Customer Reviews

I had a great experience at Sit Means Sit! My dog, Arlo, is a 4 year old pitty, and while he is full of love and happiness, he suffers greatly from separation anxiety. The 1:1 training program at Sit Means Sit has tremendously improved his confidence and it has never been easier to take Arlo for a walk. I actually look forward to walking him now instead of dreading my arm being pulled the whole time. Heather and Hailey were great with him and attentive to his personality and needs. I’m looking forward to starting group classes with him and hoping to break some of the separation anxiety that still exists!

In just 4 weeks of training with Sit, my very difficult leash-reactive dog has become a fun walking partner! Our many daily walks have gone from very stressful to easy and enjoyable. I am thrilled and I know my beautiful dog has much more confidence when visiting unfamiliar outdoor spaces.

I cannot thank Sit Means Sit enough and to their trainers dedication to not only listening to me but also asking me what my goals were (and I didn’t even know what those were)! When I came in for the consultation I was still skeptical but hopefully because my dog was born deaf. But boy am I glad I was wrong and took that leap of faith! I can’t say Charlie was bad and untrainable but being that he was born deaf, I didn’t know where to begin and how to get him to “listen”. Not only are they dedicated in training obedience and lifestyle training to your dog but to you as well. They were more than patient with me and Charlie and answered every question and concern I had as them came up! I am more confident than ever that I can create a comfortable lifestyle for me and my fur baby Charlie. Looking forward to the lifetime bond. Thank you so much again! Happy Graduation Day Charlie! Also he’s not a big fan of hats 😂

We highly recommend this dog training facility for their professionalism and effective training methods ! Excellent experience! We had Alexis and Hailey as COCOs trainers.. Both were absolutely wonderful to work with. Alexis and Hailey went above and beyond to help our dog succeed! We are extremely happy with our experience here! Truly recommend:)

Kasey was our dog’s knowledgeable trainer. She was patient with us, as training the humans is an important part of the process. The environment is clean and organized, and they run on time. Our terrier was treated with respect and came through his 5th week, communicating much better with us.

Hailey, Heather, Marisa, Kasey and team have been super awesome to get to know and have helped train both of my dogs in the past year. Not only does SMS work with your dogs, but they also train the humans and explain the whys which is very helpful. Although both of my dogs were very different when they first arrived, Murphy was a 7 month old puppy and Rory was a super anxious rescue, they were able to build each of their confidences and listening skills. I highly recommend training with them and am super grateful for all of their help. And knowing that they offer continuing classes and support post graduation is a welcomed benefit.

I also highly recommend SMS’ structured daycare as my dogs look forward to it and love all of the staff.

Heather, Kasey, and Daniel have been absolutely amazing! Ben is a completely different dog after completing their program. His reactivity has decreased dramatically—it’s almost nonexistent now. He listens so much better, and the transformation has been incredible to watch. Thanks to their guidance and training, Ben and our family are truly enjoying life together. He’s become such a wonderful dog, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. Thank you for everything!

Sit Means Sit has provided great hope to my husband and me regarding controlling and enjoying our new doggie! He’s a little bigger than we expected so we knew we needed training that would help us prevent pulling, jumping and chasing down the road.

We had initially signed up for assistance with training our dog to our electric fence and found that very helpful, so we decided to commit to more extensive training. Kasey was an excellent instructor… very patient… and after 4 full-day sessions for Lucky, (followed by 1-hour sessions for us to learn what he had learned), I feel that we’re well on our way to living happily with the newest member of our family! We look forward to refining his/our training during the upcoming 15 group lessons that are included in the price.

Sit Means Sit Dog Training has been an absolute joy to work with! My toy australian shepherd Sweet Pea was extremely reactive and felt impossible to manage before I signed her up for these classes. Now she’s a lot calmer and has the obedience skills for me to reinforce every day. Her reactivity and separation anxiety are a lot more manageable now that she has the skills and I have the knowledge to keep things under control and focus her attention on obedience instead of problematic behaviors. The trainers here are all super friendly and treated Sweet Pea with so much care, kindness, and respect. Thank you SMS for helping build a foundation of obedience that I’ll be reinforcing with Sweet Pea from now on!

Hailey and Heather are excellent trainers and explained everything that they did throughout the day training with my dog, Charlie and with me when it came to the actual lessons. Their patience and kindness made the private lessons much easier to train. I highly recommend both for your dog training needs.

