Based on my experience, I cannot recommend Sit Means Sit. I have a 6-year-old American Bulldog mix,…read moreThor, and we live in the Old Fourth Ward area near the Beltline, which is heavily populated with dogs. After being attacked at a dog park, Thor became extremely reactive toward other dogs. It got to the point where simple walks became stressful, and I could no longer take him to public places because of how intense his reactions were.
I tried working with another training company and even attempted training on my own, but after losing his sister, his behavior worsened. I didn't want to give up on him, so after researching options, I decided to move forward with Sit Means Sit. After our consultation, I felt hopeful and enrolled him in their board and train program in November 2025 with clear expectations: improved leash behavior, reduced reactivity, and the ability to safely take him out in public.
During his stay, I communicated that he has anxiety during storms and provided Trazodone from his vet to be used only as needed. I received daily updates and was told he was doing well. However, I was later informed he was still highly anxious and had been taken to a vet and given additional Trazodone. While I understood the situation, I was concerned about how frequently it was being used, as it was not intended for regular daily use.
When I picked Thor up, I immediately noticed he was still pulling hard on the leash, even just walking to the car. Within a week of being home, his behavior regressed significantly. Walks became difficult again, and attempts to bring him to public places like coffee shops were unsuccessful.
We did attend one group class in December 2025 at Truist Park, and that experience was very discouraging. Thor was extremely reactive, to the point where I felt like I needed to leave the session early. It was upsetting to see that he had just completed training yet was behaving as if he had never been trained, especially while other dogs in the group were responding well.
The board and train package was also presented as including unlimited follow-up sessions, including in-home visits to address ongoing or situational behavior issues. That was a major reason I chose this program, as I expected continued support and the ability to work through real-life challenges in our home environment. Because of that, I did not leave a negative review immediately after the program ended. Instead, I reached out multiple times requesting in-home sessions so the trainer could address the issues that were clearly still present.
In a five-month period, we only had two in-home sessions. Despite this, I remained consistent in working with Thor--taking him on regular one-hour walks and continuing to train with him on my own because I truly do not want to give up on him.
Five months later, I am still dealing with the same issues. Thor is difficult to walk, remains reactive toward other dogs, and cannot comfortably be taken to public places. This has been extremely disappointing given the investment and expectations set at the start.
To be fair, the team did organize group classes and invited us to attend. However, due to the distance from our home and conflicts with my work schedule, I wasn't always able to make them. When I asked for alternative support, I often found availability to be very limited. Most recently, I was told the trainer is fully booked for at least 60 days.
Throughout this process, I felt like I had to chase support rather than receive it. I was not asking for additional help without reason, but rather trying to use the follow-up support that was included as part of the program.
I was willing to invest in training because I truly want a better quality of life for my dog, which is why this has been so disappointing.
Overall, I cannot recommend this program based on the lack of progress and limited accessibility for continued support.