It's estimated that there are over 62 million households across America that have dogs and around 73% of those households rely on some type of training method to help their dogs become the best boy or girl on the block. With over 157 locations, we're lucky to have one of the best dog training facilities around, right here in our backyard! Led by owners Nick and Amy, a husband and wife team dedicated to ensuring pets and their families live their best lives, Sit Means Sit is a destination for obedience training, behavior modification, and offers preparation for therapy and crisis dog certification
In 2008, when Amy Garabedian decided to leave a successful career in finance to pursue her passion for dogs, she convinced her husband to join her. From there they spent years acquiring certifications including; AKC Breeder of Merit, Canine Ambassador, and CGC Evaluators. They are both Pet Tech® First Aid & CPR certified instructors and have been changing the lives of families all over the community.
Their facility is over 8500 square feet of space and is equipped 24/7 with audio, video, temperature, and carbon monoxide monitoring. They also have a PetAirapy system for UV-C germ control and sanitation. Just outside the facility, runs the Clinton River Trail, allowing them the unique opportunity for trail walks and community meet-ups.
Sit Means Sit offers a variety of courses that cover a wide range of needs based on each individual dog. Puppy training begins around 12 weeks and focuses on house training, impulse control, obedience and socialization. Day training offers a combination of immersion and private lessons and is designed to include owners more in the training process while still utilizing the expertise of a professional trainer, beginning at five months of age. At six months, dogs are eligible for immersion training, an opportunity that allows clients to pass the responsibility of training over to expert trainers to utilize their skills at a very high level. After completion of an immersion or day-train program, clients are eligible to attend group classes.
In addition to classes, Sit Means Sit partners with Go Team for therapy dog training. This training program is offered annually, and is more intensive than typical therapy dog training in order to help with the certification of crisis response dogs. In order to become certified, dogs must train at the local fire department, library, or other public places where a crisis response dog may be needed.
Something we found very special about most of the team members at Sit Means Sit is that they are almost all former clients who directly benefited from training and later went on to become trainers themselves creating a true family-like environment with the common goal of impacting other pets and families just as theirs were. Megan, one of their main team members worked with Amy and Nick to fully transform her rescue dog, Spaghetti, and she now oversees their office alongside her trusty assistant, Chili.
"The whole point of ALL of this is just that dogs are incredibly special. To be able to be in a position to help a lot of people. We're here for the dogs. The dogs are the ones that need to be advocated for. The lifestyle that comes with having a well-trained dog is something that every dog and every family deserves."
We couldn't agree more.
Sit Means Sit offers free consultations for dogs 16 weeks and older and are generally 45-60 minutes long.
Sit means Sit is Located at: 2179 Crooks RoadRochester Hills, MI 48309 and can be reached at (248) 688-9450. For more information on therapy dog certification, Find out more at GoTeamDogs.org.
This is about improving the lives of dogs and their families.