Excellent, professional Dog Training! We love Samuel! Our two pit mixes were hyper, pulling and just too hard to walk safely. They also jumped up on all of our house guests. They now walk off leash next to us and guests are shocked when they come over and the dogs wait quietly to get attention. Very satisfied. Highly recommend. read more

Sit Happens Dog Training Jacksonville - Rocky - Pet Training Near Me

Seanna was great and very patient. I feel so much more confident with the training she provided to continue forward on my own. Definitely worth it. I would recommend for sure. read more

Samuel Abreu is hands down one of the best dog trainers I've worked with. From the very first session, it was obvious he really understands dogs and knows how to communicate clearly--not just with the dog, but with the owner too. He was patient, professional, and super consistent, which made a huge difference in how quickly things clicked. What I appreciated most was how confident and calm he was in every situation. He didn't just "train commands," he explained why things work and how to keep the progress going at home. The results were noticeable fast, and the training actually stuck. If you're booking training here, do yourself a favor and ask for Samuel Abreu specifically. You can tell he genuinely cares about the dogs and takes pride in what he does. Worth every minute. read more

We are so grateful for sit happens! We had so much trouble with our nine month old great Pyrenees mix and Riley helped turn that around! Our dog Patty has been so great since we brought our newborn home and continues to show improvement! Thank you Riley and sit happens! read more

Sit Happens Dog Training Jacksonville - Pet Training Near Me

Everyone I worked with was kind, but definitely not worth the money for my dog. I was told that the training would help my dog walk on leash and interact with other dogs without reactivity. For just under 1K, we received 3 lessons. The entire basis of the training is an e-collar. It's a bulky collar with a remote that delivers a small shock to get your dogs attention. I was told my dog would need to wear this collar for all waking hours for the rest of her life in order for the training to keep. So for 3 weeks, we practiced, at least 10 minutes a day- come, sit, place. By the end of the last lesson, we finally went for a walk, which did not leave me feeling confident in my dogs ability to walk without pulling. Before our trainer left, we had not addressed anything concerning reactivity, so I asked. I was told that we should just avoid other dogs completely. They "teach" you how to train your dog rather than doing training themselves, which makes sense, but the training requires that you practice these commands with them everyday for several minutes, though my trainer suggested an hour, for the rest of their lives. I don't want to complain or get anyone in trouble, but months later I find myself really regretting my purchase, I feel like I wasted my money. read more

Very impressed with ability to train dogs. Trainer brought his dog to my house to demonstrate the kinds of things my dog will learn from at home, one on one training. I have signed up for 5 weekly sessions to help my dog behave properly towards other dogs. read more

Sit happens helped me train my pug, George! He would bite and wander off leash. Now he is easier to play with and follows my lead on and off leash. He also comes to me on command. Sit happens is the best! read more

When I decided to get a puppy, I knew that I wanted to invest time and money into his training. I knew that having a well-trained pup would give us a better relationship. So after researching dog training in the Jacksonville area, I decided to go with Sit Happens. They train you, how to train your dog. After each session, the dog owner must put in the hard work with daily training and repetition, in order to see results. Sit Happens sent us Rayna, the dog trainer. We couldn't be happier. She's very good at her job. She's always on time and very professional. She even brought her pup for a distraction and I could see just how well behaved he is. She's great. I'd def recommend her if you're interested in teaching Fido some manners! I can't wait to take Hank with me in public again, like to dinner on a patio somewhere (that allows dogs). I LOVE taking him with me everywhere I go:) read more

Sit Happens Dog Training Jacksonville - Hank says, "thank you Rayna!" - Pet Training Near Me

