Sit Means Sit Orange County is a franchise location of a national training organization founded in 1998 by Fred Hassen, who developed what the company calls an "attention-based" training system centered on remote collar use. According to their website, their method treats the e-collar as a communication tool rather than a correction device, describing the stimulation as a low-level tactile "tap" similar to TENS technology. Their stated goal is building off-leash reliability across different environments.
The Huntington Beach location offers board-and-train programs where dogs stay at the facility for daily training before owners participate in private lessons to learn the handling skills themselves. They also provide standalone private lessons that can take place wherever specific behavior problems occur. Their site indicates they work with dogs dealing with aggression, anxiety, reactivity, and high-distraction behavior.
The training team includes Ashton, who joined in 2019 after studying cultural anthropology at the University of San Diego, and Bryan, also with the organization since 2019, who developed his interest in training while working with his own dog. Neither trainer's listed background includes formal certifications. The company describes their approach as following a phased structure: building control first, then gradually reducing reliance on the training collar while maintaining obedience over time.
