Mike is a miracle worker! My fearful, passive dog (who did NOT like Mike upon their first meeting) was able to gain confidence and at the same time, control his aggression issues around other dogs. I have been through four other training programs with poor results and, honestly, made things worse in some cases. After meeting him and his dog, Ammo, I knew this was the route for us. He is able to answer questions and give you the knowledge needed to handle your dog in every day situations. Results are immediate! If you listen to his instruction and actually FOLLOW THROUGH by doing your homework, you will be successful with training. This program is worth every penny! read more

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

I ran into a trainer and an owner using this business today. It was incredibly upsetting. The dog was in public, unable to interact with anyone, tail tucked and shaking. I saw the shock collar. Look, dogs are good. Dogs learn what we teach them. Find someone that will utilize positive reinforcement. It will work better than fear and pain and control. read more

I first spoke with staff from Sit Means Sit at DogFest in Sun Prairie. I was looking for a dog trainer for my 4 year old pitbull who had turned into a bit of a stubborn and spoiled princess due to her parents spoiling her :) There was a plethora of vendors and trainers at the event, and Sit Means Sit impressed me the most, and actually took the time to talk to me instead of just taking my name and handing me a pamphlet. My dog did the full-day immersion classes and we were incredibly impressed with the results. The whole time, whenever we had questions at home we could shoot Kate or Mike a text and get an instant answer. If I had or have a question or something I want to work on, they are always willing to help out. Access to the group classes is also great! We were so satisfied with Sit Means Sit that when we adopted our (slightly uncontrollable) second pup, a bullmastiff/pit mix, I immediately contacted Mike to set up a full-week immersion. During the week we got updates and pics of his progress. The new pup is now doing great and regularly walks with us off leash in downtown Madison. I have had other dog lovers at the dog park comment on how well-behaved he is, too. Sit Means Sit is also great at working on your specific wants/needs and adapting to any unique set of circumstances that your family has. It is a steep price tag, but we feel it was definitely worth it and highly recommend Sit Means Sit to anyone - whether your dog is already "good" or still working on obedience! read more

I have a very difficult dog with unique situations. Traditional training helped but could not quite curb his problems. I talked to the trainer Kate and she helped me, not only get my dog under control, she also helped a friend of mine with a very unruly foster dog. My dog is now finally able to work through his quirks, but the best news is that foster dog got adopted by an amazing family. Thank you Kate!! You are the best! read more

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

Our 65lb pitbull had no manners. She would jump on guests, try to escape through open doors. The whole gamut! She has a sweet personality and is crazy smart. We didn't know how to teach just what we didn't know ourselves. That's where Mike & sit means sit came in. He taught her how to focus and how to manage her excitement. She is now a well rounded puppy with great manners. If your dog needs amazing training then this should be your only stop! read more

Sit Means Sit Madison gave us the tools and continued support to turn our dog from a high anxiety dog with dog and people reactivity to a calm and extremely obedient dog. We never used to take our dog to social events or anywhere else aside from short walks in our neighborhood, but now we have the confidence in him to bring him just about anywhere. It is such a relief not having to constantly worry about our dog blowing up at any moment! Mike, Jayson, and the rest of the Sit Means Sit team are great at what they do. Highly recommended! read more

Mike and Sit Means Sit transformed my life. My dog was a very shy puppy and needed a lot of confidence building. Before training with Sit Means Sit I wanted to take my puppy everywhere but couldn't because he was too afraid :(. Since going through training he is extremely confident and enjoys getting to go lots of fun places with me... I can even take him to restaurants! People are always asking me how I got such a well behaved dog and I am very happy to refer them to Mike and Sit Means Sit! read more

The best in the area, bar-none. As good as it gets. Mike and his team have an amazing gift for getting the best out of your dog. I know several dog trainers in Wisconsin. None of them come even close to Mike and his team. read more

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 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. read more