Sit Happens is not only a danger to your pets, but when you try and get your money back, they scam you and keep it. In my initial consult with Sit Happens, the consultant never even met my dog. He just had him stay in his crate the entire time and spoke to me. He did not evaulate him at all, never assessing my dog to ensure he was trainable or not. The day the trainer came, he appeared tentative with my dog, having me handle my dog the entire time. On our second meeting, the trainer informed me that he conferred with a fellow trainer regarding my dog (a xoloitzquintle) and the fellow trainer stated he would not have even taken on my type of dog as a client, but would have referred him to a more specialized trainer, something that my trainer had agreed with, but he would do his best to try and train. Between our second and third visits, I adopted a German Shepherd puppy from the Humane Society that would be trained as a Service Dog. On my other dogs third lesson, the trainer admitted he did not feel my dog was trainable. That his anxiety and trauma were too ingrained in him, and he could not change. He thought it was a better fit to focus on my new dog. I was very saddened by this as I had wanted better things for my xolo. However, I agreed. Yet, over the weekend, my xolo bit me hard (which he had never done before), and I realized that he did indeed need help. I made plans to get him help with a different trainer in Minnesota. He would be going to stay with a relative while he trained with a trainer who works with dogs who have been victims of trauma and abuse. In the meantime, I will be keeping the GS puppy here. I had found an organization that works with veterans and trains their dogs to be service dogs for free if they pass specific assessments. I contacted Sit Happens on Sunday, August 10, to inform them of the news that I would no longer be needing their services. On August 11, I received my first text from Ken. Attached you can see the texts between us. I paid $1658 for 7 weeks of in home lessons and a lifetime of support in dog training. For me this is a very large sum of money. I am a 100% disabled veteran living off of my VA benefits and social security, single mother, raising three teens, and one just started college. For me, this was a huge sacrifice to help my much loved dog. I had completed only two "full sessions" and 1 lesson where the trainer half-heartedly trained my other dog. I also did not take their equipment. For this, they will only give me $700. They are keeping $958. After everything they put me and my dog through, plus the lack of actual training, I believe they owe me far more than that back. On top of that, and most importantly, I want others to be aware of what they did before you send your loved one there. I have spoken with my vets. When each business heard of this, saw the pictures, and heard that Sit Happens kept $958 of my money and how they hurt my dog, they did not feel it was in good faith to recommend Sit Happens any more . I will be contacting other vets in the area to inform them of this situation and my vets actions as well. I feel it is my duty as a dog owner to protect other dogs and their owners from getting taken advantage of as I have and to ensure no other puppers are hurt by Sit Happens. Note: Some of the photos are disturbing. My dog has anxiety attacks. As I have PTSD and nightmares, we comfort each other at night. I told the trainer this. He told me the dog had to stay in the crate at night. He told me to put his crate in another room so I could not hear my dog cry and whine at night and to wear headphones and listen to music. So, while I was in my bed suffering through horrendous night terrors with my headphones and music on, my dog was in another room, suffering a huge anxiety attack bleeding and needing me. You can not see it, but there was blood dripping down the outside of the crate and pooling on the floor. My children all saw this. We will never forget it. My dog will never forget it. The bruise on his back is when my dog was trying to hide from the trainer, and he pulled my dog out from under the couch. My dogs shoulder got stuck on the underside of the couch. I told the trainer to wait, that I would help get him out. The trainer kept yanking on the leash, not waiting for me to get down to help. My dog came out, but he had hurt him. read more

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What a great experience we have had so far with Alex. Very knowledgeable, professional, and making sit happen! Our pandemic pup Buster has had a wonderful time learning, growing, and executing how to be an amazing dog. Buster has had some issues with excessive barking at EVERYTHING and feeling like he has to be protecting us from the world. We disliked taking him on walks, could not answer the door, and do not think about opening the blinds bc he was there to save us from anything in sight. Knowing we wanted a better life for him than being confined to only the inside of the home and our fenced backyard. We want to be able to take him places and not be embarrassed on how he acted, we knew we would need professional help. This whole experience has been beyond amazing. Very knowledgeable, helpful, and professional experience from the very beginning. If you're looking for an obedience training, look no further. You will not be disappointed! read more

Sit Happens Dog Training Jacksonville - Pet Training Near Me

My boyfriend and I are now on session 6 with James and our two dogs. He has done a tremendous job on helping us change our dog's behaviors in the best way possible. Each week I can tell our dogs our learning and it's because James is great with explaining what we - as pet owners - need to do to hold our dogs accountable and reward them every time they are good! I highly recommend using Sit Happens Dog Training and if you can get James then even better! read more

