Behavior Help · Westchester & Fairfield County
“Dog behaviorist” means different things — and the wrong choice wastes time and money. Here is a straight explanation of your options, who we are, and how to decide what your dog actually needs.
Quick Answer
Sit Means Sit Westchester is a professional dog training team specializing in behavior modification — reactivity, aggression, fear, and anxiety-driven behavior. We are not a veterinary behaviorist (a veterinarian who can prescribe medication) or a certified applied animal behaviorist. For most owners searching for a “dog behaviorist,” hands-on behavior modification is exactly what's needed. If your dog also needs medical support, we work alongside your veterinarian so your dog gets the full picture.
The term covers three very different kinds of help. Knowing which is which saves you time, money, and frustration.
Who they are: A licensed veterinarian with board certification in behavior.
What they do: Diagnoses medical and neurochemical causes of behavior; can build medication-led treatment plans for severe anxiety, panic, and compulsive disorders.
Can prescribe medication: Yes — it is a medical practice.
Who they are: An academic credential — typically a graduate degree plus certification through the Animal Behavior Society.
What they do: Science-based behavior assessment and consultation, often for complex or research-informed cases.
Can prescribe medication: No.
Who they are: Professional trainers who specialize in changing behavior, not just teaching commands.
What they do: Hands-on protocols for reactivity, aggression, fear, and anxiety-driven behavior, plus coaching so you can maintain the results at home.
Can prescribe medication: No — and we'll tell you if medication may help.
There is a real difference between a trainer who teaches sit, down, and tricks — and one who changes how your dog feels and reacts in the situations that scare or trigger them. That second thing is behavior modification, and it is what we do every day: systematically changing a dog’s response to other dogs, people, noises, and stress, paired with coaching so that you can maintain it.
We are honest about what we are not. We do not hold a DACVB or CAAB credential, and we do not prescribe medication. What we bring is structured, hands-on behavior-change work and the experience to know when your dog needs more than training — and the integrity to say so. Explore the specific behaviors we work with: aggression, reactivity, and anxiety & fear.
If you’re unsure whether your dog needs training, medical support, or both — that’s completely normal, and it’s part of what we help you sort out on your free call. Most behavior issues respond to hands-on behavior modification, which is our specialty. When there’s a medical component, we work alongside your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist so your dog gets the full picture — the right behavior plan and any medical support that helps it succeed. You don’t have to diagnose it yourself; tell us what’s going on and we’ll point you in the right direction.
We are honest about this: we are not a veterinary behaviorist (DACVB) or a certified applied animal behaviorist (CAAB) — those are specific credentials. We are professional trainers who specialize in behavior modification, which is the hands-on behavior-change work most people searching for a “dog behaviorist” are actually looking for.
Many trainers focus on obedience — sit, down, stay, and tricks. Behavior modification is different: it systematically changes how a dog feels and reacts in the situations that trigger fear, reactivity, or aggression. We do behavior-modification work, paired with owner coaching, not just obedience.
No. Only a veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist can prescribe medication. If we believe your dog's case has a medical component, we'll say so and work alongside your vet so the behavior plan and any medical support reinforce each other.
If your dog's behavior changed suddenly, or involves severe panic or compulsive behavior, start with your veterinarian to rule out a medical cause. If the issue is behavioral — reactivity, fear, aggression, anxiety on walks — behavior-modification training is usually the right fit. If you're unsure, that's exactly what we help you sort out on your free call.
Yes, and they often should. A veterinary behaviorist may prescribe medication and then refer you to a trainer to do the actual behavior-modification work — which is us. We're glad to coordinate with your vet for the best outcome.
Yes. Sit Means Sit Dog Training of Westchester serves Westchester County, NY and nearby Fairfield County, CT from our 5,000 sq ft facility in Valhalla, NY.
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Serving Westchester & Fairfield for 12 Years
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“We rescued him after the pandemic and he came with unpredictable fear aggression. We brought him to a behavioral vet, he was put on medications, and we tried several different trainers- even 2 weeks at a board and train. all without much improvement. That is until we found Neil and Sit means Sit of Westchester. … Teddy’s behavior has improved dramatically.”
“I had previously met with a behavioral trainer and a traditional trainer closer to me (Rockland Co.) but neither one of them GOT my dog or his issues. … assured me that we could work on the issues without changing his personality or creating a robot dog. … I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Neil to anybody looking for a trainer, even if they have been let down by trainers before.”
“He was very insecure, Anxious and not friendly to any other dogs or people. Previously I brought Prince to a few other trianers but didn’t really see any improvement. … He was telling me the way and whys my dogs behavior was within the first hour of my dogs first lesson! Six weeks later my Prince is the envey of the block”
“Our dog Ollie was never trained and aggressive towards other dogs when walking in the neighborhood (great with people). … they recognized him as being intimidated of other dogs and acting that way because he was scared and not used to following our commands. … Now he is much better at listening to us and not being aggressive to other dogs when we walk him.”
“Our pup was deemed aggressive by our vet and with Neil’s help and guidance we were able to learn about Roscoe’s reactivity triggers and how to handle them. … He has saved my dogs life”
Results vary by dog. Aggression is managed through training and ongoing owner work, not cured.
Tell us what’s going on and we’ll help you decide the right path — behavior modification, a referral, or both. Serving Westchester and Fairfield County.