I took my husky, Storm (full husky) to Sit Means Sit after she got away with her chain attached and was missing for 14 hours. I've had storm since she was about 7-8 weeks, and she just turned 4. I did class trainings with her as a puppy, but with everything I read and the way I learned (or didn't learn...) to train her led me to believe that "she could never be off leash, she's a husky." That was my mentality for almost 4 years. I took storm to day in train at sit means sit and I am so happy to say that she is now OFF LEASH!!!!! I could not be happier with my results. They didn't only teach her but they also taught me how to train her. The staff is amazing at this facility and I trust them with my dog. My only regret is waiting almost 4 years to take her to this training. I'm so happy that she is now able to be with me outside off leash at parties and at home in the yard. Thank you for changing my mentality and making our lives better! - Anna read more

Sit Means Sit and Mike Wheeler are the best you'll find. He took my dominant and confused puppy and turned him into the best dog a girl could ask for !! Mike will not only train your dog to be a part of the family but will give you the tools and knowledge you need to work with your dog. I enrolled my pup in one of the pet store programs and could never get the answers I needed when I was having problems. My questions would be addressed later down the line. I couldn't afford to wait 6 weeks with a dominant dog !! Mike will answer ALL of your questions and shows you how to get results !!! read more

I took my dog there after I rescued him at 16 months old, now 5 years old. Big 100+lb German shepherd. He always had aggression and anxiety towards people, and always pulled on the leash. I grew really bad anxiety myself whenever I took him anywhere, which did not help him at all and was making him worse. The park, walks, drives, etc. Was recommended by his vet to come here. They worked around my schedule since I work alot and it was a two hour drive for us every Saturday and rescheduled when I had something come up. Got to work with Mike first, he respected my dog and his boundaries cause of his history and attitude. After a first few sessions and training him during the week myself, he stopped pulling on the leash for the most part, and learned to stay until I gave him the okay. We worked on him ignoring bikes, leaf blowers, vacuums... Even other dogs running around playing ball, or barking and being wild around him. Now he just focuses on me. He has made a huge turn around. After a couple other sessions with a different trainer, Courtney, he even licked her and let her pet him, even a couple other trainers. I've never seen him do that to anyone he just met in a short amount of time, especially with masks on from the COVID-19 pandemic. Every one of them respected his boundaries, until he felt comfortable around them. Alot of people dont think when they see a dog like him and just want to hug him and pet him. I do highly recommend them to anyone experiencing the same problems with their dog. But you must trust them. They are trying to help. They love dogs as much as you do yours. I never once seen any form of abuse in my visits there. I'm not sure where those reviews are coming from. read more

I was so excited to start my puppy here due to the great things I had heard about Sit Means Sit. Our consultation was a such a terrible experience that it completely turned me away from this business, and referring it to anyone. What was supposed to be an hour long consultation was only 24 minuets in time. We were told that we would get to hear about all the programs they offer , meet with a dog trained by the trainer we were meeting with, and the trainer would would take time to personally meet our puppy. The only thing that happen out of all that was learning about the programs and prices. From the second we walked in we were made to feel rushed, and like we were intruding on the trainers day because she "was an hour behind on everything, and had lots to get done" (what we were actually told) The trainer hardly acknowledged our puppies presence at all. When our pup jumped up by the trainer he was pushed down and ignored. I understand that jumping is not an acceptable behavior(hence why we were looking for training), but this trainers demeanor was very cold and annoyed. There is absolutely no way I could put forth so much money when that was the first impression, let alone feel comfortable leaving my baby in the care of someone like this. Very disappointing. read more