My husband and I signed our two dogs up for training with Sit Means Sit and it was one of the best decisions we have ever made. Our one dog was incredibly reactive to other dogs and the other was scared of everything. Not only have our two dogs become less reactive to dogs/cars/people,etc., but they are attentive and willing to listen to us now. We are so grateful to Heather and Quinn who significantly helped us with their training as well as our own training. One thing that you have to remember when signing up for training is that you have to put in the work in order to make the training successful for both you and your dog. Thanks to Heather and Quinn my husband and I finally have the necessary tools to continue their training in group classes and at home. Our evaluator, Courtnie, was super encouraging and helped guide us through the whole process. We had a lot of concerns prior to signing up and she was able to answer all of our questions and help us put our worries aside. If it wasn’t for the dedication of each and every trainer at Sit Means Sit we never could have made it this far in training our dogs. Our test proctor, Grace, was so sweet and really encouraging during our girls final exam! She helped guide us through the whole thing and made us feel very comfortable during the whole process. You can honestly tell how much this company means to each and every trainer who works for Sit Means Sit, they all are incredibly dedicated and knowledgeable. The trainers here truly make a difference in each client’s life; it’s been an amazing experience and we can’t wait to start group classes!

Heather has done an amazing job with Maverick. When we came here I was not very confident in his behavior getting better, but Heather listened to our concerns and has worked with Maverick on those behaviors as well as teaching him other behavior skills. He walks by me and listens to heel. Calmly walks up and down steps. Of course we needed training and still do but you can see the improvements every week and we are only lesson 4. I am excited to see how he will progress as we get further through the training program.

My 11 year old dog doesn’t get along with other dogs/animals and has a bite history with people. Recently my other dog which has been in a separate household has now had to come into the household with my other dog. The first thing I did was call sit means sit and they were able to schedule me the same day for evaluation for my dogs and scheduled trainings that day for the whole month. It has required lots of patience and time to practice but they are slowly getting use to being around each other and hopefully will be able to be in the same room together. Overall experience was great with our trainer Hailey and she has been super helpful for every step of the way!

We really enjoyed working with Sit Means Sit! My husband and I had previously tried to train our pup Benny on our own, but with working full time, we felt ultimately what was best for him was to get some productive, structured training. Hailey, his trainer, was great! We saw great progress from Benny very quickly. Hailey also worked with us and taught us what Benny learned each session so we could continue training at home! We are very pleased with our decision to go with Sit Means Sit to train Benny.

Our boy was reactive when someone came to the door or with certain guests who came by. All it took was four lessons (the lessons were more for us then him!) and he is no longer reactive. But it isn’t just 4 lessons. These guys are committed as long as your furbaby is alive! We now have 15 classes we can attend (we are going to spread those out over 15 weeks. Our boy also has hip and back issues and they worked around it! Heather was there for us even when we weren’t at class. Always responded to our texts!

We enrolled our 5-month-old Great Dane puppy at Sit Means Sit and were beyond happy with the results. Because of his size, we wanted to be sure he was well trained, and we had been struggling to keep his focus during training at home. Heather worked with Barkley for four weeks, and the transformation was incredible. Not only did she train Barkley, but she also took the time to train us, showing us how to confidently and effectively handle him. We couldn’t be more pleased.

The staff here is fantastic! Everyone I’ve interacted with were very knowledgeable and showed great interest in training both myself and my dog! Hailey our trainer did an exceptional job getting our dog trained, the progress made in only 4 weeks was impressive! I personally learned a lot in how to reinforce the training our dog received ! Great customer service! Any questions, issues or concerns we had along the way were responded to very quickly. Thank you, looking forward to the next step with the group classes!

My second review of Sit Means Sit because my dog and I have moved beyond basic obedience to building a lifestyle. Because of our continued engagement with group classes, Luna can be a part of my life in all areas! Yesterday we walked through Home Depot with no issue. She stayed in heel, didn’t go up to people unless I let her, and wasn’t reactive at all! Today we can sit outside with no leash or concern. I can tell her to stay right next to me while I read and I don’t have to worry about people or dogs walking by. This is all because Sit Means Sit!! She is only 8 months old! Sit Means Sit has really changed my life with this dog compared to my other dogs and no matter your dogs I can recommend this place enough! Go check them out!!

When I went in for the evaluation, with my dog, Daniel and I chatted about the things that we needed to work on. We sat down, and Daniel showed me what was involved for training. It was very matter of fact. I did not feel any pressure. He was very clear that the collar came with the purchase of the four, or the five, week training session. He explained that there were sessions for my dog alone first, with an hour session for us to learn that day’s lesson. Then we, after her 4 or 5 sessions, go for group sessions. He also recommended I purchase a cot, for my home, so we could practice “place” at home. After a couple weeks, she goes to her “place” all on her own and she loves it. I purchased my plan and then scheduled our first session. I brought her to her five sessions and we are now at the step of graduation.

Drop offs, can feel a little quick because you never know if there are more dogs coming in, but I never felt like my dog was put in a situation where she was going to be reactive. The policy is that you wait outside while there’s a dog in the lobby. You don’t always see the trainer when dropping off. It’s not necessarily one on one as they have several trainings a day but my dog learned a lot.