Sit Happens Dog Training Jacksonville - Pet Training Near Me

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Sit happens was not effective dog training for my dogs. I wish I had never signed up for the dog training. It was expensive--$2200 for three dogs. I thought that the trainer would stay a longer time because we were training three instead of one. She kept on making excuses as to why he couldn't come over to train that dog . However, that was not the case. I did not know that their method of training uses shock collars. I was not told that when the salesman came and signed me up for the lessons. I do not approve of using those kind of colors but it was out of my hands that's what they used. upset. We decided to try to train them and if they wouldn't go on the mat we were supposed to pull them by the leash to get them onto the mat while pushing on the shock collar remote to shock the dog. One of our dogs was trembling and shaking and the trainer said that just because he doesn't want to do the task.He started coughing a lot and we took him to the vet and he's has been diagnosed with a partially collapsed trachea. Our vet thinks it was possibly by him being pulled to the mat by the leash multiple times. We had Alicia as our trainer. She was very young. I wish they had given us an older trainer who had more experience. My husband and I were very nice to Alicia. She had a car accident and we let her borrow a car that we weren't using. I told her it was only to be used to go back and forth to her dog training jobs. However, she took the car to Orlando because I got a bill from the tolls that she didn't pay. I had to pay the tolls. I wonder where else she drove the car to. It seems to me that she wasn't very appreciative that we let her the car. She kept on using excuses as to why she couldn't give the car back after her car has been repaired. She said she was busy and she wanted me to come to her house and pick it up. That was absurd since she borrowed the car from my house she should drop it off at my house. When she finally returned the car, she left the car with almost empty tank of gas. When she took the the gas tank was almost full. I tried to start the after she returned it and it it wouldn't start. The battery was dead! I know that she supposedly ran into some mechanical problems when she drove the car . When we gave her the car, it was running fine. If she had a mechanical problems I believe she had the responsibility to fix them. However, when I turned on the car after I got a new battery every warning light came on. That was not the case when we gave her the car . We expected that she would bring the car back in the same condition that it was given to her. Not only were there mechanical problems, but the upholstery on the rear seat was ripped. It was not when I gave her the car. We worked out a barter deal for the use of the car. She was supposed to privately train one of our dogs in return for letting her use the car. However, She went out with him one time for about a half an hour and that was it. She kept on making up excuses on why she couldn't come over and train him. One excuse was that her boyfriend's dog died and she had to go over and comfort him. However, his dog was his childhood dog and the dog was in Gainesville where he used to live. She would also make excuses like she had to work, she was sick, Etc. When she finally returned, she came in the house and my dog who she was supposed to train privately was so scared of her that she ran over to my husband and clung to him. I would definitely not recommend this dog training company. read more

Disclaimer: I did not hire this company, I only "consulted" with them. I was looking for help with leash training for an 11-month Golden that recently came to live with me. I didn't hire them for several reasons: 1. They utilize negative methods to train. They suggest using an "e-collar". This is a shock collar. They do not recommend positive reinforcement (treats, toys, etc.). 2. I watched the trainer's dog . It did do basic commands, but even after 5 years of training, a shock collar was still utilized. It was not a happy dog. My Golden is loving, gentle, wants to please, and thus far has been easy to train (sit, wait). A shock collar would crush his spirit. 3. Cost is $333/hour. read more

James was life changing!!!! He's direct, funny, knowledgeable and very kind. I thought for the longest time my dog was hopeless. He was aggressive towards other animals and humans. He didn't listen and he was horrible to take on walks. After James explained to me how to reach him, how to train him and how I could give him confidence to not be fearful and reactive, I got the strength to do the work necessary to train him. Today my dog is great on walks, he walks next to me, he doesn't pull me and he listens. The other day he ignored a dog that barked and lunged at him, a few months ago that would be a very different story! My neighbors kids were playing in our front yard, but he didn't bark at them and just sat on his place and fell asleep. James changed our lives!!! Thank you Sit Happens!!! read more

Awesome trainers! Amazing program for you and your dog. They recommend methods that only work if you put in the work. I'd recommend them over and over read more

We have had an awesome experience with our dog training. Why we chose to do dog training was due to our dog's lease aggression and jumping on people. Our first secession they thoroughly explained the time commitment, lesson options, and financial information. We have worked with the trainer named Michelle and LOVED our experience with her. She was able to gain a special connection with our pit bull that he loves his training secessions, but knows she means business. Michelle has brought other dogs during our secessions, which has really helped our dog learn how to react and be less aggressive on the leash. read more