We went there to check things out & ended up signing up our most recent addition to the family....BRUNO. When we got him in October 2017 he was very shy, nervous, & uncomfortable around EVERYONE except for myself-wife-daughter (he hadn't had ANY interaction with people and was about a year old). The holiday seasons were rough on him & us as we had people over to host the holidays & he would do nothing but bark the entire time people were over (the same when we would walk him outside, barking at everyone + everything he saw). Though he is a really sweet boy, we were wanting to have things be better for not only us....but him as well!! We heard about Sit Means Sit from a friend of my wife's so we an appointment to see what it was about. We immediately signed him up on the spot & started the 1st of his "day long training" sessions approx. 2 weeks later. He was nervous as were we.....but we felt very confident in the Sit Means Sit Team & now after 4 one-one training sessions he has improved immensely!! The "TEAM" has not only laid the ground work for basic/easy commands for Bruno to adhere to, but they have also taught us how to keep up with the training & how to do so properly so that we continue to learn & grow as dog owners everyday!! We are now in Group Lessons (w/ approx. 15 - 20 other dogs + their owners) & it is remarkable how far he has come in as little as 4 weeks!! It is something that IF you had seen the situation & had asked us 5 weeks ago if we had thought it could happen this fast.....the honest answer would have been no way!! From day 1 the "TEAM" @ Sit Means Sit has been fantastic (Tonya, Katie, Jade, Dee, & Mike)!! They all have not only helped Bruno become a even better dog than he was to start, they have made him into a "personable" dog whom can be around strangers + other dogs without acting out.......and in turn helped us all grow together more as a family:-) They take the time to explain everything that they will be working on with Bruno to us & then help us understand & learn how do it as well!! We are very grateful/thankful that we decided to go to Sit Means Sit for help w/ Bruno & look forward to the many future meetings we will be a part of with them & many other satisfied customers/clients during the numerous Group Lessons (for life I might add after becoming a client) weekly!! THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE STAFF/TEAM @ SIT MEANS SIT FOR YOUR EXCELLENT TRAINING SKILLS (not only on Bruno BUT us as well)!! WE WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THEM TO ANYONE/EVERYONE WHOM IS THINKING ABOUT LOOKINH INTO HAVING THEIR DOGS TRAINED!!! Brian - Chris - BRUNO Madison, WI. read more

Check the dates of the good reviews! A year ago even I gave this company a great review when we started with our trainer Jayson Fogle. However, since then the staff has been changed and sadly Jayson is no longer with the company. The feel of the facility has gone from caring and individualized, to a one sized fits all high customer turnover training that is too heavy on the e-collar correction for what I am comfortable using in my dogs training. They shouldn't be yelping or submissive with their tail between their legs during training sessions. We will not be using this program for our new puppy, especially after the significant increase in pricing, because of our recent experiences. The "reactive" and "non-reactive" group classes are no longer true to their descriptions and commonly even have reactive dogs in full immersion programs back-tied to the surrounding walls (without yellow bandanas on to show they are dog aggressive), making it uncomfortable and sometimes unsafe to freely work your dog "off leash" as advertised. We would consequently leave group class with a bored dog that spent most of the class waiting or sitting on a place cot with surrounding dogs all on leashes. After many tries, and an ignored attempt to address my concerns with the owner, and repeatedly finding it a waste of time I have given up. The last straw after spending all that money was the reactive dogs going after other dogs multiple times in "non-reactive" group classes. Sad because the training during the first part of our year had been so great and we met some truly wonderful other dog families during our time there... read more

I took my dog there to do a Canine Good Citizenship test, which is an AKC test. While the guys were nice, they didn't follow any of the AKC testing requirements. They use training methods that I'm not comfortable with, including e-collars, and there were several reactive dogs in the testing area, which is not allowed by AKC. There are other trainers in Madison who are much better and don't rely on punishment based training for reactive dogs. read more

Sit Means Sit is a game changer! Mike and Jayson are fantastic trainers and have done wonders with my pup! I could not speak more highly of them. Even if you think your dog is well-behaved, it's a great place do tune up obedience training. Along the same lines, if you think that all hope is lost, these two can change your furry friend for the better :) read more

I was trying to set up a consultation. They asked for my address, thinking then that it was scheduled to be at our house. Then, a day before, I was forced to try to reschedule because I found out that the testing center was on the other side of town and we didn't have time go do that. I filled out all their online forms to try and reschedule but I could never get a response. read more