When I first met Daniel, I explained to him how my dog has fear of kids and men. She also reacts to bigger dogs. Coincidentally enough, on the last day of her solo training, Daniel’s son, Reid, came in and she showed her true colors. She lunged and growled at Reid. Reid, approximately 12-14 years old, is the owner‘s son and he was never in danger, but it was nice that they saw one the things that I’ve been seeing with her. Reid is trained and so he worked with her to help her after they muzzled her to ensure he was definitely safe. I can’t say how impressed I am. During our skills graduation, Reid also worked with both of us. There was one person who was very surprised that she was triggered to kids, even though I had mentioned it. I would recommend to have a section of “triggers” on the dry erase board. That way every trainer can be aware of what triggers a dog has.

Overall, our training experience was great. I have had large dogs before, and have used collars before, so collars do not dissuade me from training. I understand they are a tool. They worked on eye contact with my dog. We had been working on eye contact before we even enrolled for this training, but the eye contact now is phenomenal! They also worked on things like heel, distractions, and place. Things that will help a lot when someone comes to my home so I don’t need to put my dog on a leash, or put her up, in her crate, so that she can experience having people over without barking, or jumping on someone, or having to be placed in a crate.

I don’t expect five solo sessions to cure the reactivity that my dog has, but I am seeing changes and that’s a start. She’s come upon several dogs that usually trigger her, and instead of going to the end of the leash and pulling and growling, she now has a mini tantrum and is making occasional eye contact with me. I find that to be somewhat of an improvement. Continued training will help her to eventually fully make eye contact and not react. But for now, she is not lunging and pulling which is important.

Heather, Hailey, Marissa, and Reid were phenomenal with my dog. I know that because when I came in to train with my dog, she would go up to them and lean on them and wag her tail. That’s her tell when she likes someone. Not Reid, yet, but I’m sure that will change as we keep interacting with him. Her response to the trainers told me that she was enjoying what she was doing there. I never felt like the trainers were harming my dog. Reid was the surprise we didn’t see coming. A young kid, maybe 12-14 years old, who is trained to work with dogs and who challenged my girl by working with her. My dog thought she was boss! Hahaha.

Looking forward to our group sessions! See you guys soon.

Words can’t express how grateful I am for Sit Means Sit. Louie came back from his two-week board and train a completely different dog – calmer, happier, and so much more confident. Before training walks were a nightmare and strangers were a huge trigger. Now, we enjoy peaceful walks and his manners at home have improved beyond what I imagined. My family and friends notice too. The best part? The support didn’t end when I picked him up, the team continues to check in and cheer us on. SMS didn’t just help Louie, they gave us both a new lease on life. I’ll be forever be thankful for their dedication and care.

We had an amazing experience with Sit Means Sit! We boarded our dog Franklin for two weeks for training, and the results have been incredible. Not only did he come back better behaved and more responsive, but it’s clear he was truly well cared for during his stay. A huge thank you to Dan, Kasey, and Heather for their dedication, patience, and genuine care for Franklin. It gave us so much peace of mind knowing he was in such good hands. Highly recommend Sit Means Sit to anyone looking for professional training and a team that treats your dog like their own!

The whole team at Sit Means Sit has been amazing from the first call to the last private session. My dog was so happy to go to school every week and see all his favorite ladies. Big shout out to Kasey, Heather & Kaitlyn, specifically. I think my dog loves Kaitlyn more than he loves me at this point. You always want to know your child is safe with whoever you drop them off to, and this group never made me worry for a second.

Sit means sit went above my expectations! I am so proud of Daisy and her achievements and I could not thank the handlers enough! We are excited about starting group classes. It is so nice when people compliment you on your well behaved dog.

I could write a small book praising this business and team for all they have done and continue to do for my dog and I. I was looking for somewhere that could help me eventually get my dog to be an off leash dog with good boundaries, confidence, and obedience. I am not a stern kind of dog owner that so many places and trainers seems to say is needed to train dogs, so came into this really not confident myself. I signed my 12 week old puppy for their puppy obedience course and haven’t looked back. The philosophy here is not punishment or alpha type of training. They simply teach, reinforce, redirect, and build the dogs confidence to do what is being asked. Once we completed the puppy course, we went right into the one-on-one training program with Heather and we have made such amazing progress. I say we, because I think more than anything, I needed to be trained on how to do this process with my pup. Heather has been so patient not only working with Luna and her puppy brain, but also answering all my questions and offering reassurance as someone who has never put my dogs through a structured training program. Sit Means Sit has been so flexible with tailoring a training program to Lunas needs and my lifestyle. They have made a point to address areas of concern I have, customize training techniques to how I do things at home, and offering various ways to do things. The principles are there but they really understand that these things are not one size fits all. They treat the dogs like family and the training really works! Luna is only 6 months old but already knows how to sit, stay, come, go to and stay on place, heel, and is making progress in even more areas. I could not and would not hesitate to suggest Sit Means Sit to anyone looking for their new dogs or even dogs that are older but still have training needs. I really wish I brought my previous dogs here because I can see how much more confident and outgoing Luna is already while still being a good girl. Also, love the Daycare program here! I can drop Luna off and the team helps work through her separation anxiety, reinforce her training, and give her some play time while I work. Please, go check it out and ask for Heather because she really is fantastic with the dogs and their owners!

