Sit Means Sit Dog Training was opened in November 2008 by Jori E. Pollard who serves as the owner and head trainer. Located in Pueblo, CO Sit Means Sit Dog Training is located at 2424 N. Freeway, Pueblo, CO 81003. Sit Means Sit Dog Training is the fastest growing dog training company in the U.S. specializing in off leash training, aggressive dogs, and difficult issues. They provide an opportunity for dog owners to develop a great relationship with their dogs and allow them to be good members of their families. They offer in home lessons, indoor training facility, and life time training, including group classes. They also have the GO TEAM Therapy Dog team as well as offer Canine Good Citizen testing and Advanced Canine Good Citizen. Additional services to be added this year include puppy classes and the STAR puppy testing through AKC.
In December 2012, Jori and her team expanded the business with a purchase of a facility and opening of A Country Canine Resort. A year later Country Canine Grooming and Pet Spa opened in December 2013. A Country Canine Resort offers a wide variety of services including boarding, doggy daycare, dog supplies and food. They have a state of the art kennel that has cameras to view your dogs, radiant heated floors, indoor and outdoor dog runs. They are the only kennel in the city limits of Pueblo and the only kennel that co-mingles the dogs to allow them to play outside in a supervised dog park atmosphere. A Country Canine Grooming and Pet Spa is a full service grooming shop with a self-serve dog wash area. Specializing in Poodles and Labra doodles they are experts in keeping dogs breed specific and natural. They have a groomer with over 25 years of experience, offering full service “Spa” days for your pets. They also offer Doggy Daycare and Spa day packages with multiple dog discounts.
Jori’s journey with small business ownership began when she decided to open her own business because she wanted to offer a service she felt the community was in need of while offering the best service to clients in a homey atmosphere. Jori felt it was important to allow dog owners to be able to have the best relationships with their dogs and be able to make them be true members of their family. With a commitment to provide outstanding customer service and quality care for their customers ( 4 legged ones) and families, Jori and her team want their clients to consider the Canine Report to be their home away from home.
Jori and her employees have faced many challenges and their biggest challenge was taking an eyesore 60 year old dilapidated building and remodeling it into their dream. They had to overcome many obstacles including a sewer system that was not recorded in the city plans because of the age of the building. It was a treasure hunt for a sewer and quite a challenge. They continue to remodel and improve the building daily. Jori loves hearing the stories from the community regarding the history that goes along with it. They were vandalized and the building was broken into many times during construction. The building was persevered and opened after many hours of clean up, construction, and hard labor. The dedication of her employees, the community support and good old fashion hard work helped them to achieve one of their biggest accomplishments.
Part of the community support provided was services and training provided by the Southern CO SBDC. Jori is a graduate of the CO SBDC Leading Edge Program, a twelve-week entrepreneurship program that helped her prepare a successful business plan and obtain a small business loan to assist in operations. The program gave Jori the opportunity to network with other business owners and members of the community to help mentor and assist her in opening her business. Jori also learned to work well with the State Regulatory agencies, the local shelters, and other business in Pueblo to enhance services provided.
“I appreciate all of the support I have received from the SBDC,” said Jori. “They have encouraged me through the long process of obtaining the property. They were available for consultation and advice. We worked for almost a year to get our building open and it was the most challenging thing I have ever accomplished. I could not have gotten the banking help I needed it I hadn’t taken the Leading Edge Course. I learned so much about our community leaders and other business people through that class. I always look at the courses offered and I feel the SBDC is an asset to our community.”
In 2014, they plan to expand the kennels, add a dock dog pool to teach the sport of dog jumping, swimming lessons and swim therapy, and also looking to build an agility course. They also have plans to complete “The Cathouse” to provide boarding services for cats. Jori and her team hope that providing outstanding customer service will leave an impact on their community and have a place where their 4 legged customers feel at home and where their families feel good about leaving them. They want to continue to offer an alternative to the dog park where people can be members of our resort and use the facilities as their own.