Sit Happens Dog Training Jacksonville - Pet Training Near Me

I uploaded some of my progress videos slightly out of order but there's captions to explain the timeline! So I will explain my wonderful experience working with James through Sit Happens! My dog Melanie had ran into my garage a little under six months ago. I have a bleeding heart for animals - especially ones who need a loving home - so I took her in! I hadn't had a dog since childhood so I didn't really remember much about dog training, I hit the good ol' YouTube and was researching all ways to train a dog. I was overwhelmed and confused where to start so I was just trying everything! I felt like we were improving some but not really as much as I wanted. Melanie WAS reactive to cats, dogs, lizards, flying birds, and people at the front door. She also USED TO have a big problem whining constantly over what seemed like nothing. I needed real help. I started googling dog trainers in Jacksonville and there were so many! I took her to a consultation for a boarding school that was 5 weeks and around 5 THOUSAND + dollars! I wanted my dog to be trained but I also wanted the pride in forming a bond through training her myself. I clicked on "Sit Happens" because I thought the name was hilarious! But then the more I looked into it the more it felt like the right fit! I had a consultation with Logan who came to my house and taught me all about the 5 week program. After that he surprised me with a show and tell! I got to meet his dog he had been training (the same way as the program) and it was exhilarating and inspiring! I wanted my dog to be as cool and trained as his! I signed up and had been paired with James! The program is designed to introduce structured training at a slow but continually progressing pace. We started with the basics and moved on to proper leash walking and got to go on field trips to parks to practice in the wild with continuous distractions. He would even bring his dogs to training sessions to help with training the reactivity out of her and in turn just making meeting dogs kinda boring! James taught me how to make the training about me - it sounds weird but it's true! Every time Melanie exhibits unwanted behavior like trying to chase a squirrel/cat/lizard or uncontrollable whining, I made myself the center of attention by making her work. If she started (or starts - we're always still working at it!) exhibiting unwanted behavior I make her sit walk to me sit and lay down - but make her walk to me immediately as she finished laying down. This cycle of unwanted behavior equaling work for her enabled her to decide to take the path of least resistance and slow to ultimately stop her unwanted behaviors. She learned to make her life easy all the while I learned her and how to read her body language and how to preemptively respond to her behavior before she even got the chance to exhibit it. I was able to be open and honest with James about my struggles of the training because as the owner it can become frustrating to "feel" like we're not progressing but oh my goodness when you look back on your progress, you're making milestones daily! James was able to help me see the progress and to train with patience for her but also for myself! I can go on for days about how wonderful of an experience this training was for us and how it has been able to bring rules, boundaries, and limitations into our lives all the while improving our bond and love daily. I have come from a dog with constant whining and reactivity to small wild animals (and the two cats we also have) to now walking off leash daily in our neighborhood (we use the leash when required or for safety purposes) and are trying to increase off leashing to pretty much anywhere we are allowed! She doesn't chase after lizard/squirrels/cats anymore (well sometimes she tries lol but she's still a puppy and we continue the training every time she does). In less than six months! You get out of it what you put into it with all the tools, tips, and encouragement provided along your journey. The biggest thank you to James you have changed our lives and brought so much joy! read more

We had James come to our home and help our chihuahua with obedience. It definitely works, as long as we have the E-Collar on our dog. We will need to make sure we are good about following the training for life, with a goal that our dog listens even without an E-Collar. We learned so much! read more

Alex really helped my dog have the best behavior and helped me be a more informed pet parent. Sugar comes when called,leash manners are amazing; and doesn't run across the street or lunge at neighbors anymore. read more

Sit Happens Dog Training Jacksonville - Sugar sitting sweetly in place regardless of distractions. - Pet Training Near Me

This is expensive training, but worth it. My rescue Bichon knew no "social" skills at all, since she had been raised in a cage as a breeder. She had no problems, but aside from being housetrained, did not know her name, how to come, sit, or other basic skills. Furthermore, since she had not been a pet, she was not used to treats and was not motivated by them. The electronic collar was ideal for her training. Danny told us about the training, and assigned Michele to us. She was great. I learned a lot about how to train my dog, and she now has the proper skills. She is extremely well-behaved. The training was costly, but worth it. read more

Sit Happens Dog Training Jacksonville - Katie is an awesome dog! - Pet Training Near Me

