

10/10 recommend Sit Means Sit. Our Dog (and us!) has grown and is so happy when she has structure and clear instruction. Trainers like Josh provide just that! He was incredibly patient and knowledgeable about how to best support my dog and household. Sisu was excited to see and work for him and we felt at ease practicing new skills with him and problem solving challenges together. We couldn’t ask for anyone better in not only making our puppy feel at ease, but the owners too!
-Jazmine F.

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!

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.

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.