Sit Means Sit Dog Training - Portland

Super sweet girl who spoke to me. But they are misleading. I was looking for a group class and was very clear about that over the phone. I’m new to town and did not know anyone, and dog classes were a gift from my mom to help get out of the house, and to take my already very well-trained dog to the next level. They came to my house then showed me the shock collar they use and said they start dogs off by you leaving your dog with them, without you. Update/Reply: I use the term shock collar, but an e-collar aka electric collar or remote training collar are the same thing. Low-stim is simply the level you set it at. Treats are treats- you can use them with literally any tool to form positive associations. Sometimes e-collars come with sounds or other add-ons. I have a high pain tolerance— when they had me hold it and feel the shock, of course I couldn’t feel it at the lowest but when I could feel, it didn’t hurt, but I did ‘startle’ and felt a small anxious adrenaline rush. My dog is an adult rescue who went through some abuse before me, so I feel this would not be the right choice for him. I’m not sure what studies are out there on the e-collar and previously abused dogs, or anxious/fearful dogs (my dog is not anxious/fearful but I’m curious)— but having my MA in research psychology I’d guess that it should only be used with certain dogs— happy, confident dogs who have always had a happy life— not because they literally cause pain, but because even low-stim can cause reactions in the endocrine system etc. Leaving my dog alone all day as he is being “low-stim” zapped without me feels strange. I would have been happy to start with individual training where I am also present. I’m protective of my pup and know him best. Also, e-collars are incredibly easy to train your dog with. I could have done that myself— that’s why I felt kind of sad and “led-on” when she pulled it out of the bag after we had talked for so long. It’s psychology- get people invested , insist on coming to their home, talk a lot so you feel trust, and then at the end pull out the collar and make your sales pitch. Finn is six now, but I took a 2 year old highly aggressive (had to muzzle him at first) 110 lb rescue with zero training and not potty trained who had been an abused outdoor dog, and turned him into a marshmallow that kids can run up to and grab (though I wish they wouldn’t) who does whatever I ask. I did this all with positive reinforcement. Mostly praise, he loves praise. I did establish myself as “alpha” through stance and firm voice, which isn’t part of the positive-reinforcement training method, but I think is important with an untrained, aggressive giant breed. I say this because I don’t think it’s wise to try to convince me that an e-collar is what’s best for Finn, with his complicated history + what has worked so well already. Last week my mom sent me a “clicker” and Finn learned to come with the click in one minute. One treat. That said, if you work long hours and don’t have the time to invest, and have a happy confident dog that’s always had a happy life, this could work for you, and the women I spoke to were all very nice. I believe Finn is in fact ready for group classes and I hope to find one.

We cannot say enough great things about our experience with Kayla and the training team! The transformation in our dog, Maggie, has been truly night and day. Before training, we struggled to feel confident taking her out, but now she has turned into such an incredible, well-behaved dog that we feel comfortable bringing her places. Because of the work Kayla put in with us, Maggie now gets to enjoy a much more freeing lifestyle, and we have so much more peace of mind as her owners. Investing in this training was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made for our family, we are beyond thankful for the guidance, patience, and dedication that made all the difference.

We had such a great experience with Ethan at Sit Means Sit! My Shiba's have gained so much confidence and are much happier dogs. They always get compliments on how well behaved and obedient they are. We used to really struggle with walks, keeping their attention on us, constant barking, jumping on people and obedience in general. Now I can easily walk both of them at the same time, place them somewhere and be confident they wont do their own thing, and the barking has significantly decreased. I am very happy we took the steps to properly get our dogs the much needed training they deserved. When I see them now I see two dogs that are not only confident in themselves but also confident in us, our bond is stronger now. Thank you Ethan and Sit Means Sit! The entire staff at Sit Mean Sit is great to work with, Ethan was our dogs main trainer and did a phenomenal job. He made sure we had all the tools necessary to be successful and was kind, very enthusiastic, easy to talk to, and just over all great.

I honestly can’t thank Ethan and the team at Sit Means Sit enough! From day one, we knew we were in great hands. Our puppy, Kiara, came to Ethan with some challenging behaviors, jumping on guests, pulling on the leash during walks, and struggling to listen when distractions were around. It didn’t take long at all for Ethan to start redirecting those behaviors using the Sit Means Sit system, and the transformation has been amazing. This program has been one of the most positive changes for not just Kiara, but for our entire household. We really appreciate that the training is rooted in positive reinforcement, no harsh corrections, just clear communication and consistency. It’s made training something we enjoy doing with our dog, not something we dread. We’d be remiss not to give Ethan the individual praise he deserves. He’s truly exceptional. He didn’t take a one-size-fits-all approach, he took the time to get to know Kiara and tailored the training specifically to her needs. He also worked so well with us, giving clear explanations, detailed session notes, and easy-to-follow homework plans that helped us feel confident continuing the training at home. We couldn’t be happier with the results. Kiara is calmer, more focused, and so much more enjoyable to be around. We’re excited to keep training and growing with Ethan and Sit Means Sit. If you’re considering dog training, this is hands-down the team you want on your side!

I am leaving this Review for Jessica, Ethan, Kayla and the sit means sit process. We adopted our pup at 6 months old and quickly realized he was reactive. We have had large power breeds before, but have never had to deal with reactivity. We tried to work with him alone, but eventually, we realized we were underwater and needed some professional help. That’s when we met Jessica. She came to our home and took the time to explain and even demonstrate parts of the process. This is an investment and we needed time to think, Jessica was never pushy with us and always responded quickly and with great understanding. Ethan was Chase’s core trainer. We are so impressed by the progress Chase made in just the first day! Ethan has a great demeanor and I can tell Chase feels Confident and happy in Ethan’s presence (which is huge, because Chase tends to be scared of everything). Ethan is so incredibly enthusiastic, optimistic, and dedicated to his art. We are so grateful for his guidance and we are so excited to move on to our group classes. He has given Chase (and his parents) the tools and confidence to move forward. We cannot wait to see Chases growth through the next phase!