Just finished training with my 6 month old german shepherd. Danny and Michelle were both awesome to work with. I am so thankful to have found Sit Happens though Miramar Animal Hospital. My boy made me proud on his last day of traing, by sitting and staying in public, and at a table at Starbucks. I feel he is ready to go with me pretty much anywhere. If you are like me, and just want a well behaved dog, don't hesitate, and call Sit Happens. read more

We adopted a 1 & half year old German Shepherd rescue dog. This will be our third one. We had so much love and care for the other two. This time we had no background on Cain so after 2 weeks of him running the house my wife &I were at the point of calling the rescue center to give him back. We called our vet and they suggested Sit Happens .......we called and made an appointment with Dave to come to our house . We did not know where to start. Going for a walk. Staying in one place for more than a minute. Running out the back door to our yard and digging up the dirt . Then we always left our dogs out when we went out . Cain did not want any of that. He would try to run out the door and bark. Our lives were turned upside down. One visit from Dave he solved the running to the door issue both front and garage. Then he showed us how to keep him enough away from the doors so we could get out without having to worry. Then he showed us how to get him a crate when we go out The last part of the training was to get Cain out for a walk without him taking US for a walk. It was amazing what 3 visits and an hour & half training with Dave changed our decision to keep Cain and do our homework at home. If you have any doubts about getting Dave from Sit Happens ...do not hesitate call him now. It will change your mind about who is the BOSS You will have a better relationship with your dog . read more

Waste of time and money. Catchy business name, but terrible business. Call a different trainer. We had an awful experience with no results. read more

Sit Happens trainers were nice enough on initial visit. When I called with questions, my voicemails were not returned. When I had to suspend training to deal with a family emergency out of state, they continued to charge me even though my puppy was not receiving training. I'm out over a thousand dollars and my puppy is not trained. Now leery about finding another trainer, but if something doesn't happy soon I will have to sell the dog and my teenager will be heartbroken. This is supposed to be her therapy dog. read more

I was at the end of my options when I called Sit Happens. My two male dachshunds, despite following all veterinary advice and previous training, would fight viciously. The trainer, Jodie, was amazing. She was no nonsense, didn't make unrealistic promises, and helped us understand the dynamics causing problems between the boys. Despite previous offsite training the issues we faced were unaltered until Jodie gave us insight. Having the home training was most beneficial because it helped my husband understand his involvement was key to helping the dogs succeed. We were at the point we thought rehoming was unavoidable but now we have managed an aggressive free home for weeks. I do not have the words to express my gratitude. You owe it to yourself and your furry companions to get the best. read more

Sit Happens Dog Training Jacksonville - Tired out after a day at the park. - Pet Training Near Me

We had a great experience and learned at lot. We appreciate that we were able to get in touch with the owner who was responsive. We'd highly recommend this company to anyone having issues with their dogs or just getting a new pup. To those who have negative reviews I highly suggest that you contact the owner, he's extremely responsive and would've taken care of any issues had you've reached out to him read more

Stewart is our Poodle puppy. He is very energetic and loves all people and animals. The problem was, when the front door opened he would run out. When we tried to get hi9m backing, he thought we were playing and would run away from us. He also likes to jump up on people when greeting them. Danny of Sit Happens gave his first lesson and Stewart was a much calmer and obedient poodle. The work assignments were explained in with easily understood directions. Stewart has gotten much better with the front door, greeting people and being a much calmer and happier dog. I would highly recommend Danny and Sit Happens if you are having any difficulties with your pet. Many thanks to Danny. read more

