Sit Means Sit

Sit Means Sit is a dog-training services brand and franchise headquartered in Paradise, Nevada. Founded in 1998 by Fred Hassen, the company developed a training system centered on gaining and maintaining a dog's attention through structured instruction and a combination of training aids. Its programs are used with household pets as well as working animals, including police dogs and service dogs. Depending on the location, franchisees may also provide pet boarding. The company began franchising in January 2009, changing Sit Means Sit from a primarily founder-led training operation into a distributed network of independently operated locations. Later in 2009, Fred Hassen increased the brand's public visibility by posting dog-training videos on YouTube on a daily basis. These videos helped expose the company's methods and demonstrations to a broader audience, although the available reference material does not provide audience figures or detailed information about the channel's commercial contribution. Sit Means Sit's training approach uses conventional tools such as leashes, collars, food, and toys, together with a proprietary remote electronic training collar. The collar delivers a low-level stimulus intended to redirect or obtain the dog's attention. The method is therefore positioned around controlled communication and responsiveness rather than a single product or breed-specific program. The precise services, pricing, staffing, and training practices can vary among franchise locations. The company has been described as the largest dog-training franchise based in the United States, with more than 120 locations across the United States and Canada. Entrepreneur named Sit Means Sit its top pet-services franchise in 2014. The brand has also gained regional visibility through Ripken, a black Labrador Retriever trained by Sit Means Sit. Beginning in 2019, Ripken served as an official bat-retrieval dog for the Holly Springs Salamanders and the Durham Bulls and as an official tee-retrieval dog at NC State Wolfpack football games. This public-facing role connected the brand with amateur baseball, Minor League Baseball, and college sports audiences. Sit Means Sit remains an active franchise-based pet-services brand. Its business scope is primarily service delivery and franchise support rather than the sale of a broad standalone consumer-products portfolio. Publicly available reference material identifies Fred Hassen as founder and CEO but does not identify a parent company, public listing, ticker, revenue figures, or a corporate website.

Sit Means Sit was founded in 1998 by Fred Hassen as a dog-training business. The company's programs emphasize attention and responsiveness, using a mix of standard training aids—including leashes, collars, food, and toys—and a proprietary remote electronic collar designed to deliver a low-level stimulus to attract or redirect a dog's attention. The available reference material describes the system as being used for companion dogs, police dogs, and service dogs. A major structural change occurred in January 2009, when Sit Means Sit began franchising. Franchising enabled the brand to extend its services beyond its original operating base through independently run locations. The company subsequently grew into a large North American network and has been described as the largest dog-training franchise based in the United States, with more than 120 locations in the United States and Canada. The supplied sources do not identify the individual franchisees, detailed territory history, or financial performance of the network. Also in 2009, Hassen began publishing dog-training videos daily on YouTube. This activity gave Sit Means Sit a visible educational and promotional channel and contributed to the company's public recognition. The available material does not provide specific video titles, viewership data, or a detailed account of the content strategy. In 2014, Entrepreneur named Sit Means Sit its top pet-services franchise. The recognition added external visibility to the company's franchise model, although the available reference does not specify the ranking methodology or competing brands. From 2019, the brand received additional public exposure through Ripken, a black Labrador Retriever trained by Sit Means Sit. Ripken served as an official bat-retrieval dog for the Holly Springs Salamanders and the Durham Bulls, and as an official tee-retrieval dog during NC State Wolfpack football games. These appearances functioned as a highly visible demonstration of trained-dog performance in sports settings. Sit Means Sit is described as active and headquartered in Paradise, Nevada. Its current business is based on dog-training services delivered through a franchise network, with some locations also offering pet boarding. The public reference material does not establish a parent company, corporate owner separate from the brand, public-market listing, revenue, or a confirmed official website.

• 2019

  Ripken's sports appearances begin

  [1]Sit Means Siten.wikipedia.org

  Ripken, a Sit Means Sit-trained black Labrador Retriever, began serving in official ball- and tee-retrieval roles at several North Carolina sports venues.

• 2014

  Entrepreneur recognition

  [1]Sit Means Siten.wikipedia.org

  Entrepreneur named Sit Means Sit its top pet-services franchise.

• 2009

  Franchising begins

  [1]Sit Means Siten.wikipedia.org

  Sit Means Sit began franchising in January, establishing the basis for its multi-location expansion.

• 2009

  Daily YouTube publishing begins

  [1]Sit Means Siten.wikipedia.org

  Fred Hassen began posting dog-training videos daily on YouTube, increasing the brand's public visibility.

• 1998

  Company founded

  [1]Sit Means Siten.wikipedia.org

  Fred Hassen founded Sit Means Sit as a dog-training business.

A multi-location dog-training franchise focused on attention, responsiveness, and practical behavior training, serving companion animals as well as police and service dogs.

• Dog-training service · 1998

  Attention-based dog training

  The core Sit Means Sit offering is structured training intended to improve a dog's attention, responsiveness, and obedience. Programs use combinations of leashes, collars, food, toys, and a proprietary remote electronic collar that provides a low-level stimulus to obtain or redirect attention. Specific curricula and delivery formats may differ by franchise location.

• Working-dog training

  Police-dog training

  Sit Means Sit provides training for police dogs as part of its broader attention-based system. The available reference identifies this service category but does not specify the agencies served, operational disciplines taught, or individual program formats.

• Working-dog training

  Service-dog training

  The brand also trains service dogs. Public reference material confirms the offering but does not provide details about accreditation, placement arrangements, disability categories, or the precise scope of instruction.

• Pet care

  Pet boarding

  Some Sit Means Sit franchise locations offer pet boarding in addition to training. Availability is location-dependent, and the supplied source does not describe standardization, capacity, or pricing across the network.

• 2019Ripken sports-event appearances

  North Carolina, United States

  Sit Means Sit-trained Labrador Retriever Ripken appeared as an official bat-retrieval dog for the Holly Springs Salamanders and Durham Bulls and as an official tee-retrieval dog for NC State Wolfpack football games.

  Outcome. The appearances provided regional, sports-related visibility for the brand and showcased working-dog training in public events.

  Source
• 2009Daily YouTube dog-training videos

  United States · Canada · Online

  Fred Hassen began publishing dog-training videos daily on YouTube after the company started franchising. The activity demonstrated Sit Means Sit's methods and helped the brand gain wider public recognition.

  Outcome. The company gained notoriety and increased visibility through its online training demonstrations.

  Source

• 2009

  Adopted a franchise expansion modelStrategy

  Background

  After operating as a dog-training business founded by Fred Hassen, Sit Means Sit moved into franchising in January 2009.

  Action taken

  The company began offering franchise locations, extending its training services through a North American network.

  Aftermath

  The brand later became a large United States-based dog-training franchise with more than 120 locations in the United States and Canada.

  Source

1. 1Sit Means Siten.wikipedia.org