After hearing lots of great things about Sit Means Sit from some friends, we finally decided to spend the money and give it a try. We love our dogs unconditionally, but they were fighting with each other, and walks and mealtimes were a constant frustration for my husband and I. We have two Shiba Inus, and our attempts at training them on our own had not been successful. We had both dogs do a 10 day board and train program, and are now attending group classes and practicing at home, and I can honestly say that life is way more enjoyable for the whole family. The dogs have really taken to the training and both seem happier. We can walk the dogs without them pulling, and have had many quiet and peaceful meals, so we're happier too. Julie, our trainer, was fantastic and very supportive through all of our frustration and questions. The other trainers we have met have been great, too. It's wonderful to see trainers genuinely care about the dogs they work with. Would definitely recommend. read more

We've been working with Audra, and she's been fabulous. We adopted a very strong adult dog, and he's been pulling us around for too long! We've only been to two individual lessons so far, but Audra has given us a lot of information and homework that is really helping us work with our dog. She works very well with both the dog and us (dog training isn't just for the dog!). A note based on some other reviews - they do use e-collars here, but constructively. Our pup wasn't responding to much else, so it's really been useful. We can't wait for all of us to be at our best! read more

This is a long review but bear with me if you have a dog that you want to live its fullest life. My boyfriend and I adopted our sweet Lucy in March shortly after her 2nd Birthday. She was originally part of one of the groups of dogs brought up from an overflowing shelter in Mississippi. The couple we adopted her from rescued her from the Human Society here in Madison. After a year with Lucy they made the difficult but commendable decision to find another home from her. During that year with them Lucy was crated at least 12 hours a day due to their busy schedules and gained 23 pounds. Shortly after she entered our lives we noticed that she was very reactive to new people (especially males) and had quite a bit of anxiety. The poor girl was afraid of everything from leaves falling out of trees to us folding laundry. The longer she was with us, the happier we could tell she was becoming. Each day there was something new and exciting that she was able to discover and experience, however, her anxiety was still very much holding her back. A friend also had a dog with anxiety problems and highly recommended us to check out Sit Means Sit. We had our consultation with Audra and at first (like many others I'm sure) I was very skeptical. It's not cheap and I was not the most comfortable with the idea of using the collars. However, I loved Audra's energy and passion for what she does and she assured me that she too was skeptical when she first started. She promised me up and down that the collars were not "shock" collars and I even tried it on my arm for proof. Her confidence that she could help Lucy sold us and we signed up for the 10 Day Transformation Academy. Lucy stayed with Audra for 10 days in the beginning of June and since then we have had 4 private lessons with her and now have been going to group classes twice a week (or at least we try to!). We look forward to classes each week because it is a community of people going through everything you are and who doesn't love a room full of dogs! Now Lucy is a whole different dog. She is confident, happy, playful, and curious. Her obedience is off the charts. We knew we had a smart dog but refocusing her anxious mind into working for us has helped her tremendously and I am confident that she will only keep improving. It has only been a short 2.5 months but the progress our sweet girl has made is incredible. I will note that her sustained progress isn't just from going to the lessons and classes, if you want this for your dog there is a lot of work you must put in at home. From the time we wake up in the morning until the time we all snuggle up in bed at night to watch Netflix, Lucy is being worked. Everything we do is an opportunity to work on her obedience and refocus her anxious little mind, whether it's putting her on place while we cook or even playing fetch. We are constantly making sure we are following all of the guidelines that Mike and all the trainers expect as responsible owners. If you have a dog that is struggling then I cannot recommend Sit Means Sit enough. Their knowledge, personal attention (they will answer your calls or texts with questions any time of day), and love for what they do is incredible. We are very happy with the progress Lucy has made and cannot wait to see what awesome tricks we can continue to learn in the future. read more

Sit Means Sit is the absolute worst thing you can do for your dog. The premise of their training method is that you shock your dog on the first letter of the command you give to them. Before they know what they are supposed to do, you are punishing them. The trainer demonstrated with his own dog, an emotionless pup who was still being shocked the same way, after a year of training. After a week with this method, my pup cries, runs and hides when the collar comes out. Training should be fun, but instead it was torture. I will never subject her to this again! (BTW: they demonstrate the collar for you by having you hold it on the heel of your hand ... which would be valid, if that is where the dog was going to wear it as well, instead of the neck). I would give it zero stars, but it requires at least one. read more