In September I purchased training plans for both my dogs, paying a total of $1,613.50. I was told this would be a 8 session long evolution, but if unsatisfied with the results, I would continue to receive lessons. I was thrilled with the dream I was presented and was willing to corporate or work with any and all schedules to get my dogs to where I was promised. I was then paired with a trainer, who wasn't performing at the rate I was promised and then, after 3 months, I was told no longer worked for the company. So another trainer showed up and worked with my older dog, said that the previous trainer had done everything wrong, and he would have to restart the entire program. But after two sessions, began not showing up either and I no longer could contact him. The company never contacted me about EITHER trainer no longer working with the company, so I reached out to them and was told I could not get a refund, just one more lesson since I already had 7 (unsuccessful) ones. They said I had too many lessons for a refund and that I should have documented what was covered during every lesson or contacted him sooner, which I didn't do because i was trying to be understanding of the fact they both seemed overwhelmed with clients and I was patient as long as my dogs got what I paid for. I was also accused of not doing my homework and it was basically my fault my dogs are not where they should be, with no evidence, just the owner of the companies opinion. Because of course, no WAY could it have been the fault of two trainers WHO NO LONGER WORK WITH THE COMPANY! After 5 months, my 5 year old dog has had very little training and my puppy who I had the most issues with has never been properly trained and he is now 10 months old and has more behavioral issues than prior. They have great reviews so I just wanted to warn anyone who was looking for training about my horrible experience and to be careful if you are going to use them! read more

Do not recommend at all. Came for a "free evaluation". Put my puppy in his crate and threw shoes at it as well as slam the gate repeatedly on his face. He said this would stop him from getting anxious to get out of the crate. Unnecessary brutal force used and fierce intimidation. He left his collie sitting in the car (the car was turned on at least for ac). He used a shock collar to show us how disciplined his dog was. The poor dog looked terrified. When he left, my children burst into tears. I feel so ashamed for allowing this person to come into my home and near my dog. I did report back to the company about the excessive force and he tried to offer to come out again for free! No thanks. Avoid at all costs, this is a disgusting way for people to work with animals. read more

We had Robin as our dog trainer and she was phenomenal. She was very patient, she gave great direction, showed us how to give the dog commands, and made sure we had a successful training. Our puppy is so well behaved compared to when she started, and we are confident we have the tools to independently move forward with her training. Robin communicated our training schedule well, we knew our homework, and she was always on time for her next appointment. We highly recommend Sit Happens and Robin for your dog training needs. read more

Sit Happens Jax provided us practical, easy to use methods to end our dog's unwanted behaviors. Danny was our trainer extraordinaire; he was very knowledgeable and explained the process each step of the way. He came to our house for our sessions and always modeled the training, really bonding with our dog, Reesey. It was a very positive experience, and one I wish I had sought out sooner. The one and only down side is that it is a bit pricey. read more

After much research, I hired Sit Happens to help me train my 8 month old puppy who had grown bigger than expected and was getting tough to handle. I worked primarily with Josh. Both the overall experience of the training and the results have been fantastic! Josh was always very prompt and super on time for our training sessions. He is very hands on with the dog, showing him the skill, then teaching us how to reinforce it. He'd demo how to do the skill with the pup and then have us do it and critic/ make corrections as needed. He paid great attention to details and this made a huge difference. Josh is also very responsive any time we had a question. Our pup learned a lot and we are using a lot of the skills in day to day life. The primary skills that he learned in his training include going to his place and staying there until released, walking on lose leash, going down the steps, leaving objects and coming when called. All very practical. I feel that it was a great investment. Thanks Josh! read more

Sit Happens taught me how turn my aggressive, anxious dog into a well-behaved, happy, balanced pet that I can know take anywhere in public with pride instead of fear and frustration. Now my dog hangs out with me instead of guarding at the window, and welcomes visitors to our home nicely rather than with barking and jumping. Dave Stellatto, owner of Sit Happens Jax, guarantees his work for the life of the dog with its trained owner, so I have a great resource if anything new ever pops up, He also ensured I have the tools and know-how to maintain a great relationship with my dog. I am so pleased to have worked with Dave. read more

Was assured that they could help my dog who is very aggressive to other dogs. After paying almost a thousand dollars I met with head trainer, Dave, ONE time. Then "handed off" to less experienced trainer. He was very nice while we worked our 4 sessions. Told me to do exactly what he did in training sessions Each day I practiced several times a day his methods. Was not working to satisfaction. When I signed up I was told that they would do whatever it took to make my dog less aggressive even if it meant more sessions with trainer at no additional charge. I was granted another session, again not with the head trainer. Still having problems so I called and asked for another session. The less experienced trainer blasted me on a very angry voice that I was not doing my part. I was so angry because I HAD DONE MY PART! I hung up on him. I wanted to meet with the head trainer but was so flustered by this man's berating that I never called again. I guess they got what they wanted. Would NOT recommend them. I since have found a trainer online with methods that do work read more