I am absolutely thrilled with the exceptional dog training services provided at Sit Means Sit by Kim and Heather with my dog Daisy’s all day dog training! From the moment I dropped off Daisy, I knew she was in capable hands. Kim and Heather’s expertise and dedication were evident throughout the entire training process.

Not only did they do an amazing job with Daisy’s training, but they also went above and beyond to ensure her comfort and well-being. Their patience, kindness, and positive reinforcement techniques truly made a difference in Daisy’s progress. I was amazed at how quickly she responded to their guidance and commands.

The individual attention and personalized approach that Kim and Heather provided were outstanding. They took the time to understand Daisy’s unique needs and tailored the training sessions accordingly. Their knowledge and understanding of dog behavior were evident, and they were able to address any challenges that arose with ease.

Daisy’s progress during her all day training was remarkable, and I am excited to continue her training journey with the group sessions. I have no doubt that their expertise and passion for what they do will continue to make a positive impact on Daisy’s development.

I highly recommend Kim and Heather at Sit Means Sit to anyone seeking professional and effective dog training services. Their commitment to excellence, along with their genuine love for dogs, sets them apart. Thank you, Kim and Heather, for your exceptional work and for helping Daisy become the well-behaved, less anxious and happy pup she is today!

We brought our 18 month old to Sit Means Sit for their 4 week day training program. It consisted of 1 day per week of training, dropping off in the morning and picking up in the evening. At pick up we received our training on what our pup learned. The evaluation was done by Dan Strong. His approach to training gave us the confidence to sign up Buddy. Buddy’s trainer was Hailey and we couldn’t have asked for better. Buddy is a mixed breed of high energy, stubborn breeds, with lots of love included. Hailey’s approach with Buddy and with us gave us all the tools and skills to ensure Buddy nailed phase 1 of obedience training. He no longer pulls when going for walks. He stays in place when needed, and is no longer jumping up on people. These were the big concerns. We’re all looking forward to starting group training with Sit Means Sit. We highly recommend them if you have a dog who needs training!

Sit Means Sit was the BEST training experience my dog and I could have wished to have. Heather, King’s trainer was amazing!! When I took King for training, he was barking uncontrollably, walks were difficult because he would bark at cars and chase people. Within one lesson he was listening to commands and the barking was significantly better. By graduation day, the barking was under control, he was heeling when walking, staying in place and coming on command. Phase 1 of the program was a huge success. He will be entering into Phase 2 and I’m confident he will only get better. I can’t recommend Sit Means Sit enough. They worked miracles with King. The entire staff are top tier. King and I are both happy and thankful.

We were pleasantly surprised how much we learned about training our fur baby, Cooper. Not only did we learned about training, Haily explained about his puppy personality. We are very pleased with our results & experience.

Really enjoyed doing this training with my 12-year-old son and his new puppy. It really helped him be more responsible and taught him how to interact with the puppy without getting frustrated. Marisa was great and very patient with all of us! Below is my son’s review… Great experience! My dog is really obedient now because of what we learned! There are dogs that might bark middle of the session but overall great place.

Sit Means Sit has been absolutely amazing from the start. Their team has been incredibly helpful, knowledgeable, and supportive throughout our entire training journey with Skye. We quickly realized that Skye was strong-willed and stubborn, but they guided us through every challenge with patience and expertise.

Thanks to their training, not only has Skye’s behavior improved, but the bond between us has grown significantly stronger. This experience has gone far beyond obedience—it’s about building trust and a lasting connection with your furry friend.

I highly recommend Sit Means Sit to anyone looking to invest in their dog’s development. It’s one of the best things you can do for your pet and your relationship with them.

A huge thank you to everyone at Sit Means Sit—especially Heather, Quinn, Kasey, and Dan—for everything you’ve done for us and Skye!

Had a wonderful experience training my 9 month old Springer Spaniel. They were very patient with us and the skills were easy to follow through with at home. My dog quickly learned to not drag me on our leash walks…I can now enjoy our neighborhood strolls! They really help you learn how to communicate effectively with your dog. The daycare has been great as well, our dog has learned how to be around other dogs and people and to not be afraid of everything! So glad to have found Sit Means Sit Dog Training of Elkton MD!